I'd love to be in on this, but decided NOT to because many of my plants suffered a bit through the winter, too.
I'd be in a better position for such a swap in the fall.
I'm excited to watch and see what everyone receives, though!
Happy swapping!
I'm sorry to hear about your plants, too, Doug.
With all due respect to Tapla, because he *does* know his 'stuff'....I just stick to the soil recipe and fertilizers that have worked well for my plants in the past, despite what anyone may say is 'better'.
Spring Swap Signup
Nan,
You are absolutely right! That may be the moral of my story. Stick with what you know! I have been pretty successful for 30 years using what I'm used to, I shouldn't have tried such a radical departure from what I knew worked for me.
Doug
Well, I'm glad to hear that it wasn't a total loss. Please keep us updated on how they do. I'm sure you will have great success re-rooting them - I mean, you got macgillivrayii to bloom in your bathroom in snowy weather!!!
As for Tapla's soil, I have read about it in the past on other forums in addition to this one. And although it makes sense scientifically, I completely agree with both you and Nan - I have never switched over to it because my plants are happy in the medium I use. I don't fix what ain't broken! Sometimes I will change an ingredient or a brand, but I won't go too far out of my comfort zone.
Anyway, I'm glad you posted your story. I think many can learn from it.
Gabi
Yes, Gabi "Don't fix what ain't broken" - words to live by! It did take me a while to post this story, and I almost didn't, because it is slightly humiliating, but I guess if it stops one person from making the same mistake, it is worth it.
Doug
Doug, you should post it on the original thread as well, a lot of people are watching your experiment to see the results, me included. I also noticed his lack of response to your request.
Where is the original thread?
Does he say his mix is good for epiphytes?...
Doug..I have danced to that tune a couple of times!!! Yep...but it wasn't 40 plants...it was more like 2000!!! - and I had to do it TWICE!!!! OH NO, I couldn't doubt for a moment that what I was doing was right....after all...others did it!!!!
The perfect growing mix; the perfect watering schedule; the perfect growing area; the perfect fertilizer....I have found they ALL depend upon what works for YOU and your own specific situation/requirements.
Smiles ^_^ from a fellow traveler!!!
Carol
Threegardeners,
I'm glad I'm not the only one that noticed he did not respond to my question about how to know when to water. I have not wanted to post this story in that thread until I had a chance to calm down a little over the loss. Some day I will be able to laugh about how I drove 150 miles round trip to buy the ingredients necessary to make the mix (anyone looking to buy five unopened bags of Turface MVP?), but it is a little too soon for that. Carol, I've read all of his writings in both the Container and Houseplant Forums, and he pretty much says it is good for everything from African Violets to Bonsai to Petunias. I don't think he specifically said it was good for epiphytes, and I should have begun experimenting slowly a couple plants at a time, but I'm not geared that way - unfortunately. I wonder sometimes if I'm the only one that reacts the way that I do, and trys the newest supposed miracle for plants and regrets it. It is very good to know that I'm not alone ^_^
Doug
Personally,I'm not one to jump on the bandwagon, as they say, and try something new. I probably would if I had the resources, time, $$, etc..., though!
I know, however, that lots of people do, and more often than not, the results are good. I see people sharing their successes here on DG quite often!
So you're definitely not alone, Doug!
I'm glad, too that you shared your story....we can all learn from it.
In Al's defense, though...he does tend to only 'pop in' once in a while. I'm sure he'll check in soon and try to help you with your questions and shed some light on what may have gone wrong.
Doug, I'm really sorry to hear about that. Hopefully they'll all re-root in short order. Would you be up for receiving cuttings? I think everyone would understand your not being able to ship your own out right now. Let me know if you have your hands to full to receive incoming cuttings.
I have switched my mix in the last year or so from good quality commercial potting mix lightened with a lot of perlite to a blend of fine orchid bark, hydroton and perlite. Everything seems to be happier in this mix, but I am still watching them closely.
Doug, I LOVE your innovative set up for rooting cuttings. From what I can see, the new cuttings all look healthy and I'm betting you will be back in business soon with fuller pots.
Nan and Gabi.....you ladies are the voice of reason! I wish I could say the same, however, I fell for almost every new miracle mix, fertilizer and soil amendment. I still find large, rotted roots on plants from my rooting in spaghnam moss days. I still have several blocks of coir when I thought it was the magic ingredient, bags of lava rock as I just knew it was the magic ingredient, packages of messenger and a couple gallons of Eleanors that I bought a case of! (Get the picture?)
Doug, you should not feel in the least bit humilitated as you are in good company! You were pro-active in saving your plants and plenty of folks (including myself) are on stand by to send you replacements. In short, it is ALL good!
Mel
Mel,
I also have an unused box of coir and lava rock (although I do like lava rock for occasional use)!
Wow- you bought a whole CASE of Eleanors? Even I (who loves the stuff) never bought that much. If I had the room, I just might buy a whole case though!! I didn't know they were sold like that. Good to know for the future. I know what it's like to buy plant stuff and never use it!! And then you can never throw it out - kinda like clothes we haven't worn in 10 years!
Gabi
You hit the nail on the head, Gabi. As soon as you throw something away, you will find a use for it! I envy people who can toss what they can't use at the moment and wish I could do the same.
Re: the Eleanors....I bought a case because I planned to use it exclusively and never managed to do that. I like adding a drop of this and a spoon of that according to the condition of the plant. It is part of the plant/ person bonding process.
Mel
LOL....i think I could write a book - HOW NOT TO GROW HOYAS.... and I look at each 'episode' as a right of passage.... ^_^
Mark,
I would not really be up for receiving cuttings either as I almost have more than I can deal with now. Counting the DL cuttings, which by the way seem to be finally showing some signs of rooting, I have almost 60 pots jammed full of cuttings. Mel, thanks for noticing my rooting set up which was born of desperation. All the cuttings are in moist perlite mixed with hydroton soaked in KLN rooting concentrate. They are in a warm humid atmosphere provided by the large plastic garbage bag held above the leaves by trellises from the dollar store. I will actually be surprised if every pot does not develop roots. In 4-6 weeks, I'm pretty sure that I will be wanting to give some cuttings away so if we do another one of these swaps later on, count me in!
I'm not going to be in a big hurry to move these out of their perlite homes either. What I want to know is why should I be in a hurry to move them. In the past when I've taken them out of the perlite, the cuttings have developed the most beautiful white healthy root systems. After putting them into their new homes in a lightened soil-less mix, the roots go down hill, and some of the plants begin to suffer. Just for kicks I'm going to try to grow a few of these only in the perlite/hydroton mixture for an extended period to see what happens to them. I figure if I do enough experimenting, one of these days I'm bound to figure out how to grow these things ^_^
Doug
Ain't it the truth!
Doug, I have wondered the same thing about perlite. I guess I always have the impulse to move the plants on to a heavier mix because that is how I have always grown them. But the roots never do seem to be as vigorous or healthy as when they are in perlite alone. I always thought that perlite, being a drainage material, would dry out to quickly when used on its own, but I have noticed it doesn't seem to dry out any quicker than most light bark-based mixes.
It will be interesting to see how your plants do. My DL cuttings are in straight perlite now as well, maybe I'll leave a couple that way and we can compare notes?
Yes, Mark let's compare notes. Perlite has a lot going for it in that it seems to hold a lot of moisture yet provides plenty of air for the roots. I've never actually drowned anything in it yet. It sort of behaves the way I was expecting "Al's Mix" to behave and didn't.
Doug
I dont know why...but I find my straight perlite compacts in the bottom of the pot...that's why I mix the hydroton with it. I also mix lava cinder that I screen so it is about the size of the hydroton. I have found really GOOD results rooting in that. In fact, when i remove the cutting the roots are clinging to the hydroton!I reuse that mix in the bottom of my pots when I pot UP. I will join you in this experiment and leave cuttings in the perlite mix after they have 'just rooted'.
Mark, I'd sent you a couple of emails along with my mailing address and I don't show up on the participant list. Please be sure I'm on it.
DG name: sharonbanister
address: Sharon Banister
1117 Edgewood
Bryan, Tx 77802
Thanks, Sharon
Sorry, I forgot to add you! You're on now.
Mark...when are we going to get word about the Spring Swap. I need to handle it this week or I will have to bow out .....
Thanks,
Carol
I had posted that I would send out the addresses on the 5th (tomorrow), but I can probably get them out this afternoon.
That would be terrific...^_^
Okay, everyone (except blue_eyes- I'm still waiting on an address detail from your recipient) has gotten their recipients names and addresses! Let's try to send out packages out this week.
If anyone has questions about cutting/packing/shipping their plants, here is the place to ask!
There are a few people shipping early or late due to vacations, I have tried to let all the affected parties know.
How about the first person to receive their package starts a new thread, for thanks and sharing of photos? No one HAS to participate in that of course, only if you feel like it.
Have fun!
I meant to add- if I have overlooked anyone who wanted to participate or missed any details, let me know! It is certainly not to late to fix any omissions.
Mark
My package went out this a.m. This is going to be fun!!
Karen
I will send mine Wed.
My package went out today also, it's hard not knowing what a person has but I hope they like what I sent. Jo
I sent mine out today also.
Hi Mark, I didn't receive an email with my person's name. Did you have one for me? Thanks, Cathy/villaluna
Sorry Cathy, I remember typing the dmail to you, but I must have neglected to hit "send". You should have it now.
Got it! Thanks! cathy
My box went out today too !! I will be watching the mailman daily ^_^
Hi Mark
I didn't get email from you with my swap partner's info.
Thanks
Do you have any info for me yet?
Thanks! Kim
My box is going out tomorrow. I have a favor to ask: if someone has my name and has not mailed anything yet, could they wait until June? With going into surgery next week I don't want to miss it....and with the loss of 2 airlines Hawaii's mail is slow, at best...it could take over a week to get here. Thanks in advance...
Carol
Carol, your sender saw your post and will delay shipping. We'll figure out when to reschedule and I'll let them know.
My box was shipped today ^_^
Mine went out today too.