Tropicals & Tender Perennials: My Luck with rooting hoya, 1 by begoniacrazii

begoniacrazii wrote:
That big number is h. polystacha (sp?) and even she has a new root!! It is very woody. Yea, those african violet leaves don't want to lay down at all, too much condensation on the back of the leaves makes them rot. Plus I use the bamboo to dig holes when I put plants down.

I'm constantly lifting them to see if they have roots (not a very patient plant mom here) so I just use the bamboo to keep burrowing in the perlite.

Temp reads....whoa 110º that can't be right, of course that is directly on the towel on the mat. I don't think it's that high inside the tray. More like mid 80 at the bottom, and cool to the touch at the surface. I know it's not very scientific, but so far it's working. keep in mind that my office is pretty cool so that likely counteracts the warm tray.

For the shelves, well, i got mine at CostCo. They run about $80 here on the Left coast, but I know you can get them at Sams Club, we just don't have one around here. the lights run $8 plus $7-8 for bulbs. These are 48" wide shelves and lights.

This new one I got at Target for $60 and it's much smaller. only 36" long. (see the photo of it in my bedroom. DH agreed to let me put one in there. Little does he know what it will lead to! (sinister laugh) I needed a place to keep my AV's isolated before they join me in my office (aka my playhouse) and infect anyone if they have bugs. This is the only place logical for them as our teeny tiny house doesn't have much room.

Hope he doesn't mind the flood lights coming on at 6am..... stay tuned....

Tough to find lights (like shop lights - the economical kind) that are 36" so I ordered 24" (from a hydroponic store) and figured the african violets would have to make do. I did get the more expensive 'grow' bulbs with wider spectrum to try and make up for it.

One thing I'll do is rather than use two expensive bulbs, i'll just use one per light and use a cheap bulb (I like the warm light) in the other socket. I guess that way I give them a little dose of the full spectrum light they want without breaking the bank. Gulp.

Any hoo... photos of indiv. parts on the way....