SHOW US YOUR "BRINGING INS"

By now most of us have over done what we vowed to constrain. So show us your "bringing ins".

Some more.

Think this is about it.

Doc, I'm hoping we have bringing-ins when we get home! We've heard there has been some rough weather up there in Pa. Our 2 weeks is winding down, so look for us about Monday. Hope this finds everyone in MA doing well, I'm looking forward to "talking" to y'all.
Ric

Doc, My goodness everything looks so nicely organized. Great Job! I haven't brought any coleus inside for years. But I have one that I would like to this year. There are some red Geraniums, a Mandevilla, a fern and 17 Begonias that I want to bring in. Ahem, I'm just forming my action plan .

Doc, do you do anything in your inside gardening area to raise the humidity level?

I have two nice purple Oxalis that I would like to try and save. Does anyone know how these would overwinter? Do they need a period of dormancy?

My health demands about 50% relative humidity. Other than that I do nothing. The Oasis is a natural humidity zone for the cuttings. I have never had a wilt when using Oasis. Great stuff!

Thanks, Doc. I might go out tomorrow and get some of that Oasis.

A lot of inside gardeners would put a layer of small stone in shallow trays with water to create a humidity zone. I never have done that.

Doc, nice display and plants. Wish I had big windows for my plants.

I run several of those warm mist humidifiers all winter, the house feels warmer and we feel better. As a result my house plants are benefiting also.

Doc really does have a nice set up there for his plants. The tile floor is nice too, no soil splashing on the carpet or water stains on the hardwood.

Lady, do you have a particular brand of humidifier that you prefer?

I just get mine at Walmart, with all the minerals in our water (we do have a filter on the water line into the house) they will last a few seasons and I'll buy a new one. The 2 I have now are Holmes brands.

I also use those plastic and cork plant dics for under the plant pots (also Walmart) or old dinner dishes. They save the wood tables and the floor from moisture, also moving the pots a little to check for mosture.

Thanks, Lady. Those are so much nicer and more compact than the big ugly rectangular ones that I used years ago. Do you fill them daily or weekly? I'm not planning to put any pots on the furniture, but may need another small plant stand.

Daily fill, but that depends on how dry your air is, when we get those really cold snaps up here the air gets drier. It nice to alternate the 2 start one before the other, that way they don't go dry at the same time.

Humidifiers are rated for their output. Whole room humidifiers need as large a tank as you can afford. Humidity moves through the air and will service to some degree the room or two next to the room they are in depending on circulation. A two room humidifier will likely have at least a two and a half gallon water tank. On high demand days the tank may need to be refilled morning and evening. This estimating is based on my hot air system.

Any humidifier will work more efficiently if air intake is sitting over a heating register or the base board element if there is a hot water system.

Humidifier water should be treated for bacterial content and other elements you may have in your water. Filters should be replaced at least yearly.

Expect the bottom price for a good unit to run about $150.00. The filter changes if they are any good will cost $50.00 a year. Look at the specifications not the box they are contained within. Ask to hear one running. Some are a great deal more distracting via the noise than others.

If you have a hot air furnace a plumber can put one in your system that will be better in all ways than free standing boxes.

Most people, all pets and your plants will be better off when the humidity is increased for your heating season. Your Christmas tree may last a month instead of two weeks. Static will no longer be an issue when humidification is propery adjusted to your need. Your wood chairs will no longer fall apart while many squeeks will be removed from your wooden floors. Your significant others may also feel better and be less edgy than when living in a desert condition.

This message was edited Oct 10, 2009 11:57 PM

Thanks, Doc and Lady. I'm a firm believer in the benefits of humidity. I don't do well out west. My eyes, throat & lungs really feel the dryness. Yes, I use a large amount of wood oil on the furniture for that very reason.

Doc, I got some of the Oasis tonight. Will try some cuttings tomorrow.

The warm Mist humidifers do not have a fan or filter, they do acculimiate a mineral build-up that can be cleaned off with a cleaner like Lime Away. They are less then $100.00.
I gave up on the fan-filter types as the replacement filters became hard to find, and they seem to grow the nasty stuff on the filters. I did not think they put out the humitity like the warm mist ones.

Thanks for the tips, Lady.

The average living room and kitchen dining rooms will need between one and two gallons of water per day.....More in the coldest weather and highest heating days.

If the humidifier gets "stuff growing" it is because they are working and the humidity is really up considerably. That is why the water must be treated. If the unit is not showing various build ups the humidy is not up to general averages people like to live with. A good supplyer or plumber will tell you these facts and can measure the relative humidity in your home quite easily taking most of the guess work out of the real needs.

A tea kettle on the stove will steam off a quart of water in an hour but that is not near enough to do any real good nor is it likely to be consistant. Grandma's steaming stove top worked because it heated all hot water from cooking to bathing the kids and washing the diapers. That is why the living rooms and dining rooms were shut off in winter. They just knew the kitchen was more comfortable and the bread raised better too. The old cook stoves were huge because the action center kitchens were huge as were the families. The old dog laid up against the cool room door serving as a draft sock. He liked the cool room air. It was always at a closed room door or at an outside door because they leaked cold air.. Heat rises and cool air falls.

Stormy--

I have a purple Oxalis too. Still outside. It has lost a lot of leaves.....I think it is normal--as it definitely needs a dormant season. I looked at the soil of it--and there are little "nubs" of nodes--like small bulblets....I think it grows from these.....

I remember last Spring--out of nowhere--it just took off.
Need to know when, or IF, I need to stop watering it. For hopw long?
ANYONE WITH SOME ADVICE?????

Thanks, Gita

Gita, See below:

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1047252/

Thanks--I checked it all out!

I'm waiting to butt in and ask doc--are those your Xmas (thanksgiving) cactus in the whitepots, first picture? Those incredibly dark green glossy things? Fabulous!
Ya'll have talked me into running the humidifyer more this winter. Tho with teenagers in the house, we get more humdity from showers LOL

You're right about that, Sally.

Gita, I'm surprised to hear you say that about your Oxalis. Mine have not lost any leaves at all and are looking quite nice.

Yes those are Seasonal Cactus......sometimes all called Christmas Cactus. They are however bloomers spread out from Thanksgiving through Easter. They are of seven different colors with only one that is red/purple blooming normally in the Christmas season.

I have some potted up for a Spring plant swap. I hope Holly opens her backyard once again.

They are glossy green and real healthy looking because I just repotted and fed them a little fish/kelp. Right now is their bud setting period as the days get shorter. I never move them to a dark room which may hurry up the bud set. We enjoy them when they come into bloom over a longer time period.

Sally--

AND, that other glossy, healthy thing hanging in the window is the NBC rooted plant I gave him.
I cannot believe it either!

Then--did you read about how he makes his own soil and all those natural goodies he fertilizes them with? Microbes and whatever.....
Anything doc touches turns to magic!

doc--my Th-Cactus are still outside and have already set bud.
I usually leave them outside through some pretty cool temps and they all have flower buds at their tips.

Would you suggest I re-pot them now? Many of them have been in the same pots for years.
Any suggestions as to what would be best? Within reason--what could i add to the soil? I do have Kelp Meal.
I could also scratch out some good compost from the bottom of my S.E.M.
IF I do that--can I just use it as is--or does it have to be "processed" in any way?

Give me the info--and I will serve you some Jewish Wine.......:o) Gita

Gita............we all learn one step at a time. There is nothing wrong with what you have been doing. When you look at these nice deep green plants I have remember they are just two years old. I am building plants and that is best done in nice rich mediums and a mixture of teas. To increase the size and the branching they must grow, be pinched back and get established first. I had all of these outside in medium shade all summer. I brought them in because we are about four weeks different in our first frost. I think they are about the size I would like to keep them. I will likely not repot them now for several years. The plants will tell me when to devide or repot. As long as they look nice, set buds and produce nice flowers I'm pleased. I remember my grandma's inclosed back porch had one in a metal bushel basket. I doubt she ever repotted it as long as I can remember. It looked shaggy but it put on a holliday show every year. She started dozens in coffee cans for her church's plant swaps.

I work with simple basic feeding and soil building in my pot grown things. My basic house plant medium is about 25% coir, 50% Pro Pix, with the remaining being compost, good garden soil, vermiculite and perilite. I like to include worms and all if and when they appear. When I mix up a wheel barrow load I toss in about a quart of organic 4-2-4, about a cup full of Ironite for the trace minerals and a cup of earthworm castings. I add a half cup of Micorrhiza to all mixes. I wet it down and hoe mix it like a mason making cement. I have played with the water crystels but find little advantage over the use of coir and Pro Mix. Those water crystels are interesting but do nothing for your soil or pot medium except hold water. A heaping shovel full or two of compost is all that is needed in a wheel barrow load. I let it rest or adjust for a day or two and then pot up what ever.

Summer feeding is the use of fish/kelp, earth worm castings, compost and aerobic compost teas fed weekly weakly in rotation not all at the same time. I test for strength by holding a clear water glass up to the sky. I want it to look like weak tea you would drink. About this time in October I slowly withdraw all fertilizing and feed none again until about January when the plants start to wake up and show me they want to grow again.

I have almost never used any man made fertilizers in my fifty years of gardening. Actually I have always done better without them. I use Neem Oil for most ailments. I have a couple of BT products. Yes I have but seldom use anything stronger. When the plants are healthy most problems will just not show up.

Seeking and finding raw manures is mainly to use in my compost.
All that good potting medium growing my patio stuff goes back into the compost along with the plants. By spring it will be recharged naturally and get made up again the same way I make it every spring.

Thanks, doc---

A nice overview of your success... I don't have many of the products you use--like coir, worm castings and what you make "teas" with.
Overall--I am quite negligent about fertilizing....and, many times--watering. It is just too overwhelming when one has so many plants....I want to simplify--but it never happens..
Today--when I get home from work (2PM) I have to find room for all the plants still outside. Gotta do it! The weekend is going to be really cold. it is time anyway...Then I take my time clearing the beds and pulling stuff up.
Leaves are falling too---

Probably going to turn the heat on as well...

Oh, well. Gotta get going! Gita

We have had nightime heat on for a couple of weeks now to maintain 69 degrees. Today looks like an all day issue. Our fall is slipping into winter. Just barely missed a first frost last night.

After today--If I were to show you what i have brought in--it would be the whole house-full.

Hauled a lot today--after being up before 5AM and working until 1PM.
Got home and started hauling everything in....I have NO idea how many round-trips I made-----finished at 5PM......
(OH---I need some J. Wine!)....
Everything is now inside--except my X-Mas cacti --they can stay out for another week. I also have an 8"pot of a Hibiscus I bought this Spring. It grew quite tall.....Will try to save it till next year.

My house has now assumed it's usual "Jungle" look. Greenery everywhere! Just have to get it organized....

YES! I DID turn on the heat tonight.....NOT 69*! I would fry! I keep it around 64* max. MY comfort level.
Falling asleep----and it is only 8PM. That's what waking up before 4AM will do to me......(more wine, please!).....

Gita........zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....

Gita.......as long as there are no English Sparrows flying about the house your work will be well done.

Heat's on here tonight too, but not by my choice. I love a cool house. I step outside all winter to cool off. I have almost everything that I want to bring in done. Spent some time this morning planting and ripping down more tomatos. My beds are so dry that I actually spent 2 hours watering.

I can accomodate three small things here for the winter. And can rotate a few things in and out. Thats a west window, not sure how well any particular item will like that long term.
I really don't have that much great indoor plant space here.

Besides the plants get lost in the general mess.
These two are just in transit to dormancy. Don't see any buds.

The bedroom jungle is still a work in progress. I am very proud of my plumeria in the corner, it bloomed but is almost done now. I think that will end of going dormant too. The other tall thing is Rose Souvelons brug from Gita (thanks again!) that I just want to allow to finish blooming, this is its first big flush and should be pretty exciting. Beeftsteak Begonia (Gita again) in a pot brought to a swap by miatablu. More thing will be coming in here. Green thing on the right is a Ctenanthe or something, related to prayer plant and I'm not sure how well that will do, and besides, its lost all the really nifty variegation that got me to buy it (for 2 bucks, last Feb, after Swap at that Dutch Plants)

I really like that my laundry room /opens to the deck, has a nice plant shelf and east window/plus south window on the door. The banana can't really stay here but will probably be kept going in the bedroom jungle again. It didn't grow as much a I thought it would over this summer. The trunk base is over 3 inches diam. It never rooted out of the drain holes so it stayed a lot drier than I thought it was. So it would be manageable to keep it green . But if we get one more reprieve of semi mild weather, I really should haul it back out, plus a few others, and Neem them. Spider mites love banana and plumie

Sally, I thought that everybody cut the Brugs down when they brought them indoors. Will you leave your uncut?

I am semi clueless! I stripped of some leaves already. These two were sunk in the garden, and when I ripped them up from the ground, tore roots off. Then they had to lay in the yard so needless to say got very wilted anyway. I know that Gita stripped hers completely last yer, possibly made cuttings right then too. I think I will let them wilt down/ go dormant as is, remove leaves as they yellow, and consider making cuttings later.Oh yeah, they are not actually LAYING in the dining room; the pic is still sideways. LOL SORRY

You know, I am actively practicing restraint, I have given plants to hubbys office, have reduced the size by keeping cuttings and letting some bigger base plants go, actually totally got rid of one I didn't care for...and still have a full load, any more and I'm sure I would be stressed by caring for them. I am keeping a minimum of boring (to me) plants or those that are just not good looking.

This message was edited Oct 15, 2009 10:45 AM

Doc, We have found that water crystals are useful in our window boxes and hanging planters. Part of the "trick" to using them is getting them wet and keeping them that way. I have found that when you water a mix with crystals it is better to water lightly 2-3 times rather than one heavy pass. This gives them time to absorb the maximum amount of water, used this way you reduce the risk of wilting on hot breezy days. A novel use of the crystals is sewing them in a cloth tube to be worn around your neck of hot days, the evaporation helps to cool you. There is/was a group that produced these for our troops in Iraq to help them deal with the heat. Ric

Sally, I did not cut back my Rose Souvelons that Gita gifted me,
I just moved it into the basement to let it go dorment. I also have a Supper Nova burg from a co-op that has not bloomed yet, it did not even form a Y so I though it was best not to cut that one back.
Gita, if I'm on the wrong track, please set me straight.
Does your plumeria have a great scent? I really want one but the burgs are taking up most of my attention right now, along with begonias and coleus.