I've dubbed him Benjamin. Ben Basil for short.That's awesome you have a balcony! Maybe the window will be best if he stays in the original pot so he doesn't dry out too quickly. If you get a bigger pot, maybe then move him out there :D
Thanks for the tips. @MoonstoneMew, no yard here. I'm on the second story in an apartment. I do have a balcony though. I wanted to try growing tomatoes and catnip out there. I'm afraid I'd forget to water stuff that's out there though. That's what happened with the aloe. I'd forget and then give them too much water and they'd turn yellow, then get nice and green again... then dry out again.
Basil by the way, is non-toxic to cats. I looked it up since my cat will try and eat any plants she comes across.
Stjarne-what part of MN?! I am in ND. We have been having frequent storms too. Such a difference from last year. It was so dry last year, none of our outdoor stuff did well because we couldn’t keep up with watering. Due to that, I think we will forgo planting much, if anything this year, especially with a newborn. We do have rhubarb, strawberries, chives, asparagus, and raspberries that are perennial. Hopefully, they do better this year. The rhubarb has struggled since we moved here, even with mulching and fertilizer. Didn’t help that my hubby mowed over it the first year (insert eye roll). The raspberries haven’t done much since we transferred them from my in-laws home. The strawberries try but the bugs get to them. One of our apple trees died last year too and our plum trees haven’t done great either as far as production.
We tried to redo a round planter area from the previous owners last year with perennial seeds and bulbs but very little grew. It had been choked with weeds, a real eye sore. May have to try started plants instead.
My spring bulbs actually came up a little better this year. A few hyacinths actually bloomed!! I am generally discouraged growing stuff here because nothing we plant ourselves seems to do very well. Only some things that were here before do ok like our day lilies (hubby hates them) and peonies. My rhododendron does well but I struggle to keep my hydrangeas alive. It sucks because stuff grew well at our previous home.
Here is Ben. I'm worried about the stem that's turning brown/black. It has a cut/bite in it (not from me).
On your other question, with the sunlight, it depends how hot it is coming in through your window? Plants can burn in direct sunlight when it's really hot, even here in the UK. So you might want to avoid the hottest time of the day if you do it. Or put him on your balcony in the shade, so he can get some air and light but not be too cooked.
Is mint easy to grow? I'm thinking about buying a mint plant and seeing if I can get it to grow.
Ponyfan
so i have a practical question about houseplants. how do you water without spilling all over? take them to the sink? i want to get some houseplants but i worry about making a mess. i'm very klutzy. to the point that when i cook my dog hangs around because she knows i will drop something. and i always do. i really don't want dirt all over the house. it's enough with the dogs.
I heard someone on the Chelsea coverage saying that most plants sold as annuals are actually tender perennials, which made me think of you saving them indoors, Taffeta.
I heard someone on the Chelsea coverage saying that most plants sold as annuals are actually tender perennials, which made me think of you saving them indoors, Taffeta.
Yep, a lot of 'annuals' are just not meant for our winter climate. There are a bunch, like bacopa and osteospermum, which are from South Africa, and thus can't cope with the frosts. But that said, we've had some plants which are not meant to survive the winter...surviving the winter...outside. SO. Yes.
The fuchsia and bell vine from last year's basket were not hardy, but survived outside without any problems. I've also a 3 or 4 year old nemesia who survived two lots of winter frosts already...
Even things like petunia or calibrachoa which seem to be obvious annuals aren't.
It's kind of sad how, as a nation, we just kind of leave so many plants out there to freeze when it's not necessarily time up for them.
The most disturbing ones to me are the begonia. The type with the reddish leaves and small coloured flowers. One frost and their stems basically explode. I have one such begonia plant which I think is about 5 years old now, and winters inside. I have to be so careful when putting it out because unlike some plants that *might* survive one frost, this one...there are no second chances :/
Ben is doing very well! He's growing more and more leaves. The leaf with the holes is older, I checked him and there's nothing eating him now.
I plan to repot him over the weekend :) I'm also growing some cat grass from a kit I had forgotten about.
@Ponyfan, if it's just one or two isolated ones they probably aren't an issue, especially if you can remove them. Just keep an eye on it to make sure it's not worse (repotting may also help this if they are living in the soil, but some bugs just come in on plant leaves).
Does it flower, Taffeta? My mom loves poinsettias but could never have them since they're toxic to pets. She does have a nice fake one that lights up.
I'm starting to think I'm not good with plants. I checked on the mint this morning when I watered it and it looked okay. A few hours later I found bugs on it again but this time it wasn't the green aphids. I sprayed the plant with the dish soap spray again, went back out later and rinsed it off and tried to remove leaves that were turning brown/had bugs. I'm thinking I might have removed too many leaves though. :( Poor mint. I'm sorry mint that I'm not being a good plant parent. I'm going to leave the mint alone for a few days and hope it does better.
Ponyfan
@BC, those are basically woodlice, right?
I don't keep them as pets, but we have such a thriving community of them in our garden. The babies are super cute and tiny.
I've decided that the delphinium that I took out of the garden is just a spoiled brat. It got eaten in the garden and refused to grow new shoots, even though the ones behind it were doing fine. I put it in a pot and within a week it has nineteen (NINETEEN!) new shoots.
...It just likes the attention.
I've decided that the delphinium that I took out of the garden is just a spoiled brat. It got eaten in the garden and refused to grow new shoots, even though the ones behind it were doing fine. I put it in a pot and within a week it has nineteen (NINETEEN!) new shoots.
...It just likes the attention.
They do! I found this with Delphiniums too. I ended up looking after some trials one year and I must say I think they only respond to one owner as well.
The Venus Fly Trap has obviously alive and well as it has CAUGHT SOMETHING! There are legs sticking out of a shut trap, it is a little gruesome, but I am pleased it is feeling well.
The Venus Fly Trap has obviously alive and well as it has CAUGHT SOMETHING! There are legs sticking out of a shut trap, it is a little gruesome, but I am pleased it is feeling well.
That really is excellent news! How exciting!
Out of curiosity, what is everyone's favorite personal plant or plant species? :)
Out of curiosity, what is everyone's favorite personal plant or plant species? :)
My soil sucks - mostly sand/rocks.clay. The only thing that grows well in it is green onions. I have other things in pots though.
I think my catnip might have mold or something. There were patches of white fuzz on top of the soil. I watered it and it seems to have gone away but I'll keep my eye on it.
Speaking of watering, Ben is sucking up water like crazy. I have to water him every two days... do you think he needs a bigger pot? How big does basil get?
Is he more of a pet now than a herb? Cos you could give him a haircut :lookround:
I think some unwanted guests have decided to make Mint 1 their new home. They don't seem to be on the plant itsel,f but in the soil. I made up some fresh dish soap spray today and sprayed both mints. I'm not sure what kind of bugs they are but I saw a white thing with a lot of legs and something that looked like a fly but had too many legs.
Ponyfan
I think some unwanted guests have decided to make Mint 1 their new home. They don't seem to be on the plant itsel,f but in the soil. I made up some fresh dish soap spray today and sprayed both mints. I'm not sure what kind of bugs they are but I saw a white thing with a lot of legs and something that looked like a fly but had too many legs.
Ponyfan
If the white thing was very small it could be a springtail. They're beneficial. They eat mold and decaying matter and help aerate the soil. When I kept carnivorous plants in my window sill, silver springtails would always get into the soil. They never bothered my plants.
@ Lady Frostbite your chillies sound amazing! My husband loves fancy chillies but I dont' have much luck with them. How about, next year send the spares to me :biggrin:
@ Lady Frostbite your chillies sound amazing! My husband loves fancy chillies but I dont' have much luck with them. How about, next year send the spares to me :biggrin:
Can do! :biggrin: Chillies are honestly so easy, you just sow them on New Years day, put the seedling tray on the radiator as they need heat to germinate, get a little cheap UV light to help the seedlings grow in the dark days of winter, and they'll take it from there! I find the hotter varieties tend to be more aggressive about growing; my Jays burst out of the soil in something like 10 days!! For soil I just use a John Innes mix with a good amount of perlite mixed in for drainage - I love good drainage in a plant, especially for tropicals - and they soon grow very well in my kitchen window. I get amazing sunlight coverage in the summer, and they're protected from the slugs. Just be sure to water from the bottom to avoid scariad flies!!
@ Lady Frostbite your chillies sound amazing! My husband loves fancy chillies but I dont' have much luck with them. How about, next year send the spares to me :biggrin:
Can do! :biggrin: Chillies are honestly so easy, you just sow them on New Years day, put the seedling tray on the radiator as they need heat to germinate, get a little cheap UV light to help the seedlings grow in the dark days of winter, and they'll take it from there! I find the hotter varieties tend to be more aggressive about growing; my Jays burst out of the soil in something like 10 days!! For soil I just use a John Innes mix with a good amount of perlite mixed in for drainage - I love good drainage in a plant, especially for tropicals - and they soon grow very well in my kitchen window. I get amazing sunlight coverage in the summer, and they're protected from the slugs. Just be sure to water from the bottom to avoid scariad flies!!
:shocked: that is quite a bit of technical knowledge!! Thank you I'll try those things. It will be easier to make a proper space for them now we've moved house. I just have a pair of cayenne's this year, but I probably sowed them too late.
i'm glad the plants are doing ok in the heatwave.
has anyone used vinegar as weed control? i have something called Nutsedge taking over my garden beds and choking everything else. apparently pulling them out can make it worse. there is also a huge thistle plant killing my crepe myrtle. so great :(
my basil is looking uphappy today. i've been watering it but it's looking yellowish and sad. maybe it needs more sun? it's in a semi-shaded area of my patio.
I think my rosemary is dead.
BC, I use a plastic pitcher to water the mint plants. :)
I learned the other day that basil is a member of the mint family.
Cheers I didn't know that. So many useful plants in that family...
i think a significant portion of the grass in my backyard didn't take before the drought and has died. so i'm going to look into replacing the dead portions with gravel and/or stone. i certainly don't want dead grass and the dogs keep digging for bugs.
i want to move to more drought resistant landscaping anyway since i don't think water restrictions are going anywhere. i think it's something i can do myself but i need to plan it out. i tend to just want to jump into a project and then i end up with stuff i don't use. so i have to temper my enthusiasm and do some planning.
i also want to add some flowerbeds on the part of the yard that gets lots of sunlight and some pathways on the side of the house. ugh i think have unrealistic expectations about gardening for books i read as a kid :) i need to win the lottery or something.
i also need dog proof landscaping and decorations. i had some faire lights on the fence and Luna managed to break off the solar panel. then she brought it to me like it was a treasure :huh: maybe i need to wait until she grows up a little.
your yard sounds really nice Artie :)Spoilerour house is new construction so nothing to clean up except weeds and the dead grass. the downside is that all we have in the backyard is new sod and a small covered patio. we opted to get a smaller patio since having the builder extend it would have taken away from the square footage of the house. we definitely need to extend the covered patio at some point because a good rainstorm soaks everything on the patio. but i know that will be expensive so for now just a dream.
yeah when i look at the price of material it seems fine until i calculate the total i need for the area. then i have to come back to earth. it's like looking at flooring for the house.
the new sod in the front yard is doing well and most of the back is fine. but there is a portion that is under the neighbor's oak tree that doesn't get much sun. i love the tree and it was one of the reasons we chose the lot. i want to pull up the dead grass and add paving stones or gravel. i really want a table out there but there may be a bird poo issue :huh: also the area close to the house has some dead grass.
i think i need to prioritize and work on one area at a time. it's definitely more cost effective to DIY so we'll be going that route wherever possible. i made good progress in the front yard but i need to finish the mulch. most of the weeds are gone though. except for that big thistle. i'm bad about trying to start new projects before i finish others. i like doing projects around the house. i'm not great at it but i'm learning. i wish i could train Luna to help me dig. :biggrin:
Mints are supposed to lose their leaves in the fall? I must have missed that. Knowing that makes me feel a lot better. :) I was beginning to think that there might be something wrong with the pot or soil that was causing Mint 2 to lose leaves. Should I cut Mint 2 back before winter sets in or will it be okay to leave Mint 2 as is?
It rained yesterday so I didn't have to water the plants yesterday or today.
Ponyfan
That's really interesting Artie about the star anise and the lemon trees. I would have never thought about trying to grow plants from the things you buy at the store.
I've wondered sometimes if my mints are safe to eat. I know you can eat mint and use it to flavor things, but I've been growing them in Miracle Grow and not organic soil. The only thing I spray them with the is dish soap spray.
Ponyfan
I did some weeding and trimming back today. Got attacked by my buddleia. I guess it was fighting back, since I was trying to persuade it its deep and loving relationship with the wisteria was not going to continue through the winter. Wisteria thinks Buddleia is a climbing frame, since it broke its own frame already two years ago and parents have not yet replaced it. Wisteria is not technically part of my section of garden although it is, because parents decided to plant it there despite having a lot of room elsewhere. I love the wisteria, don't get me wrong, but it does not understand personal space rules.
Corydalis is lovely - I've not yet tried to grow it but it's always been on my list of things to try. I imagine it would be a bit like Dicentra and maybe go semi-dormant in the summer if it's dry.
Corydalis is lovely - I've not yet tried to grow it but it's always been on my list of things to try. I imagine it would be a bit like Dicentra and maybe go semi-dormant in the summer if it's dry.
This is my third Corydalis :/ The first one died within a week. The second one died over the winter. THIS one made it through last winter, and flowered in February (although they aren't meant to flower until May). It flowered through the spring, but I had to fit some kind of irrigation for it in the summer and it almost entirely died back. Now it is growing again though. I do have a bit of a problem in my garden with irrigation though, thanks to the aforementioned huge plants (Buddleia, wisteria) living there. I also have a fairly established rose at the other end, plus the Choisya, which has massively flourished since I planted it there but is also a big plant. I need to cut that back, too. BUT...it's flowering.
...It shouldn't be. It flowers in April/May usually. But the weather has everything confused.
Funny you say that. I had both blue and white ones grown from seed, but while the white ones flourished, the blue ones...didn't? THere were one or two that survived - I think maybe just one plant, actually - but the others all died off and never flowered. They were sharing space with the thunbergia, but like I said, the white variant was fine. I can't remember what the type was, but it had purple tints on the petals.
Definitely a no-no if there's a risk to the pet, though.
Funny you say that. I had both blue and white ones grown from seed, but while the white ones flourished, the blue ones...didn't? THere were one or two that survived - I think maybe just one plant, actually - but the others all died off and never flowered. They were sharing space with the thunbergia, but like I said, the white variant was fine. I can't remember what the type was, but it had purple tints on the petals.
Definitely a no-no if there's a risk to the pet, though.
I also tried growing them years ago when I was very into blue flowers. The same thing happened to me, but in this case there were pink and white ones but no blue. Unfortunately I think it's one of those situations where the flower seed industry is telling you a bit of a fib. I'm not sure what the reason is, maybe they need acid soil to go blue like hydrangeas. Seed companies know that domestic customers tend to blame themselves if their seeds don't perform well ;)
Plants do actually communicate with each other and it's across the board; grass talks to trees, vines talk to bushes, etc. They also like certain colors better. And yes, they will reach for each other - except trees. There is always room between the tops of trees, but it's thought that they are being polite to each other, basically not overtaking their neighbor to not risk themselves, so they cooperate and give each other room. Plants are fascinating :)
Thank you Taffeta and LadyFrostbite.
I checked the website on the package and it states "guaranteed to grow no matter what." The website also has detailed planting instructions some of which contradict the ones on the package. For example, the box says to add some water to the growing medium pellet, but the website also says "fluff growing medium with fork after adding water."
I might just wait until the stores start putting plants out and see if they have a strawberry plant for sale.
Ponyfan
My cherry blossom is flowering :) It's the second year in a row that it's bloomed before my birthday. It's meant to start around early march, but it's had a lot of sun up against the house. It's the flower you can see in my avatar, although that's an old pic now :)
I had to say goodbye to one of my palm trees today. It's been with me since I was 17, so more than 20 years. It just decided to dry up and go and I was in denial for so long and kept watering it but no, cut throught the stem and it's all dried up and hollow inside.
I had to say goodbye to one of my palm trees today. It's been with me since I was 17, so more than 20 years. It just decided to dry up and go and I was in denial for so long and kept watering it but no, cut throught the stem and it's all dried up and hollow inside.
I had this happen with my original dragon tree, which I rescued from the library when it closed down. It and I had the same memories xD. It lived with us for some years after, but eventually it died of old age. It was heart breaking when it died :(
Since 2020 I've had a new dragon tree. I do tend to fuss over this one as well, especially last year when it overheated and some of its leaves wilted. It's doing a lot better now, but I don't want to lose another one.
RIP Palm Tree.
Meanwhile, my grumpy old Poinsettia trots on, dropping her old leaves wherever she can reach.
We're scrambling to cover plants outdoors right now. Here in Georgia, the southern US, we had abnormally high temps a few days ago. Everything is blooming/growing. Now tonight we're having a freeze. We're covering our blueberry bushes and some other plants.Hey! I'm in Georgia as well and work at a nursery. We had to close all the walls in the greenhouse and run the heat. As for all the plants we have outside that's not under cover we just have to pray, haha. If there's frost on them tomorrow morning they should be okay as long as we spray off the frost with warmish water before the sun touches them. If the sun gets to them with frost then they will burn, or so I've been told.
Your house is lovely! :lovey: I like the plants too, of course. Is that tiny bed in the kitchen window picture for your cats? That's so cute! :inlove:
Well. I think everything is dead except Ben and the little spider plant. Curly spider would have probably done okay if Aster didn't eat most of it. I'm bummed :( I really wanted them to survive. But this is how it usually is with me and plants. I can take care of any animal, but plants are just... not animals.awww! I'm sorry that's going on. I've also lost a lot of plants in the beginning. But the survivors are still around to this day. I also figured out that pushing tall sticks into the soil can discourage kitty because mine also offed a few.
I would still like a snake plant or two and a parlor palm (how long have I been saying this?) but with my money situation and wanting to get bigger, more established plants next time, I don't know when I can get any.
My tomato seeds have sprouted!!!Hooray!
Raspberry... canes? Is that like a bush? One of my best friends growing up had raspberry bushes in the backyard. His mom would give us a big bowl and we'd sit and pick them. When the bowl was full she'd wash them and give us some and we'd sit and eat them on the gazebo :) It's a nice memory.
My strawberry seeds from the grow kit blew away from a breeze. I looked for them and couldn't find them. :(oh no! They are so tiny.
Ponyfan
The Ficus Ginseng likes it consistently warm, so be sure it is out the reach of any cool drafts or open windows, which can lead to temperature fluctuations. If your plant is in a position that is getting consistent temperatures, then check the lighting. They like it bright, however, avoid too much hot direct sunlight.
Water every 2 – 3 weeks in the Spring and Summer months, and then space out your watering in the Fall and Winter months. This plant can survive drought light conditions, as it does store and soak up water through its roots – so it is better to under water than overwater.
I'm sorry your plants are drying out :(
--
We have roots! Repeat! We have roots! :D
Ben The Second will live :cheer:
visitors can't see pics , please register or login
Does anyone know how to cut the Benlets so they grow offshoot stems? I'm trying to Google but I'm not putting in the right words or something. They are growing very well, but they're one stem and they keep getting taller and taller. I had to tie them to bamboo skewers to keep them from falling over. Already the tops are already starting to bend. I read that you should cut just below the leaf nodes to prune basil but it didn't say they would grow out from the sides.
Ficuses has these strange phases sometimes where all the leaves fall off and it looks dead, just for them to return a couple of weeks later. Mine has done so twice with a couple of years inbetween. So don't feel disheartened and if all leaves fall, don't throw it away, just water it as you do and tend to it as normal :).
LOL, Strawberry's like, "I know it's Winter but I want to flower NAO."
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 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 :/
I forgot to water Ben and he's droopy this morning. My watering can is small and I have to fill it up twice to get everyone. I think I was distracted yesterday and didn't finish :think:
I'm not sure Ponyfan but it lookes like the top of the twigs of the ficus are green? Thats a good sign. What happens if you bend the twigs a little? If they're alive they should bend easily, if it's dead and the twigs dry they should snap.
Great pics Beth. :) I love the rock garden. Do the rocks take any special care to keep them bright white?
Ponyfan
@BC, knowing Spider plants, it will probably take it as a challenge and grow even more. I guess Aster has a green tooth ;)