The Plant Thread

[Taffeta]

Plants are amazingly resilient. At least one of my emergency seed-pod-ectomy seedlings is now starting to grow normally. Not sure about the other, but the one who was growing on splints is now completely independent and growing fine as well. Spider plant Maggie is watching over them but currently behaving herself

My mother saw an article or something about how plants communicate with each other through invisible light or something. I guess if that's true, it was harder for Maggie to 'chat' to the baby plants while they were in the propagator.

@Beldarna, they like to get everywhere. I feel like they're very curious plants. Also very sturdy!

@Ponyfan, yay for little strawberry!!

[Ponyfan]

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The strawberry is starting to turn red. 


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Mint 1 lives!  There's some tiny green leaves



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Mint 2


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Sage 

A large young stem broke off the other day when I was trying to remove a dead leaf.

My ficus is down to one leaf.


Ponyfan

[BlackCurtains]

Yay, go mints!

[Taffeta]

Mint are so tough I'm glad Mint 1 is doing well. They just like to sleep through the winter. Can't blame them really!

One of my injured seedlings hasn't made it, but the other two are doing well.

[BlackCurtains]

My one African violet is dead and my polka dot plants are dying too I think from overwatering I really wanted those but I'll get something else next time. Everyone else is doing good

[Beldarna]

Nice to see the mints returning!

[Ponyfan]

My Ficus lost all of its leaves.

The strawberry keeps getting redder.  

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Ponyfan

[Beldarna]

Just keep an eye on the ficus, as I said previous, they usually come back but it can take weeks or even a month.

Yummy!

[BlackCurtains]

Tiny little strawberry!

[Ponyfan]

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Does anyone know if the strawberry will get redder or is this as red as it's going to get?


Ponyfan

[Beth3346]

i have a dumb plant question. for planting outside in the garden i keep seeing advice saying to make sure to plant in an area that has good drainage. how do i know if there is good drainage though? does it just mean i should make sure not to plant in an area where water pools after rain?

[BlackCurtains]

I can't help either of you because I don't know. Sorry

[Taffeta]

i have a dumb plant question. for planting outside in the garden i keep seeing advice saying to make sure to plant in an area that has good drainage. how do i know if there is good drainage though? does it just mean i should make sure not to plant in an area where water pools after rain?

I don't know what kind of soil is common where you are, but if when you dig down into it it's all clumpy and like clay, the drainage is probably poor. If it dries out quickly and feels more sandy, it's probably got good drainage (maybe too good, depending on how much). Looking for where water pools is a good hint as well, as it means the water isn't going through. But bear in mind if you have hot weather, in areas where water disappears quickly, it could also be evaporating.

You can adjust drainage of the soil, however, by loosening any clumpy areas with a spade or digging fork, or you can add things to the soil to improve the drainage as well. Some soils you can add sand or gravel but that depends a lot on the type of soil you have already.

https://oxfordgardendesign.co.uk/how-to-improve-soil-drainage-2/
This may help? It's a UK site but the general advice may be useful?

Edit to add: Ponyfan, if the strawberry looks pretty red all over it probably won't get redder, but it's so difficult to tell even when you're right in front of it :/

[Beth3346]

i have a dumb plant question. for planting outside in the garden i keep seeing advice saying to make sure to plant in an area that has good drainage. how do i know if there is good drainage though? does it just mean i should make sure not to plant in an area where water pools after rain?

I don't know what kind of soil is common where you are, but if when you dig down into it it's all clumpy and like clay, the drainage is probably poor. If it dries out quickly and feels more sandy, it's probably got good drainage (maybe too good, depending on how much). Looking for where water pools is a good hint as well, as it means the water isn't going through. But bear in mind if you have hot weather, in areas where water disappears quickly, it could also be evaporating.

You can adjust drainage of the soil, however, by loosening any clumpy areas with a spade or digging fork, or you can add things to the soil to improve the drainage as well. Some soils you can add sand or gravel but that depends a lot on the type of soil you have already.

https://oxfordgardendesign.co.uk/how-to-improve-soil-drainage-2/
This may help? It's a UK site but the general advice may be useful?

Edit to add: Ponyfan, if the strawberry looks pretty red all over it probably won't get redder, but it's so difficult to tell even when you're right in front of it :/

thanks Taffeta. this helps a lot

[BlackCurtains]

My polka dot plants died I wanted those so much Ugh. I might try again and be extra careful with watering them. I bought a water monitor. It tells you when the soil is too wet or too dry or just right. I know it differs from plant to plant what they like. Ben likes to be soaked and I've figured out the ponytail palm also likes a good amount of water. I fertilized everyone yesterday. I went with a lower dose to start.

Through my research I've come to find out that Miracle Grow products aren't very good. I've used their soil for everything and the plant food I have is made by them too. When I have money (hopefully) I'll buy better stuff and repot everyone.