I have been hovering around and watching lately, and have since then collected some pictures that bear sharing.
This forum is becoming so wonderfully populated of late. It is neat to see these new folks.
Here is how the above-fish-tank set is:
Just Checking in; Photos.
If you have not grown a wasp yet, you are missing out:
Flowers (the slight variegation is due to residual powdery mildew damage on the outside of teh flower)
A real popper: 'Rob's Boondoggle'
'Raspberry Rose'
'Optimara Ever Harmony'
Soft-green ruffled leaves with harmonizing soft-pink ruffled flowers.
There are other's I'm not going to show; I don't want to spoil it for the Easter trade. If you are in on that, please keep an eye on the changes.
I have a few more things that ask to be photographed, those will come soon.
Kenton
'Millenia'
This is what happens to 'Rob's Argyle Socks' if you let it dry out too much between waterings. Suckers. More plants, though, from the positive standpoint.
Kenton I just love your fish tank set up with your beautiful plants growing on top ! I know their happy as they double and triple in size and blooming away those gougous blossoms. I just can't get over them and how well you grow .
amazing . I just love looking over and over your plants facinate me. Thank you so much for taking the time to share them :))
Behind 'Rob's Argyle Socks' what is that beauty with the pretty variegated crown ?
Very nice photos Kenton. Your plants evidently like being on the top of your fishtank.
Deb
Wonderful set up. It was one of your previous photos of "atop the fish tank" thank triggered the grid in my mind. Thanks so much for sharing. Your plants are very beautiful. I love Raspberry Rose.
Thanks, friends. I find that the fish water needs to be pretty clean before I want to wick the concentration of minerals into my pots. I need to change the water really well before I go back to using the wicks.
That one, Allison, is 'Rob's Blue Socks.' I bet it will get to looking like 'Argyle' with age.
WOWZA Kenton, nice job in the growing department. You clearly have the green AV thumb!
FANCY!
well done Kenton. Gorgeous plants!
Kenton your plants always look great. You certainly have the touch! I love Milenia! that is a beautiful flower.
The "above the fish tank set"- exactly what do you mean? Sometimes I can be really slow, so type slowly for me, ok. LOL
Kenton, you did a wonderful job - thanks for sharing your photos!
April he has a grid and the wicks go into the fish tank to drink :)) And other picture he posted he showed wicks in the water waving ! So pretty I want one !
Probaly so about 'Rob's Blue Socks.' as it's a Sport of 'Argyle'.
Kenton is that your Fantasy Radience right back. It's
giganic wow it was a tiny plantlet.
You sure can grow.
Allison, the wicks go into the fish tank? Is this a working fish tank, w/ live fish? Years ago I had a fish tank and the guy where I used to buy my fish suggested that when cleaning the tank the old water should be dumped on plants because it is so high in nitrogen. I did dump it on plants outside- didn't want the fish smell on house plants- and it clearly didn't hurt anything but I don't have any real evidence that it impacted the plants in any way, but if he was right that would be a huge source of nitrogen for AVs like Kenton's.
Yes it's a working fish tank ! So cool and he has lights above it and his plants grow and bloom like weeds. And his babies too . I don't know what he feeds the babies if it just fish tank water but he sure can grow them !
Just amazes me. I sent him leaves mid dec./ and long time he posted babies growing away. He has Blue Dragons too ! And his plants have tripled in size. They take my breath away I can't get over them !
Well it's got to be the tank water! Wow. What a very cool idea. Does he ever fertilize them? If I wasn't the most prolific tropical fish serial killer I might consider setting up my tank again. That is really, really smart- how ever did you come up w/ that Kenton?
Yes ! So pretty too. Hubby likes fish tanks and I know would enjoy getting one I would set it up for my plants like he does and hang a light over :)) on my wish list :))
April, it was a "happy accident." I already had the grid on top to put seedlings on (higher humidity) above the 55 gallon Cichlid tank. Before knowing any better, I used diluted miracle grow very occasionally. I was just lucky that the Nitrogen form in that fertilizer was fixed (by microbes in the soil) before it could hurt the roots. I am going to get some AV fertilizer soon, they will be transplanted out of their mother-leaf pots soon. If I have any success with 'Millennia' leaves (none as of yet, but more being tried) I will send you one.
I have found that the evaporation (dry climate here) concentrates the minerals, etc. I need to change that water so I can resume wick watering. Have also found that leaves do not like the area above the tank; too cool, perhaps? Adult plants seem to like it though.
Fish water has all sorts of good things in it, living and dead, that can be added to the soil.
Kenton
Oh yes I've known people that's all they gave their plants. Green thumbs Green arms Fish wicking what ever your doing Kenton good job ! Keep doing it :))
bumping this amazing thread up too awesome with our busy forum for it to get lost on the first page on the first day :))
Way to go! Everybody looks beautiful
Wow! Your plants look great--very healthy and happy.
what a cool idea!!!
Oh wow, Kenton! Such beautiful AVs! I especially love 'Millennia.'
I'm a bit irritated at the moment. Baby, our ADD cat, jumped up on my table of plants here by the computer this morning and broke off my streptocarpella. I'd been wanting to try some leaf propagation, but the plant has been doing so well, I didn't want to mess with it. Well, now I am forced to. We'll see how I do at making lemonade out of lemons.
Kylee
That's the beauty of Gesneriads.
(I haven't forgotten about your project, but I want to have a nice quiet couple of hours to sit down to do it, which I haven't had for a while.)
Kenton
Oh don't worry about that, Kenton! And I haven't forgotten yours here, either! ;-)
Thanks for the info Kenton. I love hearing about everybody's happy accidents! And here's to wish you all success w/ Millennia! Thank you, you are too kind. Anything you would like from my list?
Great pics Kenton - they are so pretty!! Millenia looks almost pansy like!
Thanks all. I'll let you know April. One leaf has not rotted yet, and I've noticed that when they are about to, they waste no time at it.
Kenton
Yes Kenton it's really neat how they do that ! How's your blue dragon coming along ? Give them all a shot of fish food :))
Yes they do go bad fast... they cannot ignore Darth Vador's invitation, "...come to the rot side!"
Still on my wish list is a fish tank and grow African violets on top !
Check out Kenton's twp pretty pictures of Royal Wasp !
'Royal Wasp' is gorgeous!!
Royal Wasp is a wonderful growing AV so pretty !
OH WOW! Excellent James. Such beautiful plants. This is the reason I like "real" peoples pix of av's. It let's you know how the plants will grow in someone's home and not a greenhouse.Now I need to put Rob's Socks on my "gotta have 'em" list.
P