Ha! mine too. I look like I know what I'm doing with all the plant stuff. Anyway my brugs are really responding to that Space City fertilizer that more resembled the numbers Monika advised us, last number is alot higher. The leaves got so big and dark they are weighing the branches down.
Wouldn't you know I went to print the web site of the clay, and my printer happend to be out of ink....so foiled again for today at least. I'm a hostage at work for the rest of the day.
I think we did a good job sleuthing!
Hope the rest of you are spending the day out in the garden!
Rj
Monika's book regarding soil
I potted up two brugs and decided to add a few handfuls of some soil from my garden which has a lot of clay in it. Combined that with potting soil, perlite, compost, vermiculite, cactus soil, peat, and about a cup full of jersey green sand. One of the brugs was Rosamond and the other "Butterfly", which is already starting to "Y". Yay!
Carol, I've damaged and killed several brugs too by overdoing whatever and that's why I have so many, yet a small number compared to many. I try to walk off and leave them, but it's difficult.
Jeanette, you said a mouthful, I've got tons of stuff, and this year, I'm using up all the 'old' fertilizers I've bought over the years and never used, I'm using it on the blooming plants because it has a really big middle number. And, I'm getting way more blooms, maybe it's working or maybe it's the weather. And, short of having a gila monster or tasmanian devil attack my plants, I'm sure I have some sort of concoction that would stop just about anything dead in it's tracks. But, I haven't spent as much money on my garden in the last year as I did going to one dog show cluster, but, man, oh man, I've put in the hours, and, except for a litter of Golden babies, gardening is much more difficult and time consuming/demanding for me...
rj, I thought I wrote to you but I must have forgotten to click on the send. So often I click on the arrow up in the corner instead. Mainly late at night when I am tired. LOL
Anyway, what is Space City fertilizer? It truly sounds like something I need. Where do you get it?
Your printer sounds like mine. That is why I have a refill kit for it. Doesn't always solve the problem but sometimes.
Sherry, as much as I love the plants and gardening, you can give me a golden any day. They are wonderful.
Jeanette
Thank you, Jeanette, I'm glad you like Goldens, they are wonderful companions - last night my grand girls dressed Blueray up and put makeup on him, he loved every minute - there aren't many dogs that will be a bridesmaid at the drop of a hat - Blueray fell right into the role, you would have thought he was a pro. I've helped five DG members find a rescue Golden, retired Golden or a Golden that flunked outta show school and I helped one person find a Persian cat and another find a parrot. Animals are fun, you meet the most interesting people...
I tried to get a rescue golden from Montana one time and they would not let it leave the state. Jeanette
That's a shame for the Golden, Jeanette, they missed sending it to a super home!!!
rj, I found a place to purchase the Space City fertilizer. BUT, as reasonably as the fertilizer was priced, I was shocked at the shipping. The fertilizer itself was under $9 but the shipping took it up to almost $20.
Do you know if that fertilizer is sold anywhere other than Texas? You know something else they did? They did not let me know how much the shipping was until after I had completely filled out the information for shipping INCLUDING my credit card number. That really upset me.
Guess this just wasn't a very good evening for me. I let them know how I felt about the whole thing.
Jeanette
Jeanette, the same thing has happened to me and it burns me up every time. When I can remember to do it, I post to companies like that and let them know what I think. I've gotten a 'real' reply from some, like XM radio, they told me they are considering a gardening show, lets see if they follow through. I don't know what Space City fert is, but it was very expensive, including postage, for me to get 15-5-15. I now have a local source but it still costs me an arm and a leg, really irks me...
Sherry, Space City fert is the closest anyone has come to the same thing that Monika uses. The actual price for the fert is very reasonable. But, the shipping from UPS, and I don't know why they are using them, is more than the 4 lbs that one of the well knowns was using to ship brugs off of ebay using UPS. So that tells me someone is making money on it. But to not tell you until they have your credit card number is what burns me.
Jeanette
I must have missed something. What is "golden"?????
Karrie, I'm a Golden Retriever breeder, duck dogs, great family, kid dogs and all kinds of competition, show, obed, bird hunting, agility, tracking, etc...
Did you find Space City online, Jeanette?? If so, what's the addy?? I did a search and cannot locate it. Thanks!!
http://web.wt.net/~strhibs/SHfert.htm
Sherry try this. It is a Hibiscus page. Farther down it will tell you where to order it. But don't expect the $19 + to show up until you give them your payment info.
If that doesn't work, google Space City fertilizer and it is about the 5 or 6th one down. You will probably get this Hibiscus page. But that is it.
Jeanette
Sherry,
I thought maybe it had something to do with a dog but wasn't sure. I just love Golden Retrievers. We have always said that if we moved to a place where a dog would be feasible, that would be the kind we would get. Our yard isn't fenced, and I don't believe in leaving a dog on a chain. We don't have room for a Kennel or I'd have to lose much valued garden space. The kids have always asked for one but we know that they wouldn't take care of it as promised and that it would be up to us. Just not happening for awhile! :-)
You are wise to wait Karrie, until just the right time for a Golden, mine are all house dogs and you REALLY have to love a dog that sheds as much as a Golden does. Goldens are clean and make wonderful house/apartment dogs, but they ARE going to shed, LOTS, lol!!
I'm going to look at the fert, Jeanette, thanks!
Hi Jeanette,
I've been out in the garden for the past couple of days, and haven't sat down to a computer since!
Was it yardgeek.com ? that is where I get mine, and if the shipping is still the same, I will go there for you and buy it and ship it myself since this place is in Houston. I had mine shipped last time, but I would like to stop by the place anyway and check it out. I want to get some of the orchid food there. It's not too far from where I live.
matter of fact, I can stock up and mail to anyone if they like, just let me know via email.
Rj
This message was edited Jun 14, 2005 5:58 PM
Hi rj, That is really super of you to offer. Yes, it was Yardgeek. But, the shipping is going to be the same no matter what. I think. If I had the zip code I could get it off of UPS web site. And guess at the measurements.
Actually, it would be interesting to know the difference between UPS and USPS. If you have the measurements and want to look, my zip code is 99119 if UPS, and 99139 if USPS.
My problem with Yardgeek was that they didn't let you know how much the shipping was going to be until you had given your credit card number. I hate that. I told them about it and didn't hear anything back, like an explanation.
If the shipping weren't so much my daughter would probably like to get some too. You mean you had yours delivered? By UPS? Do you have Paypal?
Let me know if you want to pursue this or just drop it. Thanks, Jeanette
I am sending Sherrylike 2 containers, so I'll let you know how much it costs for post. I'll take your zip with me and check.
Rj
I just had such a bad experience with Yardgeek, I cancelled my order and crossed them off my list. Waited 2 weeks for an order and their excuse was that the ink ribbon in their printer was going bad and UPS returned all the boxes and they couldn't find mine since I couldn't give them my order number (but just my name) so they couldn't go into the "back room" and try to find it in the "returns".
Go figure.
LOL, I think from the sounds of it, that we are all going to be able to buy anything we want from Sherry.
I think she is probably worse than I am for trying new, AND IMPROVED, things. LOL
Yes, Sherry, the goldens are house dogs. Hard to believe when they are so big. But then, my 2 dogs now are also house dogs, one mutt and one jeff, huskies. Guess we just spoil all of the dogs no matter what the breed.
Jeanette
Jeanette, I don't understand why they wouldn't let you take a golden retriever across the Montana border. WEIRD.
Pet Rescue wants to be able to check on the animals to make sure they have good homes. It wasn't so much that they didn't want me to take it out of Montana as the distance. They didn't feel they would have a hold on it that far away.
Well, if that is the case, I would just as soon not have the dog anyway.
Jeanette
no kidding! that is totally silly! "Pet Rescue" should have been glad to see a dog find a good home.
I adopted a puppy from Pet rescue. They came out to the house, checked it out and the yard, interviewed me and the whole 9 yards. My puppy got a good home though.
Pic of him on http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/520352/
Rj
Okay folks. I have found the equivalant of Volcanic Clay. It is called Volcanic Sand, by the producers of GreenSand. It is apparently a fairly new product. It says exactly the same thing on the bag as the Volcanic Clay did from the European web site... I'm am currently using it on Papayas and Plumerias. My first experience is that a little bit goes a long way. I mixed a hand full in with the potting soil for the seedlings and the moisture retention was amazing. IN theory this is what is supposed to help the nutrient retention/exchange as well.
It took 3 days at 95F for 4 inch pots to dry out. ( so I probably used too much) The directions were vague. It's too hot for me to -pot an brugmansias now, but I will be using it in the future for potted brugs.
Rj
ps Sherry, another container of 18-8-28 will be on the way soon.
Volcanite? I found it here:
http://www.garden-ville.com/Products/Soil_Additives/Volcanite.htm
Quick note on ProMix, i worked at a nursery in Northern California. At least once a week we would have customers come in and FILL UP their full size pickups with 10-20 BALES of it. They always paid in cash and never needed a receipt... Go figure :) I though if it was the choice mix for the "professional" growers, it was good enough for me! I have found it to be so superior to anything else i've used. I love it.
What do you think rj? Is that what you are talking about? I looked at their prices $5.95 for 7 lbs and 10.95 for 40 but what would it cost to ship? I wrote to Malcom and asked if there were any stores in WA state that sold it. Jeanette
Jeanette, that's a great idea. I went ahead and ordered a 7# bag and having it shipped via UPS ground for $13. Let me know if someone closer carries it.
tombaak, where in No Ca? I haven't seen any for sale here. THANKS
Kell, sounds like somthing sold "under the table" to me. LOL Not something they would advertise on your local TV station.
Tombaak, I use ProMix and really like it but it is not what Monika is talking about planting her brugs in. Far, far from it.
Emily, let me know what you think. If you didn't have to use much $20 might not be too bad. But, do you have to repot your plants to mix it in with the soil?
rj, the Volcanite that Emily is buying is a different company from Greensand. Didn't we look at Volcanite before? I couldn't find it. Have we "gone around and come around?" LOL
Jeanette
Passanisi Nursery in Rohnert Park / Pengrove, near Sonoma State University. I worked there 6 years ago, i moved out of the area (i lived in Sebastapol) several years back. They have HUGE (acres of) greenhouses where they grow tens of thousands of poinsettias and orchids. I just called there and they still carry it, $28 a bale. I guess with gas prices shipping it down from Canada is getting spendy... So the price has really gone up.
Passanisi Nursery in Penngrove
8270 Petaluma Hill Road
(707)792-2674
If you go there, find my friend Mary and tell her "Hi" from me,
Melissa
Jeanette,
I know she is using something quite different, i had just seen ProMix mentioned in the thread and it reminded me of the myriad of crisp $100s and old pickups filling up with ProMix. Always gave me a laugh.
You'd think i could pick up the typos BEFORE i hit send... My two year old sitting on my lap doesn't help either. lol
This message was edited Jul 15, 2005 9:18 AM
Kell,
where are you in N CA?
edited to ask... How is the bi-colour? No change i hope. That is one of the most inspiring flowers i've seen in a loooong time. Makes me want to be a better gardener. :)
This message was edited Jul 15, 2005 9:15 AM
You guys are doing this to torture me, you know I'm gonna have to buy some of that stuff, I'm a fool for new products!!
Melissa, How much is a bale? We get it for $13 for 3 cubic feet.
Jeanette
Jeanette,
It is 3.8 cubit feet, compressed. They call it a bale because it is a big hard block, a bit smaller than a bale of hay. If your 3 cubic feet is also compressed you are getting a great deal! maybe it is shipping again, you being farther north. I think ProMix used to state that the compressed bale was close to twice that volume uncompressed. It has been a long time though. I couldn't ever find it in bales anywhere else (just the regular bags) i always though that because Passanisi uses hundreds and hundreds of them it was a reasonable thing for them to carry, where as most nurseries don't sell it in that volume.
Melissa, I don't think the ProMix I am getting is compressed. It is in big bags but I know what you mean by compressed, like when you open it it expands rapidly?
Jeanette
hi guys,
essentially the ingredient that we (or perhaps I) was shooting for was the ability of the volcanic clay to distribute an even supply of nutrients to the plant roots. This is the rearest US version, which also stated exactly the same claim as the Willkommen Hawita site. " distrubiting an even supply of nutrients". Granted it would be great to have the Hawita product with all of the other goodies in it, but in the end it's the ability of the volcanic material that I found important! Basically the volcanic material slows the flow of daily watering through the pot. All of the other ingredients, and nutrients are ours to choose and add at will, ie humus, fertilzer, pete, salt,compost etc.
This is important to me because I have to water every day which leeches everything good out of the pots, especially brugs.! Even better is it's water retention, which I believe was where we were going with the thread, traping and storing water as a result precipitating a greater rate of nutrient absorbtion by the plant, that normally is lost via normal potting soils.
Hahahah..boy we're all really in to this one eh?
It's great that the one site sells in smaller amounts as here I've only found it in 40 lb bags.
Rj
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