I am the type of person who could kill a cactus (which I have done). So over the years I have collected Helpful Hints About Plants. Not all of them are related to the type of plants that I have, but I just thought that many of you out there could find them interesting and useful.
These Hints For Plants are Always Changing
Will try to put them in sort of alphabetical order, but not promising. I hope that these hints are helpful and will make it so that you can enjoy your plants even longer.
African violets – If you wish to get more plants from an African violet, here is how to do it: Place a cutting on peat pellets that are well soaked with water, and later, the excess water is squeezed out. Then put the pellets and cutting into a small plastic bag, using something to keep the bag from touching the cutting. Seal tightly, and put it in bright light.
When a healthy clump of roots is grown, transfer to a small pot, about 1/3 the diameter of the cutting and roots. African violets like plenty of light to bloom and will do well under fluorescent lights. Did you know that African Violets don’t like it when their leaves get wet? When being watered, avoid getting water on their leaves.
Bulbs – If you are planning to plant bulbs in the fall and don’t want critters to dig them up and carry them away, try this trick. Cut open the ends of soup size cans, punch several holes in the can so that water can drain out. After you have planted your bulbs, push the cans around the bulb, which will form a cylinder around the bulb and protect it.
Clivia bloom – If you have one of these and it hasn’t bloomed in quite a while. It may be hard to get it to bloom again. But if you want, you can try the following: You can keep the plant cool; it likes temperatures around 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Don’t water it a lot, and don’t worry about giving it fertilizer. Clivias a plant that likes to be root-bound, so repot only when necessary. If the plant should bloom, which will happen at the beginning of summer.
Then you can place it outside, where it can get sunshine, warmth, and water it well. And in the fall, you bring it back inside and follow the low-water, cool-temperature routine. If you are one of those who like to experiment, try dividing the plant. This might give you another plant that could give you the blooms that you wish to have.
Christmas Cactus – This is a plant that I do have and the closest I have gotten it to bloom near Christmas is the first week in December. But here is a tip that might help you in the future. If you can keep your plant in a constant temperature between 50-60 degrees and give it at least 13 hours of darkness. If you can do that for your plant, it will give you blooms for December. If your plant gets to look sickly, you can give it some water with sugar dissolved in it. You will be surprised how appreciative your plant will be. I guess even in the plant world a little sweetness helps.
Earthworms – If you have found out you have earthworms in your flower pots, and want to know if they should stay or go? In soil it is a good thing, they help break down organic matter and will aerate the soil, but in pots, they can cause problems. They won’t eat your plants, but they can cause drainage problems further down the road. So the general conclusion is that they don’t help.
Pansies – If you wish to have some for the spring, you start in August. This is an easy one to grow, and they are hardy. Want to start them in flats, and in a cool, shady place, and soil moist all the time. Once they are large enough, transplant them into frames. Cover with coarse material for winter protection and set them out in permanent beds in the spring.
Paper Whites – if you want to give these as a gift for Christmas, you want to plant the bulbs in early November. It is best that you use a bulb pan, and to plant them with stones, or you can put them in a shallow pan along with stones. Just add enough water so that just the base of the stone is covered. Within a week or two roots will start to grow down to the water. You can leave them there as they don’t need soil to grow as all that the plant needs is stored in the bulb.
Stargazer Lilies – if you happen to have some of these in containers and wonder how to winterize them. Wait for a few freezes, then cover the plants with 4-6″ of straw or other weed-free mulch. Have mild winters, wet winters, you can skip the mulch and use a floating row cover if in rows.
Softened Household Water – I have this in my house and have often wondered the same thing. And here is what I have an answer for you. The salt can accumulate over time and can then be toxic. The salt, over time, removes calcium and magnesium, which are things that are needed for optimal growth. This page will change from time to time, as we are always getting new information or hints on different plants and how to take care of them.
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