My New Contact Information!

Hello, Dear Followers and Readers !

After a very long hiatus, I will be returning to my blog, Houseplant Care Guides.  I would like to further emphasize the idea (beyond what I have already stated in previous postings) that ANYONE can buy a houseplant and make it thrive, as well as survive!  NOBODY really has a black thumb!  Let me assure you something, now: You Can Do This! 

There are plants in the world, and they are counting on YOU!  I would like to be more green, as well as a bit nicer to the planet (and all its inhabitants, too)!  No matter what your personal beliefs, where you hail from, or what language you speak, let us all come together with the joy of plants!! :) :)

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Finally, here is my new and improved E-mail address!
nextgskguy@outlook.com
Please send any plant related questions you may have to the above address, or to my Facebook Inbox. I would ask, please do not contact me regarding the sale of your products or services.  Thanks to you all for reading this post!

Happy (House)Planting!

African Violets 101 - Part 1

Part 1

Here are some photos of my African Violets to get things started off. I will get into more technical stuff later on, i.e. AV history, origins, Latin name, etc. (I use AV as an abbreviation for African Violet)

Photo #1: AV on a humidity tray in an eastern exposure – Note: the little chef to the right... I accidentally broke him =( I felt super bad about it after the fact. Dang!!!! =(

Photo #2: AV getting watered from below, the best way to guarantee that you don't accidentally get water on the leaves, causing spotting to your plants. This spotting cannot be removed once present. The only option is to completely remove the AV leaf! Make sure you also take the stem of the leaf as well. Leaving it attached the plant without the leaf will cause the stem to die and rot away. Not good! And not very flattering to your plant, either.

Photo #3: The group on the windowsill. These plants are all larger now, since these photos are at least a year old or more (I think, but I honestly am not sure!)

Photo #4: Baby AV plants, grown from 2 single violet leaves. There are several babies in this one pot, which later needed separating. I allowed baby AV's to grow freely in this same pot since I thought it would look cool and fuller with all the leaves. Only later did I find out how hard separating them was.

Take it from me – plant only one cutting (AV pup) per pot in the early growth stage. These are most commonly grown from stem tip cuttings taken from the mother plant. (Please see below for information on stem tip cuttings.) In short, it’s much easier to care for the cutting to start off if you keep it singular . =)

Note: Later, once your AV matures and blooms, you can group it with other AV’s for an attractive shock of color and beauty to add charm to any room! 2 or 3 plants to a container will do nicely.

Photo #5: Av's in bloom. I was at Trader Joe's with Mom one summer and they had 3 AV plants in the same pot, all blooming!! Each was a different color (white, purple, and pink, if I recall). I couldn't resist buying one (or three, that is.) Since this photo was taken, the plants have been separated into individual pots.

How to Root AV Leaves (Stem tip cuttings)

1. Find a healthy AV leaf that's a nice shade of green. Using sharp, clean scissors, snip it well below the leaf, leaving plenty of the juicy stem. (You can dip the cutting in rooting hormone if you desire, but personally I haven't had to do this. If you are impatient waiting for plants to root, however, this may be your best bet!)

2. Next, using well aerated soil, fill your chosen container just about to the top, with about a half inch of room to water (if you want to water from above).

3. Make sure it's equipped with a drainage hole! Please do not compress the soil! Using a pencil, or your finger, make a hole in the soil.

4. Stick the stem tip down into the hole, leaving some stem visible above the soil surface. Lightly firm up the soil around the cutting.

5. Go easy on the watering until roots begin to form (about 3-5 weeks, or more, depending on the location, humidity etc. The 'time-to-root-formation' will vary depending on whether or not you used rooting hormone.) To test the roots, give the cutting a gentle tug, but don't mangle it or rip it out! Soon you will begin to see little AV leaves creeping up around the cut stem. Try not to get water on them!

6. Once the baby plant looks fairly large (about 2 months, maybe less depending on humidity and light conditions) cut away the original leaf from the baby plant. Pot up in whatever container you like, or leave the baby in the current pot. The choice is yours! (Photo showing the old leaf completely removed. Plant is still small, but fully mature enough to bloom.)

In general, A high humidity room will help the cutting root faster, as well as assist your AV's by giving them a growth boost--mature plants, or otherwise. As for sunlight for your AV cutting, the best location would likely be wherever your other Av's are currently residing (probably an East or West window. My best friend keeps her Violet in a Northern window, and it's constantly in bloom. The choice is really a matter of personal preference.)

Warning! A Southern exposure will cook your AV. Yikes! NOTE. **If you are not sure what window faces which direction, get an expensive compass to help you locate true North, and go from there** With a bit of patience, you will have brand new AV's ready to pot up! More photos of my AV propagation are now posted above. =)

You can 're-use' the same AV leaf to grow multiple plants if you wish. Simply re-cut the same stem after removing it from the baby AV, and repeat steps 2-6. If the leaf has rotted or is no longer green, discard it.

Be persistant and do not give up! Not every cutting is sure to become a new plant! If you meet the proper conditions (and increase humidity) you will be successful! **Soil, watering and drainage is the key. Too much water = rotting plant. Poor soil = rotting plant due to lack of drainage, fungus gnats and more. Also, Too much sun = cooked plants. Keep at it and don't doubt yourself!!

More to come in African Violets in Part 2!

15 Creative Containers to Put Your Plants In

Use creative containers for potting any plant in (some restrictions will apply for very large plants). Use some of these ideas to get started. 

1. A coffee cup/saucer (for single plants only). Find plants small enough to fit the plant pot into a coffee cup you are willing to give up. (Ex. St. Paulia miniatures, cacti, succulents, parlor palm, etc.) Remember to always drain the excess water!

2. A window flower box (line the inside with a plastic tray to catch water before you add soil. Some have built in trays, older ones don’t always, though. If you already have an insert, drill holes in this. Keep box outdoors to avoid messes);

3. A painted pot or bucket to add visual interest (Drill holes for watering, or purchase a pot with a hole. The painted container doesn’t have to be the same as the one the plant is in. For more on double potting, see my other posts);

4. A basket;

5. A wicker box or bowl;

6. An old watering can (drill holes in the bottom);
7. A hat box. Use a plant pot large enough to fit inside and not look disproportionate;
8. A teacup (same as coffee cup);
9. An old milk carton;
10. A recycled plastic, wood, or metal container you might normally throw out;

11. A crate;

12. A chest;

13. A jewelry box;

14. A cigar box;
15. A vase or other glass container;

**Great for children who are learning about how plants grow… They will surely be amazed by the plant’s root development! Plus, parents can teach responsibility early by letting kids take care of a houseplant! Be sure to choose easy to grow plants that need minimal care and maintenance as kids first begin. They may need your help!**

The options are one-million-fold when it comes to planting in cool containers. This fact holds true for many, many plants. Your imagination is the only limit, so start thinking!

Very Important Note: Using antique furniture or other antique objects made of wood is not recommended unless you are VERY cautious with watering. Getting water on aged wood will damage it forever! Take steps to protect your prized pieces (or simply do not risk it)! You have been warned...

If you have any cool container ideas and would like to see them here, comment on this post, or email me and I will add your idea to this list! Please give a name you would like to appear next to your container!!!

GOOD LUCK, and I wish you all an excellent day!

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To all my readers...

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Tell everyone you know about Houseplant Care Guides, especially if they love plants! Become my friend on Facebook to learn more about my interests! Email me any plant questions you have at: espressomocha86@hotmail.com! Need plant advice, but don't see your plant questions answered here?? Tell me about it! Send me a message... I'd love to hear from you!

Brightest Blessings,
Eirinn

Check out http://www.pagancenter.com/

Do you need more blogs to read?
Visit 'Domestic Witch': http://domesticwitch.blogspot.com/
Or try 'Raven's Voodoo Lounge': http://ravenzvoodoolounge.blogspot.com/
Read 'Living The Secret': http://kellyconcord.blogspot.com/

The Magick Plants of Westland

Here’s a bit about the Magickal plants in Westland – plants growing in our yard that I researched on the net because I’m a plant dork:

We have Bittersweet Nightshade or Climbing Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara) growing up the fence by our driveway. The plant is not related to Belladonna, but has the name ‘climbing’ nightshade (as opposed to ‘Deadly Nightshade’). Its berries ARE poisonous to humans and most animals, except birds. The plant is considered a weed, but I’m going to keep it – it’s not harmful to the touch. It is invasive, but not dangerous, and will not damage other plants. Just do not eat!

Good for protection and fairy magick. Releases painful or bitter memories. Typically needs something to climb up, like a pole, a fence or a trellis.

Solanum dulcamara, also known as bittersweet, bittersweet nightshade, bitter nightshade, blue bindweed, Amara Dulcis, climbing nightshade, fellenwort, felonwood, poisonberry, poisonflower, scarlet berry, snakeberry, trailing bittersweet, trailing nightshade, violet bloom, or woody nightshade, is a species of vine in the potato genus Solanum, family Solanaceae. It is native to Europe and Asia, and widely naturalized elsewhere, including North America, where it is an invasive problem weed. It occurs in a very wide range of habitats, from woodlands to scrubland, hedges and marshes. It is an invasive species in the Great Lakes region and was first spotted in 1843.

Bittersweet is a semi-woody herbaceous perennial vine, which scrambles over other plants, capable of reaching a height of 4 m where suitable support is available, but more often 1–2 meters high. The leaves are 4–12 cm long, roughly arrowhead-shaped, and often lobed at the base. The flowers are in loose clusters of 3–20, 1–1.5 cm across, star-shaped, with five purple petals and yellow stamens and style pointing forward. The fruit is an ovoid red berry about 1 cm long, soft and juicy, but edible for birds, which disperse the seeds widely.

Bittersweet is used in naturopathy and herbalism. Its main usage is for conditions that have an impact on the skin, mucous membrane and the membrane (synovial membrane) around the joints. Bittersweet is considered by some to be a herbal remedy for treating herpes and allergies.

Although fatal human poisonings are rare, several cases have been documented. The poison is believed to be solanine.

The name bittersweet is also used in some areas for some species in the genus Celastrus (elsewhere referred to as the staff vines, family Celastraceae), e.g. American bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) and oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus).

Another Magick plant we have growing by the driveway is called Bishop’s Weed (Aegopodium podagraria), the variegated variety. Also known as Goutweed, Ground Elder, and Snow on the Mountain. It was thought by the Ancient Greeks to be a cure for gout: the Latin names, Aegopodium from the Greek translates as "goat little foot", referring to the fact that the plant was once thought to cure gout. And podagraria translates as "foot chain" for its leaf shape and again its supposed ability to treat gout.

Today, Snow on the Mountain is commonly used as a groundcover (although is considered rather unattractive these days), and is highly resistant to weed killers. Most people won’t plant it for fear it will get out of hand, and because of its reputation for being a weed. The variegated variety is used preferably over the green variety, which spreads faster and easier than its cousin. Prefers sunny conditions and moist soil.

See the entry for Bishop’s Weed in The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Magical Plants by Susan Gregg.

The Weed of Death

Currently, I live in Westland, Michigan with my boyfriend of 4 years, Kenny. We are both renting a place right now, and let me tell you – the property has some of its own ‘planty’ surprises! During the growing season, we are faced with the horror that is…unspeakable! I’m so distraught by its fury I can’t even talk about it!

Ok, there. I took a deep breath. It’s a truly nasty surprise noticeable in the late spring and all summer long: False Bindweed, also known as the Morning Glory Vine or Hedge Bindweed. Its scientific name is Calystegia spp.

This demon is an invasive weed that winds around other plant stems clockwise …and kills them. Anything you have growing nearby that it decides to attack will die, if the weed is given free reign and enough time to perform its hideous murder!

…Bushes are fair game. Small tress and mature and trees alike are fair game. Watch out! If you notice Bindweed near any plants you want to keep—take action now—before it’s too late!!

About Morning Glory Vine

This weedy perennial vine will twine all over the garden, covering your ornamental plants to the point of smothering them. It is usually introduced by seed or invasive roots from under the neighbor's fence. Its success as a weed lies in its thick fleshy roots which travel long distances just under the soil surface. Since morning glory is a perennial weed, control lies in removing the root system. Hand weeding can remove large quantities of roots, but any broken pieces are capable of sprouting new growth. Repeated, persistent digging as the new growth sprouts can deplete the food reserves. If chemical control is required, cut back the growth and apply the material to leaves or stems in as localized a fashion as possible.

The Weed From Hell

One man’s fight with The Weed of Death is revealed below. Eventually he was able to win the battle, even when it seemed the odds were most certainly against him! But it didn’t come without a cost…Time, lots and lots of time!

Gardening is close to impossible when it gets this well established, as the massive root system of the plant goes about 15 foot deep and can throw out endless meters of plant growth all summer. I've seen it scale to the top of a 5 foot fence in just three days. Of all the weeds I've had in my garden, this one is the weed from Hell.

The main problem with bindweed is the massive deep root network, so if you kill that the result should be good. Glyphosate weed killers (like roundup) are taken in to the roots of weeds and kill them, so I tried them first and discovered that they didn't have lasting effects on such a large plant. The quantity absorbed by the foliage isn't enough to kill the main root system, it's just too big, and increasing the concentration of glyphosate would cause the foliage to die faster and quickly cut off the absorption. What you need is slow poisoning, that way the plant and it's vast roots will absorb as much glyphosate as possible before it becomes terminal.

I collected the long strands of bindweed and wrapped them up in balls that I placed inside old jars and tin cans. These I filled with a glyphosate based weed killer, but I mixed it with about 1/3 more water than the instructions suggested, then I covered them over with plastic which I taped down firmly to keep animals and rain out. Do be aware that if these are knocked over and spilt on to plants you want they will die, so it's advisable to keep them at a distance and partly bury them in the ground for stability.

It takes time, but I could clearly see the level in the containers reducing as the plant absorbed it. This seemed to work faster in the hot weather as the plant would be drawing more water, and also not removing the new bindweed shoots as they emerge since their growing is causing the plant to soak up more weed killer, and also these shoots will be your next place to attach another can of solution when the old ones die off. For the first couple of months I saw no effect, although the bindweed had sucked in several pints of weed killer, but then it started to slow down, and after a while I noticed the new growth was an unhealthy yellow color with holes in the misshapen leaves. About four months after starting this the main root system must have collapsed as the plant just withered away, even the bindweed across the road died (must have been one huge plant under the garden/road). It did continue to sprout the very occasional sickly yellow shoot, but a quick spray of weed killer dealt with them nicely.

In the end, it took roughly 2-3 years to kill the entire root system! Calystegia has a huge root system; the real trick is to get to it early or it can be very hard to control. Digging up the weed, the masses of root were as big around as my thigh and traveling the entire length of the home’s cement foundation!

Methods of Control
1. Dig what you can, treat any new growth sprouting immediately with Roundup. Be consistent, complete removal may take a year or two.

2. Fill a small container with roundup. Cut a small hole or slit in the top and stick one of the vines in the container (through the hole in the top). Place the container in an area where it won't get knocked over or disturbed. Watch and wait for the plant to die. You may need to do this several times to kill it all. The idea is to let the plant soak up lots and lots of roundup (far more than what it would soak up from the leaves.) It is VERY important that the container of RU be in a safe spot where kids and animals won't get into it or knock it over.

3. Also another method is to hand pull all old growth you can find, then apply roundup to any new growth. (Just by spraying or painting this time) Newer growth is far more susceptible to herbicides.

Moving Outdoors/Repotting/Container Notes

Here are some helpful plant related notes that I wanted to share with everyone! Happy readings!

Moving Houseplants Outdoors

1. Summer is a good time to put plants outdoors…repotting is also a good idea at this time!

2. Straighten plants when repotting during the summer if they appear to be leaning

3. Use a plastic pot to protect more decorative plant pots (esp. plants that will be outdoors)

4. If you notice any pests, spray them with an insecticidal soap outdoors

5. Leave treated plants outdoors for at least 3 days before bringing inside again

6. Be sure to keep them away from other plants if they turn out to be afflicted

7. Put plants in a shady place, not full sun—the leaves will scorch if you aren’t careful!


Repotting Tips:

1. Spring is a great time for repotting, as is summertime

2. Breaking the pot is sometimes necessary (although this is rare), so don’t be afraid to do this if you absolutely have to!

3. Potsherds can be used for increasing drainage beneath a plant’s rootball

4. Be sure to wash away salt buildup occurring from fertilization. Flush the pot outdoors with lots of water whenever you see salt crystals on the soil surface

5. Loosen the roots before repotting so you can redirect them into the new soil. This step is extra, but very beneficial to a plant’s health over time.

6. Cut stubborn roots away – this will help with newer growth and encourage new roots to form

7. Layer soil around the root ball, and then water the plant

8. The soil will settle into the new pot on its own; don’t compress the soil by hand, or you will close air pockets within soil that let roots breathe!

Containers: Terracotta

1. Terracotta is a classic material for plant pots

2. Expensive terracotta is softer and more porous. It’s very fragile and will break if dropped. You don’t want an investment like this to break!

3. Water collects in the pores of the clay and freezes—then expands—after which point it will shatter. Protecting both the plant and pot from freezing temperatures is advisable!

4. Higher grade terracotta is much denser and more durable than lower grade

5. Apply a water sealer on the inside of the pot to help preserve it for many years

6. Use a plastic nursery container to place the plant in instead of putting it into the actual pot. This will help protect the pot over a long time period