Dracoena. Bought this plant about two weeks ago and I repotted it I pu
Liza Paul
8 years ago
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Liza Paul
8 years agoRelated Discussions
Repotted plants, but I'm now afraid I did it wrong...
Comments (24)When you repotted, was the potting mix dry and, if so, did you mechanically mix water into it before using it? As someone above mentioned, absolutely dry peat moss repels water. Water usually needs to be mechanically mixed into dry peat moss, so it is uniformly moist, before it is used. Small talk: Many years ago, I had two flower boxes on the garage that were filled with peat- lite mix. During the winter, the mix dried out. My mother would habitually use these flower boxes as ash trays to extinguish her cigarettes. One day there was a smoldering fire in one of the boxes that made a big stink. I flooded it with water from a garden hose, but that didn't extinguish the fire. I had to dump out the contents and stir water into the peat-lite to put out the fire....See MoreI need help identifying two cacti I bought recently.
Comments (4)Hello, sorry can't ID as I don't grow these cacti. EL gives sound info above. As the first cactus is a tall one as opposed to a barrel shaped one, could I suggest that the best mix for both it and the other, would be a mix of thirds using c/smix, perlite and horticultural/alpine gravel. You can get small bags of each of these from B & Q for around £3 each. Make sure you either wash the perlite thoroughly in a sieve or just seive it downwind, don't breath the dust in. B&Q perlite is rather dusty, mine is, so there is a lot of waste, just use the largest particles you gain from using your very best kitchen seive! I've also used Wilko perlite, that wasn't quite as bad. Wilko may not sell it now it's Nov, B&Q or garden centres may be a better bet for all the ingredients at this time of the year. The gravel will give the plants much more stability, especially the tall one. Don't get vermiculite if no perlite, it's too water retentive. Aquarium gravel or chicken grit with no shell can also substitute for the hort/alpine gravel. Repotting into a better mix will get rid of any bugs that you think you may have there and it will also solve the problem that you almost certainly would be asking us about in the not to distant future "why are my cacti dying?"... which would be due to the wrong soil they were sold in! So, to prevent that from happening you need to make sure all the old mix is removed, use a chopstick, pencil or similar to get rid of it all. If it won't come if with poking and shaking, swish in water, keep bases of plants dry though, let the roots air dry on kitchen paper, plant when dry. Hold the cactus in a wrap of newspaper or bubble wrap to protect your hands. Moisten the mix and replant, not soaking wet, just moist and crumbly. Won't need much water anyway now weather is colder. Shout if you need any more help. Gill...See MoreI finally repotted my Jade plants, and I'd love to see yours, too.
Comments (20)Well I did a reply to the latest posts, but I can't see it now...so as not to be seen to be ignoring the replies, here it is again, no doubt it will now magically appear...twice! @Marguerite, thanks for the name Blue Hale, I hadn't come across that one before. I'll amend its label, you know how I like my labels! @ Rina, thank you. No particular secret as to their size. Maybe because of growing them hard, they rarely get any fertiliser, they're watered infrequently and get no special care really and spend their lives confined to the g/h...it works and suits me fine:-) @ Richard, thank you too. The blooms have taken an absolute age to develop from buds to open flowers and seem to be lasting even longer now in full flower....just wish they didn't pong so much, it's really an unpleasant smell in there especially when the sun is out :-/ My regular jades also flowered, they take a fair while to get from bud to open, but these beat them hands down in the 'longest time it takes stakes'. They (the ones that do flower) all generally start to show the first signs of buds around Jan/Feb, but just last sooooo long. I've only ever got the ordinary plain ovatas and this one to flower...so far. Regarding the downsizing, yes they can certainly be cut down, but I'd still have to accommodate them in the house come the day my g/h falls down! Don't worry, it won't quite be yet :-) I just have to remember to place the plants to dodge the drips from the roof, hope one of the glass panes stays put as it's bottom frame has rotted and remember not to open one of the casement windows as I need to replace the hinges.....oh the joys of house ownership! Gill...See MorePlant Home Alone for Two Weeks: 6ft Ficus Lyrata Tree in Gritty Mix
Comments (2)I have Japanese Maples that have gone 2 weeks outdoors without watering in cooler weather, albeit smaller trees (12-15") in bigger (2-2 1/2 gallon) pots. My GM is quarter inch 1-1-1 Pine, granite, turface. You'd be surprised how much moisture GM holds. That being said, I don't know ficus and I don't want to be the one to give you bad advice that damages/kills your plant. I'd try to get someone to water them...if you can't, I'd turn the heat down as low as they will tolerate, cover the Top of the pot to prevent evaporation and put a curtain in the window to cut down or eliminate the amount of direct sunlight the receive....See MoreLiza Paul
8 years agoLeslieM peoria az
8 years agoTiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoLiza Paul thanked Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, ALLiza Paul
8 years ago
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LeslieM peoria az