“Special” Interior that I canopy seem to grasp on what to do
Courtney Pence
10 months ago
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Courtney Pence
10 months agoRelated Discussions
Do Small Leafed Hostas Require Special Care?
Comments (13)Sorry if this sounds like a teacher giving a lecture... cause I was a teacher and it is kind of a lecture... but you asked... and I know sometimes when I'm questioning a problem in my garden, it helps if somebody takes me back and talks me through the basics. I know you are already a successful gardener, so take this as a friend helping you walk through the question... As has been previously noted, it is hard to respond to your question because the plants you listed are mostly not "Small Leafed" Lakeside Dragonfly registered with a 7x4 leaf and a 30" diameter plant. Most of us would call that a medium. This one was actually registered as a fast grower, but I started them from tc and have found them slow - but not difficult in any way compared with others. Lakeside Elfin Fire This is actually a mini... leaf 3x1... and with all the white, it can be touchy. Minis do require special care in tough climates... small root systems mean they can heave out of the soil during the winter... they can be covered by larger plants or suffer in competition for food and water. I grow mine in raised beds where I can better control growing conditions. i've kept one LEF alive... had to pull off a bunch of green last year, and the remaining looks pretty good-but-tiny this year... I probably wouldn't plant another... Stiletto glad I grew a bunch of these from tc before I heard they were problems for people... I have 3 or 4 around the place... easy to grow mounds about 2 feet across... nothing special required to grow them, but I have found them difficult to divide... tend to disintegrate into lots of plant fragrments and lose the nice mound shape. That might be the issue with people getting them going... a transplant is often just a bunch of rhizomes and eyes with little "root" structure. Hanky Panky for me it is staying much smaller than most of the other Striptease plants,,, mine have not done well in deep shade, and have not done particularly well in a lot of sun... I think it needs lots of light but not midday sun. With all its color changes, one might guess it is not a particularly strong photosynthesis plant. Also watch for sporting... I've got one that is almost overwhelmed by a sport that looks like Moonlight. Fire & Ice Notoriously difficult... too much white, not enough chlorophyll... Warwick Comet I don't have it Lakeside Paisley Print got a small one last year... no issues so far... good first year growth. I did put it in a bright-light holding bed where I can monitor soil and moisture. Allegan Fog - grows like a weed for me... or should I say, like an Undulata ;-) I keep chopping mine back to keep it in a 30" diameter space... mine is on the north side of a garage, so relatively low light... still grows surprisingly well considering how much white it has... (note: London Fog, the sport with little chlorophyll, is growing for me... but not nearly as fast and staying much smaller...) Wolverine - considered a pretty easy plant for most... and not small leafed... actually, with a registered mound size of 38" and leaves 10x6... I don't know if that is a medium or a large. Mine always stays around 24" So... the real question... why does an experienced grower like yourself have success with larger plants and less with these medium to small plants? Part of the answer you are getting here is - except for a couple on your list, it is not the plants. A Wolverine or Lakeside Dragonfly should not take any substantially different care than your successful medium - xlarge hostas. So there are only a few things to look at. Light... are they getting bright shade and not too much direct sun? Many hostas in too much light will have smaller leaves - the plant doesn't need as large a leaf to make food because of the brighter sunlight and it also protects itself against water loss from the hot sun by keeping leaf surface area down. If the conditions are too harsh, the plant will hang on but dwindle... until it passes on to that big garden in the sky. Soil - well drained soil? Young or struggling plants have trouble in heavy soil... hard to expand the root system into heavy soil, plus a tendency for moisture to hang on too long and rot the roots when it is wet and cold. They also have trouble in too light/sandy soil as the moisture doesn't hang around long enough for their small root system to keep them hydrated. Water... with well-drained soil, it is pretty much impossible to overwater hostas. Younger plants and smaller plants, with less-established root systems, are particularly susceptible to set-backs from insufficient water. root competition - young and small plants, with less-established root systems, will have a hard time getting the water and nutrients they need if they are competing with roots from established trees and shrubs. Larger hostas that are already established can (sometimes) hold their own. Your term dwindling may give the hint. They live, but don't thrive. One or two of the above conditions are not being met, resulting in struggle and/or death. Lots of good gardeners have designated special areas... a "holding bed" or nursery bed... melissa even has a NICU bed for those that are really struggling. You might want to consider creating a mounded area or raised bed with excellent soil and light conditions - I've even seen these in full sun, with a sun cloth canopy - where you can put the little ones in and monitor them... keep the moisture right... get them established... and then move them into more challenging garden conditions later....See MoreWhat details make a new build seem not so generic
Comments (26)If you're not having an upstairs laundry room, DO add a laundry chute . When we were house hunting I found it strange to see five K, and over, sq. ft. Homes without either. I pictured the lady of the home, or the help, floating down the grand staircase with a load of laundry in her arms. Seemed silly. We love ours, and they are rare here, so kids are fascinated, loving to drop stuffed animals down the chute. If your home is large enough, a back staircase is both practical and cool. Add some whimsy or mystery, especially if you have children . My grandmother's house had two or three closets that secretly ( or so it felt) connected. Butlers pantries are both practical and sentimentally old fashioned...especially with a swinging door. Wherever you have interior glass( French doors, cabinets) make the glass beveled. If it's not too late to suggest, stay away from soaring ceilings everywhere, and open design. Keep ceilings at 10 or so feet, and modify the separation of the rooms to please yourselves, without going all -out open. Just my NSHOs :>). It's fun to dream along with you. Keep us posted on your exciting new home as it progresses. Marti...See MoreDo Your Interiors Have Soul?
Comments (197)Love this thread, Ingrid. I hope you are feeling better now. I've always thought your home was lovely (as you know, I think your kitchen is so special!). I've enjoyed reading everyone's thoughts and feelings. Seeing photos. Lovely homes. I didn't get any sleep last night, so I'm passing out. Now I can nap and have (home) sweet (home) dreams. **Edited to add after my short-lived nap: I feel like our homes have all had a soul of their own. Each house was different, so different souls. Like many of you, I buy things when traveling, love strolling through antique stores, and buy some vintage/antique things online. I've had pretty good luck not having seen things in person. *knock on wood* I am a very visual person, so I tend to decorate/design to please my eye. I don't do it for kudos from anyone (although they are nice!) but so we and our family or friends are comfortable when here. Ingrid, after a Houzz absence and being called out by several members, I recently started a thread in Decorating/Conversation with updates on our new home. If you're interested, click Update On Our Remodel. It's far from finished, but getting there feeds my soul! I have always, and will always, be a house person. Thanks again for starting another interesting thread....See MoreWhat do I do with this room?
Comments (41)Patterns not too dainty small patterns, but some nod to wood furniture. A bit of color to ground the room like the furniture does - don't want the piece to look alone in there, would be odd. https://www.houzz.com/products/filippo-cardu-penguin-lovers-art-birch-frame-white-mat-16x16-prvw-vr~77742829 https://www.houzz.com/products/kas-oriental-reina-9507-71-x-71-gray-prvw-vr~137185411...See Morekandrewspa
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