Ok this is what I have learned in the last 9 months or so- if I'd paid attention to what everybody said I'd have learned it sooner but what can I say...had to learn it on my own because I am so stubborn!
1. wicking is best for AVs because they like consistant conditions
2. you CAN over fertilize AVs and it doesn't make them bloom more, it makes them bloom less; also causes deformed brittle leaves- since I have stopped over fertilizing nearly all of my AVs have bloomed or are about to
3. superthrive is good for AVs in small doses, not often- too much causes lots of leaf production and produces brittle leaves- superthrive is most helpful when you put leaves down because it seems to help w/ rooting
So those are the important lessons that I have learned - what have you learned?
What I have learned!
I am always always learning (and re-learning the same stuff)
- water absorbing crystals absorb a LOT of water. I have multiple pots of SOUFFLE because I potted normally with a mix that included (what I thought were) wet water absorbing crystals, only to find the potting medium rise a whopping 2 inches on next watering!!! (If only my souffles would do the same). Then, as the mix dries, it RETAINS its shape (again, if only my souffles would do the same!) so they are potted in ultra airy dry mix until I somehow try to water them again.....
- 3 small slow-release pellets (13-13-13) is fine for a 4" pot of sinningia but will burn a streptocarpus in not time
- too much light is a bad thing (can't remember how many times I've had to re-learn this one)
- too much light AND too little water is a very bad thing.
- capillary matting rocks! (but in a month, I will be re-learning the lesson re: algae buildup and roots growing into the mats)
I've learned :
~ I can grow AV's in the desert!
~there's only so much space in this LITTLE house !
~ a dining room table can only hold sooo many plants & still be used for dining by candlelight!
~Terrariums are a life saver
~ I CAN grow somethings from seed!
~ I CAN grow Streps!
~ DG's AV & Gessie Forum rocks
MsC :)
Key I heard that about those water crystals; I have added some to outdoor pots but to the soil before adding the soil to the pot. The sales person who sold me the crystals suggested wetting them before adding them to the pot to avoid the "souflle" syndrome! LOL.
MsC! isn't that the truth about dining room tables! LOL.
Okay, here's what I've learned...
~ The same lesson as above regarding fertilizer. More is NOT better.
~Using MG with fertilizer actually means don't fertilize the plant after you've potted them (see lesson number one)
~Babies do eventually grow from the leaves I put down. And staring at them repeatedly doesn't really make it happen any faster.
~AV's like my chatter to them as I go about my watering. (they do, they do)
~A noid is not a bad thing.
~Good things come in very small packages, ie, mini trailers.
~I don't have to spend a bunch of time trying to be the Long Ranger of AV learning...All I have to do is ask on DG AV forum and all my questions are answered!!
~And finally, when I'm having a rotten day and all seems bleak, I can come to this virtual community and talk about flowers and all manner of peaceful things. It's makes me feel better.
Jacki
I did wet the crystals before mixing them up! They're like beans - you think you added more water than they can absorb but no..........
I will have to remember those water holding crystals for next year in my outdoor planters and baskets as they dry out so fast plus keep in mind the 'souffle' effect.
O.K. what I have learned...............
~~just because the bag says potting soil for AV's don't use it straight out of the bag~~~too heavy...
~~Ohhh lets add some peat to the rest of the bag.....wrong now too fluffy and icky
~~perlite is my friend...do not cuss it when the bag leaves the kitchen table and dances across the floor upside down. Thank you cat.
~~humiditiy is good...remember to poke holes for venting, moldly looking things are not good
~~ cats will try to sleep in amoungst the AV babies when it's cold out and the lights are on and will move any offending pots out of the way...
~~Postmen keeping boxes of leaves for 5 days instead of delivering in the 2 days in 100 plus weather in his truck need to go out behind the wood shed!!! Sorry Allison none made it.
~~If you need 10 pots order twice that many...you will fill them.
~~when buying shelves..get two as they will be filled soon....
~~AV people here are a wonderful source for my addictions and the pictures are great.....
On the crystals yep I had planted a beautiful basket of hanging petunias, hung it up and watered it. The next morning half were laying on the floor and the others all pushed out laying sideways???.....the souffle effect, way too many crystals and not enough dirt......
Lauri
What I have learned since July 27th is.......
You CAN replace your husband of 23 years for AV's and other plants !
They eat less, require less attention, are a lot more quiet,
not to mention......
more enjoyable to have around! LOL
Sorry couldn't resist.
LOL on the husband!!!!!
Hey Dawna,
LOL!!! Well it isn't funny but you are right! If you want some more free violets....pop on over..still got about four trays left.
Joanne
What I have learned is that there is "always more to learn." One of these days I shall post a new (to me) method of wick watering that I learned from Barb Werness at the national AVSA convention.
I have to take pictures of every step so that you understand what I am talking about. I am going to show them at our September club meeting so the pictures will pop up here later in the month.
What you do is cut a piece of wicking that is 6 -8" long; string it up thru one pot hole and down thru another so it is sitting on the bottom of the pot and the wick hangs out about 2" from either hole.
Then you cut a strip of felting that is 1/4" wide by approx. 8". This strip sits in your wicking container (make sure it touches the bottom) and it extends up thru the lid hole and across the lid.
Now you cut a piece of felt that is the circumference of the lid top (I made a paper template) with one side wacked off so it doesn't cover the watering hole.
Fill your container and make sure the felt is damp.
Place your plant on top of it and be sure the wicking is under the pot.
I now have 200+ containers wicked this way and will do the rest when I have time.
Previously, many of my containers would not take or they were too wet. I have added more perlite to my mix to make it lighter. My plants are all very happy and I am wicking the strep this way also.
If this sounds confusing, don't worry because I will post pictures later in the month.
You can buy felt at any of your local fabric stores. It runs about $4.00/yd and is anywhere from 54 - 72" wide so you can get a lot of containers taken care of with just 1/2 yard. I am cutting extra pieces because they tend to turn green (just the piece on top of the lid, not the strip in the container that is sitting in water containing Physan 20). The green pieces will get cloraxed when I sterilize a tubful of pots.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Nancy
Something else I learned at convention and again it came from Barb Werness.
She puts different colors of tape on the pots to let her know what month a plant was repotted. Instead of tape I am using different colors of yarn in the wicking.
May/June was green
July/Aug. - pink
Sept/Oct - yellow, etc.
So even though I have been growing for a long time, there is always something to learn!
Nancy
Morning Nancy,
Wow! This is great! Thank you so much for taking the time to type it all out...I have copied and pasted into a text document for future reference.
Joanne
Good tip, Nancy. Thanks. If there is one thing I have learned, it's that you sure can gain lots of valuable information from the experts on this Forum. And you're right, there is "always more to learn."
Don Ü
Ohh great tip Nancy....will be waiting for pictures....Thanks Lauri
Oh yeah, post the pictures! I think I have it but the pictures will likely make it crystal clear.
And yes, there is always a lot to learn!
The other thing I learned is that trailers are beautiful and not any more difficult to grow And I can grow minis! and they are so cute! Besides you can fit more of them on a shelf!
Thanks for the new info on the husband after 23 years! We had our 23rd anniversary this past June and 99.9% of the time wouldn't mind at all if I lost him; I am 5'4" and he's 6' so there are a few times when his height comes in handy! LOL, but I have recently overcome my fear of ladders so not sure if he's worth the annoyance factor! Maybe I should take him on a road trip and not give him any breadcrumbs to follow home! LOL.
LOL aprilwillis
Just do what I did..............introduce him to your co-worker/best friend! So I really got rid of both of them! Although, now work is kind of weird.
Yikes Ccino that can't be pleasant! Sort of makes you wonder about people doesn't it? After all is said and done, and I am sure it was not easy, you are clearly best to be rid of both of them since they lack basic decency- they deserve each other!
My Thoughts EXACTLY!
I do not even acknowledge her existance at work. Works best for me!
Dawna
You are a better woman than I would be...although I have been thinking it would be nice to have him be someone else's annoyance. LOL.