Shari......where are you?????
Croton distress
Lou, check radar over her way. I heard last night that there are typhoons in the pacific. The one I heard about was headed for Vietnam but I don't know if there are others out there. The reporting was sproratic last night for some reason.
Anxiously awaiting news from Shari and John. Hope you are all okay. May God bless you and keep you...
Jenny
thank you so much for the sweet concern! I am very fine - just communications went out. Its John I'm worried about....can't get the links to work. Anyone know the latest? Thought I was gonna walk out into a devastated garden this am, but all are hangin in there. I walked around grinning like a Cheshire cat at all my pretties....bet they were thinkin -"oops, looks like Mom's lost it again...." Croton still lookin bedraggled...wish I could get that barrel!
Wish you could too! Couldn't find any plastic tubs? Do you have any plastic clothes hampers? Trying to think of things that you could use.....
No rain today!!!!!! Maybe we'll dry out eventually!
Sun and rain.....how desperately we need both, yet how easily either can become "too much"....we are just never satisfied are we? (grin)
My beautiful croton is dying....so sad. I have one maybe two good branches left - sigh. I was thinking of cutting them and trying to root the branches. Never tried it with such large branches before....probably an inch and half to 2 inches thick....anyone know if this will work. So sad.....
Shari...if the roots were pulled away from the pot on the inside...I would say that it got too dry at one point and never recovered. Crotons like lots of water...and fert. Did you ever get a big container from the fellow who was the brother of the friend who.....?
Seems you all over there should get together and have a Hypertufa party....and make some honking big pots!!! You just need Portland Cement (the must have it there) and peatmoss or vermiculite).
Glad everyone is so cheerful...you all really make my day.
a hui hou
I been trying to get some interest up in that very thing! Still working it. Haven't heard back from my friends brother yet (that was cute, btw....) but he's probably been real busy - we have had a ton of rain here lately, with some pretty good winds and he is the go to guy for clean up. I just never thought to water it when we have been getting rain daily...and I have checked it periodically....soil is damp, but you are right...it sure looks like it dried up and just didn't recover....think I can use those branches?
Awe........Shari what have you got to lose by trying cuttings.....try one in water too you never know.......are you sure it is dying? perhaps the leaves burn't off in hot salty wind ....if you scrape some of the skin away on the trunk and it is still green underneath...it still might regenerate.
Hmmmm hadn't thought of that...I'll check. Thanks!
Chrissy's right, Shari, you don't have anything to lose from trying.
Chrissy...good suggestion!!! If you DO take cuttings...clean sand (I find) works best for tip cuttings...keep damp, not wet.
Shari...I hear ya. I have some indoor palms that suffer terribly because, since I don't have to water the palms outside, doesn't occur to me to water them!!!!
Thanks everyone for the great suggestions. I will try to save my beauty - and I will let you know if things go successfully. Thanks again!
Shari...if you do get inspired to do hypertufa....kids swimming pools make great molds for planters...also cardboard boxes!!!! You can inset shells into them...color them. OH, and easy to do in your free time!!!! ROFLAMAO
Shari, if you google Croton cuttings, there are several hits. Here is one link:
They can be propagated from cuttings. This is to croton mania, I believe.
Good Luck!
http://www.croton-mania.com/croton_datapage_2.html
Here is one for the Crotons Society:
http://www.crotons.org/
Thanks for the links 77**! Carol...I'm reading your post as a vision of Granny Clampett popped into my head - she's yelling about the "cement pond"....now I can't stop giggling!
HAHAHA Shari...you are too MUCH!!!
If you air layer the Croton, it roots really quickly!!!
Carol
Even on a distressed plant???
Since you have nothing to lose...take some cuttings and make some air layers. You could give prizes to the first one to have roots!!!
A friend of mine is pretty successful putting the cuttings in almost straight cinder or perlite and watering very little, keep in indirect bright light...
You're right - nothing to lose. So, lets see - Choice of primo garden spot....your own personal box of plant food.... A pretty blue ribbon to wear in your branches? Trying to come up with prizes here! Aha! Choice of music for a week!
thanks Carol, you have helped me be much less depressed about this, and to see it as an opportunity.
Mahalo!
Shari did you check under the skin on the stem? green=alive...
If it is dying from the roots up then cut the living parts off and try to root them ....I read somewhere that they would transport the cuttings as "logs" back to England in the old days ....I figure they must strike even from thick bits.
Haven't had a chance yet... just ran out to water the peppers, but had to get back to my DG conversations....I really must stop this...I do have a life, I do have a life, I do, I do I do have a life......
No you don't........
Yes, yes I really do! Non cyber life is beckoning....GD is saying "Nana - step away from the pooter and we won't hurt you"....
LOL!!
You are a girl after my own heart, Shari. Thanks be to DG or we would have never known it.
LouC
How are the new tires working for ya Christi? So what did you do today? How's that darlin baby girl? Still with ya?
New tires were needed worse than I realized......baby girl started daycare on Monday......wish I were younger.....
Oh no you don't! This is the best age to be!!! And now I have this bridge I'd like to show you.....won't cost much at all!
hahahahahah
I have to go for a bit...get the unbelieveable pleasure of collecting a poo sample from my Bogie to take to the vet. Can you believe this....? The little collection container is called ....are you ready.....sure?.....a "fecalizer"! Really! Shakin my head and heading to my treasure hunt! Later!
Christi, if you were younger you would not have the wisdom you have now (that's what I tell nyself anyway!)
Nice job to have to do, Shari! Checking for worms? You guys have heart worms in your areas? We do here, so dogs have to be on preventative medication. The thing with having greatdanes is that all medication goes by weight, it gets pretty expensive!
Aloha!
Hi Jenny! They're not sure what is wrong with him....just getting so darn skinny! But he is an old man, my darlin kitty. I can't imagine trying to give your two any medicine they didn't want to take! Woof! That would be a battle for the ages!
Shareeeeeeeeeeee, Stumbled onto something that might be of help....may be too late.
Go to DirtDoctor.com. Howard Garrett is the local organic guru around here...writes a newspaper column, radio, books.....anyway..go to cornmeal. I've needed to do this all summer because our climate has been so wet that mildew/fungus has taken down lots of things.
Checking it out now.....thank you!
Well my friends, I finally got a container....would you believe a reinforced wooden chest with holes drilled in the bottom! This will actually work out fine though, cus if the wooden bottom rots out, the roots can go right into the groud while the sides hold it upright. Pruned off all the dead limbs, and found green wood underneath. Yay!! Layed down a layer of charcoal, then compost (amended with corn meal and some whooper special compost supplement I got from Logee's), wrestled in the croton..,you would have laughed seeing Nina and I tug/turn, tug/turn ing that beast! Then 2 and a half bags of MG potting soil...a little more corn meal and whaaalaaa - I think it might make it! Thanks for all your help and support!
There we stood...covered with dirt from head to toe, sweat burning our eyes, and when we turned around, this lovely approved of our efforts by blooming a big smile.....
Good job, Shari... !!!! Good on ya'!!!
Carol
Nice container, nice job!