What is in my kitchen is only a small part of what I have to pot up. I gripe and complain but I either like to be miserable or I really like my plants????
Here are a few pics of what is sitting in the kitchen ready to have something done with them. These are from the first batch of seeds that Snow sent me and I only kept the best ones.
Oh someday I wanna grow up and grow like you Gail........you are so inspirational!
Good morning, Kim! So happy to see you around as we haven't seen you much.
I am in the middle of posting pics of things that have to have something done to them in the next day or two. This doesn't count what is on the shelves that need attention. I am a glutton for punishment.
But you don't Kim. That would have to make you as compulsive and obsessive as I am (laughing out loud)! I do believe there is a clinical diagnosis for this (still smiling)
I am not even posting the rest of them in the kitchen. Plus I want to wick all my baskets on the front porch like Tapla (Al) has shown us on the indoor gardening soil discussion.
Absolutely beautiful as always :)
You just have such a green thumb :)
Amazing my friend :)
I am trying my first strep crosses. Refrigerated some pollen from Space Dust yesterday :) Fingers crossed.
Gail, I really appreciate that offer... my shelves looked like yours a year ago! But now they're actually pretty empty. I tossed out so many plants that might (or might not) have had mites, and other things took up the time I'd hoped to spend propagating replacement plants this fall/winter. I'm taking my time compiling a wish list of "most desperately wanted" varieties, hoping that if I'm extra selective in rebuilding my AV collection I'll end up with shelf space for chiritas, episcias, streps, etc... In reality, you know I will just end up needing another plant shelf, LOL.
:-)
Critter, I know what you mean. After this spring, I am determined to very carefully build up only the avs I want. I would even like to get it down to about 20 avs so I would have room for begonias, etc. My friend who was here has the most beautiful begonias she keeps under gro lights but she only grows streps, begonias and a few other things.
The violet club has a big Mother's Day Sale in May and I am only going to keep these plants going until the sale (to try and recoup some of my money) and then I am going to start from 'almost' scratch.
I'll let you know if the plan works!
Hi Gessiegal;
i would love to have the chirita leave.let me know about the postage.I see you have streps to? another passion of mine, any doubbles?
mrsbonnie
Lot's of chatting going on that I've missed out on this morning! Love everyone's pics!
Ok typing is not goping good for me this morning. I smashed my thumb in the door last night and it broke my nail about a quarter of an inch back from the quick. I don't kow what to dom with it as I don't think it's loose enough to clip. Sore and tender! DIdn't know I used my thumb so much to type! ANd it's taken me 5 min to do this!!!!
All the pics are making me anxious!!! CAn't wait for new plants!
mrsbonnie, yu have a dmail
Those you see are grown from seeds.
Hi There;
Where do i find the dmail. i looked in my regular mail on here & there is nothing/
bonnie
Laughing as I just sent it this minute.
Diane, you have dmail, too.
Thanks Gail!!! Woo hoo!
I wish someone were really familiar with the foliage on chiritas.........i am mad at myself for getting the tags all mixed up and lost......if anyone thinks they can identify them, please shout loudly!
gail
Ouch, Diane! The best thing I've found for that sort of injury (or any kind of cut or slice, especially on a finger) is that paper tape -- not the slick plastic-y first aid tape that you use to fasten down gauze forever and a day, but the lighter stuff that breathes. It's translucent and has a slight texture to its surface.
Just wrap it right around the top of your finger, over the broken nail, not so tight that it's uncomfortable. If the nail hasn't come loose from the quick, the tape will hold the nail in place to protect your finger. Hopefully by the time the broken part of the nail does let go, the finger underneath won't be quite so tender. If you need cushioning, make a little "hat" of gauze and tape to put over your thumb to protect the sensitive tip.
The main thing about using the paper tape is that you can't just peel it off... you have to let it come off on its own (in the bath, for example), because otherwise the adhesive will take any new skin away along with the tape. Probably not an issue with a broken nail -- but definitely something to keep in mind if you've put the tape on over a blister. If the tape starts looking tatty, just add another layer.
Thank you critter. I'm going to get some of that tape! Yes, it is painful and I've always said if it's stupid or wierd, it'll happen to me. Get it from my mother! LOL
The bad thing about the band-aids I've been using is that every little pressure makes the break in the nail feel like it's pinching the nail bed underneath. Hope I'm not making anyone sick here.. Anyway hopefully the tape will help.
I just feel terrible for you..........the reason I wear acrylic nails is I can't stand to break a real finger nail back in the quick. Knock on wood I have never lost an acrylic in almost 40 years........
Diane,
I hope your nail heals fast for you... Gosh I know that hurts...
Hugs,
Susan
I took some pictures last night and then our internet provider went down (grrrrr).
Here is an updated picture of my babies all potted up and enjoying their new apartments.
I have "lifted" them once so far and inserted a Osmocote pebble in each cup.
They are still domed and sending out new roots all the time.
Patience.....I know......Patience *lol*
I tried my hand at hybridization for the first time this morning.
These weren't exactly the 2 parents I would have chosen but they were what was blooming so I decided to cross them.
I have stored some Space Dust pollen in the fridge as I have a few others that are going to bloom in the next few days and want to use the pollen on.
Here is the mother - Space Dust
And here is the father - Dibley's Gwen
Again, not the 2 parents I would have chosen but I'm excited at "what could be" :)
I have read that fantasies do better when the fantasy is the pod parent and when crossed with a solid. So....who knows. If I get seeds, I will try to grow a few out just to see what the babies will look like.
I will be crossing some others and will start a thread once I harvest some seeds for anyone who wants to try some. I have 4 or so pods of Bristol's Party Boy X Self which are STILL ripening and should be ready sometime real soon hopefully.
This is SO MUCH fun! I am having the BEST winter I have ever had playing with all the babies.
It's all because of my dear friends here who have taught and enabled me and I will forever be grateful to each and every one of you. You truly have become "my family".
Happy New Year!
Kim
Kim, those are the prettiest baby streps I have ever seen! Mine don't look half that good I promise you. I just showed you the bigger ones yesterday. I have some scraggly looking ones but i am not giving up on them yet.
There were 4 I wanted so badly and the leaves were cut on the outside of the end of each leaf. I have tried. Remembering John, Spin Art, Dracula's Shadow and Iced Wine. I will show you a sad picture but , as I say, I am not giving up yet.
check out some of the sad leaves.............but hanging in there
Awwww Gail, they still look beautiful.
You can always cut the "ugly" parts off when they get bigger. I trim all the leaves on mine so that they look the way I want them to when they are big enough :)
I KNOW they will do fine though, you are a superior grower my friend!
Those are some beautiful streps though, Spin Art is a fantasy........very pretty!
It's so much fun, isn't it? I am trying to be patient and trying not to over water. So far it seems to be paying off. I have a new way of watering (as I don't wick) and it seems to be working real nicely (until I can change their soils this spring).
Thank you for sharing a picture of your beautiful babies.....I know they will look just spiffy in the long run :)
Kim
That is my theory! If I just can keep them alive I can cut off the dead foliage and ugly parts.
Oh WOW! I've never done the hybridizing/cross-pollinating on anything. You all are so far ahead of me- I have a lot of catching up to do. I can only imagine the pride you all must feel looking at those babies! How envious am I?!
Really like that Space Dust one! Coloration is so interesting
ALL of these babies I will be able to trade this spring! That's the beauty of it. I'm growing them for all of you :)
My goal is that we should each have 1 of every kind everyone else has :)
I just bought 12 leaves to start and asked the seller not to send me any duplicates from my list so that I can have MORE to share this spring.
I LOVE to share and didn't have anything so everyone here shared with me. I propagated as much as I could (and still am) so that I can share and pass around as much as possible this coming spring :)
I am really growing them for everyone here *lol* and I'm enjoying it immensely.
I'm trying my hand at other gessie's too as it's just so much fun!
I have decided that I think I will part with some hoyas etc. this spring as I want all the table space I can have for playing "mad scientist" *lol*
I love to pollinate. I pollinated all my daylilies this summer and sent a lady over 300 seeds. I don't have the room to grow all the babies but I love to pollinate.
I love to learn new things and have LOTS of time at work to do research and study. I have printed off reams of information and find I only read if it's something I'm interested in. Needless to say, I have read and read and am still learning SO MUCH! I LOVE IT WITH ALL MY HEART AND SOUL!
Kim
Kim-Was it Streps you bought 12 leaves of? And who was it? I haven't been able to find anyone who'll send anything right now. Lucky you to be able to do that at work! We don't even get to sit down ever at work!
Diane,
Yes it was streps I bought 12 leaves from.
They were $11.99 and $8.95 shipping (and she sends bonus's)!
So for 12 leaves it's $20.94 or $1.74 per leaf! Actually less than that because of the bonus's
Here is the link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/12-Streptocarpus-CUTTINGS-African-Violet-Kin-VARIEGATED_W0QQitemZ310011624346QQihZ021QQcategoryZ75640QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Thanks Kim! Looks like she has quite a collection.
I saw Bristol Strep on her page. I saw that term somehere else too. Anyone care to enlighten me on the difference? Lot's to learn here!
Diane,
Bristol's is a hybridizer.
Click on this link and on the right under the B is "Bristol's". You can see some of his work there :)
http://www.streptocarpus-info.com/
This is an AWESOME site.
Kim
Oh, Ok I get it! Wow that's a lot of Streps! I've never grown one yet. Think I'd better start with just one or two to see if they like me first.
Diane, I am VERY new to streps myself (October) and am still learning every day.
One thing that I have learned about myself and these plants is that I seem to do better with the babies than I do with full established plants. Not sure why that is. I have taken full established plants down to literally 1 or 2 leaves in no time. Yet, it seems the smaller they are the more resilient they are to my home than the larger ones. It's strange but just an observation I have made so far.
Growing babies from leaves has been so much fun! Separating the babies is alot of fun too. One leaf can make so many babies!
I think that makes sense. Climatizing to your growing conditions and care. I can't wait to try the babies, even if it makes me very nervous...
"we should each have 1 of every kind everyone else has"
WOW, I really love that idea, but can you just imagine... we'd need to build conservatory additions onto our homes!
;-)
We can all dream huh Jill? *lol* Dreams are goals still to be achieved :) I love dreaming about what "could be". Maybe that is why I like pollinating etc. *lol*
Hey, I think my dream home would pretty much be a conservatory with home functions somehow worked in among the plantings... :-)
DITTO, CRITTER!
Ditto, ditto!!!
:o)
DItto for me too- all soul sisters to the end!!!
I can sure imagine
The first time I went to Phipps Conservatory, as a kid, I remember wishing I could live there!
