ramhandler2002
A Valentine Propagation Station and Plant Stand Step Stool
I found this heart-shaped vase at Target in the $5 isle island. 😁 Then, I got this idea to buy test tubes and turn it into a propagation station. I also found this folding-step stool for $5 which I’m using as a plant stand. I’m always checking the $5 isle Island for nifty plant wants and needs.
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Which soil to use?
Not all plants like the same soil. It took me awhile to figure this out. I bought this soil just to see what the mix looked like and felt like. Then I’ll mix my own at less cost.
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Unwinding the Roots
My ‘Mystic Pinning’ Alocasia was sending the signals it needed repotted. Was very happy to find such long, healthy roots. Went from a 4” nursery pot to 6” liner pot then placed it inside the plastic skull pot lined with a green organza bag.
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Propagation Plants
Finally potted some of my propagations. I needed to free up my propagation stations cause my plants are ready to get cut back again. I potted various tradescantia, Golden Pothos, Armaranth (one of the tri-color varieties) and Begonia ‘Looking Glass’. I’ll fill in the empty middles once the new cuts have rooted. These plants will be donated to funding raising events I’m participating in this Spring.
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'Looking Glass' Begonia
I’ve had this begonia for two years. She won first place in a floriculture competition at local fair. I love the silver leaves. This one is very easy to grow. Finally took some cuttings (about twenty). Will be donating them for fund raising events.
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Hoyas and Swans
Hoyas come in so many different sizes and leaf variations now. Mine like their soil to dry out between waterings. The little ceramic swans are toilet bolt covers I found on Amazon. Received the comfy, fluffy white sitting pillow with a swan appliqué for Christmas.
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Merry Christmas!
May This Special Day be Bright, Joyful and Full of Special Gifts!
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Three Years Old - Precious Pray Plant
One of the first plants I bought when starting my houseplant collection. Two plants beginning in a 4” pot plants and is now in a 6” wide by 4” deep pot. Watered with rainwater and under grow lights. Humidity level at 50% or above. Soil must dry out 2” (halfway in pot) between waterings.
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Thia Cancelation Leaf
Hoping this new leaf will be able to photosynthesize so it doesn’t start turning brown on the cream color side. Thinking I kept the grow lights on too long and too close.
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Christmas Tin Turned Planter
Couldn’t pass up this Christmas decoration for my plants.
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Overwatering at the Store and Ivy Plants Filter Toxins and Molds
I found this little ivy at Lowe’s covered with dead leaves and saturated. I cleaned the dead leaves at the store then decided it was a keeper. So to get the excess water out of the pot, I used paper towels to soak it out of the bottom. I kept exchanging the towels when they became soaked until the towels no longer were absorbing water. Seven days later it’s ready for a drink, has new growth and is cleaning the air.
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My plant secret is spraying weekly with rainwater
Finally getting the hang of keeping air plants alive. When I buy a new one, I want it to be bottom heavy. Next is to mist with rainwater weekly and turn upside down for drying. I try not to let water accumulate in the bottom cause that leads to inner decaying. Totally shocked to find a pup growing on one.
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A Nice Surprise
Just have one bloom on my Variegated Anutilon. Moved her under the Sansi grow light and her leaves became more variegated and she shared this bloom. This plant has velvety soft delicate leaves. She lets me know when she is not happy by dropping her leaves down closely around her stems. She is very sensitive to her surroundings.
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Please let go!
Every new leaf is getting stuck and another one is already on its way. Seeking advice on what to do to get it to release this leaf and future ones.
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Lily Bulbs Galore
The lilies grew so tall this year in the front of my perennial flowerbed I couldn’t see the plants behind them. I had about ten different varieties of Lily bulbs buried in there. So today’s project was to dig them up and transplant to the back of the bed. The area I took the bulbs from will be a small phlox garden next year.
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Perennial Flowerbed Cleanup
Worked today on my flower bed getting it ready for the winter months. Still have a few more things to do to make sure my plants survive the cold and the critters.
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2" Babies and a Dome Terrarium
Couldn’t pass up on the 20% off plant sale and had to bring these little ones home with me. They are doing really well in the terrarium house. I love watching them grow up.
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A Vining Begonia
Just have to add this one to my Rex begonia collection.
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Twistin' and Turnin'
I put this plant outside this summer but had to bring it back in cause the squirrels wouldn’t stop munching on it. I was shocked that they would eat a cactus. Hope the squirrels were uncomfortable for a while after eating the spines (which are very soft but still let you know they are there). It’s been recovering and even has some new growth.
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Never too old to enjoy the spooky fun!
Happy Halloween to PlantIn App’s Plant Parents. 🎃☠️👻
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"Varigated Congo" Philodendron
The under side of the leaves are prettier than the topside to me. One of those plants I passed on but then went back and got it.
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Yep, I Have Bugs
Bringing home new plants also means you may be bringing home those pesky fungus gnats. Yep, those are mostly fungus gnats stuck to the Zevo Trap. Proof they do work. This is one of the methods I use to help me keep them under control. Hoping I can get them “stuck” before they mature and lay eggs. I have several throughout my home.
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Velvet Leaf Anthurium hybrid 'DocBlock Michelle'
Was thinking the new leaf was stuck but she pull herself free last night. The first leaf that grew for me after purchasing this expensive Beauty is 8” wide by 10” long. I love the tortoise shell looking leaves. She loves getting attention.
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Helpful Accessory
Now that we’re heading into dryer air with cooling temperatures a gauge that shows room temperature and humidity level is very helpful.
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Teacher with her Pupils
I had to buy this cactus when I saw it because of how looked. Added bonus: it’s spineless.
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Bloomin' Babies
Was watering today and noticed I had these plants in bloom. Finally managed to keep an orchid alive and got it to bloom. Yippee!
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Low Nighttime Temperatures
Here in Iowa we’ve been having below 60 degrees nighttime temperatures so decided it’s time to bring this Cordyline Fruticosa ‘Ti Leaf’ indoors. Going to place her under a Sansi light hoping it will keep the leaves pink and healthy.
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Rex Begoinia Babies
So far they are staying healthy and happy. Decided to leave them in the containers they came in and then place them inside a ceramic pot to make them more stable. When they need water, I remove them from the ceramic pot and water at my watering station I have set up. Doing this doesn’t let water stand in the bottom of the ceramic pot which lets the plant overwater itself. Definitely don’t want that to happen cause they like their roots to sit in dry soil before being watered again. This set up also allows the use of “pot lift” watering method.
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Crying is Healthy
This Proven Winners’ Alocasia scaiprum ‘Mythic Pinning for You’ is crying and it’s a healthy thing to do. The water flow has really opened up since her spathe has begun deteriorating. She’s ready for a repot cause I just noticed her roots are circling around the bottom of her pot.
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Best Plant Question
For fund raising projects, I’ve been selling propagated plants and a few others that I no longer plan to enter into floriculture competitions. The first question asked by customers was, “Is that real?” That question really made my day and was such a nice complement. I think it made their day when they found out they just purchased a First Place winning plant. The pictured plant is ‘Yellow Ripple’ English ivy.
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Self-Watering Pots
My two mini African violets are in self-watering pots that I found on clearance. Their leaves barely touched the inner edge of the pots when I repotted them. The violets love them and so much easier to take care of. You just can’t overdo it on the amount of water in the bottom pot to avoid overwatering. After the water in the bottom disappears, I wait few days before adding water to the watering pot. The soil still needs to dry out some to avoid root rot. My other regular size violets will be repotted to self-watering pots soon.
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Mandevilla Plants are Easy to Grow
This year’s mandevilla plant collection. So many colors to choose from now. The purple one won first place in the hanging basket category at the county fair this year. The spiller plant is trailing lantana. The red one is in a separate pot and is climbing on an oblique that is stuck in its own pot. The blooms are so eye catching.
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Time for a trimming
Time to do some more propagating and trim her hair. 😁 It’s grown so much since July 30 when she placed Third in the houseplant category in the floriculture competition at the county fair.
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Propagation
Started this Tradescantia outside in a combination planter. Then decided to bring it inside but was way to big for the hanging pot so had to propagate. I love the color of the underside of the leaves.
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Grow lights
This little guy had just four tiny leaves in April and now he has buds. I think he’s trying to outdo his red companion. 🤩😆
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Repotted and brought indoors
Brought indoors my annual, double-blooming miniature hibiscus after repotting. Surprisingly, the blooms hung on after all of these changes but quite a few leaves yellowed and fell off. Luckily, they’ll fill in again even thicker. Amazingly, the bloom stem kept this bloom upright.
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My $10 Tree Gardenia is Blooming
I wasn’t sure if the buds would open or fall off after bringing it inside but got lucky and two are opening up. They smell so good.
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Using Bulb Air Puffers
I don’t like water droplets on my plant leaves because that causes brown spots on the leaves from the water just laying there waiting to evaporate. So to help me get the water off, I use these to move it and spread it away. Sometimes it doesn’t want to “puff” away so I use them to suck the water off.
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Monstera Adamsonii
Because he grew so much in three months when outside, I was able to wrap him around the 24” moss pole almost to the top. So happy I can add an extension to the moss pole.
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