Well, my hubby smokes too :)
Now it has gotten to the point that when he goes out to smoke and then comes to bed I say....would you like one on my mints *lol*. He jumps up and goes and brushes his teeth.
It is seriously the hardest thing I have ever done but I want plant money to call my own SO BAD that I am willing to do this!
I find that the Commit is REALLY helping me and I'm also taking St. John's Wort for my "attitude" *lol*
Day 6 almost behind me now :)
My First Terrarium & Other Chatter
OK ladies
I am tired of not having enough time to play on DG so I am cleaning shelves out. I have about 8 trays like these m(no, I just counted and there at least 10 trays) which should have had the babies planted up in solo pots long ago.
In the garbage they go! All of them are going which have gotten too large to make a pretty plant.
Kim???????
I will make time to come back and play more with you all! It will take me another week of potting up and throwing away.
********I was typing when i saw that Kim had posted. Good for you, Kim. That is a super duper fantastic effort on your part.
OMG Gail, I'm feeling sick...........in the garbage.........really? OMG...........I'm nautious..........are you serious? You can throw a baby away..........WAAAAAAA
I know you have to but it turns me belly :(
Kim - I'm SO proud of you! Just sending some loving-proud vibes your way~~~ Even with a smoking hubby? Proud proud proud!
Gail- what do you mean not pretty?! They look good to me!
Well thank you VERY much :)
I said to hubby the other night, I can't believe I have gone 5 days without one. I never thought I was strong enough to.
He said "I did"
Awww... How nice! Sounds like a sweety!
I will go take one apart for you and take a picture to show that it is hard to make a pretty plant out of an ugly one. i should have potted up over a month ago. I will come back after I take one apart and show you what the babies look like.
In the meantime, maybe someone else can show me that they can be saved and made into pretty plants, but i don't know how............
then I will take pictures of some of the big ones that look like i can save them and pot them up.
be back
Kim I clicked on the link about grooming episcias. That's very interesting. I would never have thought of doing that. Do you ever root just the leaves? I'm trying that right now.
I'm just trying that for the first time too!
I JUST got into these plants and some friends sent me some stolons which are all rooted and have produced the TINY stolons in my new terrarium pictured above.
I am LOVING them. I "pet" each of them daily *lol* The real furry ones I even put up to my cheek.....sick I tell ya......sick *lol*
Diane, you made me a liar. i could get one good baby plant from each of the two solo cups I separated.
here are the two good ones which can be potted up
You can readily see why I waited too long on these. They don't have more than 2 sides of leaves.
Well, as long as they are all AV's Gail I can sleep tonight *lol*...........Only AV's.............right? *lol*
Could it possibly be that Kim does not want to grow avs? (smiling)
Oh Gail .... How sad that you have to throw so many plants away! Is there and elementary school in your area that might like them so students could grow them out just for the learning experience? Or, how about a senior center or assisted living facility? That would be a wonderful project for the elderly who sometimes need the activity! I just know someone would probably like free plants to see if they can grow them!
Lin, you don't know how hard I did look around. The president of the PTA at a big high school in Corpus Christi emailed me back to say that they would love to have them for the botany greenhouse. The catch was: "Would you please make arrangements to bring them by the high school and place them in the greenhouse with the proper names on them?"
I am sorry but I also offered many outside plants, too. If the students, teachers or PTA officers don't have time to help, I was not willing to drive over an hour away, park 3 blocks away (that is the way security is now) and try to take all these plants by myself. She knew I lived over an hour away and I kept thinking that she would find someone to help me.
Whoa .... Yes, you would think since you were offering a ton of FREE plants that they would have offered help! Sometimes I am just stunned at people nowadays!
Oh well ..... their loss!
Anyone still here? I just got back home. Grocery night!
Gail- Would they not ever grow out evenly?
Diane...............you made liar out of me...........I took some more apart and even got 3 of one kind. Critter suggested taking all the outside leaves off and saving the crowns. That works if there are leaves around the crown . But some are still so leggy with no growth around the center, I just let them go in the trash.
However, i am saving a lot more since Critter made that suggestion. I just don't have the time to ship them out to anyone and let them just save the crown itself and root in a baggie. That is why I am paring down all that I have.
I used to ship out all the time because I love to share, but that is also how I didn't leave myself enough time to get all these leaves planted up. I am a terrible packer and it takes me hours just to send out 3 #7 boxes. That is a lot of time away from my plants that i need so badly.
My hope is to get in good shape for spring trading without needing so much time with the plants. (we shall see if I get any more organized?) (I am not sure anyone can organize me) (LOL)
I still have so much to learn with this plant family
The one big lesson I have learned though is that each of us can stick a leaf and grow a much prettier plant than any plant we can buy or order. That is my long term goal (to never have to buy a mature plant for leaves) and get an av collection of exactly the ones I love the most.
I noticed in the AVSA magazine there is a list of the best variety for 2007. This list represents how many people voted for their favorite av. Also included is a list of 18 top fote getters after the Best 25.
If you all are interested in this list, I will be happy to type it for you. I have 13 of the top 25.
Diane,
Do you feel comfortable growing avs from leaves? Everyone on this forum would jump at the chance to send you leaves and show you how to propagate them. That would include chirita leaves (the easiest of all), streps, avs and other gesneriads.
Sure, if you have the time! 13 out of 25! Bet there would be lots of people out there who would be jealous.
Yes i would be interested! I've done AV's from leaves before. Got them to root and grew a small plant but then ended up letting it get too dry and murdered it! I have 2 episcias rooting but may have blown it on the one I wanted to succeed with the most. I tugged to see if it was rooted and it came out,roots and all. I put it back in but felt a little snap. Probably broke off those little roots the poor baby worked sohard to grow. Ugh
jealous?????? I am already overwhelmed and close to a breakdown (LOL) due to so many plants. No one told me that each leaf produced anywhere from 6 to 8 new babies if planted up at the right time. And I didn't think ahead as to how many plants I would have when it was all said and done.
I know an easy way to do it tomorrow. i can look up each one on my first class and then just copy and paste the complete descriptions of each one so people can look them up if they wish. I wish I knew how Critter was copying the pictures from First Class. I can do it on labels but I don't know how to copy the picture on DG .
Maybe she can tell me in the morning? Critter, are you out there?
I never mind shipping out leaves. I just don't like trying to send big avs....it is impossible not to break the leaves. I can't pack like the vendors do.
LOL- you are just tired maybe? I know I start to feel that way about all mine when I'm kinda pushing my limits. I think I told you that I have a pretty big collection of other things... Ans here I am starting another collection? As I read the other day on here somewhere. I'ts not addiction- it's a passion!
You are so right, Diane. I let it become a burden rather than a joy. My interests come and go. Right now I just want to focus (inside the house) on av standards and streps. That is enough to keep me busy.
going to think about going to bed.......
gail
maybe critter can show me how to put the pictures along with the description from first class on this thread.
I've got to get to bed too. Seems like the day at work lasts forever and the nights on here fly by too quickly!LOL
Hi All
Yes the pictures i posted do have white sprite in them. They are in a covered shoe box & they love it.They are probably one of the easiest plants to grow. just give them terrium conditions & they are fine.there are probably 14 or 16 of these micro's. For those of you who are still smoking, i had been smoking for over 50 years & quit 5 months ago.I used chantex & it worked great.It is hard to quit & you really have to want to, but the medicine did work for me. i took it for 2 weeks & then thrw away the cigs & never really had a problem after the 2 weeks & my husband still smokes.you just have to want to quit & the medcine really helps.
mrsbonnie
I understand Gail, there is a lot you have to give up but only for a while. You would be real surprised what you associate with needing a cigarette. Even now, a cigarette sounds good with a cup of coffee after a stressful day. When I quit there was no medicine to help, it was all on sheer will. Msbonnie is right you have to want to quit. Kim will make it, she wants it.
I think what you're doing is absolutley the best thing for you. There have been several articles in the AV magazine about letting your collection go from a thing of pleasure to a burden. You love your plants so much, and you're so good with them, they need to be a pleasure to you.
I just wrote this to Gail but I'll share it here too :0)
Instinctively I went looking for a cigarette this morning and found that hubby had left 1/2 pack in his jacket in the laundry room. Well, I'm home alone and I know they are there. I am sitting here writing and they are calling to me. My mind keeps saying....who would know? I keep reminding myself that I will know and God will know and that's enough for me.
IF I make it through my day today, it will be ONE FULL WEEK! I get my very first $20 "funny money" payment tonight before I go to bed! I am SO excited and if I give in to the cigarettes in the laundry room I will not be able to honestly say I made it so thank goodness I have you all :)
I heard really great things on that chantix Mrs.Bonnie and I'M SO PROUD OF YOU! 5 MONTHS AFTER 50 YEARS........WOW, you are amazing! That is GREAT!
I decided not to do the Chantix because I didn't want to take prescriptions or put up with the side effects and it is VERY expensive (for me) so I decided to try the Commit. So far so good. Believe it or not, I wanted to experience the withdrawals, temptations, and moodiness because I always want to remember how hard it was and what I went through to quit as I think it will be an incentive to not pick one up. This is the worst thing I have been though and I am so determined to make it.
You should see my poor belisle's book *lol*. I have 4 different colored highlighters and each color means something. Pink means......order first..........blue...........order second..........etc. *lol*. I HAVE to find something to fill my days and shopping catalogs is pretty much all I can do *lol*
Like Gail though, I certainly don't want to be overwhelmed as when our passion becomes our burden it's awful. I once fell into depression and gave away ALL my plants (even gave away the expensive pots they were in) but being a gardener at heart....a year or two later I was crying because I missed them and slowly have begun to replace them :)
That's what I love about Dave's, we all have a LOVE of plants and a LOVE for one another. There is no place on earth like the AV forum at Dave's :)
mmmwwwwaaaaa :x
Kim: FLUSH THEM! If they are there it will just be temptation. I know cigarettes are expensive and they are your hubby's .... but you should flush them and then you won't have to think about them being there!
I need to get a belisle's catalog! or ... maybe I shouldn't. LOL. Hey, I like your system with highlighting 1st choice, 2nd etc.
Hang in there gal .... one week and counting! I'm so PROUD of you!
Is Belisle's on line catalog not a complete one?
Hang in there, Kim as you are doing great!
DAY 7 !!! WHOOOO HOOOO for you Kim. So proud of you. I agree with Lin, toss them kiddo. Hubbie will understand...later. Good for you. So happy you are doing this for YOURSELF and not anyone else. My twin sis started smoking about 3 years ago and it just kills me (no pun intended) because there's nothing I can do about it, only she can. Not that I don't express my opinion to her every now and then because I love her. My oldest daughter and her husband do also. I can't stand to go to their homes and that sounds bad, but I totally hate to smell like smoke. I wish you the best of luck. That you have even come this far and made this very brave first step, you should be proud of yourself as we all are. Prayers for you and HUGS.
Laura
This list requested by Diane is the AVSA's Best Variety List For 2007. It is in this month's AVSA magazine along with other great information. You will have to look each one up on the AVSA web site to see the blooms.
1.Irish Flirt (7577) 11/07/1991 (S. Sorano) Double bright green and white frilled star. Medium green, wavy. Semiminiature
2.Harbor Blue (6174) 02/24/1986 (T. Weber) Single light blue/darker eye. Dark green, plain/red back. Large
3.Rainbow's Quiet Riot (R. Wasmund) Semidouble blue-purple large star/white fantasy. Dark green, round, scalloped. Standard
4.Ness' Crinkle Blue (8136) 01/19/1995 (D. Ness) Double dark blue star/thin white edge. Dark green, quilted, serrated/red back. Semiminiature
5.Blue Dragon (9516) 12/17/2005 (Lyndon Lyon Greenhouses/P. Sorano) Double light blue large frilled star/raspberry edge. Dark green, plain/red back. Large
6.Frozen in Time (9167) 02/03/2003 (Lyndon Lyon Greenhouses/Sorano) Single-semidouble white star/variable lavender tinge; green edge. Variegated light green and ivory, quilted. Standard
7.Picasso (6924) 10/04/1988 (M. Tremblay) Double light blue and white/variable white fantasy. Variegated medium green, plain/silver-green back. Large
8.Ness' Satin Rose (8144) 01/19/1995 (D. Ness) Double rose-mauve two-tone star. Dark green, quilted, scalloped/red back. Semiminiature
9.Rebel's Splatter Kake (8695) 01/31/1998 (R. Bann) Single-semidouble pink large fluted star/darker eye, purple fantasy, white-green edge. Medium green, spooned, quilted, glossy, serrated/red back. Large
10.Wrangler's Dixie Celebration (4490) 06/29/1981 (W. Smith) Double pink. Variegated, quilted. Large
11.Precious Pink (6025) 07/05/1985 (H. Pittman) Semidouble pink. Variegated, plain. Semiminiature
12.Aca's Red Ember (8732) 06/29/1998 (J. Brownlie) Single-semidouble red sticktite pansy. Variegated medium green and white, plain. Standard
13.Milky Way Trail (7169) 08/01/1989 (J. Stahl) Single-semidouble white pansy. Medium green, heart-shaped, quilted. Semiminiature trailer
14.Optimara EverGrace (9123) 05/29/2002 (R. Holtkamp) Single white sticktite frilled pansy/variable medium blue eye, band; light green edge. Medium green, heart-shaped, glossy, hairy, wavy, scalloped. Large
15.Orchard's Bumble Magnet (8479) 08/21/1996 (R. Wilson) Double pink star. Medium green, plain, pointed. Miniature
16.Tiger (3433) 06/01/1978 (I. Fredette) Semidouble dark blue-violet. Variegated. Large
17.Bob Serbin (8292) 09/21/1995 (J. Brownlie) Semidouble red sticktite pansy/thin white edge. Dark green, quilted, serrated/red back. Standard
18.Boo Man (8502) 11/09/1996 (S. Sorano) Semidouble-double light blue frilled pansy/white-feathered top petals, variable green. Black-green, plain, pointed. Semiminiature
19.Mickey Mouse (H. Inpijn) Double dark blue. Dark green, pointed/red back. Miniature
20.Ness' Orange Pekoe (D. Ness) Semidouble-double coral large pansy. Variegated dark green, pink and cream, scalloped/red back. Large
21.Optimara Rose Quartz (6969) 11/19/1988 (Holtkamp) Single-semidouble pink. Medium green, ovate, pointed, glossy, hairy. Miniature
22.Pixie Blue (2598) 09/16/1974 (L. Lyon) Single purple-blue/darker center. Plain, ovate. Miniature trailer
23.Powwow (7708) 06/15/1992 (K. Stork) Semidouble red pansy. Variegated green and cream, plain. Standard
24.Rob's Antique Rose (8451) 05/23/1996 (R. Robinson) Semidouble silver-rose sticktite frilled pansy/darker shading, some silver-green tips. Dark green, pointed, glossy, serrated/red back. Semiminiature
25,The Alps (7813) 10/03/1992 (K. Horikoshi/H. Sawara) Single-semidouble chimera white pansy/light blue stripe. Medium green, plain, quilted. Standard
Some of these I like and some are not my favorites but thought you might like to just read over the favorite list turned in by voters among the AVSA subscribers.
Thanks Gail, I printed it out so I can look them up. I'm going to blame you if I see any I just can't live without!
:)
Kim you go girl!! One full week, awesome....and money to buy plants with.....yippee!!!!
I've got the two grand babies down for an afternoon nap so I popped in real quick. Gail thanks so much for the list! I have one out of those 25. I grew it from leaf and it is just getting it's first blooms. It is Rebel's Splatterkake. What is so interesting to me is the first three blooms that opened were just purple with white edges but now more blooms are opening and they are the correctly colored ones.
Check out this picture that shows the same plant blooming the two different blooms at the same time! I guess it was just practicing with the purple blooms and now it has the beautiful fantasy blooms coming on. LOL
~Brenda
That is so neat! I never saw a plant bloom like that, with two different blooms! The purple bloom is pretty, but those fantasy blooms are really gorgeous!
Brenda that plant is a little sly one isn't it? Just showing off what all it can do at once! Cute! I'm with Lin. The purple is very striking but the mottled is so unusual and just lovely