If I use a little(13oz) folgers coffee can to measure my ingredients I add 1 tablespoon plant tone. If I am mixing a bunch and use the 39oz can-- I add a 3oz solo cup full. the soil only seems to mold if it is sealed and moist-- haven't had a problem in the pots. I do occasionally water with the 1/4 teaspoon neem powder mixed in a gal of water and that takes care of mold if it were there.On my seedlings,(I don't put plantone in them) misting the soil with the same dilution will kill any fungi that dares to grow-- sometimes I have to do it 2-3 times--but it will knock it out. I can't find the biotone-- but water once a month with 1/4t Natures creation plant food to 1 gal water--it has the mychorrizal fungi in it.
Out with Old ........In with the New (cleaning that is)
I have neem oil but now the powder although I just use to make the leaves shine (LOL)........
I just don't use near the amount of bio tone that you gals do.
Gail, I've just stumbled across this thread, so sorry I'm so behind. What a great job you've done on your shelves. I've got a second stand to set up this weekend, and yours will be my inspiration. Good Job!
Sarah
I started making my own mix back during Thanksgiving weekend. I made a batch big enough, that I'm still using it - although I am finally getting low, and will need to make another batch soon. I've got the "recipe" written on one of the bags w/a sharpie. I figure it should be a good mix . . . nothing has died, drowned, or appears distressed from using it . . . and I've used it for everything - wicking, not wicking, other plants, etc.
I have neem powder too. I've taken to mixing up a gallon jug every few weeks, and doing random waterings with it. I also use neem powder when I'm repotting plants - both new or existing ones.
I have cinnamon bark oil too, for spraying on the leaves . . . but I keep forgetting I have it, so have only used it once.
This message was edited Jan 7, 2009 5:29 PM
Y'all are such great growers and it really shows with the pictures that you share of your beautiful plants!
I guess I'm just getting really lazy as I get older! I keep reading these posts about all the special potting mixes, sprays, fertilizers, additives etc ... and I am in awe! Especially when I know some of you have kids and families to care for ... and jobs outside the home too! Yet, you still make time for taking care of your plants!
... and just look at how neat and tidy your stands are too! Wow, what a great job y'all do ... great Gessie caretakers!
Now me? I have a short attention span and think it will be awhile before I get involved in growing Gessie's again. I think I tried too many "different" types at once! I should have stuck to just AV's or just Chirita's, or just Episcia's ... instead, I have let AV's and Episcia's die along with a couple of Sinningia's, and not one Strep has lived more than a week or two in my house!
I still have Chirita's but other than a few scraggly looking Episcia's and one very sick looking Kohleria ... the Chirita's are it for me.
I have spent an hour looking for the site that goldleaf posted where they sell #3 perlite.......1/8 to 3/8 " in size..........I can't find it.........it was a lot less expensive than where we bought it in Houston at Teas Nursery. It is also called sponge roc............if anyone comes across it, please tell me..........I need to order some more. It was I think about 24.00 for 4 cubic feet.
I found it!!! I found it!!
http://www.orchidmix.com/
Lin, I love Chirita's! I have two right now. They are so easy and keep on sending up blooms. They DRINK a lot! I love them.
Gail,
I've ordered from www.orchidmix.com before and was very pleased with their service. I'm sending you a private dmail.
Shirley
thanks...........cicada.......
Sally, My Chirita's don't bloom as often as they should because I never think to feed the poor things. I love them because they don't require as much care as other Gesneriad's. They do seem to like water! I have most of mine planted in those two part AV type pots ... sometimes I forget to add water to the reservoir pot and they go almost dry, but they still look good. One of my New Year Resolutions is to take better care of them!
Thanks to all for all of this great info., now to surf and check it out!! You guys are the best!
By the way, I saw on the orchidmix site where they sold oyster shells for mixes too. I add that to my chicken food once a week. Would that be the same stuff?? I got that at rural king (farm store). And what would it do? I am going to look around for that too, but I just thought if you knew, I found that interesting!
Lin, you better feed 'um! ha. I give them my violet food water. Treat them the same. I love how I can't seem to mess up with them. My violets have gotten so very picky about water, seems so much more than in the past!
Lin, here is Stardust. She is bigger now, I need to get a new picuture.
This message was edited Jan 7, 2009 10:33 PM
If I am not mistaken-- oyster shells will raise the pH of your mix, peat is acidic they are basic.
I have heard that oyster shell in potting mix helps balance PH but I would think crushed oyster shell would also aid in drainage.
Sallysblooms: I just got a stardust! I hope mine grows up to be like yours!!!! Very nice!
Tommie: Ah ha! Sounds like oyster shells are good for a lot of things!! I know its good for laying hen's to make the shells stronger. Now I gotta look around and find out how you tell if your plants need the ph raised!! ha!!
Laura H
soil test kit;) I recently heard that if you put a hand full of oyster shells under and on top of bulbs (like a sandwich) when you plant them, the tree rats (squirrels) won't dig them up. Need to try it--of course basset hounds help too---sometimes.
Oyster shells also have calcium ... good for birds and plants.
Wow! You have quite a collection and they are all so beautiful!
Thanks for sharing!
PlantedZ
Gail...
I have been catching up on threads this morning (now afternoon) and just read this whole thread. What a fabulous job you have done with your plants! You are so meticulous... I just love it! Wish my plant stand looked that good and organized.
My question (and if this was already covered somewhere, I apologize) the streps that sit in the styrofoam bowls... are they wicked or just bottom watered from the bowls?
Karen
Hi,,,,,Karen! I swiped the idea from Goldleaf because I am a very UNORGANIZED person. By putting every single plant I have in a styrofoam bowl, I can feel organized. Some are wicked and some are not, but as I progress and repot, etc., I intend to put perlite in the bottom of every single strep and then put a wicking string in. Those that are done that way are growing by leaps and bounds.
The main thing is to water streps and everything from the bottom for me...........then I don't over water. Even if they are not wicked, the streps just suck up the water anyway.
Gail
OK Are you saying that at the bottom of the pot ( The one you will put a plant in) you put perlite than fill rest up with potting soil.
I think that I have done that myself I also have them wicked before I put anything in is that right?
Dimmer
You got it, Dimmer.........first I wick, then the perlite ......then add the plant and the soil less mix!
Well As Of Saturday I will Be Leaving For Cozumel Mexico I hope Snow will stop. IS coming very fast and heavy. My Sister and I won't leave until 5:30 pm so I hope that it will stop By than. have to finish getting ready
When I get back home I am going to start repoting I have all the supply bowl, yarn, perlite, soil, cups I got AV soil and I think thaT i AM GOING TO ADD perlite to it
You guys all have a safe and happy week
This is what I got up to today
Dimmer(AKA) Kim
Enjoy your time there and know that all of us wish we were with you.
Have fun!
For my Oyama pots I put in perlite for sure. The other pots get perlite added to the wicking mix, sometimes the bottom.
Have fun and be careful Dimmer!
Drink a margarita for me!!
I have a general culture question that will help me clean up my shelves also (to keep this related to this thread!) How close do you put your lights to your gessies? I've acquired a variety of plants in the last several months and they all need different amounts of light. I'd like to take this weekend to get my shelves redone to provide the right conditions for each type of plant. Also, when propagating leaves, how close are the lights to the top of the dome?
Thanks much!
Sarah
I have it all planed for lots of Margarita's its an All-inclusive vacation so all I can eat drink and be Merry also They have a bar in the pool so If I get tipsy I can fall in the Pool.
Thanks all It will be my first single vacation with my sister And with out a Husband to yell at me any more I am move on. Now If the Husband wood divorce me life wood be great. But I have great Insurance and he has none so thats as far as it go's
OK OK I'll stop talking have fun all I be back in a week check in than I am off in my truck to go and see Turtle-chi
Take care Will Miss you guys And Have Fun
Dimmer(AKA) Kim
Have one for me, too! Dimmer!
Sarah........big question.............for a short answer..........
I have my shelves set up where I can start leaves, etc...........with the lights about 4" over the domes............
Then I graduate to lights hanging about 12-15" for bigger streps or african violets, etc..............
Then I have shelves on the top about 18" over the plants ..........but with sinningias I have two light fixtures with 2 bulbs in each..........but only for the sinningias........they like a lot of light.
Episcias can be happy with less light than african violets or streps.........so sometimes I just let them hang around the edges of the shelves if I don't have room for them..........same way with chiritas.........if I have plenty of room I put episcias and chiritas about 15" over the plants...........
It just varies........maybe someone else will pop in and answer.......i would imagine there are lots of answers to individual needs. The climate you live in (cold or hot) makes a difference. I still have the air conditioning on until Sunday morning when we will have almost freezing temps for over a week.
I am working all day tomorrow to bring in all my front porch plants.........on the floor of my house........the grow lights are all set on timers so it doesn't matter if I am out of town for a couple of nights. The outdoor plants will just have to live for a week without much light........that would be hoyas, plumerias, brugs, orchids, etc..........
Thanks Gail. Now, I'm sure you've covered this before but what mix do you use for the leaves you put down? I'm getting the propagating bug!!!
Thanks again.
Oh.......I just hate to tell you and maybe have you fail...........Jannich just did hers in straight perlite with a dome...........
I like to put perlite in the bottom of a container (about 1/2" or so)first of all.........then make a very very light mix for sticking the leaves......maybe 1/4 soil less mix of some kind, 2 parts perlite and 1/4 vermiculite.......
(you just want to make sure you have plenty of perlite)........water the leaves down good, put the dome on or a zip lock bag and leave it alone for a long long time...............until you see babies coming up.
I don't know if you water if you use only perlite????????? somebody else........help............Sarah...go to the streptocarpus site where all the pictures are and there is a recipe there.....I think it is just perlite?????????? let me see if I can find it for you.
http://www.streptocarpus-info.com/streppropagation.html
If it helps any, I just use the same mix for leaf cuttings as I use for the plants. Although I have started leaves in a 50/50 vermiculite/perlite mix . . .
I grow streps in a much heavier mix than the mix I use when starting leaves. Once you have good solid roots, streps can be grown in most anything. I use 1/2 peat moss and 1/2 #3 perlite.
You guys are so knowledgeable. Thanks for the info!
Sarah
Everything I know about the gesneriad family I have learned right here on Dave's Garden. When I joined DG I had never grown a strep or heard of one!
Good Morning All
Gail I am lost but that is Normal for me you read so much and forget everything When you put your plants in the bowl with the wick do the plants sit in the water or do you have something to raise them
As you heard I will be Taking my next trip to Susan and meeting New friends on the Way I am going to be making a circle around MI,OH,VA,NC,IN,IL
I have put up the tent but its not working when I am at Susans I may buy New lites cause I am thinking they are not right they are the small ones
Hi Dimmer,
When I water the wick and the pot, they just sit in the water......I have it figured out that I need about 1/2 cup to 3/4 cups depending on the size of the actual pot size.
I am so happy you are getting to travel so much. I order my lights from INdoor Gardening Supplies now.........they are 40 watt full spectrum.