Just took a picture of my cake pans. I know some of you use them too. I also decided to use the long one to the left. We bought a cake this weekend for the 4th and the company we had. I almost threw it away and thought the shape and size are perfect!
Here it is on the bottom, right. Just took this photo today.
What a great plant set-up Sally and a good way of recycling those cake pans! I am a nut about reusing/recycling! When I was growing AV's and playing around with propagating leaves I used to save the little clear plastic jello pudding cups. My husband eats lots of those little pudding cups so I had an unlimited supply. They are the perfect size for rooting leaves or sowing a few seeds! Those cake pans make great little greenhouses since they have the lids!
I use the cake containers too, both recycled and purchased brand new. The lids make it very convenient.
I am wondering though if I have my lights too close to my plants, judging by how far away yours are, Sally. Mine are pretty much only 6 inches above the plants and leaves.
Sally,
you are so organized, it makes me feel like such a slob. lol the only tome my stands look like that is after i have had to clean it for the 20th time,as a plant fell over.i hate when that happens, & it happens quite often.may be i just have too many plants, did'ent think that could happen. lol
bonnie
Yes, messes happen for sure! I just use my little vacuum for that. I like the plants to be separated for air flow and room to grow. They seem to like that.
This pic. is from last year, when I still wick watered.
JMP, the lights are not really low even though they do adjust easily. There are two and it is very bright. They seem to grow fine like this.
This message was edited Jul 9, 2009 11:47 AM
Sally,your stands are always perfectly organized and beautiful !!
I have a couple of sacks full of deli containers,and the things with lids like a taco salad or baked chicken comes in.They come in so handy.
jmp24,
Six inches is pretty close for AVS.If you notice the centers getting tight move the lights up a little.Some Gessies,like Kohleria,don't even care if they are touching the lights.Being right under the lights also creates more heat and in the summer that can be a problem.
Lynn
I moved the lights up 2 inches. No tight crowns yet, but I noticed some of the rooting leaves were getting paler, and I hear they don't need really high light anyway. Heat shouldn't be an issue with the AC on.
I just hate it sometimes when I'm shopping that I'm looking at the food containers more than the food that is in them. I recently asked for a to go box for my giant muffin at cracker barrel and the lady brought this lovely deep octogan shaped box with high clear lid ( about 8" x 4"!!!) --- loved it! I also dig my daughters cold coffee cups out of the trash - hey, they are clear with a clear lid - great for cuttings and seeds...what is she thinking anyway, throwing them away...she knows her mother saves that stuff! tish
you are not alone. my plant room looks like a salvation army with all the plastic cont,lol
bonnie
the plastic hoagie containers are good too, long and wide enough to fit two rows of 8 each of the one oz condiment cups I use for rooting little leaves and crowns.
Meee toooo!!!!! Those containers from Cracker Barrel are to die for!! And the hoagie--we call them grinders here--containers are perfect for starting leaves, or as a greenhouse fussy mini's.I use the condiment cups also. As for the iced coffee cups, I re- use those for myself! ^_^
The big cake containers, usually they just have a flat round bottom made of a thicker, usually black plastic, and then the big clear dome, are great for when you have to de-neck bigger plants and they need some TLC recovery time.
I used to set my plants on the black lid and put the large clear cake container on top, (just like the cake comes sitting on the black part).... but the pots fall over easily when I need to move it. Then I was getting some with the clear lid...and I really like to upend the clear "top" (like the cake would be upside down) and set the plants down inside the dome, and put the clear lid on that way ... So to replace those "black lids", I bought those clear plastic plant saucers (they are like 4" and up to 15" or more) and the larger ones will cover the large round cake domes...won't fit tight, but will hold in humidity.
tish - ..... who bought crosants in a heavy plastic container recently....Don't you hate those thin weak plastic containers that crack after a use or two? !!
Around here they are packing plum tomatoes in little round containers with holes in the bottom and a domed top with a peel back opening.I am thinking they would make great homes for minis.
Oh yeah!! Lynn, I know just what you mean - they would be great for the little plants. Will have to look for them in the farmers market.
Lilypad, great idea to use the plastic saucers upside down. For the real little plants and leaves rooting in the 1oz cups, I use 2 saucers, one to set the cups in, and the other to sit upside down on top. But unless you tape the lid on, the top is always falling off..kind of a pain.
Here's a photo of the little tomato thingy.
I get those small tom. things, but there is not room enough inside the way it is made. Also, the paper on top. If you take it off, doesn't it have a hole? Mine do. How do you use this one?
Sally,
if you take the paper off there is a hole in the top or you can stick the paper back down.They are small,but can be filled at least half way with any very light soil mix,working from the top.Just be careful not to open the part that attachs the yellow part to the clear part.They are only big enough for mini Sinns. and micro. minis of AVS or other Gessies.
I know there is a hole, oh, you want the hole? I thought you were wanting the plant domed. Also, the dome yellow thing, that makes it hard, right?
Sally,
If I was using it,I would peel off the top,fill about half with soil mix,then put in a mini plant.
While waiting in the doctor's office the other day, I was looking through the April issue of Better Homes and Gardens. I saw the cutest thing..............
It was any shallow glass container with little grass of some kind planted.........and then, someone had taken an egg and gently tapped it so it broke 3/4 of the way up. They emptied the yolk and white part out of the egg, cleaned it. Then they planted miniature avs in the big part of the shell laying over on its side with soil spilling out onto the smaller part of the shell..........sitting on the grass............so cute!!!
Think how nice it would be to put miniature trailers in one and let it trail out onto the smaller part of the shell on the grass.........
It sounds darling,but creativity is not one of my strong points LOL.
Something like this Gail?
Yes, but they were actually planted in the shell and the shell was leaning over spilling a little dirt in the top part of the shell.............cute!!
I see, Ibrabec. You will have to post a pic if you do it.
I had just plopped that in there to see how it might look. You'll have to try yours next Easter, or maybe for a County fair project sort of thing. Got any chickens on you farm?
Very pretty Phoebe!!
Sally,I will post a picture when it's ready.Might be a while LOL.
OK. :)
Very cute idea! I also use plastic containers and I ship in some. I put my episcia stolons in a solo cup and tape another one on top to dome it and it ships great. You know those plastic storage bins on wheels? The frame broke so this is what I have done with the drawers.
Connie
Wow, Connie, you really are growing a lot of avs and they are so happy in their drawer ^_^
Thanks, Gail! You have a d-mail :)
Connie
