19 Sep
DO NOT over-fertilize when you’re unsure.
Always under-fertilize.
Hell, use liquid fertilizer and super dilute it and all.
Grr. I hope the few pots of mints survive. I went to dig out the fertilizers, and then rinse the pots numerous times.
Going to do a soil change on Monday. At least it’s just three pots, and I have taken cuttings.
19 Sep
19 Sep
Used orange peels and mango peels. Placed into the same container which matured my first batch.
Bought a larger container to use so I can make two sets of G.E. at one go. Now, to collect scraps.
Set reminder on phone for 19th October – open the containers up to let air out.
18 Sep
I finally took out my garbage enzyme and poured it through a strainer into two small bottles. When I first opened the lid, the strong smell of pungent apple cider vinegar wafted out. But after I poured it and strained it, it smelt pleasantly of oranges. =D
I used 0.4ml diluted with I don’t know how much of water as a foliar spray on two plants: my vitex trifolia (which has been infected with scales); and on my tashkent spearmint.
Once I see results, I’ll post it up.
After five months.
Two small bottles.
0.4ml of G.E. with this much of water. Used as a foliar spray.
My tashkent spearmint now.
Will update in say…a week. Hopefully nothing dies.
I refer you to my previous post on garbage enzyme.
18 Sep
I went to examine my tea tree teenager plants today, and was horrified to find them infested with baby scale insects (these plants were NEVER exposed to other plants; I grew them from start to now in my room). Anything I grow from seed starts in my room, so they don’t come into contact with plants from the garden. When I pried the scales away, I realized that ALL the scales were dead. Score for tea tree’s antibacterial properties! (I think)
The bark has also started to flake, and it’s quite cute to see. The tea tree is a member of a group of trees called the paperbark, I believe. Famous for having flaking bark. At least, I hope it’s flaking bark and not a disease…
I’ve been finding these droplets of liquid randomly all over the leaves. I suspect it’s the plant’s oil of some sort…
And oh, a Googled image of an adult tea tree’s bark:
14 Sep
First off, I’ll talk about growing plants permanently in semi-hydroponics and such, using my tea tree (and chocolate mint) as examples.
What I’ve noticed if one plants a plant using any sort of hydroponics method is that over time, the plant shows sign of deterioration, even though the roots can absorb minerals and water easily. While my chocolate mint planted in semi-hydro showed very lush growth for a few months, after that, a large part of the leaves constantly yellowed and dropped off. Stalks turned limp and brown for no reason (that I could discern). After a while, the plant started looking bad. Since the roots had grown down the twine and ended in a mass at the bottom of the bottle, I ensured that they got to breathe by not filling by the whole bottle with the solution. However, the roots started breaking off on their own like brittle hair.
The corn mint I planted in semi-hydro showed the same symptoms more quickly than the chocolate mint. This prompted me to quickly transferred all of them back to soil.
I suspect the reasons are these: 1) that the constant soaking in liquid to ensure the plant doesn’t dry out does more harm than good over the long term. Maybe it causes the roots to really rot (even though I don’t see them rotting); 2) that roots might need something firm to grip upon (like LECA bits or soil) to be healthy.
So, my conclusion: I’ll recommend hydroponics/semi-hydroponics for plants which you plan to grow on a short term basis before harvesting (like vegetables; not those like rocket which you can pluck and they continue growing, but those which you have to harvest the whole plant), and not on a long-term (say, more than six continuous months) basis.
Currently, my tea tree plantlets are growing healthy and strong in semi-hydro. However, I’m keeping a very close eye on them. In fact, I might just plant them into soil very soon.
The only survivor out of the six. How sad. I transplanted the plug into a more well-draining mix of Tref potting mix with vermiculite, giving it adequate water and the morning sun. It’s looking good now, I hope.
Seeds from SJ. Finally sowed them last week. I don’t know why, but there are weird things growing on the soil in all the pots. Don’t seem to be harming the seedlings yet. But will monitor.
Pitcher plant from May 2009 gathering being pudgy and cute.
12 Sep
Am trying to place a visitor place widget, but don’t seem to be able to do it on WordPress. Any readers can offer help? It’s from Wowzio.
12 Sep
If the rosemary is thirsty, the lengthwise sides of the leaves curl slightly inwards so the leaves look thinner instead of adequately expanded.
10 Sep
Just placed the seeds into the veggie compartment of the fridge tonight, along with all my other seeds. The white sage seeds will go through one month of cold stratification. Then I’ll take them out on October 8, 2009, in a month’s time, and sow them on Tref potting mix with the “Sinflora” mix for rosemarys.
I intend to sow some in the vermiculite/hydroponics solution, some into the Tref/Sinflora mix (and then cling wrap it), place some with soil or vermiculite on a small essential oil burner and warm them up using a candle, before surface sowing them.
Will try to update when I can, after October 8.
Two sites for my reference:
1. Seed bloc’s suggestion
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