I got a little soldering iron which I have never had. Since I am sticking av leaves and they are sitting on a good capillary matting, why should I bother to put string in there. With holes this big, they ought to get all the water and fertilizer they need?
They are okay either way Gail.I make small holes,so sometimes I put a string in just to help them gradually suck up the water.
good because I have already started and they are fancy pancy leaves from viostrep........can't lose them..............
I love you Gail ..............fancy pancy leaves , hahahahaha love that ......................but if you did lose them I would give them back to you , I did put leaves down for you but then you decided to do the swap early so I had to send you leaves instead .............love fancy pancy , if I get a chimera of my own making sometime , I will have to remember that name for it , by the by I need to ask about chimeras , I got one from a leaf once and named it but then lost it for I don't remember what reason but haven't gotten one since , but one can hope :)
Connie Fancy Pancy :)
Fancy Pancy is my favorite expression for something really nice.........can even be used for fancy pancy clothes or fancy pancy shoes!!! (LOL)
connie;
you can't get a chimera from a leaf. it has to be a crown or a basket.with a leaf you will get a solid color flower.Did'ent know if you knew that.
mrsbonnie
Well, I just use one of those tools my husband has lots of, an awl, its like a small screwdriver but has a sharp point instead. I carefully - so not to punch myself, ha - push it thru about 3-4 cups at a time. It's quick, it's easy and it works for me. I used to always run a small yarn thru them, also used the awl to poke it thru. But lately I been starting extra leaves for my violet club and just didn't put the yarn in those. they've done just as well without the yarn. they're on a tray with an acrylic blanket as matting.
I bought a couple leaves of Rob's humpty Doo a few years ago and they grew a plant. when I was telling the ladies in my violet club, one asked what color the bloom was. I was told it was a chimera and wouldn't bloom true. Well it didn't bloom a true chimera blossom but it was white with some purple in the petals, it was variable.
thanks..........I am not using string. Wish I had known about this soldering thing a long time ago. I used to sit by the hour with the scissors cutting slits at the bottom two sides.........I sit on the front porch at the table to do it (it stinks).......
I love to play with chimera leaves just to see what I get!!
Hi ,
I know about chimeras , but they are a mutation of a normal AV and you can get them from a leaf that mutates and as I said I did get one once , it was pretty but I lost it but hope it happens again with my many leaf plantings :) It is how a new chimera is born :)
Thank you Bonnie :)
Connie
i dont put strings in my solo cups,
Thanks for the information, Connie........will be watching my leaves as they reach the point of bloom........
Good Jim..........cause I didn't use string.........just the matting and the dome.....
I just bought a small soldering iron too. Got tired of cutting slits in bottom of solo cups with these old fingers. I don't use string either when I'm rooting leaves. I keep the leaves in the cups in a covered aluminum tin until they have mouse ears big enough to separate. When I separate the babies into their own cups, I use the wicking cord. Then they are in trays sitting on mats. I've tried keeping them on the grids, but I kept knocking them over and always had to empty trays and clean out the mess. I don't have any chimera and hopefully one will be in the round robin. LOL
Gail, I'm still struggling with the streps. They do not seem to like me very much. I have some left from the leaves you sent, but they are struggling. I've wicked them and now they are sitting on mats. I'll see how it goes.
Hey guys,
How much do the smoldering irons run and where do you purchase them?
Thanks!
I got mine at Walmart. It was $10.46. Came with two tips. I went to chage the tip into the longer one but they are both the same. Just made the tip longer so I can go thru more cups at a time. I made piles of 4 or 5 cups and then went to work. It went so quickly that I was able to do the entire package of 80 cups in about 10 minutes.
Awesome!!!!
This is next on my list of growing supplies....
Just remember use a fan or do your cups outside as it stinks really really bad and could be toxic,even though im fine or so my therapist says so lol ,
Jim is ever so right..........that is toxic and you don't want the fumes in your house..........I sit on the front porch at the table .........wish I had found this little 'doozie' a long time ago..........life is easy with this gadget.
Jim, thanks for the cutest present I have ever gotten in my life..............I love my orange and green bright bright solo cups!!! Thanks
I'd love to see a picture of a fancy pancy leaf
A 'fancy pancy' leaf would include the leaves Viostrep just sent me. "Serendipity", "Museum of Art" and I can't remember the others.........but they definitely qualify as Fancy Pancy. Also Turtlechi sent me some fancy pancy strep leaves to include "Vicktorian", Coral (I am getting old....can't remember)something and 30 more ..........many of which get to wear the title of Fancy Pancy on the marker!!!
I just use a drill and do 3-4 at a time.
My drill wouldn't work because the solo cups weren't strong enough to keep from crumbling when I drilled.
I guess everyone has a different way.........but I am loving this new tool.
I used to "punch" holes in 9 oz clear drinking cups to make Easter baskets with pipe cleaner thru the holes for a handle when I taught kindergarten. I would take a large nail..the largest...and hold it in a candle til it got..hot...(with a pot holder) and then punch the holes....a very inexpensive 'drill', etc....could do it for solo cups the same way.....
The lady at Walmart told me I didn't need the soldering gadget as she uses a very small srewdriver and heats it on the top of the stove (LOL)
I use a drill with a small bit for Solo cups.In the past I have used a heated ice pick or nut pick,but that takes longer.
My DH accidently bought me some "fancy pancy" LOL,9 ounce party cups made out of something you can't drill without cracking them.I have to use a heated pick for them.The regular 9 ounce clear Solo party cups are perfect for so many Gessies.They are short and squat.......like me.....except I'm not short LOL.
Lynn
I also use one of those... I have for over 2 years now... Gail, also great to punch holes in tubs you want to put strep leaves in... saves lots of time....
Hugs,
Susan
I've always used a soldering iron. The kids fuss about how bad it stinks, even when the windows are open and fans are on, so I've started just using scissors to snip the edges of the bottoms of the cups most of the time. When I have a couple new bags of cups and a little while to sit outside, though, I go out there on my swing and solder away! LOL It's actually kinda nice... Maybe I'll go buy some cups today... ;o)
In all honesty, the fumes are toxic, so special care should be taken not to inhale them.
Oh dear....I think I will stick to using my screwdriver or scissors.:)
