AmandaA
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,501
Aug 28, 2015 22:31:17 GMT
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Post by AmandaA on Feb 25, 2017 2:50:03 GMT
A terrarium. I have an almost black thumb... like they die a long slow lingering death just to torture me. When these became popular again a few years ago, I went to a class at a local garden center and made one. I kept the thing alive and looking fantastic for almost a year with just rotating it and adding a little water & fresh air very rarely. I finally got tired of looking at it once the plants started to grow and get a little unruly, but I am sure it would have kept going even longer. You can even find them already assembled some places around here, but they aren't difficult to do yourself either. was it easy? I'd be tempted to buy it because, you know, thumb of death, but if you found it easy enough, I'd love to give it a try! Very easy! I bought a neat apothecary jar at home goods. They had all of the supplies at the gardening place... basically a layer of rock (might have had charcoal in it too maybe? It has been a few years), dirt (a cork on a skewer to pack it good), a few tiny moisture loving plants.... added the water, put the lid on and left it in a bright (but not direct sun) place. Every now and then I would open it us to remove any spent blooms or leaves and give it a little water if needed. That was it. Longest I have kept anything alive besides my kids and pets. You should check your library for the book "The New Terrarium" by Tovah Martin. Lots of beautiful pictures and information. You can even put a cloche over some already potted plants too. Talking about this kinda makes me want to start another one... except that my youngest learned to climb up on the table and counters recently. Might need to wait a bit longer or she could sabotage it.
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Post by goldenblind221 on Feb 25, 2017 4:50:05 GMT
was it easy? I'd be tempted to buy it because, you know, thumb of death, but if you found it easy enough, I'd love to give it a try! Very easy! I bought a neat apothecary jar at home goods. They had all of the supplies at the gardening place... basically a layer of rock (might have had charcoal in it too maybe? It has been a few years), dirt (a cork on a skewer to pack it good), a few tiny moisture loving plants.... added the water, put the lid on and left it in a bright (but not direct sun) place. Every now and then I would open it us to remove any spent blooms or leaves and give it a little water if needed. That was it. Longest I have kept anything alive besides my kids and pets. You should check your library for the book "The New Terrarium" by Tovah Martin. Lots of beautiful pictures and information. You can even put a cloche over some already potted plants too. Talking about this kinda makes me want to start another one... except that my youngest learned to climb up on the table and counters recently. Might need to wait a bit longer or she could sabotage it. thanks for taking the time to share this with me! I'll have to check out that book! Any excuse to go to the bookstore is always a win for me
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wellway
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,760
Jun 25, 2014 20:50:09 GMT
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Post by wellway on Feb 25, 2017 8:39:24 GMT
I buy bunches of flowers for colour and scent. Reason - my DH calls the kitchen window sill "death row" Even my garden plants have to be on the hardy side.
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Post by miominmio on Feb 25, 2017 8:47:10 GMT
Slide over, I'm sitting on this bench with you! Glad I'm not alone.... you're not. I swear, the local florists have to change their entire stock every time I have been in there. The strange thing is: I'm good at making edible plants grow, but flowers? They die within hours.
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Post by anonrefugee on Feb 25, 2017 13:54:23 GMT
Who else originally avoid this because it was a medical thread? If you've killed both a peace Lilly and a mother in laws tongue then you've given it a good effort! You might even be gifted!!! It's definitely time to do as suggested above: Award yourself with cut flowers and florist pots!
And don't give it a second thought. It's like my random urge to learn to knit- until I try it- again. It's okay if we don't master every little hobby, or skill.
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Post by kckckc on Feb 25, 2017 14:05:25 GMT
Peace lilies. They tell you when they need water by drooping - I only have to water mine about every 3 weeks. Here's an example: droopy lilyAnother plant you might try is mother-in-law's tongue or snake plant. I've had mine for years, but before I got it, it survived bare root in a walmart bag on my bff's back porch for an entire season before I got it. It looked like shit for a year (because I had to trim the dead off), but it's thriving now even after going MONTHS without water at times because it's tucked into a corner of the house where I forget about it. Spider plants are also relatively easy to grow and they're a good air purifier. They say succulents are easy to grow, but that's not been my experience (and I have a pretty green thumb), I tend to over water them or they get all weird and "leggy" on me. My mom has the greenest thumb of anyone I know and she cannot keep a succulent or a cactus alive. I have killed both a peace lily and a snake plant. I finally have just given up on indoor plants. Save
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Post by anxiousmom on Feb 25, 2017 17:32:30 GMT
I am on the bench with you as well. The only thing I can grow is children. My son says it is because babies make a big fuss when they need something and plants don't. Honestly, I am always slightly amazed that I managed to feed and water my children to the point of adulthood. I did so well with them I tried cats, and have luck with them also. My children point out that the thing in common with them all is that when they want something, they make noise to the point of annoyance until something happens. Plants though. They enter my space and immediately start writing their little plant wills because they know it ain't going to happen.
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Post by Tammiem2pnc1 on Feb 25, 2017 17:34:48 GMT
I'm right there with you....and yes, I've killed a cactus as well. I don't even try anymore. We now own a cat that eats anything green that is brought into the house...and that does include artificial plants.
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Post by goldenblind221 on Feb 25, 2017 18:13:13 GMT
Plants though. They enter my space and immediately start writing their little plant wills because they know it ain't going to happen. This. I feel like the darn things won't even give me a CHANCE! Like there is something in the air that signals end of life messages to my pants.
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PLurker
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,739
Location: Behind the Cheddar Curtain
Jun 28, 2014 3:48:49 GMT
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Post by PLurker on Feb 25, 2017 18:23:48 GMT
Over-watering is usually the culprit. Second is over-reacting to normal plant adjustments to being in a new location. Third is putting plants where they are in direct sun all the time and they are near glass so they are getting "cooked" by all that intense light. I basically neglect my plants, I water them only when they look "droopy" and I let them get root bound. About once a year, I put a little fresh potting soil around the top--about 3/4 cup only. About once every 10 years, I repot them into a pot that is only about an inch wider. I've had a peace lily for 21 years. Try a peace lily. I am getting better but have also come to realize it is better when I don't try too hard. So, yeah, neglect to some extent.
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