Dear Plant Pimp

[wiffledaddy]

Dear Plant Pimp,


I have no houseplants. I will be planting a full vegetable garden outside, but that's another matter. I'd like to get some indoor houseplants. Tell me, O Great One, what to do. I am a blank slate.

The downstairs has windows facing west, north, and east. The kitchen (with east window) has a lot of diffuse, indirect sunlight.

The living room is generally kept low-light, for privacy (the front windows look out onto the street, and our neighbors are home a lot, and curious). Are there any nice indoor plants who thrive on low-light situations?

Wowee! You are nearly unlimited in what you can do. Lack of a south window can be overcome. You can put ficus near the west windows, palms and dracaenae by the others. You may just want some 6" potted plants for the front room, given the low light. Closed blinds?

Describe or pic of most desired plant spot, we pick plant. Hit in pm's if you want.

 

[Marlowe]

You can try bitter apple on the leaves to keep the cat away, but can you really keep a cat away? I have a maine coon kitty who eats plants whole.

Dear Plant Pimp,

Attached, is how you keep a Maine Coon away from plants (be careful, this started fights between mine over who got to look at the plant, and then they started marking the bathroom "territory"):

 

[wiffledaddy]

^^^^^

Hah!

that's one of the funniest things I've ever seen!!

 

[Godsdarling]

If there isn't any natural light in your office at all, then you might want to take that plant home. Unless it is a grow light. But, I guess she is the fluorescent?

The only kind of plant I know that can really handle only fluorescent light is the aglaonema species. You can pick one up for five or six bux!

Uses less water than your peace lily - maybe water every other week.

YOU ARE AWESOME! THANK YOU! :kiss

 

[kurbycar32]

thank you plant pimp! that yucca plant looks like it would be a perfect fit if i could keep it about 2 feet tall.

 

[ThumperX]

Update
The orchid and I have accepted one another I removed it from the bar sink gave it a new pot and for now it is out on the aft deck with me.
It seems to like this (not that it told me)

 

[reckon]

Dear Plant Pimp,

Attached, is how you keep a Maine Coon away from plants (be careful, this started fights between mine over who got to look at the plant, and then they started marking the bathroom "territory"):

use double stick tape all around the plant, on the pot too..99.9% of cats DO NOT LIKE STICKY SHIT ON THE PAWS, so they'll just start messin with your other shit.

you also need to establish a "no" command, I use the ceasar milan "schhhht!", and my cats understand that means "NO", and I'd also "mark" the plant area with vinegar, which will be your "pee", and my cats also understand that means "MINE"

use body language with cats, as they understand that MUCH better than voice commands.

also animals generally react to YOUR mental status, so if you are freaking out about the plants, the cats wil pick that up,..so like ceasar says with dogs,..."stay calm and assertive"

I have two cats and a tiny 400sq/ft studio, and my cats no longer tear up shit, now that I practice these techniques.

 

[FemmeLaMoto]

Here's one:

We have an small indoor ficus that our cat likes to piss in. How do we prevent it from dying? She's done it probably 3 times. I put paper-towels on the top to cover the soil. She hasn't done it since (I think). Its been like a week or two and the plant seems to be doing alright. A couple of yellow leaves. Please advise, thanks!

 

[tedesco886]

what up, i've been growing an avacado tree from a pit for about 3 years and it's about four feet tall, do you know when it starts to produce fruit? I have read that i need another one to pollenate it but there are no flowers so i don't know how it will do that. FYI, it's in a large planter outside, i keep the soil moist, and it recieves about eight hours of direct sunlight a day. Any suggestions on fertilizer or alternate growing conditions would also be greatly appreciated.

 

[Ree]

Here's one:

We have an small indoor ficus that our cat likes to piss in. How do we prevent it from dying? She's done it probably 3 times. I put paper-towels on the top to cover the soil. She hasn't done it since (I think). Its been like a week or two and the plant seems to be doing alright. A couple of yellow leaves. Please advise, thanks!

Aww Josie that probably irritates you but it made me laugh :laughing I just pictured a little cute kitty sneaking over and peeing on your plant...
Hope he/She is behaving now

what up, i've been growing an avacado tree from a pit for about 3 years and it's about four feet tall, do you know when it starts to produce fruit? I have read that i need another one to pollenate it but there are no flowers so i don't know how it will do that. FYI, it's in a large planter outside, i keep the soil moist, and it recieves about eight hours of direct sunlight a day. Any suggestions on fertilizer or alternate growing conditions would also be greatly appreciated.

Avocados?? Dougie likes Guac? :laughing Just teasing...growing plants, you guys are all grown up. I have yet to get to that point, but my mom has a huge garden and im sure that will be me one day! haha thats funny Doug :thumbup

 

[Caddywumpus]

Plant Pimp- I like beer, and so does my House Bamboo. Is this natural?

 

[tedesco886]

[/quote]Avocados?? Dougie likes Guac? :laughing Just teasing...growing plants, you guys are all grown up. I have yet to get to that point, but my mom has a huge garden and im sure that will be me one day! haha thats funny Doug :thumbup[/QUOTE]

yeee, i like da cados....WHAT? haha

 

[Janna]

what up, i've been growing an avacado tree from a pit for about 3 years and it's about four feet tall, do you know when it starts to produce fruit? I have read that i need another one to pollenate it but there are no flowers so i don't know how it will do that. FYI, it's in a large planter outside, i keep the soil moist, and it recieves about eight hours of direct sunlight a day. Any suggestions on fertilizer or alternate growing conditions would also be greatly appreciated.

I was given to understand that an avocado tree grown from a supermarket seed would never produce actual fruit. Upon googling, I found this:

"Growing an Avocado tree from a pit derived from an Avocado purchased at a store will not result in a tree that produces fruit.The store Avocados are genetically altered and will only produce a nice looking tree. Do not expect any fruit from it."

and this:

"Will my avocado tree produce avocados?

“Ungrafted” trees (like those grown inside from seeds) rarely produce fruit. In order to have an avocado tree that produces fruit, one must graft the seedling. Since the process of grafting involves mixing the tissues of the seedling with those of a producing tree, it is often just easier to simply buy a grafted tree from a reputable nursery.

Can I graft my own tree?

Avocado grafting requires precise weather conditions and therefore a successful graft yield is often low - even for professionals.

Why should I plant a non-producing avocado tree?

Avocado trees provide a spacious and uncluttered canopy within the foliage. Also, avocado branch growth patterns lend very well to tree climbing. For these reasons alone, a non-producing avocado tree is no waste."

 

[tedesco886]

wow...thanks. so store bought avacados are like mules, damn, that's dissapointing, oh well, know anything about mango trees grown from store bought mango's? haha

 

[Ree]

wow...thanks. so store bought avacados are like mules, damn, that's dissapointing, oh well, know anything about mango trees grown from store bought mango's? haha

:laughing Mangos!!

Oh no Cados for Dougie!

You're posts are making me laugh and Im not laughing at you, Im laughing with the plants! heeheee!

 

[Marlowe]

you also need to establish a "no" command, I use the ceasar milan "schhhht!", and my cats understand that means "NO", and I'd also "mark" the plant area with vinegar, which will be your "pee", and my cats also understand that means "MINE"

Done tape, they've understood NO from a very young age, and I've actually peed in plants myself.

...but if I'm not there to say no, they'll do it anyway.

Tape doesn't annoy them enough, they can jump over it, or just reach over it -- these are biiiig cats (50% Maine Coon.) They get into and eat what they want, human.

However, I'm not going to jack our Gorn Star's thread any more, so cheers!

 

[Godsdarling]

I've got a limb on my rose bush which is a weird green color, it doesn't produce buds but has the biggest thickest thorns on it I have ever seen. It also kills the other branches that feed from the same section. Ive tried cutting it but it just comes back. It also grows faster then the other branches. What is it and what do I do about it? Ideas? Thnx! :kiss

 

[wiffledaddy]

I've got a limb on my rose bush which is a weird green color, it doesn't produce buds but has the biggest thickest thorns on it I have ever seen. It also kills the other branches that feed from the same section. Ive tried cutting it but it just comes back. It also grows faster then the other branches. What is it and what do I do about it? Ideas? Thnx! :kiss

Can you send me a pic?

It sounds like the root stock of the plant is sprouting.

Most roses you see are man-made plants. One method of making a rose is to graft a variety with desired characteristics (color, flower shape, scent) onto a reliable, sturdy root system of a different rose. The root plant is generally much hardier, though probably less attractive.

There are 2 methods for dealing with sprouting root stock. You can prune the undesired sprouts while nurturing the rest of the plant. Or you can do what I would do in this case, which is to prune with a shovel.

Send me pics to be certain before going that route.

 

[Godsdarling]

Okay, I cut it off. But it grows super fast. I'll get a pic as soon as it does. Thank you!

 

[owlflavored]

Dear Plant Pimp -

i've been thinking about getting rain barrels. however, it seems that a good sized barrel (60-100 gals) costs around $200, and doesn't seem too cost effective.

can one gather enough rainwater to make it thru the summer in the bay area?

your thoughts, please.