Terra-Cotta Or Not?

I have never really liked terra-cotta pots but I may not have given them a fair chance. I have only had old pots a scavenger friend of my dad's would bring.  I am hoping my artist friend will paint one real pretty for me.   But I would like to know how long they last and if you can even paint them. If so what kind of paint is best, etc..  I have always had plastic pots and I know it is hit and miss when it comes to them lasting.  And, they are so boring looking. The pretty ceramic ones are expensive and break easy.  I have one of those fancy ceramic pots and most of the time when I put a plant in it is dies or starts dying.  

 I think I will get a few when I buy soil just to test it out.   Any thoughts from you? do you like one kind over the other, if so why.

Why Aren't These in Stores?

Picture from Home Depot

I know these are kind of old school but why don't they carry them in the stores, I wish I knew how to make these, If you do or know a website where I can learn how to please share.

In Need Of Supplies

I have been putting off getting a new bag of soil and a few pots. I forgot the last time I was in Walmart. And it's far from my house so we don't really go that often. I have a Target and Home Depot right down the street. I usually end up paying a little more but it saves on having to drive over and deal with the traffic.

Right now I am browsing at Home Depot's website to see what the damage to my wallet is going to be.   I am thinking I have to get a big bag because I have a few I need to re-pot.  The Lemon Tree really needs more dirt. It doesn't need a bigger pot because I didn't fill it all the way.  I bought the pot a little big so I wouldn't have to get a new pot so fast.  However, if I do it I am for sure going to bring it in. I don't want the new soil to get bugs.    I need to get a new pot for this plant I bought at Fry's last month, it does not seem to like the pot it came in. I was hoping to get away with leaving it in the one it came in until spring.   It is in a hanging pot now so I would like to get a hanging planter for it and the main spider plant I have.    And, I have to re-pot the False Aralia  and a few smaller plants need fresh dirt.


 So with 6 plus plants needing some TLC I am sure a big bag will be needed.  If there is any left over I will just have to remember to close it up right so I don't waste it like I did the last bag.  I want to get the good stuff too. I have learned that you don't want to be a penny-pincher when it comes to your plants soil. You will just end up buying more of cheap stuff so spend the money upfront.


I will get pictures of what I end up buying, and how much I spend.

Do Plants In An Aquarium Count As A House Plant?

While I am thinking I need to re-count my plants to see how many I have these days I got to think about the ones in my fish tank, do they count as a house plant? I would say yes because they are inside.  Right now I have four in there.  I took some pictures the other day so I could them up here but they didn't look that great on the computer screen.  Those small screens on the camera can hide a lot.  I was looking around the internet to see if any of the plants I have would grow in the tank. I couldn't find much info about the types of plants that would work, They were more general info rather then a detailed list.  However, I did see a few forums that were talking about Spider Plants in fish tanks.  Many said they can live if only the roots touch the water.   But I have a Spider Plant that has a lot of babies I need to do something with so I may toss one in there just to see. I figure if it doesn't kill the fish why not.     I don't think I am going to buy any more for the tank for right now. I want to see if I can get these ones to be happy and grow before I go throwing money down the drain.


 I don't think they do anything for my air since they are in the tank.  But I could be wrong. I should do a google search to see if that question has been answered.   I do not mind if they don't, that is not the only reason to love plants. If looking pretty is all they do that is good enough.


 
"Marina Hygropphila Diformis Aquarium Plant" (Google Affiliate Ad)
"Mini Bow Desktop Aquarium Kit" (Google Affiliate Ad)

Need To Re-Count My Plants

I am not sure if my plant count is good, I know I have lost some and bought some in the last few months but It should be close to what I have.   

Buy Small, Save money!

Those that want plants in there home may buy big plants. However I enjoy "the grow".  I think it is more satisfying to get a small one a watch it grow. It's just an added bonus that the small one are cheaper.  Usually under $5, where the big ones can $20+.   I would like people to comment about this. It would be interesting to see how many  people buy big or small. And why. Is it just to save money or do they enjoy watching them grow.   

It Like's Me, It Doesn't Like Me- Is There A Type Of Plant That Just Won't Grow For You? Or One That Just Luvs You?

I have had a lot of plants, and there is a few that just won't grow for me.  It is part of the fun (killing plants), that excitement of wondering if your new plant will make it.

 The main one that just hates me is the Cat Palm, I think I have murdered a good dozen of them.   They are so pretty and I just can't accept that they will not grow for me.   It started with me buying a small bunch at Walmart many moons ago. I would say there was a cluster of five and they were about 7 inches tall.  When I buy plants I go through the stock to pick the healthy looking plants.   Starting of healthy, that bunch lasted a few months before the roots rotted and it died.   I thought I had over watered even though I followed the watering recommendations on the label.


Figuring it was my error I got a new bunch and they lasted a few months less then the first.  This cycle repeated itself almost every year.   My Husbands mother had four great big Cat Palms, I asked her how she watered and cared for hers.  Sharing my experiences with her to see if she knew where I went wrong. But I did every thing she did.    The next time she transplanted hers she gave me one, it was like 2 feet tall.  I had high hopes for not killing it, since it was much bigger then any of the other ones I killed.

I babied that thing, it was doing so good. Had new growth and was looking great.  Suddenly it turned brown and died.  once it started it took it two maybe three days to die on me.  There wasn't any bugs or anything in the soil that would of killed it so I am baffled.   So I have finally come to a place where I have given up on them. I seen some at Home Depot and passed them by because I couldn't bring myself to go through that again.


Cat Palms are permanently on my "Kill List"

The Importants Of Closing Your Bag Of Soil

once again I opened my bag of soil to find Gnats everywhere.  It was my fault this time, after the last plant I potted I did not close it well because I thought I would be using it again real soon.  Then it rained.  However now I have learned not to assume and close it.  At least it wasn't much soil I wasted and the yard will enjoy my mess up.   

You want to keep it as air tight as you can, I usually put the main bag in another bag so it's double layers of protection.   Roll and tape the main bag as tightly as you can, but those bags can have small holes. Either from being moved around at the store or you, or they are made that way.  That is why I suggest the second bag.     I would like to get a trash can with a lid to store my soil in but I just haven't got around to it.  For all I know that wouldn't work the way I think.

If you find your bag of soil has Gnats, please please don't use it on any indoor plants. You will regret it.    You will always want to inspect your soil before using to prevent a gnat infestation in your house because when one plant has the they all will get them.  I have been through this. Sometimes the gnats may be in a plant you just bought so water new plants outside and watch real close to see if any fly out before you put it next to any other plants.  I try to re-pot all new plants asap.  

Green Thumbs Run In The Family!

After talking to my Grandma (maternal) I found out her mom had a green thumb too. She said she had a lot of house plants and could make anything grow, even a stick ha ha.  I have that same ability, stuff that others would count as beyond hope or dead I try to save. Most of the time I do.    My dad was also good with plants.  I am not really sure about my mom since she died when I was young, I know we always had a jungle but who took care of it isn't in my memories.  I can't ask my Dad since he has passed. Either way I got it from both sides.  I am hoping my son will enjoy plants the way I do, he seems to now. He always wants to move them around, play in the dirt and stroke the leaves.   He is also my watering helper.   We just need to master getting the water in the plants and not on the floor, ha ha. 

   I am going to see if my Grandma has any pictures of great-Grandma's plants. 

Unsuccessful Messing

I was trying to do to this plant what I had seen done to one at a Doctor's office but I failed.  It may have worked if we didn't move at a critical point.  I was trying to get two tops to come from one stem.

I got one to sprout some new growth, but it wasn't a strong plant at the moment I tried this.  I still have two like it so at some point I might try it again.   However I will wait until they are ready for it.

My problem with them right now is the stems are not thick enough to support the tops. And my twisting them together has not helped them at all.   I think it is to late to try and undo it so I have to figure out how to help without killing the rest of them.

Botnay.com

I am not really liking botany.com. It doesn't have to many pictures, and this list format is annoying since you have to already know what your looking at to click on the right plant you are looking for. If not you will be hitting the Back button often. 

Helpful Link

http://en.allexperts.com/


I came across this site, seems to have a few good links to identify plants. I have gone through all of them yet.

I Have Pictures

I have some pictures on my camera but I had to order a new battery, I went to turn it on the other day and nothing.   I am hopeing a new battery will do the trick.

Plants and Kids. Can They Co-Exists

Why is it that kids are drawn to plants. Even when my boy was just in his walker he was grabbing at my dumb cane (not sure if that it what it is really called), ripping and shredding the leaves.  now that he is a little older he has learned to be nicer to them but when he gets told "no" about going outside he swats at the plants close to him. So he still has some learning to do.   But I want him to like palnts as I do, so I don't mind him inspecting and doing stuff that won't bother them.

   I was most worried about him trying to eat them but that has not been an issue.   The poor plants haven't got the attention they used too before baby was born.

I would really like to read about what plants are poisonous,  find out which will kill you and which will just give you the runs, ha.   

If you are smart about where you place the plants and what is in the that might catch a baby's eye you shouldn't have to do much in the way of baby proofing them.

 If you have stones or other decor thingy that are small in the pots be sure to check them often, glance at it every time you walk by, maybe put it off the floor so crawler or walker bound baby can't reach.  I just took mine out when my son got out of the walker so all he got was dirt ( and a few big enough I can't swallow rocks for fun)

Messing With This One, Trying toMake Those Fancy Twisted Stems



This one has 3 plants (Dracena Marginata), I have tried to twist them together because I'd seen it done to some at a doctors office and thought it looked cool. However it was a little late they were to big to be twisted without breaking, I am still trying but you have to go little by little.                                     
The one at the office also inspired me to try something else. That one had 2 tops coming from one base. I figure they did that by cutting it.


If done right it looks real cool,   

Getting Back To Normal

I have not had any time to blog lately, I started this blog after moving and life has just gotten more hectic since then.  Within six months of our last move we moved again, This time to a new state.   I thought moving my plants was hard the first time, this move was even harder on them.  The poor things ended up in the back of a Budget truck for three days.   I lost a few but have since bought some new ones.    I have to update my plant count.  

At least my favorite plants survived the move.  However living in AZ is a whole new ballgame.  they need watering more often then in NM.   This does not really surprise me since this state is much hotter and it is a dry heat. It just sucks the moister right out of them.

I lost my mother "mother-in-law's Tongue", it was in my stater vase and it just could not handle the heat in the truck.  It is a shame since that one gave me alot of babies.  But not all is lost because I have a pot over flowing the MILT's.   

I also lost all my Goldfish plants, they slowly died after the move, being in the truck must have shocked them beyond repair.  I have seen some in the stores around here so I will get some more one of these days.

 It doesn't help that the house we are in now does not really have space for my plants around the house. They are all bunched up in one room. I try to put some around the house as much as I can but with the space issue and my 18 month old son that is really hard.