Hello!
Looking for advice on this rescue NOID strep. I'm not sure if it needs to be repotted. It seems to be trying to escape the pot. Any advice is welcome!
Thank you,
Deb
Strep question
Just guessing but that soil looks way too heavy.....also trim off all bad leaves when you see them. I would repot in a lighter soil if it were me.........
Bad leaves on any plant are just waiting to get bugs of some kind.............
RainGazer
Oct 10, 2009
I second the idea of repotting in a lighter potting mix. Everyone uses a different mix, but mine is equal parts Miracle-Gro potting mix, perlite, and vermiculite. Some people don't use vermiculite, but I think pretty much everyone uses perlite in their mix.
Repot and groom it, and it will grow like a weed, I bet! ^_^
Rain,
When you mention Miracle-Gro,do you use just regular or a special mix for AVs or houseplants?
RainGazer
Oct 10, 2009
Just the regular Miracle-Gro potting mix. It's cheaper than the AV mix, and I have to lighten the AV mix with perlite, too, so I figure why pay extra for that when I still have to mix it. LOL
Thanks,
I was curious,because at the end of the year here Walmart puts the HUGE bags of Miracle-Gro on sale for $2-3.I always buy a bunch for outdoor plants,but have never tried it on Gessies.
For whatever it is worth.......(just what I have heard......I have never tried using the potting mix from Miracle Gro) I have always heard that you can get your hardware store to get Pro Mix and it is so much better. Personally, I would be afraid to ever use Miracle Gro potting mix in my house for any plants.........no wonder Amy puts hers in the micro wave.........
mg always has those fungus gnats,when i quit using it years ago,gnat problem went away
Id trim it back and repot it into a smaller pot,and use a lot of perlite
JIM
RainGazer
Oct 11, 2009
I ALWAYS, without fail, microwave mine! It does indeed have bugs from time to time, but not after being microwaved for 10 minutes. ;o) I know that kills some of the good stuff, but I'd rather lose whatever good stuff I lose than have those blasted bugs! The microwaving (I make sure to put plenty of water in to moisten it well) steams it too, and makes it so soft and fluffy, separating any large chunks of mix. I love it! I mix equal parts of that, perlite, and vermiculite. Works great for me! :o)
Since I put capillary matting under my streps, the streps look great, but the gnats are everywhere.........I know they don't hurt anything but I just got new yellow sticky cards and haven't had time to hang them..........hope every darn one of the gnats loves the sticky card!!!
I try to grow organically and haven't bought miracle gro - or any type- in years. My daughter calls it "crack for plants". I usually use fish emulsion or seaweed fertilizer in small amounts. Fortunately, my parents live on the coast so I have access to large amounts of seaweed to use for mulch, compost and fertilizer (oh, but do the kids hate the smell!)
I do have some perlite and a supposedly better quality potting mix - I'll combine those and repot the little strep. Hopefully it will start to do better.
Perhaps I should microwave the potting mix just in case? I've had a problem with gnats in the past as well....
Thanks all!
I don't know how to help you on this one......
Good luck!!!
Lighter mix, the pot looks just fine. Plenty of room IMHO.
I have to add, add a handful or two of extra perlite to the Miracle grow mix.
Hi all,
I nuked the soil (smells nasty) and added a couple handfuls of perlite. I did repot it into a plastic pot. The one it was in seemed to hold water (has an attached saucer at the base). Hopefully it will do better now.
Thanks for the advice!
Deb