beaf12
Silver
Posts: 424 Likes: 2,056
|
Post by beaf12 on Mar 25, 2021 23:13:19 GMT -6
Here we go, our own thread.
|
|
beaf12
Silver
Posts: 424 Likes: 2,056
|
Post by beaf12 on Mar 25, 2021 23:18:05 GMT -6
I have 12 tomato plants, 8 cucumbers and 6 peppers started indoors. I’m MN we have to wait until Mother’s Day to transfer outside. My flower seedlings are not doing well and I’m not sure why. And my winter sowing jugs haven’t sprouted yet. Here’s a picture from last year. Spring forget-me-nots, wild geraniums and a bleeding heart in the back. This is part of my shade garden.
|
|
beaf12
Silver
Posts: 424 Likes: 2,056
|
Post by beaf12 on Mar 25, 2021 23:19:35 GMT -6
Part of my sun garden.
|
|
|
Post by sherminator on Mar 25, 2021 23:56:50 GMT -6
lovely! Im in the same zone, but I am not starting any seeds this year. I just hve too much on my plate-- and a couple losses of big trees has turned shade to sun. I have to figure out something or my 15+ varieties of hostas are going to frry.
|
|
Lakes
Sapphire
Posts: 3,594 Likes: 13,281
|
Post by Lakes on Mar 26, 2021 4:56:06 GMT -6
beaf12 I love it! Especially your sun garden. I staked out a new pollinator garden last year and smothered the grass. I need to find the motivation to start amending the soil. It’s too early to start cleaning up gardens without disturbing insects/critters but I did weed my moss garden last week. It made some good progress spreading to some muddy areas around my raised veggie beds. I planted some spring bulbs last year. So far only the snowdrops have popped up. No sign of the crocus, bloodroot, or winter aconite so that’s a bummer. Fingers crossed they need more time to get established but most of the crocuses in the neighborhood have come and gone already.
|
|
Peekaru
Sapphire
Posts: 2,518 Likes: 10,480
|
Post by Peekaru on Mar 26, 2021 5:29:18 GMT -6
Ooo!
Last year we had a massive retaining wall put in, and there’s a lot of new plants this year for the extra space.
Our kale, cauliflower, chives, sage, rosemary, lavender and catnip all over wintered. Adding broccoli, squash and pumpkin this year.
We planted 50 tulip bulbs, 25 hyacinth, a rhody and a hydrangea, all of which are budding out.
Sadly, the dogwood didn’t make it. Replacing it with a blue berry bush.
|
|
Peekaru
Sapphire
Posts: 2,518 Likes: 10,480
|
Post by Peekaru on Mar 26, 2021 5:30:48 GMT -6
Also getting hellebore, as it’s poison to deer and they won’t eat it.
|
|
|
Post by lemondrop on Mar 26, 2021 5:40:32 GMT -6
So pretty beaf12!! Your grass is so lush, too.
|
|
|
Post by lemondrop on Mar 26, 2021 5:52:35 GMT -6
I have a question, too.
So when our house was built back in the late 90s, the original owners planted 4 japanese boxwoods on each side of the front steps. On the right side, the 4 plants merged into 2 nice big bushes. On the left side, 2 of the plants merged into 1 bush, but the other 2 kind of stayed separate and are super small and sparse, so it looks awkward. I don't know how to fix this. I can't really pull the 2 janky ones out easily because the roots are intertwined with the big bush next to them. I could try to plant another bush between them, but I don't know if it would grow effectively? I'm growing hydrangea in front of them now (I planted 6 Endless Summer last spring) to try to hide it but it's gunna be another couple years before they get big enough to really make a difference.
|
|
|
Post by lemondrop on Mar 26, 2021 6:17:07 GMT -6
Okay y'all, I'm trying. I want some house plants. I kill everything, per my history. What are the easiest house plants that don't kill pets? (I'm going to Google and ask a local nursery too, but I trust you.) For small, window kind of plants - I like African violets and you can find them literally anywhere and they're cheap, so if they die they're easily replaced lol. In my bathroom, I have an orchid, but those can be fussy AF and they need attention. Boston ferns are good for floor plants and they're pretty easy to take care of.
|
|
|
Post by lemondrop on Mar 26, 2021 6:34:36 GMT -6
For small, window kind of plants - I like African violets and you can find them literally anywhere and they're cheap, so if they die they're easily replaced lol. In my bathroom, I have an orchid, but those can be fussy AF and they need attention. Boston ferns are good for floor plants and they're pretty easy to take care of. Thank yooouuuuu. Excited to try these. I've killed so many orchids. I made misspatty very sad telling my stories once. I also learned they may not have been dead. I don't plant well 😬 I don't orchid well, either. I've tried all the different tricks. Ice cubes. Different potting soil. My next step is buying a fake one from Home Goods, LOL.
|
|
overboard
Sapphire
Dull normal
Posts: 3,138 Likes: 15,821
Member is Online
|
Post by overboard on Mar 26, 2021 6:37:39 GMT -6
Okay y'all, I'm trying. I want some house plants. I kill everything, per my history. What are the easiest house plants that don't kill pets? (I'm going to Google and ask a local nursery too, but I trust you.) Snake plant!
|
|
|
Post by 100poppies on Mar 26, 2021 6:49:06 GMT -6
Okay y'all, I'm trying. I want some house plants. I kill everything, per my history. What are the easiest house plants that don't kill pets? (I'm going to Google and ask a local nursery too, but I trust you.) Spider Plants. They are unkillable. Put them in a pot that drains well and water once or twice a week. They love sun but will put up with shade and neglect. I gave a spider plant baby to a friend and she planted it in a glass vase with no drainage and keeps it in a dark kitchen. Still alive a year later. I left mine in a 100+ degree car once when I was moving on a summer day and it looked terrible and then came back. Everything other plant in the car died. They are the cockroach of plants in terms of survivability. (That’s a compliment in this case.)
|
|
misspatty
Global Moderator
Special Interests
Posts: 5,541 Likes: 44,712
|
Post by misspatty on Mar 26, 2021 6:51:35 GMT -6
For small, window kind of plants - I like African violets and you can find them literally anywhere and they're cheap, so if they die they're easily replaced lol. In my bathroom, I have an orchid, but those can be fussy AF and they need attention. Boston ferns are good for floor plants and they're pretty easy to take care of. Thank yooouuuuu. Excited to try these. I've killed so many orchids. I made misspatty very sad telling my stories once. I also learned they may not have been dead. I don't plant well 😬 I’m still aghast at sheer number of people here who said they throw orchids out when the flowers fall off. I swear, orchids are the easiest and most fun houseplants! No soil so lower bug risk, and when you take care of them you get pretty flowers!
|
|
byjove
Ruby
Posts: 15,198 Likes: 74,110
|
Post by byjove on Mar 26, 2021 6:51:47 GMT -6
Thank yooouuuuu. Excited to try these. I've killed so many orchids. I made misspatty very sad telling my stories once. I also learned they may not have been dead. I don't plant well 😬 I don't orchid well, either. I've tried all the different tricks. Ice cubes. Different potting soil. My next step is buying a fake one from Home Goods, LOL. For some reason orchids are something I can do pretty well. I just try to ignore it. Water it if I can't remember the last time I watered (no more than a shot glass). Wipe dust off the leaves a couple times a year.
|
|
byjove
Ruby
Posts: 15,198 Likes: 74,110
|
Post by byjove on Mar 26, 2021 6:53:07 GMT -6
DH bought me a couple of small cacti for V Day. I feel like those will be pretty hard to kill
|
|
byjove
Ruby
Posts: 15,198 Likes: 74,110
|
Post by byjove on Mar 26, 2021 6:54:21 GMT -6
@icedtea, what about aloe? Those are pretty easy to maintain and also useful! I'm guessing it would be pet safe?
|
|
misspatty
Global Moderator
Special Interests
Posts: 5,541 Likes: 44,712
|
Post by misspatty on Mar 26, 2021 6:56:34 GMT -6
Thank yooouuuuu. Excited to try these. I've killed so many orchids. I made misspatty very sad telling my stories once. I also learned they may not have been dead. I don't plant well 😬 I don't orchid well, either. I've tried all the different tricks. Ice cubes. Different potting soil. My next step is buying a fake one from Home Goods, LOL. I really need people to stop putting ice cubes in orchids!!!!! Water them every 7-10 days with water the temp of bath water. Very warm but not hot. Also... were you putting them in actual soil? Because if so, that is a guaranteed way to kill them. Technically they don’t need any soil at all- they’re epiphytes. You can put them in lose bark, though.
|
|
misspatty
Global Moderator
Special Interests
Posts: 5,541 Likes: 44,712
|
Post by misspatty on Mar 26, 2021 6:57:36 GMT -6
DH bought me a couple of small cacti for V Day. I feel like those will be pretty hard to kill I killed a cactus 😬 If it makes you feel better, I have killed a few cacti in my day too. Since they get water so rarely, it’s easy to forget about them.
|
|
misspatty
Global Moderator
Special Interests
Posts: 5,541 Likes: 44,712
|
Post by misspatty on Mar 26, 2021 7:04:37 GMT -6
If it makes you feel better, I have killed a few cacti in my day too. Since they get water so rarely, it’s easy to forget about them. It does, thank you 😂 I also didn't know ice cubes in orchids were bad! I will remember this. Yeah, whoever started this rumor is on my list. With plants you want to do what you can to recreate their natural environment. I can confirm orchids do not thrive in snow/ hail. The phalaenopsis orchid, which is the most common one you see in grocery stores and whatnot, is from Southeast Asia. There’s no ice there.
|
|
misspatty
Global Moderator
Special Interests
Posts: 5,541 Likes: 44,712
|
Post by misspatty on Mar 26, 2021 7:10:51 GMT -6
@icedtea I will also echo spider plants. They are extremely hardy. The leaves will get very pale if they need water, but they handle overwatering better than any other plant too. They don’t need special drainage or soil and generally do okay in most light environments too. Also they have a funky 80s vibe, which is always fun.
|
|
|
Post by lemondrop on Mar 26, 2021 7:22:00 GMT -6
I don't orchid well, either. I've tried all the different tricks. Ice cubes. Different potting soil. My next step is buying a fake one from Home Goods, LOL. I really need people to stop putting ice cubes in orchids!!!!! Water them every 7-10 days with water the temp of bath water. Very warm but not hot. Also... were you putting them in actual soil? Because if so, that is a guaranteed way to kill them. Technically they don’t need any soil at all- they’re epiphytes. You can put them in lose bark, though. I literally tried this 3 times. Just orchids from the grocery store that I buy on a whim because I'LL TOTALLY KEEP IT ALIVE THIS TIME. I think they're phalaenopsis? Anyway, I think I used too much moss the first time, and then I was told to use a cactus blend the next time, which killed it, like, immediately. Now I'm using a coarse blend miracle-gro orchid potting mix and it's doing ok.
|
|
|
Post by lemondrop on Mar 26, 2021 7:23:31 GMT -6
It does, thank you 😂 I also didn't know ice cubes in orchids were bad! I will remember this. Yeah, whoever started this rumor is on my list. With plants you want to do what you can to recreate their natural environment. I can confirm orchids do not thrive in snow/ hail. The phalaenopsis orchid, which is the most common one you see in grocery stores and whatnot, is from Southeast Asia. There’s no ice there. I... never considered this. LOL. I'm having a strong "derp" moment right now.
|
|
|
Post by 100poppies on Mar 26, 2021 7:30:49 GMT -6
@icedtea I will also echo spider plants. They are extremely hardy. The leaves will get very pale if they need water, but they handle overwatering better than any other plant too. They don’t need special drainage or soil and generally do okay in most light environments too. Also they have a funky 80s vibe, which is always fun. My first grader just got sent home with one from his teacher. Every year she does a science experiment with them and gives her whole class spider plant babies and they watch them get roots and grow and then plant them. She says the kids often take them to college. She gets pictures of her spider plant projects sent from former students. If it’s safe for a bunch of first graders it’s probably safe for people new to plants. As someone who owns several spider plants already, I’m jealous of her way to get rid of all the babies every year.
|
|
|
Post by ldubhawksfan on Mar 26, 2021 7:35:34 GMT -6
Yay!! I’ll take pictures of my garden beds later. I plan to go to the nursery today but I’m going to try not to buy too many veggies. My problem is I want more and the mature plants are so big! 😂
|
|
misspatty
Global Moderator
Special Interests
Posts: 5,541 Likes: 44,712
|
Post by misspatty on Mar 26, 2021 7:37:25 GMT -6
I really need people to stop putting ice cubes in orchids!!!!! Water them every 7-10 days with water the temp of bath water. Very warm but not hot. Also... were you putting them in actual soil? Because if so, that is a guaranteed way to kill them. Technically they don’t need any soil at all- they’re epiphytes. You can put them in lose bark, though. I literally tried this 3 times. Just orchids from the grocery store that I buy on a whim because I'LL TOTALLY KEEP IT ALIVE THIS TIME. I think they're phalaenopsis? Anyway, I think I used too much moss the first time, and then I was told to use a cactus blend the next time, which killed it, like, immediately. Now I'm using a coarse blend miracle-gro orchid potting mix and it's doing ok. Yeah, so moss is okay in small amounts but orchids want to get a lot of water at once and then to dry out as quickly as possible. Moss, soil, sand, etc that might be a cactus mix will retain moisture and keep the roots damp, which in turn makes them rot. Someone once told me orchid roots are like paper towels- they suck in a lot more moisture than average roots but you have to be very careful to ensure they dry out quickly.
|
|
misspatty
Global Moderator
Special Interests
Posts: 5,541 Likes: 44,712
|
Post by misspatty on Mar 26, 2021 7:39:44 GMT -6
Yeah, whoever started this rumor is on my list. With plants you want to do what you can to recreate their natural environment. I can confirm orchids do not thrive in snow/ hail. The phalaenopsis orchid, which is the most common one you see in grocery stores and whatnot, is from Southeast Asia. There’s no ice there. I... never considered this. LOL. I'm having a strong "derp" moment right now. Haha the ice cube thing is pervasive! I think it came about because orchids require a temp at night drop to flower, which is true! But like... there’s a lot of ground between a 7 degree temp drop and literal ice.
|
|
byjove
Ruby
Posts: 15,198 Likes: 74,110
|
Post by byjove on Mar 26, 2021 7:41:26 GMT -6
Since we are talking orchids, I’ll share that mine is almost in full bloom now! I’ve had this orchid almost 2 years and it blooms approx. every 6 months.
|
|
|
Post by lemondrop on Mar 26, 2021 7:44:48 GMT -6
I literally tried this 3 times. Just orchids from the grocery store that I buy on a whim because I'LL TOTALLY KEEP IT ALIVE THIS TIME. I think they're phalaenopsis? Anyway, I think I used too much moss the first time, and then I was told to use a cactus blend the next time, which killed it, like, immediately. Now I'm using a coarse blend miracle-gro orchid potting mix and it's doing ok. Yeah, so moss is okay in small amounts but orchids want to get a lot of water at once and then to dry out as quickly as possible. Moss, soil, sand, etc that might be a cactus mix will retain moisture and keep the roots damp, which in turn makes them rot. Someone once told me orchid roots are like paper towels- they suck in a lot more moisture than average roots but you have to be very careful to ensure they dry out quickly. innnnteresting. thank you! this is very helpful!
|
|
byjove
Ruby
Posts: 15,198 Likes: 74,110
|
Post by byjove on Mar 26, 2021 8:08:56 GMT -6
I'm tempted to try an african violet.
|
|