AV "Hacks"
6 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (75)
- 6 years ago
- 6 years ago
Related Discussions
'SHOCK' therapy. What plants need this to get desired results?
Comments (32)Howdy, ladies and gents! Well, here's an update on one of the Jades that was frozen December 5th. As you can see, the top limb ("doomed" I called it in a previous post) has nearly been shed. I'm hoping that this will signal a turning point, although I know we're not out of the woods yet. I've resisted the urge to fiddle and worry the dying limb, as I want the callus to form completely. Freeze-pruned by Mother Nature - and, as they say, Mother knows best.......See MoreI Need a 'Professional' AV Growing in Fort Laud.
Comments (17)Hi peoples! First off, I never intended to hijack the thread. I'm learning alot, and even maintaining my sense of humor with the maternal concerns that go along with any new hobby and the learning curve, lol. Barbara, thanks for the welcome to the AV forum. I'll be starting my own thread shortly, so as to monitor the responses, if that's ok. I'll try to not duplicate the same questions, so you kind folks don't feel put off for having to retype the same info ad nauseum, lol. Wow, that's a long stint in the San Juans! I am so glad to have had the year and a half I lived in WA. First we lived in Anacortes, had a house, with our boat in Olympia. Then DH changed jobs and we moved up to the San Juans, in Anacortes. One of the many high points of my time there was cruising past Orcas Island and ending up in a pod of Orca Whales! One breached (?) alongside our 30 foot boat with that awesome big eye staring me in the face! It was only a few months later we got a bigger boat, lololol. Another of the fun times was living next to Kenny G in Friday Harbor for a weekend. I absolutely loved Friday Harbor!! Now then, Vall3fam, you have me rolling on the floor in stitches this morning! What a wild sense of humor you have. I'm afraid your prices are a bit steep for me, though I'm sure you are well worth it! Maybe I can interest you in some a weekend onboard, in the master cabin with your own lexan hatch, with a view of the mast, moon, stars. Then hang a line over the transom and see what we can catch for dinner. Or perhaps next morning a sunrise cruise with champagne and orange juice mimosas, bagels and cream cheese, fresh air with a gentle breeze, beautiful palm trees for scenery... All this for maybe an hour or two of the two of us playing in the dirt with my baby mini AVs?! I realize you are in CA in a beautiful climate and don't need to come here for our sunshine and balmy winter weather, but if I could twist your potting arm just a little....hee hee. Fondly, Girlsaylor...See MoreKorina's root rinsing method?
Comments (35)Going back to the original post. There is rarely a time when one needs to remove all the soil. If one wante to get rid of a bad mix, such as a commercial growers muck, it really isn't necessary to get it all off. Your new mix will predominate in the pot and the roots will grow out into it and be fine. The issue isn't one of contamination, like in cleaning a kitchen table. Its a proportional thing. But, if there is a pest issue, like soil mealy bugs, then you want to take more drastic action. When soaking the soil off a plant, I use a small plastic basin, and then toss the dirty water out in the garden. If it is a mealie bug issue, I remove the dry soil first and toss that in the trash, cut off all the roots and reroot the crown under cover, so that it doesn't shock. For a cover I used to use ziplock bags, in which I would enclose the pot and plant. But, nowadays I tend to use the rectangular domes that fit on the 10/20 trays that I use on my light stand. The violets love these enclosures--especially the high domes which are 6-7" tall and fit on top of the 2" trays. I grow my tiny minis under the domes all the time and use them for propagating gesneraids. Now, I only use ziplocks for special situations and for starting seed. There is a great chapter of the gesneriad society in Manhattan. It meets on the third Saturday in the Chelsea district. Info on this group can be found from the AGGS web site--chapter's page. I think the chapter has a web site. This is a great group with many really wonderful people. They grow all kinds of gesneriads including African Violets. I'm currently learning about Coir, having switched from Peat last summer. I am buying it in loose 2 cu ft. bags. So far so good. I am also just now trying it in my seed starting mix (1-1-1, cooked to pasturize). Hopefully this stuff will work better than peat. I don't know what the status is of the "salty coir". The world wide situation is that most coir is processed in salt water rather than fresh. But, until relatively recently this stuff was all waste. Hopefully now, the horticultural products will be from fresh water processed coir. A simple way to tell what you have is quickly seen, as I have read--all the plants die. As I said, with the stuff I have bought--so far, so good. I have bought my coir from American Soil Products in Richmond, Ca (Bay Area). Its about $8 for the bag. Jon...See MoreCleaning Out My Terrarium
Comments (5)Hi My original intent for my 75 gallon was to have 5 inches of water on the bottom and the 17 inches above that for epi's. Found I had very nervous fish which hid all the time. Incrementally raised the water level which is now at 8 inches.Solved the fish problem but this reduced the canopy section that I had to remove several specie.Still not enough depth to keep the water plants submerged even with constant pruning. The Java fern has invaded the land area and without constant pruning it would smother the dicranum moss. The truly rampant growers are the ones I thought would be ideal lol The Solomon ribbon plant and bears foot fern are growing at least 3 times the rate of the shadehouse ones.The Geonoma and sealing wax palms have not grown too tall but are holding the fronds horizontally.Blocks the light to the nerve plant and moss which has responded by becoming leggy. I've allowed the ribbon plant to grow above the tank in hopes of getting it to flower. No flowers but it's standing 2 feet above the tank lol. Another has been the silver spot begonia.I've removed almost 30 inches from one 3 inch cutting since Feb.!!lol Of the original 30 species of plants I put in it the only ones that have not done well are a red oxalis and C. esculenta"black magic" Both are still growing but are weak and spindly. Oh well, I knew this would be wayy too small when I started. I think the water depth should be a minimum of 12 inches with at least 30 inches for the canopy area. Really going to have to step up the lighting for one that deep!! Gary...See More- 6 years ago
- 6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago
- 6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago
- 6 years ago
- 6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago
- 6 years ago
- 6 years ago
- 6 years ago
- 6 years ago
- 6 years ago
- 6 years ago
- 6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago
- 6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago
- 6 years ago
- 6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago
- 6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago
- 6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago
- 6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago
- 6 years ago
- 6 years ago
- 6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago
- 6 years ago
- 6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago
- 6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago
- 6 years ago
- 6 years ago
- 6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago
- 6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago
- 6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago
- 6 years ago
- 6 years ago
- 6 years ago
- 6 years ago
- 6 years ago
- 6 years ago
- 6 years ago
- 6 years ago
- 6 years ago
- 6 years ago
- 6 years ago
- 6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago
- 6 years ago
- 6 years ago
- 6 years ago
- 6 years ago
Related Stories
THE HARDWORKING HOMECES 2015: Inching Toward a Smarter Home
Companies are betting big on connected devices in 2015. Here’s a look at what’s to come
Full StoryGARDENING AND LANDSCAPINGGrow a Lush Privacy Screen
No need to wait forever for patio privacy the green way. These 10 ideas will get your screening up and running in no time
Full StoryLIFEHouzz Call: Show Us Your Nutty Home Fixes
If you've masterminded a solution — silly or ingenious — to a home issue, we want to know
Full StoryHOUZZ TOURSMy Houzz: Risk and Reward in a Brooklyn Townhouse
Black accents and smart built-ins are highlights of this family’s renovated urban retreat
Full StoryHOME OFFICESThe 20 Most Popular Home Office Photos of 2015
Technology paves the way for space-saving work areas, while designers make up for small sizes with style
Full StoryDIY PROJECTS12 Signs You've Caught the DIY Bug
Been making inventive things from scratch? Repurposing salvaged pieces creatively? It may be more serious than you think
Full StoryMOST POPULAR11 Things to Expect With Your Remodel
Prepare yourself. Knowing what lies ahead during renovations can save your nerves and smooth the process
Full StoryHOME TECHHow Smart TV Will Change Your Living Room
Get ready for the future of TV, in which your living room becomes a movie set, a communication hub and a gaming zone
Full StoryTRANSITIONAL HOMESHouzz Tour: Crisp and Clean for 3 Generations
Bright and classic style with a modern twist sets a lively vibe for an extended family living under one roof
Full StoryMore Discussions
Tiffu (Oregon 8b)