Not right now, but later at the end of summer. I do treat them with Advantage but it is a chemical and we, my groomer and I, are looking at holistic ways to treat the problem. I think my indoor/outdoor cat Fred picks up fleas in this travels in the open back yard and passes them on to the girls. Fred get's Advantage also.
One of my daughter's kitties looses her hair where the flea treatment is applied, and some animals do not do good with the chemicals.
SHOW US YOUR "BRINGING INS"
Everything you wanted to know about earwigs....... http://www.simplegiftsfarm.com/controlling-earwigs.html
Drat, now I've got to read about those devils!! Thanks, Lady. I hope I don't dream about them.
Actually they are not to bad. And you will be able to tell a girl earwig from a guy earwig LOL
I have been ask how Merit 75 WP works in the long run. The answer was given in my post. It according to the label needs to be applied every ten to forteen days. I used it two applications seven days apart during the time the larva were peaking and about to produce adults. It completely cleaned me up in the soil. The spray on the plants may have done some good to as well as the systemic action inside the plant for those critters who bite or suck as adults.
No matter what treatment you use if you do not completely break the cycle of the insect they will just keep showing up forever. I had seventy five or more pots most of which had fungus knats and or mealybug. They killed two lemon trees and a cumquat. I tossed several violets and a couple other things. The Merit arrived and we were under control within three weeks. I have had no repeated notice of either of these insects. Neem Oil has been used this year as a preventative. The Merit 75 WP may never be used again. That was the first and only time I ever used it. In the powder form it does not have any shelf life to deal with.
I think the use per quart was 1/8 of a teaspoon full. That may have been two dollars worth for the gallon I made up. I have more than enough than a lifetimes supply for me at 74 years of age. Using it as a drench and foliar spray both called for a little less than a gallon each of two times I used it. My house plants are worth hundreds of dollars to me. I likely could have saved the lost plants if I would not have been fooling around in a war with a B B Gun when I needed a canon. My losses ended up being about 25% of my total plants. They way it looked I was headed for a wipe out.
Oxalis is doing pretty well inside. It's blooming.
Of course, I posted the wrong photo, the one time I didn't preview it. Let's try again.
Stormy---
I also have an Oxalis----It seems to go in phases.....I have read it has dormancy times and you need to let it rest.
I can no longer remember when it did really well--maybe early Summer.....But--end of Summer--it definitely had signs of fading....loosing most of it's leaves and so.
I also know that it makes these little root-balls (bulbs) it grows from. I removed some of them and planted them in smal pots--as my daughter wanted some in her window boxes.
The original plant is perking up and sending out new leaves--ans even a bloom stalk or two.
The small bulbs I planted--and that arte in my cool-dark basement haven't done a thing.......:o(
I guess i could research all this--but do any of you have any advice on the cycle of this plant? Just being lazy!
Gita
Gita, mine never slowed down at all, no leaf loss except for some the first week that I brought it inside. I'm going to move them into larger pots in the spring so that the bulb has room to grow. People are talking about them quite a bit on the thread that I started in the Perennial Forum. Check it out.
Doc, do you remember how much you paid for that Merit 75WP? There are several people selling it on Ebay.
Really no,,,,, to the price memory question. That was to much yesterday for me to remember! Does not matter anyway because we all have to pay today's price on everything. Think everything else is pretty well covered in my posts.
Google will take you to web sites that sell Merit 75 WP for price comparisons.
I've got a lifetime supply of Avid, also, if anybody needs a miticide -- but it's pretty serious stuff.
I got some of the Merit WP 75 conscentrate on Ebay, 2 oz for $43 including shipping. That's significantly cheaper than any of the websites I looked at.
Remember last Fall when we all had discussions on bringing in and rooting Coleus cuttings?
I don't remember which Post that was on--but this seems appropriate to show you how mine are doing.
They are huge! These already got pinched back once aome time ago--so now there are 2-3 shoots growing at the tops. I think I will have to pinch those off and re-root them. Theese no longer fit under my seed lights-they have outgrown the space.
Here is one of the trays.
And here is the red ones--I like these the best!
Anyone else have any pictures to show how yours are doing?
Would you re-pinch and re-root? We have long ways to go yet to planting time....
Gita
Gita, those look really great! Wonderful job.
Do to me breaking my wrist in October, I did not get a chance to do my usual Coleus cuttings. I did get some pots inside and in the basement, I intend to take cuttings from those that survived.
Last year I did take additional cutting from the original cuttings, those were the ones that I gave out at Holly's swap.
I guess it depends on how much room you have, and if the pinching will make better looking plants.
Growing the cuttings under lights sure make a difference.
Well--soon enough I will need those lights for their intended use--growing seeds.
But I find it practical to use the light set-ups during the Winter for cuttings. WHY NOT????
This is in my bedroom by a bright window.
This is from 07 when I first set it up.
Just as a reference (I've posted this picture before)
These coleus cuttings are from the same plant, both were grown under lights, but the lighter one was set in the living room window for several weeks to make room for seed starting under my lights.
They both did very well and lived out side that summer. The amount of light as an effect on some coleus. I thought it was an interesting comparison.
The coleus is Alabama Sunset.
lady---
I am a bit worried myself--as on Feb. 15th I will be having my THIRD surgery to try to fix my "leaky plumbing"..ahem....
The previous two (1989 and 2006) have not worked......
This means i will have a 6-week restriction on lifting anything over 15lbs. Seems impossible!
I have been through this before--the last time in 2006. Then the restriction was 5lbs! Geez! That meant i could not even go grocery shopping....A jug of milk would have violated that!
Trying to imagine what all I may have to do at work that might violate this rule. My usual job as phone Operator is a sit-down job--but we are also assigned to water all the plats in the Greenhouse and garden (in season)....
Now--I am one of the 2 people that is assigned to water the Greenhouse--at least once a week. The other girl will do it also once a week.
Watering, by itself, is no biggie--but pulling the 100' hose off the reel and then re-winding it will, certainly, be off limits.
Will need to make other arrangements.....
Being I live alone--and have to do EVERYTHING myself--it will be hard. But--I will sure do my best.
This weight restriction will also encroach early gardening chores.....which I will, probably, not be able to do. Like--digging up beds and working in the soil. Carrying out big pots of plants that have been in the House for the Winter....
And--just going grocery shopping.....Taking out the trash! Recyclables....Just HAVE TO do it!
Just think about what any of you do in the course of normal day(s). Can you even think of what is under the 15lb, limit that you may have to handle????
I sure don't want to cheat this time--as I am tired of having surgeries and tired of "leaking"....BUT--having no one else here to help--sure will create hard times....
What if we get another snow? Shoveling that is probably off-limits! SO? What do I do then? Not gonna pay someone $30 to come and do it or me! I may just have to walk through it and plow through it with my car--which I am sure can handle it--I have a Subaru Outback.
NOT looking forward to any of this--but it is a better time of year than the last surgery was--which was smack in the beginning of the gardening season.
...This too shall pass.........Gita
Gita, I think your surgery timeing is good 6 weeks even 8 will be good for gardening. The weight restriction will be hard to follow. Lifting and tugging will be a big NO NO.
Somehow we learn to make due and come up with ways to work around a problem. My hardest was opening up a can even with an electric can opener, which I went out and bought a cheap one, and chopping vegatables was very difficult with the cast and pain when I tried. Everything I did was right handed, couldn't even open and close the car door with my left hand.
But like you said "This too shall pass"
Thank you lady---
I have almost had one surgery a year lateluuand have managed to heal and do what has to be done all by myself with each one.
My "Mantra" is--if you don't mind--it does not matter".....
I have had both knees replaced--and many other surgeries--some more painful than others--and have recovered from all of them, mostly on my own with my "Can do" attitude.
My daughter will drop in now and then--but she works FT and takes care of her semi-handicapped husband.
I do not expect to monopolize HER time to come here and tend to me. I manage OK.
Recovery wise--this will not be a "biggie".....just the weight lifting restrictions will be hard to follow.
Thanks for your support---
Gita
Gita,
It will be hard, but in the long run, you will be glad you did it. The great thing with plants is that you always have next year! Some of these big soda bottles will keep your plants watered for a couple of weeks, and somebody could come and refill them for you. From your writings, I can tell you are quite a resourcefull and no nonsense lady. You probably will come up with a novel way to do things:)
As far as taking your big pots outside, I do not live very far from you, and I could come down a pre-arranged time and do it (I have a hand truck). Maybe someone else from this forum could help too.
Catherine
Gita, Try really hard to follow those weight restrictions, even if you feel you can lift something don't. It is really important, you develop adhesions when you don't.
Boy those coleus are beautiful that you both have. I was talking to Onewish at the swap she has a lot of them, too. I am planing on getting those coleus plugs again this spring so maybe we can do some swapping. Hopefully next year I will be able to "bring in" more cuttings.
Catherine--
Thank you for your offer--you are very kind.
I think between my daughter and some neighbors--if I need a hand, all i have to do is ask.
I don't have any plants large enough to require a hand-truck. Situating my 3 Brugmansias in their larger pots and digging them partially in the ground will, probably, be the most taxing. But--I hope by then my 6 weeks will be up.
That would be about mid April.
I will keep you all informed as things progress.
Gita
Here are some of my older N.B.C. cuttings growing like crazy.
Should have a bunch for the Plant Swap....
Good luck with surgery etc Gita. Imagine how many people would LOVE an excuse to be really lazy.
My coleus is doing well also. Last week on those nice days I pinched off a few and made new cuttings from the tops, they were getting sort of tall and outgrowing the pots . I'd prefer to keep them in more small pots, than to up-pot at this time. Yes ladyg--one of mine, I believe named Rustic Orange, was under a shade tree, and the color changed dramatically late in the season as the sun and air temp changed. I have a few nice pots of your coleus (choclate drop?). I'm not posting pics lately due to a computer problem, boo hoo. blue screen of death!! even hubby is struggling. it may have to go to a pro. All of our pics for the last five years are on it! and itunes got messed up too!
Surprisingly, while some plants in the house have mites, the banana which had them bad last year, does not.
I gave all of the plants a treatment of the Merit 75 Wp. It is a powder that you mix with water and water it into the soil. I still see some little bugs flying around, so maybe I'll hit them with the neem mix again tomorrow.
Hmmm, I just reread Doc's post and maybe I should mix up a spray from the Merit and apply that instead of the Neem. I think I will try that.
I lost my chocolate drop it was the only coleus I brought in. I had it in my turtle pot and it was such a nice small plant. But sadly it is gone. I also saved one of my small ornamental peppers afraid that might not survive either. It was looking good until it entered the "upstairs room of death". Some how it must have gotten missed in the last watering. Looks pretty dried out but I soaked it really good so we will see if there is any life left in it. Holly
I don't like to lose/ kill a plant but to be honest -- with my increased exposure to cool new things thru DG, not to mention the free new stuff available thru my DG friends...why sweat it? ya know?
my three Brugs are hanging in there in the basement with a few tiny new leaves. Gita--remember commenting how you thought the tip cuttings from your Brugs failed much more than stem cuttings? I can see that all the side shoots on my Maya/ Peaches and Cream are shriveling up while the main stems seem fine. I think your observation was right on--small side stems more willing to poop out.
Sally--many of my smaller stems on my bigger Brug are also shriveling up. That is just natural--as they are not receiving the amount of water they need. Brugs are "pigs" when it comes to water and fertilizers. The more--the better....
This is one reason Brugs should not be cut back b/f you put them in the "dungeon" for their Winter dormancy.
Sally--my "observation" is from past failures and successes.
I have also given up on water-rooting Brug cuttings and have had much more success with just dipping the stems in rooting hormone and straight into a nice potting mix. Keep just moist until you see new growth.
Let the tips and such die back while they are dormant. Then--when you are ready to bring it outside, prune all the ends back to live wood (hoping it is all above the "Y") but if not--just do it! Don't try to root anything you are cutting off in Spring--chuck it!
Cuttings are ideally taken in early Fall, when the day and night are about equal in length. Like--late August......
Of course--I seldom do it that early. Usually, more like end of October....;o(
Believe it or not--you can, actually, cut the main stem in pieces, if you like, and each peace will root!
Then--when you put them outside, re-pot if needed (root pruning will not bother them!) put them in the shade (YES!),start watering and feeding and just step back and watch it grow like you won't believe. POOOFF!
Harden them off over maybe a 3 week period, giving them more light each week until, finally, you can put them in a full sun location.
I still recommend the pot-in-pot planting technique for easy removal to bring them in again next fall. You can also burry the pots half way into your bed--and then dig them up to bring in.
I know I have said all this before.....just refreshing you all...and myself....;o)
Gita
Gita, I swear one of these days you're going to talk me into growing one of those things, which I need like a hole in the head!
And--I will be glad to bring you one--if you want--at he next seed swap.
BUT! Be serious about it! I only have 2 extra cuttings of a nice, pendulous pink one. That is the one i got from Chantelle, that was supposed to be a "Charles Grimaldi"--but was not. It shot up a new stem from the base that I cut back--cut up in threes--and stuck them all in the same pot. They all rooted and were growing beautifully.
Last week--I pulled them all apart and re-potted them in individual pots. They never even wilted!
Same as the "Dr. Seuss" someone gave her, and she gave me-- turned out to be a Rose Souvelons....
Brugs get addictive--and you think they are just SO neat---then as years come and go--and they grow into small trees, you no longer think all that.....So much care and fussing to be done with them. Dormancy-----cuttings-----rooting------endless fertilizing----digging them up and hauling them in------After a few years--they seem just Ho--Hum......
I suppose in FL and CA, where they stay outside all year--it is easier to love them.
I think I have reached that stage--but still will not give up what i have and still take cuttings and root them...and share them...etc...etc..etc....See what i mean??????
Gita
Gita, Thank you. But no, I don't think this will be the year of the Brug for me. Maybe next year.
I also brought in my brugs, Gita that one you gave me sure was pretty last year hopefully it will come back for me this year. My ornamental pepper was very forgiving. It is looking much better today. I saw a gardening tip somewhere on putting plants in pots in the ground. They suggested wrapping the pot in a few layers of newspaper. Makes it easier to pull the pot out in the fall I thought I would try that with my amaryllis pots this summer.
hey, folks, I know we don't always think to look for new threads, so I wanted to post links on a couple other threads here... our Chantell needs us... http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1072252/
gitagal..in Baltimore. If you haven't bought your shamrock plant in by now, you can kiss it good-bye. They are very tender plants and don't like any drafts or cold weather.
Pippi, I think Gita said she has one inside (putting up new growth now) and some little dormant or semi-dormant ones in her basement... they're not shivering outside!
Thanks Jill--You sure have a good memory!
Yes! My purple Shamrock is by my bedroom window where all the other cuttings and rooting plants are. Ir is putting out some new growth and also a couple of bloom stems--but nothing impressive....
The little bulbs in my basement--or wherever they are--are not showing any signs of life....yet!
G.
Joyanna has a purple shamrock in her bathroom... no sign of dormancy yet, and I think it's the one I brought back from the spring swap and grew in an outside container all summer. In fact, it's putting up buds to bloom again. There seem to be more shoots than I started with, also, so maybe the little bulbs are multiplying. It's cute. :-)
My purple Shamrock came from a grocery Store mark-down card after St. Patrick's day last year.
It really did good outside all Summer--but then it reached a time where the leaves started yellowing and getting thinner.
I read up on it a bit--and learned that it wanted a dormancy period and tried not to water it for most of the late Fall/early Winter.
My daughter really liked this plant--so i dug up a few of the small bulbs/corms it grows from and potted them in small pots--thinking I could give her these plants for her window boxes on her front steps. Sorry to say--so far--NO life in them!
I would like to ask anyone out "THERE" what they do with theirs.
Thank you, Gita
This was it in May of last year.. Very pretty!
I have a thread going in the Perennial Forum on Purple Oxalis. There are quite a few folks on there who say they leave them in the ground all year, in zone 5 even! Apparently they are a lot hardier than we think.