Plant Problems: The Lucky Bamboo That Could

I am a fan of Ikea. I shop there as often as I can with my sister. It's a little like going to an amusement park for us, but with better food. Plus, they sell plants, fake and real in their showroom.

But, that's not where I got this heavily yellowed Lucky Bamboo.

It was in their "as is" section. They marked it down to $2 because of the yellowing. 

A well-meaning fellow shopper tried to warn me not to buy it. She claimed it was basically dying because the yellowing was from the bottom going up. I bought it anyway. 

Because I know that when you have a plant in such a bad state, then the only solution is to chop off the good part and try to root it. So, I cut this Lucky Bamboo about 2 inches above the extremely long yellowed bit, then stuck it in water hoping for the best.

It took a few weeks, but it did pop out some roots and later new leaves.

The difference is incredible. I had to cut back the right side because it was getting a little too tall. Not bad for a plant that was supposedly a goner.

Hopefully this Lucky Bamboo will continue being lucky for me.

Stay green. 

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Wordless Wednesday: Llama! Guardian of the Window Plants

 This post may contain affiliate links, please check out my disclosures page for more info.  Thanks!

Featuring a thrifted llama plant pot, get your own llama here.

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Plant Shopping: The Plant Mill, a Local Plant Boutique

There's a cute plant boutique up the street from where I work called The Plant Mill. It's on Mill Ave in downtown Tempe, Arizona in case you wanted to check it out.

Anyway, I pass by it regularly thinking I would stop by eventually. 

And coincidentally, the day I chose to actually stop by was the day Arizona had one of its biggest storms in years.

I trudged through the river-like puddles to get to the store, because I insisted, "today would be the day!"

By the time I arrived, I was dripping wet and had to wait outside to dry a little. I didn't want to soak the store on my first visit.

Inside was wonderful, so many plants to look at in such a small place.

I would have taken more photos, but I was so busy looking at everything.

Everywhere I looked I saw plants that I've been drooling over online, like these peperomia watermelon. 

And is that a whole shelf of coffee plants?

They also had tons of plant related novelties, books and art. Potting supplies too!

There is such a wide range of plants with a wide range of prices too. It made it difficult to choose which to actually buy.

I did eventually pick two to carry home with me in the thankfully lighter rain.

I also left with one of their store cards.

It's a punch card. Every time I spend $10 at their shop, I get a punch. And a full card means $10 off any purchase.

Here's what I bought with this purchase.

First is this cute baby Bonnie Spider plant (chlorophytum comosum ‘Bonnie’ ) also known at the curly spider plant. It was only $6.

I used to have one years ago that unfortunately died on me. Hopefully, I've learned enough since then to keep this one alive and well.

I've always been fascinated by spider plants for their ribbon like leaves and their ease at propagation (they make cute little babies!). This cultivar has all that plus the curliness.

The second plant is this satin pothos (scindapsus pictus).

It was $14, which was technically more than I wanted to pay for one plant. But, I couldn't resist those speckled leaves.

I mean look at them, they are so pretty and have a subtle softness that makes it hard not to touch them. Too bad they are toxic, better go wash my hands.

And it will be so much find taking cuttings to propagate it. Pretty little pothos for all!

Overall, this was a great plant shopping trip. I will be sure to visit The Plant Mill again in the future. Please visit them if you get the chance, or just take a peak at your local plant shop.

Stay green!

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Plant Propagations: Random Sidewalk Plant Prop

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The other day, while walking to the train station on my way home from work, I saw a little surprise on the ground. 

This little scrap of a elephant bush was lying on the sidewalk. It must have been blown off by some wind. It looked like it was begging to be propagated, so I scooped it up and took it home.

Once at home, I immediately placed it in water to root. I am calling it my "sidewalk prop".

By the way, I got that cute little mug jar from Dollar Tree in their craft area (similar to these ones). It's perfect for tiny cuttings. 

In just a few days a couple of roots started popping out.

When they get longer I will pot this little guy up and have a new cute succulent for free.

Now, I find myself looking out for more "sidewalk props" every time I go for a walk. 

Give it a try sometime, and stay green.

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Plant Shopping: The Whole Foods Plant Trap

There's a Whole Foods location up the street from where I work. It's a convenient location and I do stop by on occasion to drop off Amazon returns or pick up almond milk ($1.99/carton). 

The reason I try to go only occasionally (besides the prices) is their floral department, a.k.a. the plant trap. They regularly stock lovely houseplants and I can't resist browsing and usually end up buying one.

See what I mean, I just came in to drop off a package and there was a whole rack of philodrendrons and aloes to greet me at the door.

With a number of spider plants hanging from upon, and I have spider plants on my wish list. I managed to resist because I thought the price was a little too much.

I also resisted this display full of succulents, calathea, and what appear to be dracaena. But then, what's that on the bottom left side?

It was a phlebodium aureum or a Blue-star fern. The leaves are such an interesting shape and the price was pretty good. It was $14.99, half the price I saw online.

So, of course it came home with me, the plant trap got me again.

It looks fairly healthy, it has a new baby frond popping out.

It's potted in a grey plastic pot underneath the red cache pot. I honestly prefer the grey pot to the red one.

The only downside is the care tag. It lists basic care info, but doesn't identify the plant. I had to look up that myself. Why do so many plant suppliers choose not to properly label the plants they sell? It is a mystery.

For now, I have a gorgeous new fern to enjoy.

Stay green.

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Wordless Wednesday: Wrinkled Baby Leaves

 

Featuring the Norfolk Friendship plant (pilea involucrata 'Norfolk').

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Trying Plant Hacks: Cat Litter?

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I regularly see people sharing tips and hacks online or in books about using random everyday objects for your houseplants or garden. One of these happens to be...cat litter.

Seriously. Plain, unscented clay cat litter is recommended by some books and such as a cheap way to boost drainage and aeration in potting soil. Sort of like a replacement for perlite. I have also heard some sources suggesting the idea of using used cat litter as a fertilizer, but that's a whole other thing.

Anyway, I actually decided to give cat litter a try. The verdict.

No, I so do not recommend it. 

The price isn't bad. I can get a 5lb bag from Walmart or Family Dollar for less than $2. When mixed with my usual potting soil, it goes a long way. And it seems to work sort of okay mixed with cactus mix for my succulents, but there have been issues. 

First off, it's heavy especially when wet. If you need to weigh down a pot I guess it's okay, but typically you want your potting soil to be light and airy to better oxygenate the roots.

Secondly, it makes the soil hard. Like difficult to shove a moisture meter or stake into your pot kind of hard. Imagine if you were a plant trying to grow roots through something like that. Doesn't sound pleasant, right?

The scary thing is I've heard some people suggest using the clay litter on it's own as a potting medium, for like bonsai or cuttings. I say no way! If it gets that hard when mixed with potting soil, imagine what would happen if you used it on its own. It would be like cement. No thank you.

If for some reason you still feel the need to use cat litter for your plants, then I would recommend potting with a mixture of only 1/3 or less of the litter. I've been using a mix of cat litter, potting soil, and orchid bark.

Please let me know if you've tried this or any other interesting plant hack.

Stay Green.

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Wordless Wednesday: Rescue and Recovery

 

Featuring a highly allergenic radish plant (raphanus sativus).

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Wordless Wednesday: Garden Gnome Saga Part 1, Looking for Lou

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Featuring David, a gnome from Dollartree; and Lou, a gnome from a thrift store.

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Plant Fails: My Troubles with Orchids

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I mentioned in my grocery store plant post that I have a bit of a troubled history with orchids, specifically moth orchids (phalaenopsis) as they are plentiful in grocery stores, home stores, gift shops, and unfortunately in my list of diseased plants.

Here's my tale of orchid woe.

My first orchid was brought from Fry's grocery store. It had such nice large leaves, cute white flowers, and 50% off. How could I resist.

I named it Odette and bought a roomier pot from Amazon, and some orchid bark and Miracle grow fertilizer (which I later found out wasn't recommended, but that's a different story). Things were looking good.

Unfortunately, one day I noticed something white underneath some of those nice leaves.

Mealy bugs!

I overly panicked, went totally scorched Earth to spray them and hack them away. Next thing you know, I was Googling how to re-grow roots in orchids. RIP Odette.

My next orchid was purchased at Whole Foods Market for about $12. I named it Fiona like the movie, Shrek. It was about the same time I got an Ogre Ears Jade plant from Home Depot, and yes I did name it Shrek.

Well, Shrek and Fiona both suffered the same fate, too much Arizona Summertime heat and sun exposure.

The third orchid came from Aldi, I thought this one would be different. I learned so much from the other failures after all.

I have read that you shouldn't re-pot an orchid while they are "blooming", so I chose to wait until the flowers dropped to re-pot this one, big mistake.

They lasted 5 months. Because I waited so long, I didn't see that many of the roots were rotting. It didn't help that the poor orchid was originally potted in the tiniest plastic cup thing imaginable.

I had to cut off all the roots and several bottom leaves. And unfortunately, re-rooting efforts didn't work.

Now here's my newest victim orchid from Sprout's. Will it beat the odds and survive in my care. Only time will tell.

Wish us both luck, and stay green.

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