Do you have plants that 'thrive' on some sort of neglect?
Comments (15)
dbarron
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoSome orchids (for me dendrobiums) thrive best on neglect vs obsessive care. In point of fact, this dendrobium phaelaenopsis has lived for 2-3 years in my shower with the only care being occassionally holding it in the shower stream before I shower. It has managed to bloom three stalks this year so far. I took pity on it this week and put it in some media for the first time since I got it.
Being unused to gritty mix, I also found that I had been severely dehydrating my echinopsis last year. Plentiful summer rains (and being where they were hit by rains) made the cacti swell and grow where I was keeping them in suspended animation...poor things. I wouldn't say they thrived, but they endured.
myermike_1micha thanked dbarron
Karen S. (7b, NYC)
5 years ago
Meet the Queen of benign neglect: my Hydro Sans, I add some water when I think of it; otherwise its roots are in a layer Leca stones in that pot w/ added water. Prob abt 8 yrs. old now.
myermike_1micha thanked Karen S. (7b, NYC)Related Discussions
Do we really need humidity to make plants thrive? Confused
Comments (8)In my estimation, Jefe's post (a couple or so upthread) is right on target & worth reading a second time. Poor soils that remain saturated for extended periods cause a cyclic death and regeneration of roots that start with the finest roots first. The longer the cultural conditions remain unfavorable, the larger (incrementally) the roots are that succumb to saturated, anaerobic conditions. Often, so many roots die that the plant is virtually a large cutting. The lack of roots and compromised root function/metabolism makes it impossible for the plant to absorb enough water to replace transpirational loss, and leaf margin/leaf tip necrosis is often a primary symptom with low humidity contributing to symptoms as a secondary cause. In the case where high levels of salt in the soil are causal, the salt makes it difficult for the plant to absorb water. There MUST be a higher concentration of solutes in the water inside of cells than there is in the soil solution or water will not pass through cell walls (osmosis) into cells; and, again the plant would be unable to move water sufficient to replace transpirational losses. Leaf margin and tip necrosis would again be one of the primary symptoms. Prevent the saturated soil AND salt build-up by using a structurally durable and well-aerated soil that allows you to water often and profusely. Al...See MoreWhich of your Houseplants thrives most on your neglect?
Comments (16)I DO love bougainvillea...but I do not neglect mine...this past summer I had over 20+ inches of rain in July and Aug. and part of Sept was very wet also...and my pot stayed wet for weeks on end and all the leaves dropped...I thought the plant died...but, I changed the pot and repotted it and luckily it's growing again and is blooming again... Very Nice TC Kris and Mike!! For me it would have to be my Jades and Succulents and a couple of my very large Hoyas that get neglected the most... Rhizo, that Hoya story is hilarious!! You must have had either Lacunosa or Carnosa, one of those I'm not thrilled about the smell of the flowers either...it always reminds me of hint of a dirty litter box,lol... This picture is from January 2013...when it was looking pretty good. Doesn't look as good as it did then but its coming back :o)...See Moreplant id-some sort of Oregano?
Comments (10)Mother is Herbs is very easy to grow from cuttings. You don't even have to be careful with the cut! Just break off a piece (as small or large as you like), stick the end in the dirt, and off it will go. It's happiest in the garden, because it's a sprawling groundcover and likes full sun. It can get away from you a bit and become a weed, but it's one that's fairly easily controlled, just by pulling out the bits you don't want. Tell you how tough it is - I've left pieces lying on concrete in the fiercest of our subtropical summer sun, for several days. Once they were stuck in the dirt - they grew! This plant is very quick to strike roots. It's botanically classified as a perennial. In cold climates you can bring some indoors over winter. (Just start a new plant at any time - it might be awkward bringing in the whole lot, if you don't have it in a pot.)...See MoreSome thriving, some not - why??
Comments (5)Update on the 4 pots full I bought and replanted in early June. Every pot but 1 had 4 plants in it, and 1 plant died a few weeks ago, but all the rest have put on growth and have buds that will open in a while (small, not yet ready). I had 15 plants total, I now have 14, and they all have 2-3" growth on them, and about half have buds coming up. Several also have a bit of mildew, but that's probably directly related to my being too lazy to get up and water early in the day... All the nasty yellow leaves are gone and new leaves have replaced them - I started watering less frequently, and that seemed to do the trick. The colors of the blooms do appear to have changed, and I don't know if that's a weather issue, or a sun/shade issue, or what the deal is. The mauvy-pink one has been creamy with pink where the sun hits it. The peachy apricot was a pale creamy yellow. Red hasn't bloomed yet since I repotted it, and it was one of the worst yellowed, so we'll see how it does when the blooms open up. White hasn't bloomed since repotting either, but it too has buds. This is fun.......See Moremyermike_1micha
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoHere’s a couple of mine. I even forgot to feed the little guy. My bad.
This bowl was untouched by me all summer because I forgot about it and grew like weeds! That crest was half its size and the other plants were just tiny things I received this past spring.
A few more to come, if I can post pictures. Seems I can only post 2 at at time tonight. Ugh
myermike_1micha
5 years agomyermike_1micha
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoThis is my Cymbidium that I’ve been trying to flower for years.I regularly watered and fertilized year after year. Put it in sun, shade, both. Left it in my greenhouse, cold room, in the yard and nothing happened but green growth, that is up until this summer again.
I threw it under bushes and left it to do what ever it wanted. Cleaned out the yard the other day and I see this. Crazy. Paid no attention to it for months and I get buds for the first time in years with neglect. It bloomed once years ago with neglect too, and didn't think it was because of that. Now I know it got what it needed even thought I thought I neglected it if that makes sense. I see what Floral meant
I‘m excited
myermike_1micha
5 years agomyermike_1micha
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoWell, the flowers finally opened and the whole house smells so good. The sister plant the same size if not bigger did nothing for me because that is the ones a cared for all summer.,lo, Go figure.
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK