Poor Val....poor me
marilyn_c
6 years ago
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heritagehd07
6 years agoPKponder TX Z7B
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoRelated Discussions
Please help me keep my poor new dracaena alive
Comments (9)I also needed to buy some bagged soil over winter and don't remember if it was a Lowe's brand or MG but it was much more chunky, and labeled for palms & citrus. It's the best bagged potting soil I've encountered, hardly any peat which, IME, is just stuff that helps me kill plants, not keep them healthy. I've been thinking about getting more since I like how it has 'done' so far, not compacting or getting hydrophobic, though I know the chunks of organic materials will decompose quickly in the Alabama weather this summer, just like mix that I create with bark/mulch/similar stuff. So, when using a potting mix with organic ingredients (can decompose into smaller bits,) know that it will become less and less hospitable for roots to thrive, because the air spaces are eliminated as the tiny particles sift into them, and the growth of roots squeeze the air out of the pot, necessitating repotting more often, I do this annually. A mix of ingredients that don't decompose, or decompose much more slowly can allow plants to go 2-3 years, generally, before repotting is critical - from that particular angle. I think woody entities stay more healthy if their roots are trimmed annually, but this can be a daunting chore for some larger plants. Not a 1-size-fits-all thing, or 1-sided issue, largely dependent on your style, schedule, budget, etc... It's also good to know that the soil you used has fertilizer in it. It should say how long that is expected to last. Adding more fertilizer before then would definitely be overkill for something as slow-growing as a Dracaena. Whatever one is using, don't pack it in the pot. Leave it 'fluffed' and full of tiny air pockets. The first few times you water, don't avoid being thorough, but try for a gentle sprinkle, so the motion and weight of the water doesn't compact the soil. This gives roots access to oxygen and moisture at the same time, necessary for them to be healthy, as said above. Not to put too fine of a point on the water thing, but aside from being unnecessarily expensive (if actually filtered in a way that it contains no minerals, fluoride, chlorination, etc...,) bottled water has a wide range of possibilities, including being tap water just like what comes out of your own tap. Also common is spring/mineral water, containing unknown substances that may or may not be appreciated by any particular plant. Once water hits the ground anywhere, it can contain various substances, like lime which can alter PH. Distilled, rain, and condensate from dehumidifier or A/C are sources of water with "nothing in it," assuming it's collected in a clean container....See Moreare my poor old eyes deceiving me
Comments (6)Ok Danny, now you've got us going.... Since your picture above is over exposed I took the liberty of taking it off and darkening it as much as I could to better see the color.. All I did was darken it and,Voila! (hope you don't mind) Now, you've got some explaining to do!!! Donna...See MorePoor Me
Comments (18)You are all too kind! Thank you! DH is almost 100% and I'm much better this morning. We both slept through the night without hacking and blowing. Angelaid -- We're less hazardous than most of the population right now, if the talk of wide-spread flu is true. DH is far past the contagious stage, and I'm full of antibiotics. Talking with my DIL yesterday, SHE was sick for two days before they departed on Thursday. She holed up in the bedroom and forbade the kids to come near her. She was really thinking DH and the kids would be on that plane without her, but the 'whatever' passed and she's fine now. I've said how much our DGS (nearly 10) has been longing to visit Maui for *ages* -- held up by his sister's arrival when he was six. He is a sweet boy, and has borne it all with patience. He finally got to the beach Friday afternoon to try out some body-boarding in the ocean. He had to be dragged out out of the water at sunset, exclaiming, "This is the best day of my LIFE!" Aw... He and DS are off to Honolulu today to visit Pearl Harbor for the day. He wrote a paper on the event for school, and won "Best Report" for his entire grade....See MorePlease help me conquer the poor design of this bathroom.
Comments (6)I do have a suggestion for your window, a bit pricey, but so worth it - and that is to install a window with integrated blinds, which means blinds encased between two windows. This is tremendously energy efficient and also perfect for privacy without having to add any other kind of window treatment. We did this for three master bedroom windows, based on strong recommendations from this forum, one of the best decorating decisions I ever made. The blinds never get dirty or dusty, are operated by a tiny lever in the frame (no more cord issues!), and can be adjusted any way you like - pulled up or down, opened to any degree you wish. Incredibly convenient and tidy and privacy is assured. This would be fairly easy if you are also replacing the frame. Then you could put up a café curtain on a tension rod to add some softness, which is what I have in my two bathrooms. It would fit within the frame. What do you mean by empty water space? That looks like a good place for a tall cabinet with one or two open shelves. Good for storage and/or display, even if it's small. Here is one company for blinds, there are many others!...See Moremorz8 - Washington Coast
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