Nancy, are you using the beer fertilizer on your ailing Multiflora? If not, you should *lol* She LOVES it.
An no, don't use the lemon amonia Brenda, use only the clear. I buy Sam Adams when I make it as it's a nice dark robust beer. I also keep mine in the fridge although they say you don't have to.
All the hoyas I'm mailing tomorrow have been raised on the beer formula and are all addicts *lol* I'm sure they don't require Sam Adams though, any beer will do they said *lol* I always shake it real well before I use it too because it settles :)
VERY pretty pictures today everyone :)
Gail, hope you are having a GREAT time shopping *lol*
Feel free to upload your new blooms - Part III
I gotta search for that beer fertilizer again ... can't find it! I sure thought I had saved it somewhere. If one of you could post the recipe that would be great! Meanwhile I'm going to search a few more folders on my computer!
Here you go Lin :)
BEER FERTILIZER
12 oz beer
1 cup Epsom salts
1/2 cup ammonia
2 cup water
1/2 cup molasses (I use black strap)
4 tbs bloom booster
vit B12 (I use 250-500mg)
Wouldn't want those poor hoyas to go into withdrawals!! LOL I need to find clear amonia, maybe at Rite Aide instead of the grocery store. The recipe I have doesn't include the bloom booster and it said the vit B12 was optional. Guess everybody does it just a bit different.
~Brenda
Thanks Kim .... I googled and found the Hoya Thread where dmichael posted the recipe. I told hubby I was gonna try the beer fertilizer for my hoya's and a few other plants. We don't drink so he was laughing! He thinks it's a hoot that I am going to buy beer for plants! He said I better make sure the plants are over 21 so I won't be contributing to the delinquency of minor plants!
Kim I am definitely going to try that on my Multiflora.Wouldn't it be something if all its needed all this time is a good stiff drink? I wish all mine had been addicted all summer too..lol.. I was really bad over the summer and forgot to use the beer formula on any of my plants.Tomorrow I will mix up a fresh batch.
Brenda...I never used the B 12 in my last batch and might need to leave it out this time too if I don't have any here to use. I mentioned before that the beer fertilizer took the variegation out of a few av's...funny thing was it never messed with the episcias coloring at all..too weird
edited to add.. LOL on your post Lin!!
This message was edited Oct 19, 2007 7:01 PM
Uh Oh ..... I guess I won't win any Better Homes and Gardens or House Beautiful Awards unless I get a Decorator to come in here and clean and re-arrange and get some of my plants outta here!
Did anyone read this article? I was just floating around DG and happened upon it. I really laughed at the sentence stating don't make your African Violet collection the focal point of your living room!
http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/170/
I really could use some serious decorating help!
You ladies are too funny. Yes, the B-12 is optional. I squish a few tablets only because I have them but they are not necessary at all. Believe it or not, the molasses is the BEST thing in the mix for them. Make sure it's blackstrap molasses though. It's real easy to find around this time of the year due to Thanksgiving. A batch lasts a LONG time. I didn't refrigerate my first batch and everyone says you don't have to but toward the end it smelled just like really bad farts/poop when I used it. I haven't noticed a smell at all since keeping it in the fridge. Now this is just my opinion of course but I will never not put it in the fridge again. Maybe I didn't have enough hoyas to go through it fast enough? I don't know but the smell was awful. I don't know if something in it went bad or what but I won't take that chance again *lol*
In case any of you might be interested:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/782190/
:)
Kim
Kim you are an enabler big time!! LOL Tomorrow I may see what Tami has left! But first I'll be shopping for my beer fertilizer ingredients!! And I will be keeping it in the fridge after your description of the unrefrigerated version! :0) ROTFLOL
Oh Lin I am so with you on not winning any of those awards.LOL That article made me laugh!! She is a clever girl and knows her stuff but I still want my plants front and center and thank goodness I'm the one that lives here and I get to choose!!
Nancy I agree, if your mulitflora picks right up after a dose of beer we are all going to get a good laugh!! :0) Keep us posted!!
~Brenda
Beer fertilizer and MORE WATER Nancy, that's the ticket to your Multiflora. Good draining soil with orchid mix mixed in (and some perlite but orchid mix is better with hoyas) and keep her moist to wet at all times.
Not all hoyas like to be wet all the time but Multiflora and Heuschkeliana both do.
LOL, I came in here to see all the lovely photos you have to share but got caught up in the fun chat as well!
Then I remembered why I was here!! LOL
So here is a photo of Ballet Fairy Queen.
Oh my goodness Ccino that is absolutely beautiful!! I am especially fond of the blooms that have that ruffled edging!
~Brenda
Optimara EverGrace
Moonlight N Pink
Lucky Pinwheel
A Wal-Mart no name!
Blushing Ivory
Taffeta Blue
Emerald Love Sport
My Miltie
I have been out of town and missed this whole thread..............this is where the action is...........great pics............drooling.....................Ccino, I told you on the bingo thread I hadn't seen you..............this is what I get for not looking for the new threads!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And, what a great thread!!!!!!!!!!!!
I posted on the bingo thread about my shopping this morning.
I am sorry that Rain is still not on the mend...........I have a begonia Bonita Shea for you begoniadude............I have already propagated a new one .................isn't she nice??????
Couldn't take a nap............I thought the clock said 3 pm and it was 11 pm.........??????XXXXXXX
*******edited to say 11 am
This message was edited Oct 20, 2007 8:06 PM
Ccino42 gorgeous beauties!!
Kim with the beer fertilizer how much do you use when you water?
:) Donna
Donna, recommended amount for hoyas is 1 tablespoon per gallon :)
I would probably make it a little weaker for gessies to begin with but that's me :)
Hi there,
Beautiful pictures everyone.Brenda the bloom on kohleria Tane is stunning! As is Blue mars.
Lin,you sure can grow those chiritas.
Ccino42,awesome blooms!
Thanks, Kim. Now to see if DH will part with a beer.....lol.
:) Donna
Thanks!
Blue Dragon
Moonbeams - my Favorite!
Nancy Leigh - Huge Blooms!
Pixie Blue
Fairy Fountians Trailer - it's first bloom!
Yukako 's first bloom!
No fair, Ccino! More gorgeous blooms!! Your Nancy Leigh looks so much like a petunia or carnation.
You have a fabulous collection of AV's Ccino!! And you have taken some great pictures! I'm still sticking with my first favorite but I have a couple of close seconds in that bunch! Thanks for sharing!
~Brenda
Just tuning in to DG since returning home...................oh my goodness........Ccino...........what beauties!!!!!!!!! What kind of photo program are you using..........my Yuako has been blooming but my pics don't look like yours (probably because they are not as pretty as yours .......LOL)
I just noticed a few new blooms on plants at home............remember that I usually lose the names............
I used to think that this was Spin-out........but I can tell she is not!!!!
I don't know who she is either...........
The stick says Optimara Amethyst????
A new Ramblin' Spots...........I meant to say that all these plants were grown from leaf............that is how I lose their names so easily!
