Cleaning The Roots On My Spider Plant.

A while back I made a mistake and put this in a pot I knew was too big and with too much dirt, all my other ones that were free were smaller then it current one. Now that some time has passed it has gotten stringy roots.  That is my term not sure what it is really called.  There was way to many thin and stretched out roots.  It was making the Spider Plant weak and limp. 

 

 You can see how much soil is between the visible roots and the top.    I started by gently breaking away the soil with my fingers.  I was not worried about hurting the thin roots because they will grow back in no time.    The thick worm looking ones are what you need to be careful with.  Luckily, they are not very delicate,  and can be as thick as your finger.   This is one of my favorite things about Spider Plants.  Not only are they cool looking above ground they are cool under the soil.

 You can see it has many yellow leaves, That is what gave me my first hint something was wrong.  I had not changed my watering so it had to be the roots or soil.

 This is what I had left after rinsing the old soil our with a hose.  Have it on a low flow.  I prefer to have a sprayer nozzle on the hose it makes the water work for you without having to use your finger to spray.    Lesson learned from doing; Start with the lowest flow you think you will need and go up, less chance of hurting the roots.   And if you haven't figured it out by now, you should do this outside. Not in your tub or sink.   I put it in the same pot as before just with less soil.  

 

In The end this Spider Plant is very happy I gave it a good root cleaning. Within hours of re-potting it it was perky, had vibrant colors and popped out flowers.  I also rigged its pot to hang instead of being on that stand. I think that contributed to its new found happiness.   I am not sure why Spider Plants like to hang. I have noticed that some plants like hanging and don't do well when not in the air. They are not what is classified as "Air Plants" but I am sure there is something to it.  However that is for another post.                                                     

                                     

Something Is Growing In My Frige: It's An Apple Tree

My son loves apples and sometimes he will eat half and save the rest for later on, however one got lost in frige. And when I found it, it was growing. No joke, but feel free to think of some to yourself, ha. It couldn't of been there to long, I am going to try it again to see how long it takes for this to happen.                         I carefully cut and pulled the core open to see the growing sprouts inside.  

When all is said and done I only got two worth while sprouts. the rest were too small, so next time I might let them grow a little longer in the core.   I put apple sprouts in some Jiffy-7 pellets and hoped for the best, But I think it was to soon but I had to open the core and see them growing. Had I been thinking like a planthead I would left them until they were stronger.    It is still cool, and made for a learning moment with my son.  

Save Time and Buy a Tree!

Fruit Tree, APPLE TREE: 26H x 9"ROUNDX, GREEN

Trying To Make Paper Pots: Part Two, A Good Start

Well this was the best of the first batch made. I think they came out good for being done with a two year old's help.  I put some baby spider plants in my test pot. I went with the spider plants since I have lots of them and more coming all the time. didn't want to kill something I would have to re-buy.  They started out good, but after about a week or so the pots started to get moldy. I think from the flour, next time I am going to use cornstarch instead of flour. I have done that for some other paper mache projects and its works better then flour.  It just goes to show you why you should look things up before you "do" if you want to get it right the first time.                                                             I haven't gotten around to doing anymore of these just because I haven't had a need for many little pots.I was planning on using them for when I am giving cutting away because I was losing to many of my pots.                                                                                       From March 10, 2013

What Can You Use For Drainage In Flower Pots : Coffee Filters

I have been on a search for what is the best thing to put in a flower pot for drainage.   I have used many things and I cannot believe I did not think of coffee filters before.  Especially, considering the things I have tried, ha.

 This came to me in the form of a spam email from my very own grandfather. He is one of those compulsive forwarders,  but I only opened this one cause the title was "10 Things You Can Use Coffee Filters For".  I already use them for things other then making coffee so I wanted to see what it said.

  After reading that I looked at my plants to see which one was going to be my test plant.    I decided to use the newest batch of baby spider plants.  If they died nothing is lost and I will have more soon so biggie.    

 There wasn't any real instructions with this handy tip so I am winging it.  I used a small pot so the filter reaches just about to the rim of the pot.    I used 2 filters, since one seemed like it wasn't enough.    Since the dirt level was going to be below the filter I had to be careful while filling around the spider plant.The waves of the filter can allow a good amount of soil to fall down, so to avoid the mess of it just take your time filling.



          

It has only been a few weeks since I potted the spider plants but so far so good.  The paper that is sticking out has turned a little brown but that was expected. I really want to see how it comes out when you are repotting.   I haven't seen any soil mess in the drain saucer, and the plant seems happy enough but I think its not liking where its hanging more then it cares about the coffee filter right now. I might move it next to the main spider plant to see if its just not happy with the location.


We will see how it goes!

Window Shopping At Lowes

I wish I could buy every plant I see and didn’t already have, however there are two good reasons I cannot. Money and Space/light.  The one that really stops me is space/light.  If I don’t have any where to put it now what will I do when it grows.     You can squeeze lots of little plants together and get away with it for a while but it won’t last. they will die or eventually have to be moved due to growth.

But That doesn't mean window shopping is out. I was at Lowes for a shrub or tree for my front yard, I have a window that really needs shade.  I Happened *wink-wink* to walk by the indoor plant section and stopped for a look.


Didn’t think to get the names of any of these but with a picture you can find the name.


No these are not the same kind of plants if you look you will see the difference in the stripes and shape of leafs.  In person the one in the left picture has white and red in its stripes. looks like a yummy candy cane.     The stripes can really mess with your eyes, I would not want to be running in a field of any one of these plants, ha.




Picture below: the color change from the top of the leaf to the bottom is wonderful.  I love plants that have coloring like this.
                                                                                                  
I love the green on this one’s leaves.   This picture does not do it justice. The outer green is so bright yet full of color.   You know how lime green is bright but it can lose its color, this has that kind of brightness but the saturation of a dark green.

Saving My Marginata

I tried to twist the stems of these as they grew but It was to late for that.I was hoping that twisting would make up for the thin stems but it is getting to top heavy and I have to do something now or it might die.   My plan is to cut the tops off where they are the thickest and hope is grows.   I have let it grow to long without topping it. 

   

I found some new nubs so if all goes well I will have 3 to 4 of these. I will cut the tops off and let the stems keep growing, maybe I get a more then four if the stems keep popping out nubbies

I am going to start these in different ways. One in water and the other in Jiffy 7 puffs.    For the water cutting I broke out my trusty ol’ green vase.    I haven’t found anything that holds (hard to tip) and grows my cutting like this thing.

                

The houseplant marginata is known for its red to purple stripe along the margin of the leaves. It is a carefree houseplant with a tropical appearance.  And, is effective in removing benzene, formaldehyde, toluene, xylene, and trichloroethylene from the air.

I Need Fertilizer, My Plants Are Starving

It has been way to long since I feed my plants, it was close to Christmas.  I ran out and have forgot to get any on one of my many trips to a store since then.   Sad.  Good Thing I got the good soil for my last soil changing, that is probably the only reason they have made it.

Attempting Another Restart For My Sad, Sad Cane: PART 1

 

This Massangeana Cane is about as old as I am (27 years old), I do not have any memories that do not have this plant in them.  After seeing others in stores and on Google Images I see my parents did not know how to trim it. They never topped it off to and cut the leaves as the tips turned brown.  Long story short it has just grown and grown leaving it with a sad skinny stem. very sad I know, please don't leave me comments telling me how sad it looks, I know.   I am trying to save it.

About 8 years ago (wow, cannot believe how long ago this was, seems like yesterday) I had used some Jiffy7 puffs to start some roots on the stem before cutting. the top was so heavy that the tiny stem could not hold it. It was cut or break.    It didn't take long for it to get some roots, it grew good for a few years.   I wish I had cut it shorter but my dad was supervising, ha ha, and it was kind of his plant. I just claimed it as mine and no one argued. Well I take that back, my sister wanted it too.     I ended up with two because the bottom grew a shoot and seemed happy. I kept the top and gave that one to my sister.    

Here we are today, it grew and grew again. I admit I had neglected it to but I kind of wanted it to grow tall so I could do what I did before.

I was going to do it sooner but I never remembered in time. I wanted to start around spring.  When I did this is was late in the year, but it was growing so good I thought it would be find.  I also put some kind of plastic around that to keep the water there long enough for the Jiffy to absorb it.   

See PART 2 for what happens! 

Old Wives Tales: Part 1 Watering Your Plants With Pasta Water

Over then years I have been told or read about some plant care tips that are kind of crazy, but us plant people tend to do crazy, ha ha.    I think I heard of the pasta water in a magazine for the first time. I know I have had a few other people tell me through out the years but not sure which was first.    I do not do it very often and as of late not at all.

  Just so we are on the same page when I say pasta water I am talking about the water you boiled pasta in.  This "tip" is usually mentioned in articles about reusing and not really geared towards plant growers.  It just tells you how to do it but no first hand reviews of how it works.    Maybe if I had spent more time looking around the web I might have found some.

   The biggest problem for me is waiting for it to cool down.  You have to have a place to store it while it cools down.  And when do you usually make pasta? I hardly ever make pasta lunch, so it is usually late and I don't water at night.    That means it has to sit overnight.    By morning it is so nasty looking you don't want to use it.     The first time I did it I did not do anything with it and just used it as is,  and that just made a mess.  The starchy film left a residue on top of the soil. It lasted through a few waterings with plain water.    I have tried many concoctions; diluting it with tap water, skimming it, etc... and it Doesn't seem to benefit the plant enough to go through all that BS when you can use other fertilizers.

If you are thinking about trying it I would say skip it, not worth it.

* Note you shouldn't use any pasta water on plants if it has oil or salt.  Ha, I know when do you ever not use salt when cooking pasta.  another thing they don't tell you in the articles.

Trying To Make Paper Pots: Part One

Having some fun with my two year old son and some store sales flyers that would go in the trash anyways.  What a good way to spend a few hours.  I wasn't sure of what to use as a mold and didn't look online before starting this project. This Project is more for something to do then the results. I figure learn by failure.  After shredding the flyers in long strips and gathering some small pots I got the flour and water mixture ready.  I went light at first but didn't really like the way it came out so before starting the next one I added more flour.   I still wasn't happy with it so more flour went in.  Next time I know to start with more.   We will see how they turn out!

About Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena Sanderiana)

 This is a very deceiving plant, to start with it is not bamboo at all but related to Lilies.  And by living underwater for just long enough to make you think you have a cool new aquarium plant it dies.  I was sad to find out that since it is not a true aquatic plant the two I have in my tank will eventually die. It make me mad that places like Petco sell it as a water plant when they should know its going to rot and die.     The Dracaena Sanderiana is classified as a Tropical Plant. However after all the grief I gave Lucky Bamboo above I did  read on a few aquarium forums that some will live if they have leaves out of the water.

 Out of the aquarium it is said they are low maintenance. Not needing much light and grow-able in various "soils" its only real demand is water.  No need to fertilize, just watch out for Spider Mites and Mealy Bugs. They like to suck the plant's juice. However I have killed many so they are not invincible .


 The Lucky Bamboo's biggest lie is it connection with Feng Shui considering it hasn't been around that long. And it doesn't come from China but West Africa.

**Toxic to pets***


                                                 

Bamboo In An Aquarium? Didn't Know They Would Grow Like That

Ok, I am miss leading you with the title, since the kind of "bamboo" that I am referring to isn't technically bamboo. However in my defense I just found this out myself.   They are Dracaena sanderaina,  I did know that they can be grown in soil. I have bought and killed many.  But when we were getting plants for our fish tank my Husband could not resist. 



                          I know the picture sucks but its hard to get a good one with the flash and without, hopefully I will get a better one soon.

We have had it for quite a while now and so far its growing good, not to much
new" growth.  I call it a win because it isn't dead yet.  But I made a boo boo and broke a branch off during a tank cleaning and now the fish are eating at it like crazy.  Its not the end of them though, their is three stalks and only the one is being picked at so I am only expecting to lose that one.
I tried to save the branch that broke off but that did not work. 




                                                                                                      

Finding Time

As you can see there a gap in my blogging, I am finding it hard to find time to write.  Heck, I have even been forgetting to water my plants.  I have tried writing on the calender when I watered but that doesn't last.   On Yahoo's Homepage I read about a way to make it so your plant sends you a text message. It seemed like something I could do but I need to find that link. It is lost somewhere in my bookmark jungle.  I just googled "plants send text" and I found a link to a kit for $99.  I think I will wait until they come down in price before I run out and buy one.   And, maybe look a little harder for the DIY link.

Spider Plant

 I was very shocked to see how much roots my Spider Plant had.  It was all roots in that pot.   Any longer in there and it would of  suffocated, haha.   It isn't a big plant, the root system is like the same size as the plant.    It is really happy to have a bigger pot, in the days after I transplanted you could really see the difference in it.  It is standing up more ( as much as a Spider Plant can), and just seems happier.

      








                                                          

Lemon Tree

My Lemon Tree disappointed me, I thought there would be more roots by now.  However I haven't really read into Lemon Trees to see if they are rooty trees. maybe that is how it is supposed to be.   I ended up putting it in a smaller pot because it seemed like so much of the soil wasn't being use.    The Tree looks healthy and has been growing steadily.  We will see how it does inside for the Winter, but being in AZ its not like we have really cold Winters, and a many Lemons Trees grow just fine here.  I think this is the last year I baby it. I will take it out during the day so it gets enough light.

  

Went to HomeDepot

Well I finally went to Home Depot and got some new pots and soil, I am real late on blogging about it since I went on Nov 9,  and its early Feb. 

I spent about $34, I got a big 32 QT bag of Miracle Gro (the good stuff with moisture control), one 12" pot and two 8" pots.  No Terra Cotta  pots this trip. I had looked at them but just couldn't bring myself to buy one.

 I got to work right away, transplanting the ones that needed bigger (or smaller) pots and refreshing soil in others.    Since I got such a big bag I thought why I better get busy before I waste another bag of soil.