Holly---Quiet a coincidence that you need info on Carniverous plants as house plants.
In today's Paper--someone asked the same thing--and the University of Maryland Extension's Home and
Garden Information Center Service had this to say: (They offer free gardening and pest information).
Call: 800-342-2507
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"Some carniverous plants survive outdoors, such as our native Pitcher Plants and Sundews.
They grow best in the unique environment of a bog garden, where soil is waterlogged and acidic.
Check out this link from Penn State:
extension.psu.edu/montgomery/programs/master-gardener/the-learning-gardens/the-water-garden
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I had to type this link out--and so will you, more than likely. Hope it works. Gita
your Mid At and Friends indoor gardens 2013
Thanks Gita, I will check that out.
HELP: prayer plant er!!
I have no idea what happened to this guy, probably neglect. Can he be saved??
Awww, Paul! That looks so sad!
I don't have much advice. I have seen this kind of disaster myself. So-I never grow them.
A funny note--In your picture--it looks like it is, actually, "n the toilet". A proper burial!
The only idea I have is that it may have been over watered and rotted out. I think the
Prayer Plant likes it on the dryer side--I think it is also a low light plant. Just that comes to mind...
If you can still find any of the growing tips alive--break them off at the closest "joint" and put in water to root.
Here is the PF link. Read all the comments at the end--that, I have found, is where one can learn the most
on the particular plant you searched for.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/54735/
Here's one link: http://www.helium.com/items/1307999-houseplants-how-to-care-for-maranta
Gita
And--another:
Lol thanks gita. I will try and get a cutting or something. Kind of strange I lost a very vibrant. Parrot lily too this year. The roots looked great it just died completely back. I still have it with the hope that it just needed to sleep and not rest eternally. Lol.
Geez! I no sooner hit "send" when your reply was already there!!!!
How speedie can one get.....
OOPs!! You were replying about the Maranta--not about the begonia....
mea culpa!
This message was edited Feb 12, 2013 9:46 AM
UMD_Terp...
Is that a Maranta? Sometimes, You can trim back the dead or dying foliage on these, water so the soil is just moist, keep in a bright but not full sun position, and new growth will sprout up. I've done that to a couple Marantas (Prayer Plant) in my time and they have come back this way.
Good luck!
Karen
Thanks Karen. I'll give it a try!
Ok, So yesterday I made my last shopping trip out to another Nursery. Think my two Nursery trips have calmed my winter blues. We picked up a couple of small purple passion plants for Ric to propagate and a brilliant Golden Swedish Ivy that he can also propagate for me. I am hoping to have a lot of these in hanging baskets this spring. Also a Vancouver Centennial Geranium.
That's great! Love the ivy and the geranium. Must be the warm weather.
LOVE those colors!
All my new plants have been up-potted to 4"sq. pots, and watered in. I love that sq. pot for the GH. They give you maximum soil for the space and when in a flat, uniform watering with less slop. The temps were ideal yesterday to turn off all electric and gas to the GH and set off a pyrethroid canister to fog the entire thing. Pyrethrins have a very low mammalian toxicity, and are one of the safest insecticide to use. Originally pyrethrins were made from Chrysanthemums. I had a few spider mites and aphids to clean up and this should do it. Ric
Nice, Ric/ Holly! I like those geraniums and don't seem to see them last few years.
Good idea on the pyrethrum fog, Ric!
That golden ivy is yummy, and I'm usually not one for yellow leaves (they make me think something is wrong! wrong! wrong! LOL)... love it with that geranium!
Speaking of geraniums may I take a moment to 'toot' my own horn? I'll guess y'all shook your heads yes (giggle). I trimmed 6 pieces from my rose/lemon (something or other) scented geranium that was planted outside last summer and THEY ALL ROOTED. Yes - I've actually rooted something...I'm so proud of myself I can't stand it!! ^_^
Whoopie!! I think Ric is hoping to get cuttings from the one we brought home. It will be interesting to see what all we end up with by May. How about a few pics from the GH.
yayChantell!
yayRicnHolly!
Just a couple today...
First is two streps that happen to be sisters... Batik and Spin Art
Watermelon Wine... a nice red
DS-Polar Summer... with a new bloom open, you can really see the color-change
They really are beautiful plants. You know I never see them in our local nurseries.
I have never visited any "local Nurseries" to buy plants. I seldom even buy plants!
Seem to have enough as it is.
I suppose it would be nice to cruise through Watsons or valley View farms.
Both are too far for me to just go shopping there...
I need to learn more about Nurseries around my area. Just as a diversion...just to go see....yeah????
Gita
Holly... I have only ever seen a strep in a nursery one time, and it was here in F'burg.... about this time of year, when they have the cyclamens and other pretties out.
Nurseries probably find them to difficult to keep alive until someone buys them. You can't mistreat a strep... they are ssoooo unforgiving!
Karen
I've never seen them at local nurseries either. I never even saw a strep until I saw Donner-Sally's at one of the swaps a few years ago. Seeing Karen's pictures made me go seeking these out at the violet barn link that Donner-Sally posted. I received my first order of four last week. As tiny as they are, two of the four actually have a few blooms. Funny story - I sent an order to my friend Cheryl for her birthday. She is in FL for the winter. When the box arrived, the return address read Violet Barn. She was racking her brain trying to think who "Violet Barn" was and why she would be sending a package. Didn't realize it was from me until she got to the gift note packed inside LOL...
Karen, you may have already posted it, but where do you get your streps from? You have a wonderful collection, and your photograpy shows it off to perfection.
wild rose---
Please educate me on what would be "mistreating" a Strep.
This past year was the first time I got a couple from a DG friend.
I have 2--and they are growing well--but no blooms. I think it is because they are cold...
I have no other place to put them--so they sit on a shelf just inside my big LR window.
I have very fewother optios where to put them...I have noticed they go dry very fast....
What else can you tell me, please---and thank you. Gita
#1--This is where they sit...you can see them...The glass of the window is, maybe, 3" away.
And--#2--here is my LR and DR---a real "jungle"....This is not all! I have plants everywhere!!!
Streps are (in my opinion) VERY picky about their water requirements! If they dry out, they wilt very quickly.... but over-watering them is DEATH! They are extremely prone to root rot by over-watering. Looking at your pictures Gita, yours appear to be happy in their current location. If they are not blooming, my first guess is that they may need some fertilizer. Another thing that they are very sensitive about! All the growers I know use either a balanced fertilizer or a high nitrogen fertilizer regularly, BUT at only 1/8 to 1/4 strength.... I use an orchid fertilizer with 20-14-13 and no urea... and I only use 1/4 teaspoon per gallon of water. Streps also do not like old potting mix. (I told you they were picky!) Most growers re-pot theirs every 4-6 months. I am not quite that good! Ha ha! I do use a very light mix... one part peat moss, one part vermiculite, and one part perlite... but with one little additive (my secret ingredient!)... I add about 1/2 part composted horse manure! Now my windows and my sliding door all face directly south, so I can't put my streps in the windows... too much sun! I have them under 2-buld T8 lights, and they do very well.
I hope this helps! I have certainly killed enough of them.... but because I love their flowers so much, I didn't give up and kept trying, and trying until I think I got it right... at least for me!
Karen
This photo was taken just a couple days ago.
This is S. Wow.... It was potted up in September.
It had four small leaves and no blooms... now look at it!
Close-up of the blooms on Wow...
WOW!
haha
Yes WOW !
well, I accidentally gave my first one just what she likes then. From donner at fall swap, I moved it to a small clay pot and it needs frequent drinks but I guess the clay dries it out. It keeps adding leaves through the fall and winter.
Considering all those special needs, Karen.. you are a real pro with all those !
Wild Rose---
That is AMAZING!!!! Love the frills.....and the colors!
Thanks for your explanation on the needs of Streps.
I think I am OK on all things you suggested--except the fertilizing.
High N--HUH? The think I have used a bit is some MG AV fertilizer--the 7 drops per qt.
I also have some sea-weed food of some kind I got on line. I have "Superthrive"...
Will have to check out some of the other fertilizers and see which one is OK for houseplants
and a bit higher in "N"
They are potted in Pro Mix--loose enough, and the light at this window is not direct sun--
as I have the patio roof outside in front of it with only 2 sky lights.
On sunny days--there is beautiful, gentle sunlight coming through this window.
I do not think I have ever over watered them. As i said--they seem to dry out quickly.
Thanks for your help---If a leaf ever breaks off the one in the photo--send it to me....
OH! talking about leaves breaking off---what do you do and how do you prepare it for rooting?
I have read that you can just cut it in half and it is OK.
OK, gotta get ready! Hope the snow stays away....we ARE heading a bit West for the Swap...Gita
I guess I should know, but what is a strep? It is so frustrating when you all talk about these plants and use abbreviations. I feel so stupid having to ask, but I am limited in my knowledge of many houseplants other than the ones I decide to grow. Can not clutter up my old brain with information I may never use. Dumb me. JB
You are welcome Gita. Enjoy the swap! Wish I could have gone.... Working.
JB... Never wrong to ask what you don't know... Streptocarpus... A gesneriad, like African Violets.
Karen
They are beautiful, do they have a common name? I thought they were AVs (I know that one)☺
Just Streptocarpus....
I have seen some people call them Cape Primrose, but that is very misleading since they are not in the primrose family.
Streps are in the gesneriad family along with African Violets. Others in the same family are Episcia, Columnea, Streptocarpella, and Sinningia.
Thank you....off to do some research tomorrow. I love learning about new plants that I can possibly propagate. People today need plants they can grow and not stress over. I am trying to change my inventory to meet their needs. JB
JB--
Go to "The Violet Barn" website. That is where many people buy theirs from.
I will check it out myself.....just to drool....
You do not see Streptocarpus in your average Nursery.
after Karen's description of the needs of Streps --- sound like more stress for grower and buyer.
Buttoneer gave me a little sprout of this today
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/107005/
its surprisingly fuzzy, we saw one at dutch plant farm.
I would think they would do very well in an AF pot. The only thing I've recommended Holly to do is when feeding, remove the inner pot from the reservoir pot and sit it on a saucer for the day. After a bit of time carefully feed from the surface (don't wet the leaves) and allow to drain on the saucer before returning to the reservoir. I'm sure the food will not be able to be absorbed through the unglazed pot. If you think about it, the salt build up in a terracotta pot is from feeding with inadequate flushing resulting in salinization of the soil. Ric
I found mealies on a tiny Kalanchoe today- Out the door!!!
The Violet
is already on my bookmarks. I love that place and yes they do have them. I just never noticed before since I only looked at the AVs.
I am ready to scream, talk about mealy bug. I have them back in the house again. NOT THE GH thank goodness. At least I did not have them yesterday. LOL..Also, I got rid of the scale, but now the camellias have white fly. Is there ever an end to these things. The disocactus x hybrid is a mess, I hate that plant and I need to keep it because my friends mother gave it to me but it is a PITA. It is too big for me to lift to begin with and it is full of thorns and it is where the mealy bug starts. I just cut a bunch of stems off of it today and I am going to soak them in water and soap and see if I can keep some for cuttings. First I have to get them cleaned up for sure. I do not want any of their little friends to go into the GH by mistake. It took me two hours to water and spray and now I am just exhausted plus I have not had lunch yet. Great day of rest. See you guys later. Need to take a break. JB
I don't do well with indoor plants. My house is pretty dark and I forget to water them. I do, however, have some planted aquariums and they give me my indoor plant fix.
