I pretend it's my bedroom every time Gail posts a picture of her porch *lol*. I literally "see" myself in the picture, on the floor in a sleeping bag snoozing amongst all those plants.
A Day Of Gratitude and Love
Look at all the baby streps! I think theres going to be some good trading this spring!
My electric heaters pulled me through last night. I thought it was going to be 35 degrees but my brother called to say it was 28 here this morning. I watered all the pots outside real good so I am hoping that only the foliage is gone!
It was like taking care of a baby all night long. I would get worried that I might have a fire so I would unplug one heater, wake up and find the temps too low and put the other one on again.
Doesn't Kim have a lot of nice streps going!
I am SO tickled about my strep babies Gail. Thank you so much for the compliment, I can't tell you how much that means to me :)
I can't wait to box them up and ship them to their new homes this spring. It has really been a GREAT project this winter. I am totally loving it. I'm quite excited about my new leaves which are coming and I SHOULD have time enough to get some babies from those for spring too :) I was SO worried in the beginning that I wouldn't "get it" but I think I really am starting to. I have learned from the pro's here though :)
I sure hope your plants bounce back from their chill last night Gail! Wow, that was cold for you huh? It's amazing how we all have different hurldles to jump in order to grow. For us in zone 5 and below it's forced hot air, stoves, less light etc. during the summer and for those in warmer zones it's heat, humidity, bugs etc. But yet we ALL share something in common.......LOVE FOR OUR BABIES!
Miss Lin, don't you worry......we're gonna get you some more babies to play with :) I KNOW you can do it too my friend. Do you have anywhere cool during the summer (less than 70 degrees?). I'm thinking it may just be too hot? I think that if you start with a baby though you might be able to get it acclimated to your temperature at a young age.
We'll give it a whirl again this spring :)
Hello Ladies! I'm just home for a few minutes and then off again!
It's only 43 degrees here right now! Unbelievable! It got down to 39 here last night with wind chill @ 32 ... very windy still today but I think the winds are supposed to die down later this afternoon. We are supposed to be 27 degrees tonight! I have moved a lot of plants inside and tons of stuff got shoved up against the south side of the house and covered with old blankets, sheets and comforters! I have a feeling I might lose a few things after tonight's cold. :( But, oh well ... what can ya do? I can't let it bother me too much since I know that we can and do have cold weather in winter at times and I'm the one who brought all these plants home with me! LOL. This is the coldest weather we've had in more than 5 years! I still feel blessed though, knowing what some are going through with all the snow and ice and below freezing as well as below zero temp's! We all just do the best we can I guess. I used to get so sad and depressed if a plant died in winter then finally realized how it wasn't right to worry about plants. There are so many homeless out there in this weather who would love to have a warm bed to sleep in or just a blanket to cover themselves with.
Well, I need to get going. Have a million and one things to do today. We have a Basketball Tournament going on at the University again (our team is now 13-0 for the season!) I need to get grocery shopping and errands run and get back to the gym around 4. Our game isn't until 8 O'clock but other games are going on before we play.
Kim: LOL ... I think I've given up on growing Strep's for the time being. Once I get my Spring Cleaning done (both inside and out) I am going to make the decision about "what" plants I want to continue to grow. Just not enough time for them all! A lot of my AV's have kicked the bucket - don't know what happened but they all just began to decline rather quickly! I still have a few left but don't plan on taking in anymore for the time being. I don't want to become overburdened with so many plants - my New Year's Resolution - downsize, downsize, downsize - get rid of all the clutter with so many "plants" and "stuff"! I have 4 plant stands of varying sizes and they are way too crowded! So, I've got to make a plan to get organized and stick to it! Less is More?
Have a Wonderful day everyone and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Ditto, Lin!
Last week and several weeks ago, I got the trash can and started dumping so many little plants as it requires a lot of work and shelf space. We can't grow everything!
Got to 20 here last night... BBRRRRR!!!!!
I don't do so well with the cold now. My poor back is like a barometer... especially if it is damp and cold!
Supposed to get into the teens tonight... windchills in the single digits.
Only thing left on my balcony are my Ginkgo trees, and I'm thinking of pulling them in too.
The weekend is supposed to be back up in the 50's....
COME ON WEEKEND!!!
Haven't heard what last nights low was but night before was 12deg. Cold again today but supposed to get warmer as the week goes on. 60 will feel MUCH warmer than 40!
Sorry to hear about your cold weather Gail & Lin. I realize you're warmer than some of us, but if it's unexpectedly cold or not used to getting that cold it's the same as when I have the 12 deg that aren't an every day occurance! Or those of you further up north that are having even colder temps...None of us are happy! Hope eveyone's plant are OK.
Here everyone is downsizing their plants and I'm expanding on a whole new plant family! Trying not to feel guilty here! LOL
Just came home, getting ready to eat dinner and then off again! I just turned the T.V. on and the weather folks are stating that we have a slight chance of SNOW flurries here on the coast tonight, can you believe it?! It has happened in the past and of course doesn't stick but it isn't supposed to be so cold in Florida! Weather like this makes me want to move to South Florida, or the Islands!! I am debating whether or not I want to go back out to go to our game tonight. I don't own a winter coat! Guess I will have hubby warm up the car before we leave and I will take a blanket along! I have been in a turtleneck & sweatshirt and jeans and socks and sneakers all day because it never even made it to 50 degrees here today! Whoa! This ain't right! LOL. Our Air Conditioning has been on until last night when our heat kicked on!!! And, by early next week it's back to near 80 again during the day and 60's at night!
Hubby just went out and covered even more plants - some Hibiscus plants in the yard. Some are too big to cover but the cold will kill them back and they will come back from the roots ... at least they have in past years!
If I stay home tonight I am building a nice big warm fire in the fireplace! I don't have much firewood left but enough for one good fire anyway!
Gotta go finish cooking dinner! Stay warm Y'all!
Lin
Lin, I'm so sorry but I really got a chuckle out of "I don't own a winter coat" *lol*
Weather man says -2 for tomorrow's high's here *lol* -2 Yep, that's freeze your toes off -2 *lol*
We are accustomed to long johns, 3 pairs of socks, mittens, hats, blankets, and $3.49/gallon of oil for the furnace.
I always say I like my chubby belly....keeps me warm in the winter *lol*
I really feel for you as it would probably be like us getting a day in the 100's for one day and then back to freezing the following day. What an adjustment it must be.
It just sounds so cute while I sit here in my 3 pairs of socks and wrapped in my micro suede blankets (yes, we have SO many choices for blankets in Maine *lol*. You have your fleece, flannel, cotton, micro fleece, micro plush, micro suede, velux, wool, micro cotton, cotton wool and the list goes on and on *lol*).
Always a pan of hot cocoa on the stove and always wet boots in front of the door dripping all over the floor. Oh it's SO MUCH fun!
Just think though........by next week you lawn will need mowing again *lol*.
And I sit here and think.........by next week my driveway will need to be shoveled for the 8th time this year already *lol*
Isn't it neat in a way to all have such different backgrounds but yet all come together as a family of 1 and keep eachother warm in the heart in some way?
Warm thoughts going your way Lin. Enjoy either the game or your beautiful fire :)
Kim
Yes, Kim, it's definitely neat!
I like your list of blankets... reminds me of Bubba & Forest Gump's list of ways to fix shrimp!
Lin, I hope all your plants survive. I know how nervous I was about some of mine last spring when we had that late freeze (which lasted a week!).
Lin and I are both in a state of shock! The weatherman just said that we are going to have periods of up to 8 hours of 26 degree weather tonight, tomorrow and Friday. I just used all my good sheets (I don't have a winter coat either, Kim) to cover plants outside.
Also I just slept 2 hours from being exhausted turning the electric heaters on and off all night long last night. I kept having visions of the house burning down with my outdoor extension cords plugged inside my house . Do ya' suppose that 2" draft with the front door open to the porch to accomodate the cords is also running up my electric bill this month!
Now that I know the cords are safe enough I intend to sleep at some point tonight without worry of fire. By the way, the two little heaters and the porch wrapped good in poly kept the temps in the high 50's on the porch.
OMG Kim! I just CAN'T imagine! I have lived in weather like that, out in the mid-west...
but I don't want to anymore!!!
But I complain about the heat and humidity in the summer too!!!
*LOL*
We are cold here tonight.... We had no heat at work today and boy it was cold inside...LOL I have not work tomorrow so I get to play with my plants like I wanted to do over the Christmas vacation I took but other things happened so now I get to play tomorrow... YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH....
Kim,Gail, anyone else who posted pictures :-) They are just great... you are doing great Kim... Do you use a heat mat with you babies or just lights? Also I went to the site you posted on ebay.... STAY AWAY SUE......LOLOLOL
Great jobs ladies... Keep it up...
Hugs,
Susan
Hello All,
Can anyone tell me if there are any books out there for beginers like myself on how to grow Av's and strep's and my favorits chiritas?
Thanks Susan
They advertise in the AVSA magazine all the time plus the vendors offer a lot of books. I don't think African violets, streps and chiritas are any different than other plants. Someone else speak up but maybe Susan needs a book on propagation???????
When I come across the magazines and see a beginner's book I will tell you, Susan.
Thanks Gail... I have been trying to print out all that everyone will tell you how to do it... Then I get all confused...LOLOL Hey does not take much for this brain... I feel like I have done pretty good since I had never ever grew anything from a cutting or a leaf for that matter before now... I have been trying anything and everything I can get my hands on.... I think I just second guess myself to much... I love doing this in the winter as it keeps me sane... well ok almost sane...LOL
Hugs,
Susan
Well Thank You SO MUCH Susan for the compliment. It's SUCH a great feeling! I can't wait to give these all these babies new homes. I have decided I'm only keeping 1 of each and all the rest need to go so that I can keep making more. I can't wait for my new leaves to come in!
I did try heat for my strep leaves Susan and found FOR ME it was an awful combination. Some people have VERY good luck with strep leaves on heat mats. FOR ME it was terrible. Lots lost to rot. I don't know if it was because I was SO new to them at the time or if it was the actual heat but the ones I did off the heat are the ones I'm removing babies from. I tried experimenting in all the ways I could think of. When I got a leaf, I cut it into as many sections as I could. I put 1 section in a "community" box which consisted or just perlite/vermiculite. 1 section in a "community" box which consisted of perlite/vermiculite and a LITTLE bit of soil and 1 section in a solo cup with perlite/vermiculite and a LITTLE bit of soil. All of them were domed. 1 of the "community" boxes I put on heat and the other I didn't. It didn't take long for the one on the heat (perlite/vermiculite/little bit of soil) to start showing signs of rot. Quickly took them off the heat and discarded any sections beyond repair. Ended up being the community pot that did the best for me once there was no heat. Moved the sections in the perlite/vermiculite community box into the perlite/vermiculite/soil box as the ones in this box were showing signs of babies and the perlite/vermiculite leaves were barely rooted. Didn't take them long to catch up though once planted. So my observation FOR ME, in my home & dry environment is that I must need a little soil which creates the humidity they need as they don't get it from the air during the winter in Maine. Maybe during the summer straight perlite/vermiculite would work but being the time of the year it is this is what I have learned thus far. I have kept my heating mats for seeds only. And so far, I don't seem to be doing very well with seeds but I think that is another "patience" issue.
I don't have any books either Susan and wish I did too :) BUT I do ALOT of reading, printing and research online and have found SO many interesting sites. I have probably printed over a ream of paper in information *lol*
Jill, I HAD to read hubby your post about Bubba and the shrimp! I was literally laughing out loud and he thought I was possibly going nuts *lol* SO cute.
Oh and I wanted to also mention Susan that the ones that I put in Solo cups and domed (with my yogurt caps *lol*) were the FIRST leaves to make babies!
So, FOR ME I have observed that my leaves seemed to prefer being alone to "do their thing" rather than exposed to everyone in a community pot *lol*
Thanks Kim, I am not going to use heat on my new ones when Gail ships them to me... I am using a heat mat for my passion flowers seeds which seem to be doing really well.. I am shocked at how many have come up for me and are still growing and more seeds popping all the time... Funny these were suppose to be the hard ones not the AV's and family...lolol
I am going to copy and past what you just said Kim and put with the rest of the files I have....
Thank you once again...
Hugs,
Susan
I have found that mats are good for seed starting (especially tropical seeds such as Passiflora or Datura) but they aren't good for everything. Streps are a "cool" weather plant and for me they didn't like a heat mat.
I am still learning too so PLEASE if anyone has some advice or if I have said something incorrect, please let us know as I only started learning back in October and I'm sure I still have SO MUCH to learn from all you knowledgeable people here :)
Ok here is a question for the pro's.... I understand putting them in domes, but I am not sure when to take out of the domes? Like now I am going to take some I have away from there Mom's tomorrow and now should I put them back in domes or just let them be?
I love this place.... If it had not been for here when all the crap hit the fan I think I would have lost it.... I love reading and seeing everyones things....
Thanks,
Hugs,
Susan
I am not a pro but learning all the time. Susan, when you first separate the babies from the mom, remember how fragile and disturbed their little root systems are so:
Be sure when you put them in their own little solo cup to include whatever their little roots are in.....don't try to get the roots clean....
Then Dome them for at least a week or more to get them started (them being the root system on the new little plants)
Without being too boring I am going to show you the steps I take from starting to finishing.
In this picture I have new babies......both avs, chimeras, chiritas, etc. The dome is off here to take the picture (I think I even have a couple of chirita leaves just starting off)
Here is a picture of the dome on the same group of baby plants and a couple of chirita leaves just stuck.
This is a combination of new streps that were planted yesterday, chirita leaves stuck and new babies of chiritas.
When the dome comes off, the next step for me is to put them on a piece of acrylic blanket that i can keep wet for both humdity and for water as these babies have just come out of a domed situation. They will stay here for a couple of weeks with no dome.
Now I let the babies sit in a tray without the acrylic blanket and just water from the bottom making sure that they don't sit in water more than 30 minutes. I use a turkey basting bulb to get the excess water out each time I do water.
Now that these babies have gone through being domed, being on a wet acrylic mat, being sat in trays without acrylic mat...........they are ready to be treated as adults and sit on the grid and wicked.
(You don't have to wick.....I just like to.....the humdity stays higher and i don't have to worry about watering except to fill the reservoirs with water and fertilizer)
OK Gail..............can you guess who this is?...............
It's the Salmon Sunset I bought from you when I FIRST found you ladies! It should open tomorrow or Friday and I will get a picture of it before I go playing with his private parts as he has told me he would like to donate his pollen to this lovely lady in the pot beside him *lol*
And this is the lovely lady that has offered to bare his seed *lol* (Space Dust)
Yea!!!!!!!!! I thought the mother died. Kim, you are a growing dude! I even bought another one (yes, another one as i thought we didn't have any of her to propagate).
******You have to promise to show me how to pollinate all these streps I just got, Kim, in the spring!
This message was edited Jan 2, 2008 8:42 PM
Gail,
Thank you... I get confused as to dome and when not to... I am printing your info out ..... Could you show me a picture of a chimeras as I have never seen one of these?
Also where do you buy pots as I am going to need some down the road and also the grid thing where do you get that?
Sorry so many questions but hey gotta love me...LOLOLOL
Hugs,
Susan
No Gail it was Streaker who went to heaven, not Salmon Sunset :)
I THINK that I even have some babies SOMEWHERE. I will check the stand to see if I took any leaves or any babies yet.
I would be more than happy to help you pollinate Gail, it's the least I could do my friend :) It's alot of fun.
I can't wait to do seed packages for everyone :)
If you only remember one thing, you will have the secret! If the baby is newly planted, if the leaf is just stuck, then they need protection of extra humidity with a dome of any kind. So, just ask yourself, is this an old plant or a new one?
I use a lot of 3oz solo cups. They aren't actually solo brand as I like the ones you use that go in the dispensers in bath rooms to wash your mouth out after brushing. I find them at the grocery store with the napkins, etc. I just cut with the scissors on the bottom two sides for drainage.
Solos can be used for sticking leaves of any kind, for new baby plants from the mamas, so you don't have to graduate in size until they outgrow the solos. Then I really just use 3" and 4" pots. (I have 5 and 6" pots for other things) Also, i really save those 21/2" squares as they are too expensive to order.
*****edited to say that I gotta go pull for Oklahoma against West Virginia in football!
Brenda said that she doesn't order 3" and 4"......that she uses the 9 oz. solo cups and cuts the tops off or puts enough perlite in the bottoms (almost half) to use the whole cup.
I order my 3 and 4" from violetshowcase by the 100 as they are too expensive to order less. Maybe someone else knows of a better source. Violetshowcase is soooooooo expensive. They have the grids but you have a husband to help you cut yours.
Go to lowes and buy the grids that the old flourescent light were covered with. Either Lowes can cut it to fit over your tray or your husband can buy it in big pieces and cut it himself. Violetshowcase has been doing a bad job of cutting so they fit my permanest trays and I don't think I am going to order from them anymore.
Volkmans is a good site and IGS (Indoor Gardening Supply is a good vendor)
This message was edited Jan 2, 2008 8:56 PM
Doing the happy dance........this is my VERY FIRST Chirita leaf to show me I did something right :) Planted this leaf on 10/30 the day Kazu arrived and if you squint REAL HARD........can you see little "ears?"........whoo hoo whoo hoo hoo
I can see it with out squinting my eyes.... doing the happy dance with you girl....yeah for KIM................
Thanks Gail for the info... I know you must get tired of me asking.... but this time I am printing and making a booklet out of the things I print so I don't get confused....
Hugs,
Susan
Gail if I go to lowes will they know what I am asking for if I ask for grinds?
Susan
I will be back in a few I have to look for seeds for someone so I can tell her if I have or not....
Dont all go to sleep on me now...LOL
Hugs,
Susan
Susan, I drove Snowrose crazy learning (that is probably why she left us *lol*).............but please dmail me the minute you don't know what to do. Once you learn it becomes old hat.