tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36378565272804062982024-03-05T02:24:52.543-08:00Kalachuchi AtbpThis blog occasionally uses foul language as well as logic and reason.Rolling Eyeballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18086657711537765142noreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637856527280406298.post-72561204026381417192021-12-26T08:10:00.002-08:002021-12-26T08:10:38.315-08:0026 December 2021<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8S0Y6iuZZ5a0LEMjUj8HJ8dkndKPJQRrQRA_hV1Xk9iIZzbactXBPgDSBnVETfq3P7bIOcEeY0O149inzywOtlOB19p5KRO0wo0krXp_gVSdFwQDHxz_c9ucSDcOrEu9KqhbnvFYgukPn5tGMKk9unIlQJd28zH-xaFAwl95OAcQ0dNc_-Tg3NA=s1669" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1669" data-original-width="1150" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8S0Y6iuZZ5a0LEMjUj8HJ8dkndKPJQRrQRA_hV1Xk9iIZzbactXBPgDSBnVETfq3P7bIOcEeY0O149inzywOtlOB19p5KRO0wo0krXp_gVSdFwQDHxz_c9ucSDcOrEu9KqhbnvFYgukPn5tGMKk9unIlQJd28zH-xaFAwl95OAcQ0dNc_-Tg3NA=w275-h400" width="275" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Rolling Eyeballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18086657711537765142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637856527280406298.post-28394041943560130532021-11-29T06:48:00.004-08:002021-11-29T06:48:51.694-08:00Is This On? <p>Yes.
Everyone is alright. There was a short but deadly blast of heat on the Eastern Seaboard this year (2021) that killed off a number of plants on this side of the blog and the other side was hit by what Knitty Kitty calls "equally deadly blast of laziness". </p><p>Well, okay, both sides were hit by that blast. </p><p>But it's fine. Knitty Kitty just went on a roadtrip to get some plants (I haven't seen them). I have mesemb seedlings that are shockingly still alive. There are two surviving adenium seedlings from one of my plants that decided to go to seed indoors (!) during winter. There is an on-going experiment with frost right now---all my <i>Cintia knizei</i> are still outside, as well as a pot of <i>Haworthia truncata</i>. I'm not sure why that last one is still out there. It may have just been forgotten. And a pot of foxtail fern which I was told would not survive frost but has so far done so. smh. </p><p>To be furthered!
</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamj1saR2u1E1rb56jZpI6BYxrRinhldjBGof0TAyy4_zDenO62H5XQCuJj8Vy3u-s1NJjVUkx_1_eoL5dix3HMPhhmp4Q80FR_V5ExOavJ46e5hNSF9BgOtR1NLJ8TbQHreFiNQ_6fQ/s1139/signal-2021-11-29-092243_002.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamj1saR2u1E1rb56jZpI6BYxrRinhldjBGof0TAyy4_zDenO62H5XQCuJj8Vy3u-s1NJjVUkx_1_eoL5dix3HMPhhmp4Q80FR_V5ExOavJ46e5hNSF9BgOtR1NLJ8TbQHreFiNQ_6fQ/s320/signal-2021-11-29-092243_002.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No roots! Someone (me) elbowed it one day, it fell to the ground and all the roots were left in the pot. It's not dead so it must be doing something. <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj50PkPdcEOebzF3YQ7_KFmEfBbIys633K_Fe2tT7g3YK2SjpnxfyV1UGPBKzxz-6logMNP4bMjptlvVAS73E2kItqfVyIb6ypZCkCShFwUmijkuOMpnt2H7dRWchruviOoAWlnfa2flw/s1597/signal-2021-11-29-092243_001.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1597" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj50PkPdcEOebzF3YQ7_KFmEfBbIys633K_Fe2tT7g3YK2SjpnxfyV1UGPBKzxz-6logMNP4bMjptlvVAS73E2kItqfVyIb6ypZCkCShFwUmijkuOMpnt2H7dRWchruviOoAWlnfa2flw/s320/signal-2021-11-29-092243_001.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a class="wp-qi-sb__title" data-extra="p=0" data-thash="zKSO" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tylecodon_buchholzianus" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Tylecodon buchholzianus</a>,</i> now 5 years old, for continuity.<i><br /></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOO7yvlrVSbSGiwGkUWWSc1LrwlEbr4XWsCmwG9wK_5vX6IbJLpRBDwMEUMUXFBNG55DZxCNNA9SOSdffDN5M6Vs03GL-lxHQImpyP-EpzV-MNdybeZUzXAmVx1_4AdW4trT0jHI_w6Q/s1600/signal-2021-11-29-091718.jpeg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOO7yvlrVSbSGiwGkUWWSc1LrwlEbr4XWsCmwG9wK_5vX6IbJLpRBDwMEUMUXFBNG55DZxCNNA9SOSdffDN5M6Vs03GL-lxHQImpyP-EpzV-MNdybeZUzXAmVx1_4AdW4trT0jHI_w6Q/s320/signal-2021-11-29-091718.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Knitty Kitty's Dama De Noche (<i><a class="wp-qi-sb__title" data-extra="p=0" data-thash="zKSO" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cestrum_nocturnum" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Cestrum nocturnum</a></i>). Mine is dead. Again.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Rolling Eyeballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18086657711537765142noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637856527280406298.post-81180959091459384652020-12-25T07:00:00.007-08:002020-12-25T07:03:01.378-08:0025th of December 2020<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS162ieCArJIyEuFfzGW7zSsN3HZ-EQMUxNaXozcf1mCzuzPKmZWqsVxfP26cJeHyaZPYjqOE59EwIUveqo87wy49EFxFw92fdUMfSYadPxmGz_7eb4dmgvLbe1p8aKJJ5n1rEWxnTXQ/s2048/signal-2020-12-22-190032.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1406" data-original-width="2048" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS162ieCArJIyEuFfzGW7zSsN3HZ-EQMUxNaXozcf1mCzuzPKmZWqsVxfP26cJeHyaZPYjqOE59EwIUveqo87wy49EFxFw92fdUMfSYadPxmGz_7eb4dmgvLbe1p8aKJJ5n1rEWxnTXQ/w400-h275/signal-2020-12-22-190032.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><br /><p></p>Rolling Eyeballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18086657711537765142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637856527280406298.post-43365691571543915912020-10-22T09:27:00.032-07:002020-10-23T07:44:55.471-07:00RollingEyeballs' Pachycauls (Fat Plants, 2020 Update)<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Full dislosure: fast-forward six years after I first made this post, I no longer have three pachycauls. Even excluding adeniums, I have...um...a lot. </span></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXEIH0aCei3DL4r718IpQFCtskcDuK-dPogiz7YOG27pX_wb_TrTKqXytz3ZThoq_pvYNUe2egHgOakPlgVUXmB4XiEEcFNGicj5yo3PfqheSNfEYGbGj_SvIDC0aGKKxtFqJo_HktLw/s774/DSC_1382.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="774" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXEIH0aCei3DL4r718IpQFCtskcDuK-dPogiz7YOG27pX_wb_TrTKqXytz3ZThoq_pvYNUe2egHgOakPlgVUXmB4XiEEcFNGicj5yo3PfqheSNfEYGbGj_SvIDC0aGKKxtFqJo_HktLw/w400-h268/DSC_1382.jpg" width="400" /></a><span><a name='more'></a></span></div><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">There is no need to reinvent the wheel so let us take this from Wikipedia, to which we should all</span><a href="https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Ways_to_Give/en" style="font-family: georgia;" target="_blank"> donate $3 a year</a><span style="font-family: georgia;">:</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia;">
<span><br />
</span> <span>"<b>Pachycauls</b> are <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant" title="Plant">plants</a> with a disproportionately thick <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trunk_%28botany%29" title="Trunk (botany)">trunk</a> for their height". A lot of pachycauls are caudex-forming, but not all of them. "A <b>caudex</b> (plural: caudices) of a plant is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant_stem" title="Plant stem">stem</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Hickey_1-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caudex#cite_note-Hickey-1">[1]</a></sup> but the term is also used to mean a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rootstock" title="Rootstock">rootstock</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Stearn_2-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caudex#cite_note-Stearn-2">[2]</a></sup> and particularly a basal stem structure from which new growth arises.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Simpson_3-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caudex#cite_note-Simpson-3">[3] </a></sup>In the strict sense of the term, meaning a stem, "caudex" is most often used with plants that have a different stem <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morphology_%28biology%29" title="Morphology (biology)">morphology</a> from the typical <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flowering_plant" title="Flowering plant">angiosperm</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dicotyledon" title="Dicotyledon">dicotyledon</a> stem:<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Hickey_1-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caudex#cite_note-Hickey-1">[1]</a></sup> examples of this include <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arecaceae" title="Arecaceae">palms</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fern" title="Fern">ferns</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cycad" title="Cycad">cycads</a>. The related term <b>caudiciform</b>, literally meaning stem-like, is sometimes used to mean <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachycaul" title="Pachycaul">pachycaul</a>, thick-stemmed."</span><br />
<br />This has to be pointed out because in this list, I will probably end up including plants that are not strictly pachycauls (like several species of trichodiadema) but have large water-retaining taproots under the soil but are otherwise just normal-stemmed plants above the soil line. So all caudiciforms are pachycauls but not all pachycauls are caudiciforms. There is also a species of bulb in this list which is neither. </span></div><div><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia;">So, in no particular order other than as I find them on my plant shelves...</span></div><div><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia;"><br /><span><span><b>Cephalopentandra ecirrhosa</b></span></span><br />
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikTKfgeJeSriEy-znmnybrwCnKzCsD8LLVo2aFEcp43QvQRju0iz3ak95U6bbwfNLNJ9Dou0kN9p3hrgZkyOkGhWKbWXp8DChjuHTkH0w4ny06uDsDR9TC3QUSgecJynz0gh8LavKTng/s1600/DSC_5497.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikTKfgeJeSriEy-znmnybrwCnKzCsD8LLVo2aFEcp43QvQRju0iz3ak95U6bbwfNLNJ9Dou0kN9p3hrgZkyOkGhWKbWXp8DChjuHTkH0w4ny06uDsDR9TC3QUSgecJynz0gh8LavKTng/s1600/DSC_5497.JPG" width="239" /></a></span></span></div><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia;"><span><span>This is an easy grower, as long as you do not sit on it. It is a member of Cucurbitaceae family--that means it's a gourd! Look at it, it's practically a squash. The plant is widely distributed in Somalia, Ethiopia, North Kenya and Northeast Uganda</span></span><br />
<span><span><br />
</span></span> <span><span>This particular specimen is a seedling so it is small but the available literature describes it as easy to manage, usually growing out of only one vine stem about a meter long. Found in Kenya, Uganda, Somalia and Ethiopia, the caudex can grow to the size of a basketball--it will probably take forever. Supposedly, the flowers are white to yellow, the fruits orange. </span></span><br />
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</span></span> <span><span>Keep your plant fast-draining soil with lots of water and some sun. In the summer when it is too hot, it falls asleep. In the winter, put it in a prime spot in the hot room, right against the window where it will also get the most sun. It's a winter grower so expect it to grow leaves on meandering vine. Just drape it across other plants near it.</span></span><br />
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</span></span> <span><span>There was a mention somewhere on the web about keeping the caudex in the shade while keeping the rest of the plant in the bright sun. Really? It sounds like the plant should have evolved a skirt. But then it came from warmer climes where frigid winters do not force it to lose its leaves so that the caudex is always under a blanket of its own leaves. I guess it did evolve a skirt.</span></span><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><span><b>Dorstenia</b></span></span><br />
<span><span><br />
</span></span> <span><span>These are very interesting, easy plants. So easy that in frost-free zones, they will be weedy. They grow a bit faster than <i>P. brevicaule</i> up to a height of about 8 inches. They are perfect for a small window pot but they also do well outside in full sun, as long as they are acclimatized properly.</span></span><br />
</span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt3mUwmIL2Z9wrvNVb3VjGmb0ESQazDqlb_GkmMt_PpBTW-yzRtaANWtjX9n6NQOwPvUS-de340tjD7q0e2uYO1232rTFjNv0jkgT9lrM1R23kcJjiTvjjvzuPNlfD7Z2uXYpaH9YhOA/s1600/DSC_5552.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt3mUwmIL2Z9wrvNVb3VjGmb0ESQazDqlb_GkmMt_PpBTW-yzRtaANWtjX9n6NQOwPvUS-de340tjD7q0e2uYO1232rTFjNv0jkgT9lrM1R23kcJjiTvjjvzuPNlfD7Z2uXYpaH9YhOA/s1600/DSC_5552.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia;"><span><span><br />
</span></span> <span><span>This <i><b>Dorstenia foetida</b> </i>is the easier of the two we have tried. It forms a caudex and branches from that over time. It thrives in gritty mix but with more organic material than the straight gritty formula--3 parts gritty mix and one part tree bark added. It needs more moisture than most caudiciforms, even in the winter. If it starts dropping its leaves and goes dormant, do not water in the winter.</span></span><br />
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</span></span> <span><span>This plant is a crazy self-seeder, ejecting seeds up to two meters out where they will sprout if they get enough water, warmth and light. You'll probably find seedlings squatting in neighbouring pots. They do not tolerate low temperatures so you are fine if you are in the cold zones. In the tropics, however, they can get weedy so watch out.</span></span><br />
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</span></span> <span><span>D. foetida grows up tp about 6 inches tall, making it ideal as an indoor plant although it is most vigorous when outside in bright shade. If you have the attention span to carefully manage its water requirements, D. foetida can be grown under direct sunlight and it develops an appearance closer to what it looks like in habitat like the one below, one of Knitty Kitty's tropical-grown specimens. </span></span><br />
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxAi6Lq-o6L2eyBa7BCq4B2XC47DgcdQsWeAqvOZVCLBk0qYk4WYcUTgMGwc539FcMy7oOHY-D6LrRqBf4JMyfiBvHfoRLCoUuvBlRHBmcnHxwKLJPwIgeJmCZteu5ngA5zIBLeGbEJA/s1600/IMG_20150217_182815.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxAi6Lq-o6L2eyBa7BCq4B2XC47DgcdQsWeAqvOZVCLBk0qYk4WYcUTgMGwc539FcMy7oOHY-D6LrRqBf4JMyfiBvHfoRLCoUuvBlRHBmcnHxwKLJPwIgeJmCZteu5ngA5zIBLeGbEJA/s1600/IMG_20150217_182815.jpg" width="247" /></a></span></span></div><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia;"><span><span><br />
</span></span> <span><span>Note that the leaves will tend to grow in significantly tighter clumps, much as they would in habitat where they often grow on rocky substrate, fully exposed to the African daylight.</span></span><br />
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</span></span> <span><span>When kept consistently warm, D. foetida blooms all year round and ejects its seeds. This means that if you grow this plant anywhere on the planet without winter, you will have on your hands a weedy, potentially invasive species. In temperate areas, it is less of a worry because unwanted seedlings are killed off by first frost. As far as we can tell, this plant does not appear to be palatable to the usual pests, either up north or down there near the equator. It is entirely possible bugs are put off by the foetid stench it exudes when injured in any way. I personally have no problems with it, or with the sap, but insects might. </span></span><br />
<span><span><br />
</span></span> <span><span>As the plant matures, it will develop branches usually from the base. A fully mature specimen can look like a miniature grove of gnarly, leafy things. Some specimens, however, are known to not branch at all. I haven't sorted out what does that. </span></span><br />
</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mi0KQw5okLauMgO9NWbPZzPlAFD7XIWm7WDsGUnGX0HWRX0jryfYNyB6w9X8gXfHSeaI_SZQrLn4kGtAU1tUePdha5SdYB1_yKOlKbWJ2a3iGlAzWOAOUt707MVDqq8unIthVMt-MQ/s1600/DSC_5100.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mi0KQw5okLauMgO9NWbPZzPlAFD7XIWm7WDsGUnGX0HWRX0jryfYNyB6w9X8gXfHSeaI_SZQrLn4kGtAU1tUePdha5SdYB1_yKOlKbWJ2a3iGlAzWOAOUt707MVDqq8unIthVMt-MQ/w400-h267/DSC_5100.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>D. foetida flower getting ready to eject ripe seeds. They shoot out in all directions so if you want to collect them, cover the flower with a small baggie. </i></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia;"><span><span>The <i><b>Dorstenia lavranii</b> </i>is the annoying one of these two species. It has been a little harder to get the hang of nudging this little nit along. Giving it the same level of care as D. foetida does not seem to work. It might need a more moisture-retentive substrate; it definitely can not handle has much sun as <i>D. foetida.</i></span></span><br /><span><span><br />
</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fPVTbSrIGZJNsz9FIAkfY5pXYET_E_JebY1MEQmPhJyfy4gqaHaWiJTn43P5izuii_NehZAF_gAhhSOsHpPQzevGWU6LhiQcnvaOIjuqifQHAbe0SgfaDTpCHt15zgx0EHVScFcN8w/s2048/DSC_3515.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1371" data-original-width="2048" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fPVTbSrIGZJNsz9FIAkfY5pXYET_E_JebY1MEQmPhJyfy4gqaHaWiJTn43P5izuii_NehZAF_gAhhSOsHpPQzevGWU6LhiQcnvaOIjuqifQHAbe0SgfaDTpCHt15zgx0EHVScFcN8w/w400-h268/DSC_3515.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>2013, plant sex unknown</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span> <span><span>These <i>D. lavrani</i> seedlings also appear to require much more water than D. foetida. In summer and growing in gritty mix with some soil mixed in, it gets as much water as potted coleus growing in potting soil. D. lavrani has been known to bloom as young as one year old. Mine, however, took about five years. And it is not </span></span><span><span>possible to say which plant is male or female until they bloom. Even then, you will need a magnifying glass and an inordinate amount of patience. Unlike the <i>D. foetida</i>, these flowers do not dangle out for easy access and both of them are no more than 3 to 5 mm across. </span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDC4dBdSoUcL2J2holVtUFM4Op2z5YGc1hIZzLiNhl64qHRCqVjkYjFDFWzug72xsZ0bTnUeZrr_X9z_8noPm81Jx37Gdb30XeRcp5iUVmZUpMa_lEWr5w_0WLf9kx8fFhazBlpC_Mfg/s2048/boy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1304" data-original-width="2048" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDC4dBdSoUcL2J2holVtUFM4Op2z5YGc1hIZzLiNhl64qHRCqVjkYjFDFWzug72xsZ0bTnUeZrr_X9z_8noPm81Jx37Gdb30XeRcp5iUVmZUpMa_lEWr5w_0WLf9kx8fFhazBlpC_Mfg/w400-h255/boy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>D. lavrani, male flower</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dKGVxbh2Y42Tr7N3riKnkZHBVMYOPNS-u5DUfVX_AZElo9yp7MH6PNC7WEH0zJAra6DMedAVlV21YLq5U9vcVGd0q5J8kcf25vHtyhIDYM-2gasL09h-ikx8VJ9LFMCit5lKnQgMGg/s2048/DSC_8306.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1404" data-original-width="2048" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dKGVxbh2Y42Tr7N3riKnkZHBVMYOPNS-u5DUfVX_AZElo9yp7MH6PNC7WEH0zJAra6DMedAVlV21YLq5U9vcVGd0q5J8kcf25vHtyhIDYM-2gasL09h-ikx8VJ9LFMCit5lKnQgMGg/w400-h274/DSC_8306.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>D. lavrani, female flower</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKxqWXLPzdMtaPLfozqBe7ddPUsxJLVxz2YrA74it0XJkRNOwcEslXxm4khj1RNH19PKXAUGr348MzrTCRfopypIW6q0ztLt1fUv88v4rrfIRGSk13UDOrY0mOx9xzvEpXDEsmG5SDPw/s484/DSC_1428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="484" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKxqWXLPzdMtaPLfozqBe7ddPUsxJLVxz2YrA74it0XJkRNOwcEslXxm4khj1RNH19PKXAUGr348MzrTCRfopypIW6q0ztLt1fUv88v4rrfIRGSk13UDOrY0mOx9xzvEpXDEsmG5SDPw/w400-h268/DSC_1428.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Just about all grown up, male and female D. lavrani</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span><b>Operculicarya decaryi</b></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="clear: right; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAHEDZDmnakJU5UN59R-SIy-T43kBom2rDv5KF8pE9DiR6FZbqjK88dJ7y0qY9M5zzwprjX3DCyQUIhwriaSJGqYFh84bkS5Fkh2100M-zSQojp_V7DxaA0BJT2Fkk1q61jVsL2m53yA/s1600/DSC_5626.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAHEDZDmnakJU5UN59R-SIy-T43kBom2rDv5KF8pE9DiR6FZbqjK88dJ7y0qY9M5zzwprjX3DCyQUIhwriaSJGqYFh84bkS5Fkh2100M-zSQojp_V7DxaA0BJT2Fkk1q61jVsL2m53yA/s1600/DSC_5626.jpg" width="225" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia;"><i>2015, fresh off of a seed-grower <br />on eBay</i>.</span><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"> </span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span>Many trees are described oxymoronically as "natural" bonsai. This makes no sense since bonsai is an artform that is exactly the opposite of natural. Nitpicking aside, it's understandable why </span><i>O. decaryi </i><span>could be the embodiment of this contradiction in terms. In cultivation, it can be kept short, with a stout trunk and entertaining branches that does make it look like masters sculptured it into shape over several generations.</span>
<span><span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br /></span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>O. decaryi</i> is a native of Madagascar, thankfully not one of its threatened species. Known on the island as<i> </i></span><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>jabihy</i>, it is a deciduous thick-stemmed (pachycaul) tree that can grow up to </span><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">nine metres tall. It is one of eight species in the genus <span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"><i>Operculicarya,</i> seven of which are all endemic to Madagascar. The government had proposed its inclusion in the CITES Appendix II to regulate trade but the proposal was later withdrawn because the tree is now widely available as an artificially propagated plant, grown easily from seeds. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-size: small;">Supposedly, it will grow a fat trunk quickly. But it is the leaves that I like the most. They look like sampaloc leaves--tiny, dark and shiny green. The plant is dioecious. This means you need a male and female plants in order to get seeds. And no, I have no clue what either of these plants look like. I suspect you find out only after they bloom. </span><br /></span><span style="color: #274e13;"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="size10 Helvetica10"><br /></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #274e13;"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="size10 Helvetica10"><i>Operculicarya decaryi</i>, I am told, prefers part to full sun. It is now growing in the 5-1-1 version of the gritty mix, watered regularly and kept on a sunny spot in a room where humidity level is maintained at 50 percent or higher. </span></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><span><span><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZBAhyIksemf11UTmqbr6q4ZOcsf25iEO6YtPb4NlRyudDPS1N54roIwXljUN2NZcFQHoMpBI6qbOSQdzfwd7Ge75phfZdPsgR-rxdoWj1wBzbTjpdISlmn7XdG1VhrBCAlJ5xktJnDQ/s637/DSC_1422.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="637" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZBAhyIksemf11UTmqbr6q4ZOcsf25iEO6YtPb4NlRyudDPS1N54roIwXljUN2NZcFQHoMpBI6qbOSQdzfwd7Ge75phfZdPsgR-rxdoWj1wBzbTjpdISlmn7XdG1VhrBCAlJ5xktJnDQ/w400-h256/DSC_1422.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Autumn, 2020. This is the best angle; if the trunk shape looks confusing, that's because it is. I have it in a flexible plastic pot right now because it is planted in gritty mix, some soil and a huge lava rock that the root can wrap itself around. 2021 might be the year to check out the roots! To be furthered......</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia;">Bursera faragoides</span></h4></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1IAKZtWVZHEtZyopx7o2eZoU1JiIRxIM8dYR6mJ9T36r17jBOP7eUJAhcnxRKS7F7yPcd92DlOD5t58j0o0c3zfApSAwx2_nYQGMb19zrJd9pUfZNBFgFdrrULikINTdzK8Y6jJWuQw/s532/DSC_7433.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><img border="0" data-original-height="356" data-original-width="532" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1IAKZtWVZHEtZyopx7o2eZoU1JiIRxIM8dYR6mJ9T36r17jBOP7eUJAhcnxRKS7F7yPcd92DlOD5t58j0o0c3zfApSAwx2_nYQGMb19zrJd9pUfZNBFgFdrrULikINTdzK8Y6jJWuQw/w320-h214/DSC_7433.jpg" title="test" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;">2015<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia;">I got this plant from a grower on eBay who was selling the seedlings as "Mexican elephant plant". I'm not sure why they call it elephant plant at all since there are no elephants to eat them there and they do not look like elephants. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia;">In point of fact, this is one of the torchwood trees---cousin to frankincense and myrrh. Sometimes I'd pluck a leaf, crush it and inhale. Smells kind of nice. But this is, by far, the most unruly plant I have. It is nearly impossible to shape it; the thing will sprout branches wherever. It really doesn't give a shit. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia;">This year, I tried rotating it on the table to expose all its parts to the summer sun (this is one of the weird shit you have to do if you live this far north; it's a pain). That seemed to have helped--I did not have to prune it this year and I think I can't store it this winter without going through conniptions finding the space for its weirdass shape. </span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;"> </span></div><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAo571bu_8Q8sOL6OA2WFvU4RvixmAqk0DSXfeSncqMYBTA1AjiUhOjY60nD6lJzeUCETh8WHJa1UlO7zS3OWZ6Dl0HJH2Do2v6jKL5ARTW1IJWQ3co95HkW3SRfGhw6XCBoeNkZXtoA/s581/DSC_1397.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="581" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAo571bu_8Q8sOL6OA2WFvU4RvixmAqk0DSXfeSncqMYBTA1AjiUhOjY60nD6lJzeUCETh8WHJa1UlO7zS3OWZ6Dl0HJH2Do2v6jKL5ARTW1IJWQ3co95HkW3SRfGhw6XCBoeNkZXtoA/w400-h268/DSC_1397.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Autumn 2020; waiting to defoliate.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><h4 style="text-align: left;">Tylecodon reticulatus</h4></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrvVIcGL6-QrUpIaYgWFoWhhjjPpB7eqGVxT2rVW2L7GC5jq8PnDVbzG1T3WJ9Ynrpl2zToh-ZIA4F-T7dJ6NOkAYcOIwKeCH0Lt6je2W8v2TGf9bxWos0tdpACRGxLbxUG_FD2pdUA/s620/DSC_1382.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="620" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrvVIcGL6-QrUpIaYgWFoWhhjjPpB7eqGVxT2rVW2L7GC5jq8PnDVbzG1T3WJ9Ynrpl2zToh-ZIA4F-T7dJ6NOkAYcOIwKeCH0Lt6je2W8v2TGf9bxWos0tdpACRGxLbxUG_FD2pdUA/w400-h268/DSC_1382.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This plant, Tylecodon reticulatus, has such a history that it has its own post. <a href="https://kalachuchiatbp.blogspot.com/2018/03/tylecodon-reticulatus-for-those-who.html">Read it here.<br /></a></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia;">Tylecodon paniculatus</span></h4><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFznMukjkRvp8fRRmPyLHm7onjABkGN8EQlJ6a9o1m_bg26akP9SU0kXDNabdzGhO6_frZR2iOnQ5P57g_ueffS35Qk9SFTxWnqRD7wvCqxT-2uLMamP6ryXccKjKqRhuhIjyHQRmHzw/s774/DSC_1364.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="774" data-original-width="518" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFznMukjkRvp8fRRmPyLHm7onjABkGN8EQlJ6a9o1m_bg26akP9SU0kXDNabdzGhO6_frZR2iOnQ5P57g_ueffS35Qk9SFTxWnqRD7wvCqxT-2uLMamP6ryXccKjKqRhuhIjyHQRmHzw/s320/DSC_1364.jpg" /></a></div></span><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia;">Tylecodon ventricosus</span></h4><div><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia;">If you have one of these, pay attention to the amount of light they get in winter if you have them growing indoors. They are active during the cold season so they will need a shit-ton of light or they will most definitely etiolate. Mine stretched out so badly that I decided to prune it at the end of summer and root the tips. The base plant is just sitting there, probably wondering where its heads went. No growth whatsoever.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXTapAQz516gXRrMcXI8PY-xWeGHRkM3lTnSS-32VjjKEJDodkvWX5foLZ2oQNyO5ZIXYpbTxuJaZjP8-0e4V0sOu5h8OPkc42r2iW5Pkv1_yfe0sanP2QydA4J3tGKONLjZfegqMsww/s774/DSC_1381.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="774" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXTapAQz516gXRrMcXI8PY-xWeGHRkM3lTnSS-32VjjKEJDodkvWX5foLZ2oQNyO5ZIXYpbTxuJaZjP8-0e4V0sOu5h8OPkc42r2iW5Pkv1_yfe0sanP2QydA4J3tGKONLjZfegqMsww/w400-h268/DSC_1381.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">The tips, however, are now very actively growing. I have not checked if they actually have roots. </span></span></div><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tfqSbZQwlFAMIZzLRXZr_rvybPkAMRU8dGZ17TgmLhupgxdb43RekpEEzOMcFvgXZhXovGx1ajhgYn1UTQew8fqw2G4-JiqhvHMHRIc2QA8o9_PwOCDIivawecERMkAtTP90kwsjUQ/s755/othona.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="755" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tfqSbZQwlFAMIZzLRXZr_rvybPkAMRU8dGZ17TgmLhupgxdb43RekpEEzOMcFvgXZhXovGx1ajhgYn1UTQew8fqw2G4-JiqhvHMHRIc2QA8o9_PwOCDIivawecERMkAtTP90kwsjUQ/w400-h266/othona.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Tylecodon buchholzianus</span></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWf2FdJYBaNUZZeznSY985wkabYzWw2aTiAr90ALhtER3by_8vOEjeH3UxZCBHhA91i5sZ1yTxA1oPon3drhUBtqU8z3acRkAf53IjTPXC4cA-XagEMeGQ2rL2AFlhD4ktAX8-VpMMnw/s2048/Tylecodon-buchholzianus-SB1546-Uitspanpoort2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1347" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWf2FdJYBaNUZZeznSY985wkabYzWw2aTiAr90ALhtER3by_8vOEjeH3UxZCBHhA91i5sZ1yTxA1oPon3drhUBtqU8z3acRkAf53IjTPXC4cA-XagEMeGQ2rL2AFlhD4ktAX8-VpMMnw/s320/Tylecodon-buchholzianus-SB1546-Uitspanpoort2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I got this plant in 2016. as a miniscule cutting. It is a ridiculously fragile plant with brittle branches that will fly off if you sneezed in its general direction. That's why there are two cuttings in this pot---someone snouted the top off in a fit of curiosity. This is a winter grower and absolutely has to be be in full sun or otherwise brightly lit indoors in winter if your weather freezes. Sun exposure from a window is not enough, you need artificial lighting at least 6000k for at least 8 hours. I recommend an LED blurple panel so that your light source will not heat up the plant like it is summer at a time when it is supposed to be actively growing in cooler temperature. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #274e13;">The proper way to grow this tylecodon is to make sure it is exposed to enough light that it never ever grows leaves. It has microscopic leaflets--so small that you can say the stem itself can photosynthesize. But it sometimes grows normal succulent leaves. If you find your plant covered in actual visible leaves, you know it needs more light. I have mine under blurples in winter and under partial, thin shade in summer when it is dormant. </span></span></div><div><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia;">
<span><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Km-2H_ngqKDtt8BO2nhiVV2bMiWKtr_ImsA0P-XcSlzIyddmEXcZA79qIprjniHmvb1CRGXmkQz0BiGssQBjR1PBSEu-rZ1-6d-D3HdfkdaTuam-lqKapf3BP3fupky4xKfGloj0Mw/s721/20200320_131436.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="721" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Km-2H_ngqKDtt8BO2nhiVV2bMiWKtr_ImsA0P-XcSlzIyddmEXcZA79qIprjniHmvb1CRGXmkQz0BiGssQBjR1PBSEu-rZ1-6d-D3HdfkdaTuam-lqKapf3BP3fupky4xKfGloj0Mw/w400-h264/20200320_131436.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;">I got the second, larger plant above in October 2019 in a stress-induced spasm of plant acquisition. It was shocking </span><span style="text-align: center;">and a testimony to the California grower's packing skill </span><span style="text-align: center;">that the shape survived shipping. The only time a branch ever </span><span style="text-align: center;">snapped off was when I bumped it when I brought it in this season. I didn't even notice until now that I have both plants growing in akadama.</span></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzPFPd6Sash25aeo3fUhk9r5Dl3fzZYo1xvb6QdaOktSrn9Fb5oe9kFLvzVQI0Duv-xuEPvpF-g1D0FCYqcy7G0f_8SZ39NBgab1j2Y5sGGooaAq9z5JC2C2JA_rAZoIQTapg7_j4p6w/s573/DSC_1448.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="573" data-original-width="403" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzPFPd6Sash25aeo3fUhk9r5Dl3fzZYo1xvb6QdaOktSrn9Fb5oe9kFLvzVQI0Duv-xuEPvpF-g1D0FCYqcy7G0f_8SZ39NBgab1j2Y5sGGooaAq9z5JC2C2JA_rAZoIQTapg7_j4p6w/s320/DSC_1448.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first plant, now 4 years old (Autumn, 2020)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Pi-eqqPmLTkBNd7yq7lK7cQp-zLt72Ivl3th0ao3vp595BK9JBpPsP-e4d_Q5hurolS_ynrZA2d49Rtf3Ad9DDKqd13X0q-400t5Y5FBdqrDbwPcIWDHhHC6jZ8XMk-w7yx01jOsWQ/s579/DSC_1445.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="579" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Pi-eqqPmLTkBNd7yq7lK7cQp-zLt72Ivl3th0ao3vp595BK9JBpPsP-e4d_Q5hurolS_ynrZA2d49Rtf3Ad9DDKqd13X0q-400t5Y5FBdqrDbwPcIWDHhHC6jZ8XMk-w7yx01jOsWQ/w400-h271/DSC_1445.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Autumn 2020, broken branches rooting on the side.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Othonna euphorbioides</span></span></h4><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhocKhDdCAJUzyRoh1sKBgvp6xcYjKq-y9lVfmc-tumFQYzFWz0wjx9OjFUE6vjfp5wJabcpeJslHyb6XQALFt2tcmuYMLksGcZOgjC-kB64ZAjOBJPa8HzneUk5Pc84KXgWL6pl8o_7Q/s614/IMAG4530.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="614" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhocKhDdCAJUzyRoh1sKBgvp6xcYjKq-y9lVfmc-tumFQYzFWz0wjx9OjFUE6vjfp5wJabcpeJslHyb6XQALFt2tcmuYMLksGcZOgjC-kB64ZAjOBJPa8HzneUk5Pc84KXgWL6pl8o_7Q/w400-h270/IMAG4530.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>2015</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9S7UU5HIKiM0yqnH8i8q9C3VHX_qTPaSVld04ma_SvyGuEtm5y-5bCAQa2ALeqsqUkMWoD0mOK8fpRFMn_bpc3aInTw9zwsrGbi9Zo0C7rlRmuFMkasNH9sW4bUr6VyYx2TEdUgSNog/s653/DSC_1410.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="437" data-original-width="653" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9S7UU5HIKiM0yqnH8i8q9C3VHX_qTPaSVld04ma_SvyGuEtm5y-5bCAQa2ALeqsqUkMWoD0mOK8fpRFMn_bpc3aInTw9zwsrGbi9Zo0C7rlRmuFMkasNH9sW4bUr6VyYx2TEdUgSNog/w400-h268/DSC_1410.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2020<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><h4 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;">Ceraria pygmaea</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjtcfMINiwsSNBFN-3AWm_XSn4lyAfwXGeze2bvRABXMnTyRkicdzjBFSLQoQxhBHBIx7evj4CrgWyPkxHl6bHk1jL0U8MMYo3dKYTP3M-_rl1Mt21nugc7mOz950NNmx8aupAWi0pPA/s716/DSC_1456.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="716" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjtcfMINiwsSNBFN-3AWm_XSn4lyAfwXGeze2bvRABXMnTyRkicdzjBFSLQoQxhBHBIx7evj4CrgWyPkxHl6bHk1jL0U8MMYo3dKYTP3M-_rl1Mt21nugc7mOz950NNmx8aupAWi0pPA/w400-h268/DSC_1456.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Acquired in May 2016, this plant has changed so much. Not. It is as stoic as it is possible for a plant to be. The branches have elongated a bit, just from all the years and what-not. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Pelargonium appendiculatum</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMKA_y3w1y0pN9UEsf5jTfbTjIN81S2cMNkMfyyVqyEa2mDV01Ri_5XIeftrHtujs3Km_AsBFHOPg9bf01rGFD1m-IEn9cA1es6PDRbaHSPxx8Qyg9VBG2Zs7zHFxQMRYIe4LBVLlF9Q/s774/DSC_1411.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="774" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMKA_y3w1y0pN9UEsf5jTfbTjIN81S2cMNkMfyyVqyEa2mDV01Ri_5XIeftrHtujs3Km_AsBFHOPg9bf01rGFD1m-IEn9cA1es6PDRbaHSPxx8Qyg9VBG2Zs7zHFxQMRYIe4LBVLlF9Q/w400-h268/DSC_1411.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">This plant needs occasional cleaning but only do it in autumn when it starts growing new leaves. Years of accumulated dry leaves protect it from the summer heat and drenching rain while it is dormant could kill it. It's why this is my second <i>P. appendiculatum</i>. Naked heat killed the first one in 2016. I had to get another seedling right away. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Avonia quinaria</h4></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhuaEFP9C2cK-b2izcrT5Js8XoryKOSwaVgkG5-26Ft_jVEadr00Hf3oSasFaFGMzEad2NW8QNysE4SKVbSGwHH8su22PGBeAnWOzpKa1RfHvUv9X_OPCxsd5tngdIZFzkDH3YxcrWQ/s475/Avonia+quinaria+ssp+alstonii.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="371" data-original-width="475" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhuaEFP9C2cK-b2izcrT5Js8XoryKOSwaVgkG5-26Ft_jVEadr00Hf3oSasFaFGMzEad2NW8QNysE4SKVbSGwHH8su22PGBeAnWOzpKa1RfHvUv9X_OPCxsd5tngdIZFzkDH3YxcrWQ/s320/Avonia+quinaria+ssp+alstonii.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2015<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Sold to me as <i>Avonia quinaria ssp alstonii, </i>this is actually just a regular<i> </i><i>Avonia quinaria</i>; in that it blooms pink (gaah). It turned out to be an easy plant to cultivate. It's only getting a write-up because when I first got it, I did a little research like any responsible nerd, and more or less followed the recommended cultivation practice. I put it in a shallow pot with a fairly loose and soil-free substrate. </span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #274e13;">I was told this will make sure the taproot will not stay overly wet overly long. Fine. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span>The problem with this plan is this: as the plant grows restricted thusly, there is nowhere for that mass to go except up. If you want to grow the caudex, make sure you do not forget that you own one. You will have to move it to a deeper pot eventually or it will just push itself upwards and expose the caudex prematurely. Once exposed, the caudex will no longer get fatter.<br /><span><br />
</span></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_kMpMyYot2Vzf7j518o6hpH0Jv_00ONrmJMhZT1qTUBjmxW2AE6h6yroBVbDcLw1uUuRB3W6NCScTQyE-7MPoUzB722v0KdD9dggv6NIqAD-NhS2LpDPxX5rP-UT85kU37XXu8TS8HQ/s1370/Untitled2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="1370" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_kMpMyYot2Vzf7j518o6hpH0Jv_00ONrmJMhZT1qTUBjmxW2AE6h6yroBVbDcLw1uUuRB3W6NCScTQyE-7MPoUzB722v0KdD9dggv6NIqAD-NhS2LpDPxX5rP-UT85kU37XXu8TS8HQ/w400-h268/Untitled2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;">2017. Should've repotted it then. </span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVoNyBRVZPWfEWcP11YTLR1GRrxJICgPbI2_DT_xbApp89p7rvR4bWTdTjzCYZH1k4Y3Htrxe9pY3TJlbuMyu-nyImNp9qmYdDhxsnLlUtBVbKF29fTCvz5319xhHyqZn1JkRov9QzQ/s668/avonia.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="668" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVoNyBRVZPWfEWcP11YTLR1GRrxJICgPbI2_DT_xbApp89p7rvR4bWTdTjzCYZH1k4Y3Htrxe9pY3TJlbuMyu-nyImNp9qmYdDhxsnLlUtBVbKF29fTCvz5319xhHyqZn1JkRov9QzQ/w400-h250/avonia.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;">October 2020 push-ups. This plant may be hopeless for repairs. That trunk has been exposed for too long.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><b style="text-align: left;"><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;">Schizobasis (Drimia) intricata</b><span style="text-align: left;">, </span><b style="text-align: left;">Your Daily Sibuyas (LC)</b></div></span><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbr70s_apMxKndAnElMsLMH2jq8kwdxZGCRMS30WNcD2_0k1Wp15EaVlu4U5CXdDw4yVT2gjWc7Dvh1yARWO2TeysYusywVwFnuwGV_-c9iDVpSOahwenJSPwgM4foaXNR9kGkYBnNuw/s1600/DSC_5638.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbr70s_apMxKndAnElMsLMH2jq8kwdxZGCRMS30WNcD2_0k1Wp15EaVlu4U5CXdDw4yVT2gjWc7Dvh1yARWO2TeysYusywVwFnuwGV_-c9iDVpSOahwenJSPwgM4foaXNR9kGkYBnNuw/w400-h270/DSC_5638.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Here we start just lumping all the fatties together. This one, when examined closely, looks more like an odd onion than a caudiciform or any of the other usual fat plants. The bulb itself is no bigger than a cherry tomato. The delicate branches have no leaves and perform all the photosynthesis the plant requires. The flowers open at night, they are even more delicate than the gangly network of branches. It gets annoying, actually. Especially if you have several bulbs in a pot. You can just mow that shit down to keep it under control. </span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span><br /></span></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span></span></div></div></div>Rolling Eyeballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18086657711537765142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637856527280406298.post-6937826143898244802020-10-20T16:11:00.013-07:002020-10-25T05:11:56.362-07:00Knitty Kitty's Recent Hoya acquisitions<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU9ASl7aEPnPPrc51fB4rIW3RdM-30U4GeiE-Ypuu45-w0etnNtymXGqUiGaLloNNiwvu_x9iv0FfyhrL8IyCGdKez9eHs7h4LKUrOAv-xdR3_w_a9uCVDmYH6HAgSvi9t8ARpWHLbxg/s2040/mindorensis.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1332" data-original-width="2040" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU9ASl7aEPnPPrc51fB4rIW3RdM-30U4GeiE-Ypuu45-w0etnNtymXGqUiGaLloNNiwvu_x9iv0FfyhrL8IyCGdKez9eHs7h4LKUrOAv-xdR3_w_a9uCVDmYH6HAgSvi9t8ARpWHLbxg/w400-h261/mindorensis.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia;"><i><b>Hoya mindorensis</b>. </i></span><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Threatened in the wild, this hoya was found in Mindoro Island, south of Manila, Philippines---one of the most oppressively humid places on the planet. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div><div><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #274e13;"><a name='more'></a></span><div><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia;">So I have a friend who orders plants for the both of us because, you know, talking to people, yuck. Anyway, I said we should order hoyas. What I meant was, we should order hostas. So a few facepalms later, I have a bunch of hoyas. </span></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGxKUxjQMvZ9ncVV92eld0LmvyMO0rEk8zoMUEfJNaq_UOlN1c2rL7eTUuiRLN8yxF-0mcmuEFdpp6xLMkIcM-D3FcfIMvVFJidwwQLgfJ8BaEuFUgkqKI54D4WNvD8kubvBG8W_Si4w/s1689/signal-2020-10-24-213653.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1689" data-original-width="912" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGxKUxjQMvZ9ncVV92eld0LmvyMO0rEk8zoMUEfJNaq_UOlN1c2rL7eTUuiRLN8yxF-0mcmuEFdpp6xLMkIcM-D3FcfIMvVFJidwwQLgfJ8BaEuFUgkqKI54D4WNvD8kubvBG8W_Si4w/w216-h400/signal-2020-10-24-213653.jpeg" width="216" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Here they are after the unboxing.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Later, after potting:</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJJhqKJC4a0jteUa6ghf-h4SIcBXe7ZWtgs0LRSm8GSfDxwoKMdxwbiLG3JZUU7JmtUN7sMF8CZWhFHfNd9vVaB6tjAbySfI_vj2PtNIIs6oC1DQMOqw38_OzCSzkyLcBm9SuiO4M1GQ/s806/20170121_105318.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="806" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJJhqKJC4a0jteUa6ghf-h4SIcBXe7ZWtgs0LRSm8GSfDxwoKMdxwbiLG3JZUU7JmtUN7sMF8CZWhFHfNd9vVaB6tjAbySfI_vj2PtNIIs6oC1DQMOqw38_OzCSzkyLcBm9SuiO4M1GQ/w400-h300/20170121_105318.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAGrMPnttEK3G6lRUzLv_XrdEwrAqYpqFvO3lcubtpCSlDX4ZJ_QTVvPZN1UTps9mVgNKOMPMKmzJRHrxMfgpQpbL2RdXlA66nogLaoukgazqUcXseLgj3yrDFS9XEV9Sb0jXp4pRFFQ/s907/20201016_090557.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="615" data-original-width="907" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAGrMPnttEK3G6lRUzLv_XrdEwrAqYpqFvO3lcubtpCSlDX4ZJ_QTVvPZN1UTps9mVgNKOMPMKmzJRHrxMfgpQpbL2RdXlA66nogLaoukgazqUcXseLgj3yrDFS9XEV9Sb0jXp4pRFFQ/w400-h271/20201016_090557.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: -0.14px; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia;"><i>Hoya carnosa compacta</i></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6hCmxbLK3xJItBEoQl1iXlXN7f-sRvAf4ocyUhcD8b_Vo-2wpY1-fvkUA0UNfz9yiej340NV4Nst0GHYgqstjNFVRVGlqcjXcsrfUGrnKSsRvE9_RYhI27-FIzYRuyZC97MFJTRokg/s704/20201016_090538.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="704" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6hCmxbLK3xJItBEoQl1iXlXN7f-sRvAf4ocyUhcD8b_Vo-2wpY1-fvkUA0UNfz9yiej340NV4Nst0GHYgqstjNFVRVGlqcjXcsrfUGrnKSsRvE9_RYhI27-FIzYRuyZC97MFJTRokg/w400-h286/20201016_090538.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: -0.14px; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia;"><i>Hoya kerrii 'Variegata'</i></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWsdD5dpylnB-mdkoX2Sjs7jM9O1KydLrwMYcEneHehuvD82YAZNRUAzPZeW4aCqNtR7am0y7mYXaQgWWP61ikZtOTea9mOewmcOH2tY-K-i4bBnYtQxFVi80OPW-nPqGg9Z564UPTw/s940/20201016_090519.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="940" data-original-width="643" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWsdD5dpylnB-mdkoX2Sjs7jM9O1KydLrwMYcEneHehuvD82YAZNRUAzPZeW4aCqNtR7am0y7mYXaQgWWP61ikZtOTea9mOewmcOH2tY-K-i4bBnYtQxFVi80OPW-nPqGg9Z564UPTw/w274-h400/20201016_090519.jpg" width="274" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: -0.14px; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia;"><i>Hoya carnosa "Krimson Queen"</i></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLko0aJ3_Mf9nvhVs_WrDH4ZRvUa8EYCEzm8bY3Hv053ahaVnUuj8ccUs4cR2PNDrI3nrYRC2fxDe6B6lBoLLzNz0YJ5oZo0JzwSRWPPOQmCdndiil4vQf73iSPkRtZKvKCXWbkLaNbw/s524/20201016_090616.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="393" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLko0aJ3_Mf9nvhVs_WrDH4ZRvUa8EYCEzm8bY3Hv053ahaVnUuj8ccUs4cR2PNDrI3nrYRC2fxDe6B6lBoLLzNz0YJ5oZo0JzwSRWPPOQmCdndiil4vQf73iSPkRtZKvKCXWbkLaNbw/w300-h400/20201016_090616.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: -0.14px; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia;"><i>H. blashernaizii ssp siariae, native to the Bicol Region in Luzon, Philippines. </i></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63-u_BH8lz4O4euBw68rR-Cwi-z3Vi83PSpsrQHFJgQ9__fA1dLbjg_9ps0x-lwcwxK_POwaDyor3u0Ah1nRSoEGnNnA0b9KrlyXBJ0-aGHBgw9CrFYyNZjKf2T5Vx-NzEIWkmwUx5w/s605/20201016_090656.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="454" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63-u_BH8lz4O4euBw68rR-Cwi-z3Vi83PSpsrQHFJgQ9__fA1dLbjg_9ps0x-lwcwxK_POwaDyor3u0Ah1nRSoEGnNnA0b9KrlyXBJ0-aGHBgw9CrFYyNZjKf2T5Vx-NzEIWkmwUx5w/w300-h400/20201016_090656.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">Hoya mindorensis. Endemic to the Philippines, this hoya's bloom </span></i><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>comes very close to being a true red. Doesn't like direct sunlight, prefers the colder part of the year in its native environ.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioz65_n-KO8LKGGOwDg4TncTdrshoW0WQoWH2nJ0loV7cvA27B9Ayk0dfj-g5Dqr6gDGziDls5KsZWuk4eVmZBkkeoSRVfTtgJR2ZrfUYUAyPbVsuXd0LGZXhcObyXzbTj0EYAWe84mw/s1332/mindorensis+peduncle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="856" data-original-width="1332" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioz65_n-KO8LKGGOwDg4TncTdrshoW0WQoWH2nJ0loV7cvA27B9Ayk0dfj-g5Dqr6gDGziDls5KsZWuk4eVmZBkkeoSRVfTtgJR2ZrfUYUAyPbVsuXd0LGZXhcObyXzbTj0EYAWe84mw/w400-h258/mindorensis+peduncle.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia;"><i>The same H. mindorensis, already sprouting a peduncle!<br /></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hayOhTc-LCS97HBsoXvyzXeu0iw53EwQmM0uwtCafMqe7NlBvOOzq_RRJnHBhBBKBvd9Ax5dyko6iF4cYKNbGNjuEyc0kIzN9QhuHc4_LAnuPg3_-GI7RFqMrS7cpyx00a249qoFwA/s685/bilobata.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="685" data-original-width="422" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hayOhTc-LCS97HBsoXvyzXeu0iw53EwQmM0uwtCafMqe7NlBvOOzq_RRJnHBhBBKBvd9Ax5dyko6iF4cYKNbGNjuEyc0kIzN9QhuHc4_LAnuPg3_-GI7RFqMrS7cpyx00a249qoFwA/w246-h400/bilobata.jpg" width="246" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>H. bilobata</i></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmZU0KS-kWCJQfDFRZW3Pl7T348Z65iZPiytRMIGPl46G0r32FWgWiTnc7rBB2voZXwM7Qe6kcSp30JgLaXfwtfa7VHLpJ5ID0McSYbGunW7yiiGVDHCP9e22sWWXKMgg3fmiSkdlFKg/s524/20201016_090744.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="393" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmZU0KS-kWCJQfDFRZW3Pl7T348Z65iZPiytRMIGPl46G0r32FWgWiTnc7rBB2voZXwM7Qe6kcSp30JgLaXfwtfa7VHLpJ5ID0McSYbGunW7yiiGVDHCP9e22sWWXKMgg3fmiSkdlFKg/w300-h400/20201016_090744.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">H. kentiana</span></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtV9ojhNbUebNCRuYtAxKenRsrtVj3PLNW2U4W9kBtrMq2cY2rrfvR0UN9lIKhI99mSO1Xxt5uCxUvz7xOID7ln4j7qVBcsm7zapuP87rWcttoQf6uRw1Ajmfei4JTypUHx_eCPVhpQ/s2048/buotii.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1312" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtV9ojhNbUebNCRuYtAxKenRsrtVj3PLNW2U4W9kBtrMq2cY2rrfvR0UN9lIKhI99mSO1Xxt5uCxUvz7xOID7ln4j7qVBcsm7zapuP87rWcttoQf6uRw1Ajmfei4JTypUHx_eCPVhpQ/w256-h400/buotii.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">H. buotii, </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><br /></div>The Knitty Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06811142184011373069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637856527280406298.post-43230293442214780932020-10-18T18:34:00.005-07:002020-12-28T07:19:53.724-08:00Hoya stalking pays off<div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><div>This one was labelled H. wayetii taken 22 Aug 2020:</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRekAFEXKJ6FYIadQOtsYATfJ6yArDHqR-HDrUAsSkZWlB5ucuy6B3eeOQtAXABNxjFKW2YtadbDF17vqeonK1TRZiqcbzrADzYhQuw6LiBCwyiYeQS8LuIZCKKy9lqHjS-hxEQYKI4U3d/s1600/1603071279896875-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRekAFEXKJ6FYIadQOtsYATfJ6yArDHqR-HDrUAsSkZWlB5ucuy6B3eeOQtAXABNxjFKW2YtadbDF17vqeonK1TRZiqcbzrADzYhQuw6LiBCwyiYeQS8LuIZCKKy9lqHjS-hxEQYKI4U3d/s1600/1603071279896875-1.png" width="400" />
</a>
</div></div><div><br /></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div>I think that was mislabelled and is actually H. kentiana. Notice anything wrong with it? More on that later. </div><div><br /></div><div>First I planted it in pumice and it was the first one to push out new leaves. Then it stopped growing. I inspected the roots and that didn't work out very well. They were entangled in moss so I coudn't really see. Decided to change the medium to leca because the moss in pumice thing looked too soggy for me. Fertilized every watering with orchid fertilizer. Everything else was growing gangbusters except for this one. The leaves were closed and the new ones were just there not doing anything. All the leaves started looking like this:</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ0he970CZpJ5mBd6QeJn4uT1dfuD10aCxqeMiTnk_r-SGuJ4Dh8pk0o7XVuJQCZbpB4rqWwfVP8fsxLK3zUSyBC_cEaO9uU6Ykx_oGHX1g56dOrgT-i2CaoJiccuefH2U-L6hN43_Iazz/s1600/1603071276036846-2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ0he970CZpJ5mBd6QeJn4uT1dfuD10aCxqeMiTnk_r-SGuJ4Dh8pk0o7XVuJQCZbpB4rqWwfVP8fsxLK3zUSyBC_cEaO9uU6Ykx_oGHX1g56dOrgT-i2CaoJiccuefH2U-L6hN43_Iazz/s1600/1603071276036846-2.png" width="400" />
</a>
</div><br /></div><div>WTF ei? If they look dehydrated then they're not getting water. </div><div><br /></div><div>After much staring, I realized the plants were upside down. Notice the earlier picture where the leaves are pointing up, not down. So I dunked the other end in water to see what happens: </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgahhyphenhyphenvagOA0HCLvWJdEdPcterolgZ-1dCL8YgrlhTKXQEJ2B01H9tVYg_hnCVldBFQRw3BFcNlAw1YGOcRss8gSTolBx-kCCDRPooxosCykL_rq2xoJmVgdz2sXLuVkZjjGu5N4q3IVvve/s1600/1603071272265265-3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgahhyphenhyphenvagOA0HCLvWJdEdPcterolgZ-1dCL8YgrlhTKXQEJ2B01H9tVYg_hnCVldBFQRw3BFcNlAw1YGOcRss8gSTolBx-kCCDRPooxosCykL_rq2xoJmVgdz2sXLuVkZjjGu5N4q3IVvve/s1600/1603071272265265-3.png" width="400" />
</a>
</div><br />After 3 days I had this:</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSPQi01xfkagcVw9wIbIe5VmrSbhkLAtTJ0278Pujbcuy2HHkWWB_QjT7HWEAq1Iz2n9P7avdxGPR59xE-aiDS_0eUgo7PUUjM0uYlxo6B8xXF13T-oXTbieJNh7SM_14_Zzh3VaTpgKL9/s1600/1603071268358437-4.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSPQi01xfkagcVw9wIbIe5VmrSbhkLAtTJ0278Pujbcuy2HHkWWB_QjT7HWEAq1Iz2n9P7avdxGPR59xE-aiDS_0eUgo7PUUjM0uYlxo6B8xXF13T-oXTbieJNh7SM_14_Zzh3VaTpgKL9/s1600/1603071268358437-4.png" width="400" />
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</div><br />Don't be jealous if I had roots in just three days. I'm in the tropics. It's one of the perks. So here it is today, leaves are open. It has some catching up to do: </div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br /></div><div>So the key takeaway is, rooted plants are unidirectional. You can't just root it any which way. Pay attention to your plants people. They tell you what's going on if you stare at them long enough. </div><div><br /></div>The Knitty Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06811142184011373069noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637856527280406298.post-49367210385747970762020-10-17T08:20:00.033-07:002020-10-17T08:35:00.174-07:00Tylecodon reticulatus, Final Words on Rooting Caudiciforms (for those who might find this experience useful) One day, you're an idiot and you spend too much on a dumbass plant. Two days later, it starts oozing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJkrWchkrMwzZwuTS0N-zTZKMLYyunPvpWJqaeKvwNrX6t9E_COCsPqnEkAjA2DGiVXlghd2w1xh1n3TGN9kOaqG1HF-UXXc70TmhKfjnoVV8bD9wtiJZU304fo7GZxdYx9x-QzcL9w/s1600/20161118_164735.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJkrWchkrMwzZwuTS0N-zTZKMLYyunPvpWJqaeKvwNrX6t9E_COCsPqnEkAjA2DGiVXlghd2w1xh1n3TGN9kOaqG1HF-UXXc70TmhKfjnoVV8bD9wtiJZU304fo7GZxdYx9x-QzcL9w/w400-h225/20161118_164735.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">When your plant does this, you don't panic, you don't think. You just go in there, dig it out and start hacking it to pieces. Don't even bother thinking it over. This is NOT one of those things that will resolve themselves.</span></td></tr>
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<a name='more'></a><br />For starters, I was clearly sold a diseased plant, right. That is a different conversation. For right now, you have a sick plant oozing something frothy. I'd guess bacterial infection but I really don't know and it doesn't really matter. <div><br /></div><div>If you have this problem or anything similar---a soft, slowly decomposing part of your caudiciform or what-not--amputation is the only solution that could save what remains healthy of your plant. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, get a sharp tool that is easy for you to control and sterilize it. In this case, a box cutter with a fresh blade was used. These blades tend to be lubricated with machine oil so you need to wipe that off and then apply some alcohol or bleach, allowing the blade to dry after each application. The plant in this crisis is poisonous so a pair of gloves was also necessary.</div><div><br /></div><div>There is really no other instruction possible other than just get in there with a sharp knife and cut off the obviously decomposing parts until healthy tissue is exposed. By "healthy", in this case, it means no discolouration. In the photo below, cutting about a centimeter above that ooze was not enough. The interior of the plant trunk was still gooey. So, centimeter by centimeter, more pieces of the trunk had to come off.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhuKsvcS_Ie2OG9sVWuS73Ne8Ah1oBJmTV2KVncWD8jSpAaXH7dRzDh584qokBf_bY2-WpP6ERbNg4Mlu9F4JUnpmCiYF3RnWMcgdiN45GyNQ6-lUYpNqHlm7nnDqNLGUl-mmxILVrA/s1600/DSC_7913.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhuKsvcS_Ie2OG9sVWuS73Ne8Ah1oBJmTV2KVncWD8jSpAaXH7dRzDh584qokBf_bY2-WpP6ERbNg4Mlu9F4JUnpmCiYF3RnWMcgdiN45GyNQ6-lUYpNqHlm7nnDqNLGUl-mmxILVrA/w400-h268/DSC_7913.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Early autumn, 2016; days after arriving in the mail</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
After the hacking and slicing, I was left with three pieces that looked salvageable, except two of them looked too small and I was skeptical, already writing them off as a loss. Whatever you end up with, you will need to leave these severed pieces alone to dry. I got this particular plant in early autumn so this entire operation happened during it's growing season. (T. reticulatus are winter growers). Do not be tempted to plant it right away. <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidL-PXmfdFteASPF0VoL6qjFkd3RMIgnsocNYwftdELbTH3LmkhAenEshtFSkyVW9D5sghsWLdxhSa45haRNlYwSg3NCyQuCzAcH-XWXBYq-Z9mNkzawqGuOvNd1WB8SmcP6e2zvNGwA/s1600/dghf.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="697" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidL-PXmfdFteASPF0VoL6qjFkd3RMIgnsocNYwftdELbTH3LmkhAenEshtFSkyVW9D5sghsWLdxhSa45haRNlYwSg3NCyQuCzAcH-XWXBYq-Z9mNkzawqGuOvNd1WB8SmcP6e2zvNGwA/w400-h268/dghf.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>After pruning the mysteriously pink parts.</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
T. reticulatus are very slow. One month after being sliced up (photo above), the skin on the open cut was still only barely forming. In the flurry of reading that followed this fiasco, several experienced growers recommended allowing the cuttings to dry out for several months before even attempting to root them.<br /><br />I can not stress this enough: <b>it really does take several months</b>. In this case, a whole year. If you are one of those hopeless tinkerers that Ents would call the Fast People, your best option is to dip the open cuts in sulfur (to prevent mold/fungal growth) and then hang them out to slowly dry somewhere cool and out of sight. Then forget about them. <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDtVRLL8SVclhJbIU_8j8DvOxFIDmIwrBF7ua6aibCdNdckGa9-nsT1S-wEmugTWr7AoE8wm8rz83nfCryfkxBCcBRCVVfxpL3m1xzp-RnfUtNRffUQ_IDo-Aj93QK__BC2ce_Y7rnA/s1600/DSC_9127.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDtVRLL8SVclhJbIU_8j8DvOxFIDmIwrBF7ua6aibCdNdckGa9-nsT1S-wEmugTWr7AoE8wm8rz83nfCryfkxBCcBRCVVfxpL3m1xzp-RnfUtNRffUQ_IDo-Aj93QK__BC2ce_Y7rnA/w400-h268/DSC_9127.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">The piece on the right did not even survive long enough to reach mid-summer. <br /><br />The remaining two were potted up in early autumn--pure pumice in wide, shallow pots. I decided to use pumice because it does not stay waterlogged too long. <br /><br />The use of wide and shallow pots is to ensure that there is enough surface area for water to evaporate even quicker. What you want to achieve, in other words, are humid conditions for the buried portion of the trunk while also keeping the rest of the plant bone dry. <br /><br />Pro tip: remember that for this particular plant to get a clue that it is time for it to snap out of dormancy, it needs not just cool temperatures but also enough difference between night and day temperature. <br /><br />Fortunately, it's easy to duplicate this indoors. I kept both cuttings inside on the floor, with an 18-inch T5HO above it and right against a door to the outside. That light fixture is enough to keep it warm (around 25C) during the day and cool at night when the timer goes off. Just to make sure, I placed a sensor right against the pot and discovered that over a two-week period, night temperatures were only going down to around 18C. So I decided to peel off about 5 inches of the door insulation to allow a bit of draft to come in and cool the plants down. After a few more weeks of tinkering (patching up the insulation to about a 2-inch gap turned out to be enough), the temp in this micro-location was 25C during the day and 12-15C at night). <br /><br />During this first winter in the pot, they were watered every month from November to March the following year (2018). <br /><br />Also throughout this winter, both of the surviving pieces had to be repotted several times because I couldn't help but check their progress or the lack thereof. Maybe don't do that. I could not help it. Below, you can see one short, woody-looking root. Yes, it took that many months to grow that one measly shit. Gaah.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitkHravuLuC4cf_JxcMuo1NjF97RdZ7EiHLvZ6BsJIvVvk7J5yEU6zD4YW-erPPyhIOggBPsNHXsWaFphDfzE3ens7Z9ccc8aW6C7Ue1YczBOjFEMPsJnjftNbB52N824zc07dyge8rQ/s774/Untitled.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="774" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitkHravuLuC4cf_JxcMuo1NjF97RdZ7EiHLvZ6BsJIvVvk7J5yEU6zD4YW-erPPyhIOggBPsNHXsWaFphDfzE3ens7Z9ccc8aW6C7Ue1YczBOjFEMPsJnjftNbB52N824zc07dyge8rQ/w400-h268/Untitled.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">In any case, only the bigger piece managed to grow a couple of tendrils of root over that five-month period. The unpotting did help though---knowing where the root growth was starting helped aim the water spritz accurately so that in between the monthly soaking, I was able to directly spray the rooted area. </span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: small;">By spring of 2018, both pieces survived the winter but 2018 would be their do-or-die. Without roots, neither looked like they had enough stored energy to survive the summer. The photos below show how wrinkled and dehydrated they have become, growing leaves entirely out of stored moisture. </span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpUmtkLnBDrO3SwrBWW8EMORYIIOJngQYI_hIGnN8P1JmG5UlcwkhvA1oJio30Jw3SOy3SHf-p9bt41FDJKKmXQbqunWL0J5joBvh7qORD7sgpT_Amkwqn9UmVEQYKKU_CaiMmYBCwug/s774/DSC_0114.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpUmtkLnBDrO3SwrBWW8EMORYIIOJngQYI_hIGnN8P1JmG5UlcwkhvA1oJio30Jw3SOy3SHf-p9bt41FDJKKmXQbqunWL0J5joBvh7qORD7sgpT_Amkwqn9UmVEQYKKU_CaiMmYBCwug/s774/DSC_0114.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpUmtkLnBDrO3SwrBWW8EMORYIIOJngQYI_hIGnN8P1JmG5UlcwkhvA1oJio30Jw3SOy3SHf-p9bt41FDJKKmXQbqunWL0J5joBvh7qORD7sgpT_Amkwqn9UmVEQYKKU_CaiMmYBCwug/s774/DSC_0114.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="774" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpUmtkLnBDrO3SwrBWW8EMORYIIOJngQYI_hIGnN8P1JmG5UlcwkhvA1oJio30Jw3SOy3SHf-p9bt41FDJKKmXQbqunWL0J5joBvh7qORD7sgpT_Amkwqn9UmVEQYKKU_CaiMmYBCwug/w400-h268/DSC_0114.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>March, 2018 before going outside for spring.</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8jl6gg0v0iNxh1QNOYdKc_AdPM8qvxotZDZLn-clJCTJptGeRA019znaZZ_PSLgzlfatH2r0V1lyrGdVMlKFUA1JVtBvXsKTFm_o9fdtSs1Wy0pxJtP28_j_3PCJaTi2X2ybNTTvdGA/s774/tiyui.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="774" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8jl6gg0v0iNxh1QNOYdKc_AdPM8qvxotZDZLn-clJCTJptGeRA019znaZZ_PSLgzlfatH2r0V1lyrGdVMlKFUA1JVtBvXsKTFm_o9fdtSs1Wy0pxJtP28_j_3PCJaTi2X2ybNTTvdGA/w400-h268/tiyui.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>When checked for root growth, this one had nothing.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div>Putting the surviving cutting outdoors in March did do wonders, however. In Zone 7, that time of year is probably heaven for T. reticulatus. The photo below shows the trunk finally (after two years) plumping up. </div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8O412NdPZqltVajBtfPsfEK8Ybg4LKEiJHTVmtwgsGJTry0UPDw1dE5-U_F1jDEXEa1TNWnhUGY5FYmA3GEftGOtTB4DD8idINX_WhjGhezxuk3u7yErPiSgisDX7QbwRtVKmqyjWw/s581/DSC_0352.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="581" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8O412NdPZqltVajBtfPsfEK8Ybg4LKEiJHTVmtwgsGJTry0UPDw1dE5-U_F1jDEXEa1TNWnhUGY5FYmA3GEftGOtTB4DD8idINX_WhjGhezxuk3u7yErPiSgisDX7QbwRtVKmqyjWw/w400-h268/DSC_0352.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I took no gamble with this particular project. Kept in a screened pergola all throughout the no-frost season, it was treated twice with imidacloprid which--remember this if you remember nothing else--will kill butterflies and bees if you do not isolate treated plants. But this particular plant would not have been able to survive infestation by pests, on top of losing its entire root system. </i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Finally, here it is, four years later. This will be the last update to this post. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwDtBzGCSzur0TKzFwnoU14hoOzHsChRJTWU6rGwfzUbEYnpzZKGmgJnVFSIHfObBTfCizBJYvbo2brWq5O2Tv7SN6eWxteRcEsw0RTZQJXimNOghamltz7gVam5IQoqZqAJRT5-n1Q/s774/DSC_1382.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="774" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwDtBzGCSzur0TKzFwnoU14hoOzHsChRJTWU6rGwfzUbEYnpzZKGmgJnVFSIHfObBTfCizBJYvbo2brWq5O2Tv7SN6eWxteRcEsw0RTZQJXimNOghamltz7gVam5IQoqZqAJRT5-n1Q/w400-h268/DSC_1382.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">October, 2020. Repotted in what will be its permanent pot. I ditched the pumice and replaced it with pure red scoria, just because it's prettier. <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div>Rolling Eyeballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18086657711537765142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637856527280406298.post-58687639959850163932020-10-11T06:43:00.005-07:002020-10-16T19:01:24.052-07:00Late Bloomers and Early Risers<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8souu1s3NIDJK_cVHAHKExA3bDq8sKbygakX7G-fNjBIonZ13uDVoz0toH5ygeHyDv-eZ8ERfwGF2q3l4yBym8YEaeI_nRJSIJQuhi0HrFnBmAAWHAQyUQnm1qCbHlCw91TCOMz6a0Q/s774/DSC_1374.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="774" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8souu1s3NIDJK_cVHAHKExA3bDq8sKbygakX7G-fNjBIonZ13uDVoz0toH5ygeHyDv-eZ8ERfwGF2q3l4yBym8YEaeI_nRJSIJQuhi0HrFnBmAAWHAQyUQnm1qCbHlCw91TCOMz6a0Q/w400-h268/DSC_1374.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adenium obesum "Rik Ni Ran", grafted<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>As the weather turned from scorching to slightly less scorching in Zone 7, this is the time most of my adeniums decided to profusely bud. This is annoying. The plants themselves are ridiculously sturdy and tolerant of temperature swings that do not include freezing. But adenium buds are sensitive as shit. <span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div>These tender threats will not tolerate temperature drops at night so they have to be sheltered indoors. I'm not sure why the blooms are late this year (someone probably forgot to fertilize them and then fertilized them late in the season), but in the end, this means early retreat into the basement to preserve the flower buds. </div><div><br /></div><div>And so, everyone bloomed indoors, under a 4-bulb fluorescent panel. In that setup, the temperature is stable at 31 degrees Celsius. The outdoor temperature was still ranging over 20C but night temperatures were erratically dipping below 16C so if you have that situation, bring the budding plants in and get some fierce lighting going on for at least 8 hours. Keep them hydrated, too.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwDzZGqHiS2j3yIt1IMmp1T_LnvWhNdtIHE_EWh082p07Zmpv9XSn4XOzLMnE2YCznCpfxysouUDBJ-VYyl92rjoY7IGrHAt_sQp3L9wm-PJ1riCDI3m2DaaOCtM7Lnn0-CoOa8Q_JKA/s678/DSC_1395.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="678" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwDzZGqHiS2j3yIt1IMmp1T_LnvWhNdtIHE_EWh082p07Zmpv9XSn4XOzLMnE2YCznCpfxysouUDBJ-VYyl92rjoY7IGrHAt_sQp3L9wm-PJ1riCDI3m2DaaOCtM7Lnn0-CoOa8Q_JKA/w400-h268/DSC_1395.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A. obesum, "Fancy Girl", grafted; my last remaining adenium from Rinoa.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjrB__dEwbFSdaET7B_Uc-X87VWga-xg-UhI_kw_oqeyR1uoWTtEUVHu52f5A45vCMHOPa_bXDlf7B9Q92CHs10V6OcGqOhgW4C1AedDqbc8tVJCEGuh_F3wnZ_eWOkn9vKkqoUI632g/s871/DSC_1387.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="583" data-original-width="871" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjrB__dEwbFSdaET7B_Uc-X87VWga-xg-UhI_kw_oqeyR1uoWTtEUVHu52f5A45vCMHOPa_bXDlf7B9Q92CHs10V6OcGqOhgW4C1AedDqbc8tVJCEGuh_F3wnZ_eWOkn9vKkqoUI632g/w400-h268/DSC_1387.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Adenium obesum x crispum</i> (Dimmit), seed-grown. This is one of my reddest adeniums; one of about 8 seed-grown crosses by Mark Dimmit.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ri8Ue6hIfnh-rmv7Yt6vvw2f3WG-588xbccYmtojD70AcVGdNFAc-OWS949-HCfaRmeGzvkT6uFzNARlzZL1-Q5NL3-IIS7ILpvouVrLEjoXkehRvuYcWeS9zBR-OW1dWpav2BR08A/s774/DSC_1377.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="774" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ri8Ue6hIfnh-rmv7Yt6vvw2f3WG-588xbccYmtojD70AcVGdNFAc-OWS949-HCfaRmeGzvkT6uFzNARlzZL1-Q5NL3-IIS7ILpvouVrLEjoXkehRvuYcWeS9zBR-OW1dWpav2BR08A/w400-h268/DSC_1377.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Adenium obesum x crispum</i> (Dimmit), seed-grown<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mb9TkjK-uPLGaYRRIYu8C9tRJkENGMxPK-NR4uoDZQ8L0lg5yEoIo8M735MVYRDg3GA44ZcsgdSY6HHMynnQv2SHTr_7UFEJ3-m52rlE8dELO5PWBzqzFZRWc85ehylixSLwGz0MKw/s774/DSC_1342.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="774" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mb9TkjK-uPLGaYRRIYu8C9tRJkENGMxPK-NR4uoDZQ8L0lg5yEoIo8M735MVYRDg3GA44ZcsgdSY6HHMynnQv2SHTr_7UFEJ3-m52rlE8dELO5PWBzqzFZRWc85ehylixSLwGz0MKw/w400-h268/DSC_1342.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A. obesum</i>, "White Flora"<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLpxpNF_B_0Ss45HzXdWQHvDvHlSx56Ml7CghQ8FQ41ho1zPxiIFkvPsuA23PPuGgZSyslBUQKJsNVvhDb4nTo-rcgS-h6DjhL4slc9opIQueSLRxny_jxWBleDgwuBavDjAmclJ98GA/s697/DSC_1378.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="697" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLpxpNF_B_0Ss45HzXdWQHvDvHlSx56Ml7CghQ8FQ41ho1zPxiIFkvPsuA23PPuGgZSyslBUQKJsNVvhDb4nTo-rcgS-h6DjhL4slc9opIQueSLRxny_jxWBleDgwuBavDjAmclJ98GA/w400-h268/DSC_1378.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A. obesum</i> "Star of Black Night", seed-grown</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKBMbcleF9wA6FPsBsr5D1Axrc9-CtYgwsbNJNtXdD_FydKsF7A-AjYG64jmpKo9se49ub_H6LqP0XtLLlk7LRx4eqzRlO2o-N5wQRUP-36k5hFqTG6kFatPNFVgkGQWiWOAFQpnacdQ/s774/DSC_1340.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="774" data-original-width="518" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKBMbcleF9wA6FPsBsr5D1Axrc9-CtYgwsbNJNtXdD_FydKsF7A-AjYG64jmpKo9se49ub_H6LqP0XtLLlk7LRx4eqzRlO2o-N5wQRUP-36k5hFqTG6kFatPNFVgkGQWiWOAFQpnacdQ/s320/DSC_1340.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another Dimmit hybrid--<i>A. obesum x crispum.<br /></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Other things are blooming at the moment as well. <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMuJ8MhZCQAc4rEr8TCY8AVE8kgWlcKVB_9eg6lYsRvnV8G72g8Osk-n8JI7vp6DcNnwYerYWsRTXpa8Y-14N-J7QaJ8I5DaHVzXLaGsZJ5yhDLfQfyOP0u0dVFr2JS03TJPC1psL1uA/s774/DSC_1352.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="774" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMuJ8MhZCQAc4rEr8TCY8AVE8kgWlcKVB_9eg6lYsRvnV8G72g8Osk-n8JI7vp6DcNnwYerYWsRTXpa8Y-14N-J7QaJ8I5DaHVzXLaGsZJ5yhDLfQfyOP0u0dVFr2JS03TJPC1psL1uA/w400-h268/DSC_1352.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Echeveria minima</i>; this one has been going on since August for some reason. The plant itself is quite a shock for its resilience, considering how little care it has been getting. <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKds-X67L9TRa3x6KJNLFMkal55bJYE1c_VyxbvZtx6vtb_Jo5tS1eYpv07EijzODPS3WyV5j5WQ8mT9qNDAKAxMCvG0qf3xQhKhsbm8FDW83UkLd0dXyDYNpJp2IV9SslDZVgmvZ1rQ/s774/DSC_1356.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="774" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKds-X67L9TRa3x6KJNLFMkal55bJYE1c_VyxbvZtx6vtb_Jo5tS1eYpv07EijzODPS3WyV5j5WQ8mT9qNDAKAxMCvG0qf3xQhKhsbm8FDW83UkLd0dXyDYNpJp2IV9SslDZVgmvZ1rQ/w400-h268/DSC_1356.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ophthalmophyllum triebneri</i> ; the very idea that this mesemb is even still alive is mind-boggling enough. Then it bloomed. That flower is still going right now, more than a week after this photo was shot.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQjD841zn6CLEl9vAoE8KWr-vFDiNJbXcuk1BikDh1lM6zdebZHjAijZSRRJ7bdsVyh1cDdO_lEA4GpjCgvgFIeJ08Y6q-K7S8Rfos9TSyZTey8LcIavUZTeJNremVoG29ZZRVAzjX-g/s774/DSC_1384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="774" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQjD841zn6CLEl9vAoE8KWr-vFDiNJbXcuk1BikDh1lM6zdebZHjAijZSRRJ7bdsVyh1cDdO_lEA4GpjCgvgFIeJ08Y6q-K7S8Rfos9TSyZTey8LcIavUZTeJNremVoG29ZZRVAzjX-g/w400-h268/DSC_1384.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ophthalmophyllum verrucosum </i>MG<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmIb5hLwXFHp9tPhKX6spFQ41WgQ1T89EJ8dujDcOmLHNMHhjQX9jXmIv5C4Wh6Bc4fazljBNxm9k3CMxcmxsP3CGqcmKY4B7rZWpLfJT4h74azNICwpqBXL6ZjgXSy_CQcDxy47kzw/s844/Untitled1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="844" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmIb5hLwXFHp9tPhKX6spFQ41WgQ1T89EJ8dujDcOmLHNMHhjQX9jXmIv5C4Wh6Bc4fazljBNxm9k3CMxcmxsP3CGqcmKY4B7rZWpLfJT4h74azNICwpqBXL6ZjgXSy_CQcDxy47kzw/w400-h265/Untitled1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Conophytum pellucidum var neohallii</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />And some winter growers coming back to growth...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tfqSbZQwlFAMIZzLRXZr_rvybPkAMRU8dGZ17TgmLhupgxdb43RekpEEzOMcFvgXZhXovGx1ajhgYn1UTQew8fqw2G4-JiqhvHMHRIc2QA8o9_PwOCDIivawecERMkAtTP90kwsjUQ/s755/othona.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="755" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tfqSbZQwlFAMIZzLRXZr_rvybPkAMRU8dGZ17TgmLhupgxdb43RekpEEzOMcFvgXZhXovGx1ajhgYn1UTQew8fqw2G4-JiqhvHMHRIc2QA8o9_PwOCDIivawecERMkAtTP90kwsjUQ/w400-h266/othona.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Tylecodon ventricosus, </i>rooting successfully? Who knows. These caudiciforms pack so much energy in their fleshy trunks, you can slice off portions, stick them in pumice and they will look alive for months until the energy hoard finally runs out. They are the most annoying plants to root, requiring careful spraying for-fucking-ever. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Q4ttu37a3eonMflgif4YoOIe1YBXDaXXVUU7kgm3frTcy0WCrxzD2JTYZeyKKYA77Xoxqbn8JCTOHYm22YafMx1L8ARH11w3b-rm0Np0gwTfRdJUuSJ3e-12CStilW25ht62OOf3NQ/s774/DSC_1381.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="774" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Q4ttu37a3eonMflgif4YoOIe1YBXDaXXVUU7kgm3frTcy0WCrxzD2JTYZeyKKYA77Xoxqbn8JCTOHYm22YafMx1L8ARH11w3b-rm0Np0gwTfRdJUuSJ3e-12CStilW25ht62OOf3NQ/w400-h268/DSC_1381.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the parent plant that became etiolated after a season of neglect in, well, the dark. Unlike the nibs, though, it has not sprung back into growth yet.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqL4Lmeg4DQBifC3ovSMl6fmh14KledUWg2Bqp3oGUprLlVOxnzLAyeSng2XAfd-SYL5NIdlQr5JIn5IgpYaeQhUKvK602pxUJW50rajWdisngc-OaZOtAL0Tv_wSMIvzoBggV6LV_Q/s620/DSC_1382.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="620" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqL4Lmeg4DQBifC3ovSMl6fmh14KledUWg2Bqp3oGUprLlVOxnzLAyeSng2XAfd-SYL5NIdlQr5JIn5IgpYaeQhUKvK602pxUJW50rajWdisngc-OaZOtAL0Tv_wSMIvzoBggV6LV_Q/w400-h268/DSC_1382.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Tylecodon reticulatus. </i>It is quite possibly safely out of the woods now, four years after arriving with bubbly, stinky pink ooze squirting out of it. Pro tip: when rooting caudiciforms, you have to learn its habitat <i>and</i> give it its seasons. Read about its backstory <a href="https://kalachuchiatbp.blogspot.com/2018/03/tylecodon-reticulatus-for-those-who.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div></div>Rolling Eyeballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18086657711537765142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637856527280406298.post-15564542102385899822020-09-23T12:02:00.000-07:002020-09-23T12:02:02.779-07:00...<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/76/Ruth_Bader_Ginsburg_2016_portrait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/76/Ruth_Bader_Ginsburg_2016_portrait.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">March 15, 1933 – September 18, 2020</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p>Rolling Eyeballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18086657711537765142noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637856527280406298.post-74723857062495704282020-07-22T06:13:00.004-07:002020-10-17T07:06:55.669-07:00Separation Anxiety (Or how to separate haworthia clumps)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJT9RXFML7UUWJpkgCzGe0IGGQGPQGiNtHGK5qAJKtyWrUqOITwVYA8exDpKsi2dm85E5ySG2b34qf-oi9pYq2y9JxdQHIMiNMoPi64VBGLN3Mw45xcF4nRPIJoOGNS4NE-zNai4l6Q/s1162/DSC_1076.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1162" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJT9RXFML7UUWJpkgCzGe0IGGQGPQGiNtHGK5qAJKtyWrUqOITwVYA8exDpKsi2dm85E5ySG2b34qf-oi9pYq2y9JxdQHIMiNMoPi64VBGLN3Mw45xcF4nRPIJoOGNS4NE-zNai4l6Q/w500-h335/DSC_1076.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Not all haworthia clumps look good; or even if they do, it isn't always ideal to maintain them as clumps. Pictured above is a <i>Haworthia cooperi var dielsiana</i>, possibly my most important haworthia specimen. So we will chop it apart. Or, it turned out, the process was closer to ripping than chopping. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwy4ye4wMc0iRauRBcPzcV0i-kpw2H5uiaZkSgV1Hsb2xd10S8uNvdGmj-Lg6LOGImeAz-J7_LPFINBkHWt2VTq_ahlIwdLFh0K0Tqpgr35xEToOVMc8_07ptESUvTDE7pFxmzMqrTA/s1936/1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1296" data-original-width="1936" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwy4ye4wMc0iRauRBcPzcV0i-kpw2H5uiaZkSgV1Hsb2xd10S8uNvdGmj-Lg6LOGImeAz-J7_LPFINBkHWt2VTq_ahlIwdLFh0K0Tqpgr35xEToOVMc8_07ptESUvTDE7pFxmzMqrTA/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwy4ye4wMc0iRauRBcPzcV0i-kpw2H5uiaZkSgV1Hsb2xd10S8uNvdGmj-Lg6LOGImeAz-J7_LPFINBkHWt2VTq_ahlIwdLFh0K0Tqpgr35xEToOVMc8_07ptESUvTDE7pFxmzMqrTA/s1936/1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><i><b>A Little History: </b>Haworthia cooperi var dielseana</i> is not known to be a clumper. There are also several different <i>strains</i> in the wild that look different enough from each other while also looking exactly like other cooperi <i>varieties</i> that it boggles the mind how people know which side is up, down or sideways.<div><br /></div><div>Based entirely on a 13-second cursory check of <a href="https://haworthia-gasteria.blogspot.com/2008/02/haworthia-cooperi-var-dielsiana.html" target="_blank">Jakub Jilemický's photographs</a> of the last remaining wild populations, I strongly suspect the specimen on my bench is a <i>H. cooperi var dielseana joeyae. </i>This <i>cooperi</i> line <b><i>does</i></b> clump in the wild. My specimen just never did so until a near-fatal summer led to an unavoidable spring clean-up that injured the rosette. </div><div><br /></div><div>I've also had no success crossing this dielsiana with the other cooperis on the bench. No clue why. So the clone was the best possible outcome of experimenting on how long this plant could stay dry in summer. Well. Definitely not <i>all</i> summer. </div><div><br /></div><div>The second rosette grew out of that injury, about a third of the way up from the base leaves. In the photo below, the growth is only visible as a void between the individual leaves (around Jan 2019). By May, it had grown enough that the leaves under the emerging rosette needed to be removed to give it space and prevent it from growing deformed. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesQkkxEcqiaWrCVq_mjHfdhd_bFNBr-MsiwV7vRW6VPaTAkuDE_4ILNG4SpKelASrrJXDIux4-9Z3ncbTrMUztX52rtxvkTdaXaoVH18mGvNNKNU9sDjXiHOmjs5tIBEOYCPlo7lcog/s446/DSC_0777.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="446" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesQkkxEcqiaWrCVq_mjHfdhd_bFNBr-MsiwV7vRW6VPaTAkuDE_4ILNG4SpKelASrrJXDIux4-9Z3ncbTrMUztX52rtxvkTdaXaoVH18mGvNNKNU9sDjXiHOmjs5tIBEOYCPlo7lcog/w500-h335/DSC_0777.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That space is where I yanked out a drying (but not totally dried up) leaf the previous autumn.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqu1wRlTjgdQ4kIOr5JrsvpPzuZdDkcl_avMIHttia_vNsK_nd5EQ0IL48lEevQ6cHEyAPhnKGy0hQyMxUW04CGoXAIgfw3dW6vizdsqb7A3o2kf16kPzMo_DoXtn-k4o6ZOF3ag_Lwg/s1162/DSC_0874.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1162" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqu1wRlTjgdQ4kIOr5JrsvpPzuZdDkcl_avMIHttia_vNsK_nd5EQ0IL48lEevQ6cHEyAPhnKGy0hQyMxUW04CGoXAIgfw3dW6vizdsqb7A3o2kf16kPzMo_DoXtn-k4o6ZOF3ag_Lwg/w500-h335/DSC_0874.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Four months later, the rosette has emerged, growing in the shade of the parent rosette. You'll have to fix that or it would elongate and look weird. <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div>At this point, the pot should also be rotated regularly to ensure that the shaded rosette gets ample light to keep its compact shape. Eventually, at around June 2019, I remember unpotting this plant to check whether the new rosette could be removed. I decided it did not have enough roots on its own to effortlessly survive the separation. So it was cleaned up and planted at a different angle so that both rosettes could be alternately exposed to light. </div><div><br /></div><div>One winter and a pandemic later, the rosette had grown to about half the size of the parent. In mid-spring, I decided to unpot it again and check whether separation was possible. </div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFg3I2IMXZRsgY78OWhQl5mP13Q_RD5KKgOnVP4AdWF264lt-FGYpHI4eatUII-Z3R4CCZy9QR8OvOveNlkzrs3jYOzYpdEEF6A4CAk7hsdXXqZ8Y8_qEmL-eBpnYA8e8AE5KdveHipQ/s907/signal-2020-07-17-082604_006.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="907" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFg3I2IMXZRsgY78OWhQl5mP13Q_RD5KKgOnVP4AdWF264lt-FGYpHI4eatUII-Z3R4CCZy9QR8OvOveNlkzrs3jYOzYpdEEF6A4CAk7hsdXXqZ8Y8_qEmL-eBpnYA8e8AE5KdveHipQ/w500-h318/signal-2020-07-17-082604_006.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One year later (20 May 2020), time to check it again. It looked kind of nice growing this way. But it feels safer to grow them separately. </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vTyAl_Hi7KLVe5b5TzRBDFz7BWhgQqQgGio7d7iVgYDYlkXZAh8CsWNTxlhLnqzLpMCeaIN7MUZiMFBLqEAXxdT0Dsnd_aLPOwxad_-3CH0GqBMsTeKADOoC4rV_D6CxDnjaPYFfRA/s2048/signal-2020-07-17-082604_003.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="2048" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vTyAl_Hi7KLVe5b5TzRBDFz7BWhgQqQgGio7d7iVgYDYlkXZAh8CsWNTxlhLnqzLpMCeaIN7MUZiMFBLqEAXxdT0Dsnd_aLPOwxad_-3CH0GqBMsTeKADOoC4rV_D6CxDnjaPYFfRA/w500-h318/signal-2020-07-17-082604_003.jpeg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tangle of roots looked very good--each rosette had a goodly bundle that could support each rosette well through the remainder of spring.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gmBsUraZ5uGDa6TeoQluVU9tgrJB5ZVrIIG-jufivwinHvaTA9GLqmR-wvFm5TwT2-1fuKIMQ2h929EaHtDI4XHrkD-J68hFp1WP3oJs-D1RwY0cnvLHpdlmOLqvBXB1RKZuKK3Eqw/s714/signal-2020-07-17-082604_002.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="714" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gmBsUraZ5uGDa6TeoQluVU9tgrJB5ZVrIIG-jufivwinHvaTA9GLqmR-wvFm5TwT2-1fuKIMQ2h929EaHtDI4XHrkD-J68hFp1WP3oJs-D1RwY0cnvLHpdlmOLqvBXB1RKZuKK3Eqw/w500-h329/signal-2020-07-17-082604_002.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is no trick to ripping them apart. Just hold one rosette in your left hand and the other in your right hand. Then twist. And rip. <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZh3864KfsWh9YxJap4W1gTKZPfNb3d4OhjVou-x-y3zfk0rLx9H9D1m-V1LR8xCAfWcH9frSkbKDE-J_F6iZjvQcpWkx0Xf7DOiLWkxUAB0L9w5kqHInQuzHwvsnLyOGwv0zuNjGvCg/s867/signal-2020-07-17-082604_001.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="867" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZh3864KfsWh9YxJap4W1gTKZPfNb3d4OhjVou-x-y3zfk0rLx9H9D1m-V1LR8xCAfWcH9frSkbKDE-J_F6iZjvQcpWkx0Xf7DOiLWkxUAB0L9w5kqHInQuzHwvsnLyOGwv0zuNjGvCg/w500-h331/signal-2020-07-17-082604_001.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the parent rosette and that is where the offset was connected.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span></span>As a general rule when repotting a haworthia, let it dry out overnight and repot it the next day. Hold off watering until sundown. </div><div><br /></div><div>That's it.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiisL2O3UzmlKstKUZzRO_WqBKAqcY9DvZz2w6Ntdq0ZslEqV1kC8Bt1vSFSQKcPClJ7tjBrdytMR1yYWBLKjtZ2plN89lAJ5jmIBQbGQv5tb67grslOmrx1UDr6e_nX6y6thTsB6wdlQ/s445/DSC_1323.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="445" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiisL2O3UzmlKstKUZzRO_WqBKAqcY9DvZz2w6Ntdq0ZslEqV1kC8Bt1vSFSQKcPClJ7tjBrdytMR1yYWBLKjtZ2plN89lAJ5jmIBQbGQv5tb67grslOmrx1UDr6e_nX6y6thTsB6wdlQ/w500-h335/DSC_1323.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two months after separation.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Just a small note about watering after this operation: shallow and frequent watering is your best strategy. The idea is for the substrate to dry quickly especially if you are doing this to your haworthia after spring when it is getting rather hot and the plant is preparing to sit out the summer. This watering strategy will most probably kill your longest old roots that go all the way to the bottom of the pot but that's fine--with enough hint of moisture, it will grow new roots. What you are trying to avoid here is watering the newly separated plants so deeply that it takes too long for it to dry in between watering. The roots will melt anyway and the plant may not be able to catch up by growing new roots. </div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So, shallow watering, some dry period of a week and then shallow watering. If it is very very hot where you are (upwards of 32C in summer), bring the plants indoors where it is cooler. That way, they can be kept semi-dormant. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Alternatively, break up your clumps in either early spring or early autumn. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Rolling Eyeballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18086657711537765142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637856527280406298.post-20406999991402053122020-07-16T14:43:00.002-07:002020-07-21T09:58:38.129-07:00Spring, Summer and...other things<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdq5vdTxfkKWXgHiy8xfE0IF67ZK3Yd-mjxCYvPxEvg2QoLwHNhObpnWYH0hsWfZvS-gVoTPoxyTIumXqM2y-QpqL5EBVLVPF06BSYIAMfgMgSLNKJb9FNKnBgtGE21wggoFwymuXtQ/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="968" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdq5vdTxfkKWXgHiy8xfE0IF67ZK3Yd-mjxCYvPxEvg2QoLwHNhObpnWYH0hsWfZvS-gVoTPoxyTIumXqM2y-QpqL5EBVLVPF06BSYIAMfgMgSLNKJb9FNKnBgtGE21wggoFwymuXtQ/w480-h321/DSC_1279.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">A nice clump of blooming moss in a nice pot of sempervivum</span></i>.</td></tr>
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Winter growers are especially gorgeous in spring although that has less to do with their natural rhythm than the overlap between the conditions in habitat and the conditions in my unheated basement. But there were other things, too--this, that and the other stuff that folded all the way into summer. Also, there is cucumber, lettuce and, well, porn.</div>
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Here are a few shots and yes--we're still doing this with the phone camera.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpihZm7YXADI1E5unKVuD3mK30vAnwmuvM21S-U6qX30ZfnAEWqE408DJTiY6mAhgkacy6qGlI-96mF5LjXVtzONQJumMuTTy9Pd2hKsfYtzEY_2adDpMkKET_NOgXe0PfpI_KKnNwFg/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="968" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpihZm7YXADI1E5unKVuD3mK30vAnwmuvM21S-U6qX30ZfnAEWqE408DJTiY6mAhgkacy6qGlI-96mF5LjXVtzONQJumMuTTy9Pd2hKsfYtzEY_2adDpMkKET_NOgXe0PfpI_KKnNwFg/w480-h321/DSC_1285.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Haworthia obtusa,</i> Yamada Black</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ZA_2Pi891xjtKqh0hDwdoficCaZOG_-F4WlB5vBLmgRk7WiylRUXMV-Qms0fEdHrxpmMNyELM3lHS9U2ypG7Y_jyeanob-SFQq7PSuUGVWAG-w-lmonAu4shszZ9ynLxN0EOAZ3qmA/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="781" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ZA_2Pi891xjtKqh0hDwdoficCaZOG_-F4WlB5vBLmgRk7WiylRUXMV-Qms0fEdHrxpmMNyELM3lHS9U2ypG7Y_jyeanob-SFQq7PSuUGVWAG-w-lmonAu4shszZ9ynLxN0EOAZ3qmA/w480-h338/Untitled3.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Haworthia obtusa</i>, Black Obtusa</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKZieaflv-Cr8E-XpahgZ9EqgD9jmYyA_jyepH1et4IT6SqMCwUXjsk_BhRDVk8nRZx_AtEanYBEZV6vtBa9v-7MO-fd0prpUeK2HY7yFXON4sy6iaroPAEJSSxCwZ7hj9naU_m1gCA/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="968" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKZieaflv-Cr8E-XpahgZ9EqgD9jmYyA_jyepH1et4IT6SqMCwUXjsk_BhRDVk8nRZx_AtEanYBEZV6vtBa9v-7MO-fd0prpUeK2HY7yFXON4sy6iaroPAEJSSxCwZ7hj9naU_m1gCA/w480-h321/DSC_1282.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Aeonium tabuliforme</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFuTXZ1iW9kRFDbYry3W9ni3x_AdNObrJiGbW8jZdhjZ-e0cpRZ_O-lpLNKpfOyNJRjntEG-_JzvwAQDNhzbHTK5ERQaOF2tCvJqbaklqTWSfW2k08PuN92WXjhPBYk5eU5WJT2R9Cw/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="643" data-original-width="1073" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFuTXZ1iW9kRFDbYry3W9ni3x_AdNObrJiGbW8jZdhjZ-e0cpRZ_O-lpLNKpfOyNJRjntEG-_JzvwAQDNhzbHTK5ERQaOF2tCvJqbaklqTWSfW2k08PuN92WXjhPBYk5eU5WJT2R9Cw/w480-h288/DSC_1298.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Conophytum pellucidum var neohallii,</i> Are those fruits? They look like fruits. There could be seeds!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThJd0otmfgwfkNdKRca-pK_WdfVk8Li4BoeinWyLQU7NNE5EGD4bLVuB9qwy953h8GvfChZvWPKL1UR7z2f11uEtrVky8x2huOkVDRvLkjUfI1JiUaKiD2ThQvUyAg_2p0im1lEBt4w/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="623" data-original-width="928" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThJd0otmfgwfkNdKRca-pK_WdfVk8Li4BoeinWyLQU7NNE5EGD4bLVuB9qwy953h8GvfChZvWPKL1UR7z2f11uEtrVky8x2huOkVDRvLkjUfI1JiUaKiD2ThQvUyAg_2p0im1lEBt4w/w480-h323/Untitled2.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smorgasborg of adromischus cuttings. Too pretty to disassemble.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTTz3QwCd3I3Y0XFKkm59EQ7xGcOBK7UwAC35OrDX7Fn6vjCWg8ttNpzQOPxV1CgkmZtCQhaoJYSKy3qUSAnPeKuiEVEGDf71xm9-gFan5NmFMEXgf0panKlU9HCwruf67C1Hv6bVQw/s1600/DSC_1292.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="906" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTTz3QwCd3I3Y0XFKkm59EQ7xGcOBK7UwAC35OrDX7Fn6vjCWg8ttNpzQOPxV1CgkmZtCQhaoJYSKy3qUSAnPeKuiEVEGDf71xm9-gFan5NmFMEXgf0panKlU9HCwruf67C1Hv6bVQw/w512-h335/DSC_1292.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sulcorebutia rauschii violaceidermis</i>, upstairs against north-facing glass doors</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1095" data-original-width="1600" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDD1Ve4sEM9Kj2JUJLxCIf40kYEbvHZiRQHmxww7xHvMtYqXxYsI1xKk6F9DP204H6OfWrzXuTQY4GTIuMWSN8ZW9_O5aQ7bKbggfykll9Gs4tKxffTuS0Q_OOJfZoKyc_0b4poHB_w/w512-h349/signal-attachment-2020-04-23-200855.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="512" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Sulcorebutia rauschii violaceidermis</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">, in the basement under lights </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHHOKZ6YSlK9UfTohxQRi5BJ7QMHYYK7E271agIvTpgNhyphenhyphenqOyFNj0S66eCpVPiS0KXHHLV-W6pX316jhQgIrDko-gGYyZ3QneeSKTSS6jEVUZXdgq7FPtO5HFw-E2qd-NbJrjbRwfbQ/s1600/DSC_1299.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="968" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHHOKZ6YSlK9UfTohxQRi5BJ7QMHYYK7E271agIvTpgNhyphenhyphenqOyFNj0S66eCpVPiS0KXHHLV-W6pX316jhQgIrDko-gGYyZ3QneeSKTSS6jEVUZXdgq7FPtO5HFw-E2qd-NbJrjbRwfbQ/w512-h342/DSC_1299.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cheiridopsis peculiaris</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJ63jbi5LjHgFmEFSyL-QV3ZvdcNRm8HeNYprktZbhGYUJw9XH3XA87n9SWc508ZMdVKJT47kCNvQO-Rklbgf7eQuAF5LbJrLQKxlM1JRI4GtvIFZf-rkoK2UPGYsqQP68qtX3Q9iEw/s1600/DSC_1303.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="968" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJ63jbi5LjHgFmEFSyL-QV3ZvdcNRm8HeNYprktZbhGYUJw9XH3XA87n9SWc508ZMdVKJT47kCNvQO-Rklbgf7eQuAF5LbJrLQKxlM1JRI4GtvIFZf-rkoK2UPGYsqQP68qtX3Q9iEw/s640/DSC_1303.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Pelargonium appendiculatum, </b>blooming for the first time!</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiETcE_KA7Nx7Vt9nyt0u3tz6sofdVbGEDs67dvPZNEbBpNFWfCsEunVLgx4gHXdsmEbg46WQWWb9IWzoQc-x4g0iMwQcB3mzE5MOATGOFKnQcA6qjCaFVsEKDKcWwUzMTHQ6sCBJYPEA/s1600/DSC_1314.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1037" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiETcE_KA7Nx7Vt9nyt0u3tz6sofdVbGEDs67dvPZNEbBpNFWfCsEunVLgx4gHXdsmEbg46WQWWb9IWzoQc-x4g0iMwQcB3mzE5MOATGOFKnQcA6qjCaFVsEKDKcWwUzMTHQ6sCBJYPEA/w512-h328/DSC_1314.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Pelargonium appendiculatum, </b>a week later. These seeds have been sown although it wasn't obvious until I zoomed in to this photo that the pod might already have been empty? Check out that dispersal strategy, though! This baby evolved to fly far and away, fluff and spiral. </i></td></tr>
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<br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNv4URvAGffu32sgbu0suBRa1s_mRlyW9HBxvqAdmKOc4tJrzXEBRRIGUBLgG5EcTmGIP3f-xOKDPisLUnqf3xDyeUhI4Jxv-PiSptZzuVEdx2p168tIvQfsV1eVIyLw2_3A5D8IbZA/s1440/signal-2020-07-16-171529_004.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="1440" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNv4URvAGffu32sgbu0suBRa1s_mRlyW9HBxvqAdmKOc4tJrzXEBRRIGUBLgG5EcTmGIP3f-xOKDPisLUnqf3xDyeUhI4Jxv-PiSptZzuVEdx2p168tIvQfsV1eVIyLw2_3A5D8IbZA/w500-h323/signal-2020-07-16-171529_004.jpeg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Probably dill? No one has a clue how it got into the yard and why it is growing where it is growing. </i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid-CxgnMRXh3lUDqb5bQbDP5cplxHvfdmNLurRbNLtC9fl7-bRartlFNkS11L86eU-zQ1CetM9uwECKI9bq3XcfYC27LVF23UVay0sRxvGTAWzUgopGJkirUo3kGNwHYWeQumZvAC4Yg/s1440/signal-2020-07-16-171529_003.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="968" data-original-width="1440" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid-CxgnMRXh3lUDqb5bQbDP5cplxHvfdmNLurRbNLtC9fl7-bRartlFNkS11L86eU-zQ1CetM9uwECKI9bq3XcfYC27LVF23UVay0sRxvGTAWzUgopGJkirUo3kGNwHYWeQumZvAC4Yg/w500-h336/signal-2020-07-16-171529_003.jpeg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Potato! </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDrG1VszpVMfCLTxQak3WJ5YywX91PICUPDxjYhX2Qgf55hfnVQGxKIWsKEVHunVTsSfF-r50eWmDsDk6fO97pv37vQyjJravzxZOAjJTR4Yas_dplvShZ6cj0a-kxA7KdvayGcqJ9g/s1440/signal-2020-07-16-171529_001.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="976" data-original-width="1440" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDrG1VszpVMfCLTxQak3WJ5YywX91PICUPDxjYhX2Qgf55hfnVQGxKIWsKEVHunVTsSfF-r50eWmDsDk6fO97pv37vQyjJravzxZOAjJTR4Yas_dplvShZ6cj0a-kxA7KdvayGcqJ9g/w500-h339/signal-2020-07-16-171529_001.jpeg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Because we are growing lettuce now, this year's mantis count was even more critical than the cursory spring inventory. A lot of them had to be moved around the yard.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGjFmABN9MNbjTc4EjMSaz3Raiyue7PI8CCQNZZ0JxjIrSvOJfCfl7htkNRjMfUANq-Rko-tBi5_UUa2f8eNyU29FB4jlL_1EpNlg8053YajePaBYNALFvD4GGQ3tfnIgafx8lJmZ8Q/s720/pops.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="720" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGjFmABN9MNbjTc4EjMSaz3Raiyue7PI8CCQNZZ0JxjIrSvOJfCfl7htkNRjMfUANq-Rko-tBi5_UUa2f8eNyU29FB4jlL_1EpNlg8053YajePaBYNALFvD4GGQ3tfnIgafx8lJmZ8Q/w500-h370/pops.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turkenlois poppy. This is now four years old. <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdtUInd4xgEy7GVxvYAipRZ5A-SFrBJruDiqm9tos2XbUFY0IDKSww8TC6Qr4Tm29WfjrBw24DByniApjPW7HRMAbuPCeclCrMwEAJrmJuPB8KxTka2xNCqoZxhxbSNYrMJJJz3WFCEw/s720/frog.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="720" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdtUInd4xgEy7GVxvYAipRZ5A-SFrBJruDiqm9tos2XbUFY0IDKSww8TC6Qr4Tm29WfjrBw24DByniApjPW7HRMAbuPCeclCrMwEAJrmJuPB8KxTka2xNCqoZxhxbSNYrMJJJz3WFCEw/w500-h343/frog.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another unexplained presence in the yard. wtf. <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7R3JBiXlITMgxDHNy3eOHFY9DnCgVVevAJNALRNMG2vyP5SRfMg9ZUl72wtCN_SmqZmp78LPzBXFoCJZl9HA6rq3KOJn8azWG6uXx4xTeBP8vVzmg_C7zXeJZn1iLH4mzKy0dfS3QQ/s1440/signal-2020-07-16-171529_002.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="964" data-original-width="1440" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7R3JBiXlITMgxDHNy3eOHFY9DnCgVVevAJNALRNMG2vyP5SRfMg9ZUl72wtCN_SmqZmp78LPzBXFoCJZl9HA6rq3KOJn8azWG6uXx4xTeBP8vVzmg_C7zXeJZn1iLH4mzKy0dfS3QQ/w500-h335/signal-2020-07-16-171529_002.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lettuce porn</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7R3JBiXlITMgxDHNy3eOHFY9DnCgVVevAJNALRNMG2vyP5SRfMg9ZUl72wtCN_SmqZmp78LPzBXFoCJZl9HA6rq3KOJn8azWG6uXx4xTeBP8vVzmg_C7zXeJZn1iLH4mzKy0dfS3QQ/s1440/signal-2020-07-16-171529_002.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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Rolling Eyeballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18086657711537765142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637856527280406298.post-8919565873255667992020-03-29T07:19:00.002-07:002020-07-21T09:59:18.123-07:00Hmmm. Photodump From Inside the Philippine Lockdown<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw4fw4C024tYI9qfzyTaXLaZvanwnRTnUI3AjGAYHuLhwfnqqUujK6w6u_XLe2v_gm0GkIXFGendFSNNF7vS2_XJTkgWXNbrgRtsq1vPEaxvymx7OBA58-Uxpbh0BT7B5jOj5r5hD3ew/s1600/signal-attachment-2020-03-26-222918.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="979" data-original-width="1332" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw4fw4C024tYI9qfzyTaXLaZvanwnRTnUI3AjGAYHuLhwfnqqUujK6w6u_XLe2v_gm0GkIXFGendFSNNF7vS2_XJTkgWXNbrgRtsq1vPEaxvymx7OBA58-Uxpbh0BT7B5jOj5r5hD3ew/w512-h374/signal-attachment-2020-03-26-222918.jpeg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Philippines on lockdown: Bougainvilla being glorious</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Random rebutia (?) aggressively fuschia-ing</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4MOv8Ig6Frgfbo3IED9yXey9WcKbGfM2LS3kTg4HZxg0Jv77jwOMy5M38qNr1-ZbcGwnz1pWVW3PJxy26j2aCfN3AjkLiphPMfopqcfkkATAShK4vDdUBQr01MWrZvSlpzBbv5j9u0iR/s640/20200328_141610.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dyckia</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4MOv8Ig6Frgfbo3IED9yXey9WcKbGfM2LS3kTg4HZxg0Jv77jwOMy5M38qNr1-ZbcGwnz1pWVW3PJxy26j2aCfN3AjkLiphPMfopqcfkkATAShK4vDdUBQr01MWrZvSlpzBbv5j9u0iR/s1600/20200328_141610.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLm_KYfD92lVggQ4eDVG92_PQJuCOQutgLbJe8Un8c8c8bBzvzSEKPCTpk9Bb7QaeYIVpb3aCiU8jyCyeiFChiEaKpadufZt28wUvFlQbBR9bN9cPbY850ClFTvbLcwT9sIbPih8wNss5/s1600/20200328_143122.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLm_KYfD92lVggQ4eDVG92_PQJuCOQutgLbJe8Un8c8c8bBzvzSEKPCTpk9Bb7QaeYIVpb3aCiU8jyCyeiFChiEaKpadufZt28wUvFlQbBR9bN9cPbY850ClFTvbLcwT9sIbPih8wNss5/s640/20200328_143122.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aloe of some kind</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeHEYtzHHk8OgmBsWkxfNJvgMmesCeGtmFMzOXpQBPYh2bJy7q4mLIZGUTVXpfvkMypwGbMrLBvrC049UMtFKtyyepGzWvpbtjcn13o3yT2mnan_7ehesgoTrkDkFaFzekhByNb_l73wI/s1600/20200328_144704.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeHEYtzHHk8OgmBsWkxfNJvgMmesCeGtmFMzOXpQBPYh2bJy7q4mLIZGUTVXpfvkMypwGbMrLBvrC049UMtFKtyyepGzWvpbtjcn13o3yT2mnan_7ehesgoTrkDkFaFzekhByNb_l73wI/s640/20200328_144704.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A plant lol</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfaclnnyLLV2NNoihAIJkUHgBul0WpNLVQ8o0AQDgGFFrHvzIW7DYPSYf3i68oVyzFPYCJtNPzTzMGDfT1Ki2rTCxCcmuVKXA2Zzty7bA-owiWE4QnKOw5OM5hBk0qBPH0oD-1zTENzLT/s1600/20200328_144730.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfaclnnyLLV2NNoihAIJkUHgBul0WpNLVQ8o0AQDgGFFrHvzIW7DYPSYf3i68oVyzFPYCJtNPzTzMGDfT1Ki2rTCxCcmuVKXA2Zzty7bA-owiWE4QnKOw5OM5hBk0qBPH0oD-1zTENzLT/s640/20200328_144730.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gasteria in a bowl</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Zznob9G5_OUrszlLgKx0516LZwJfxedRZtt8qsS-FLZzn0Em5Gi8hWpwX6wRN0__r0VqbV4kp_IBpd9wDM7ubzhJDV7wG-o1Da0qENklVSb-Fnh61hUHjHTfofqjQVvHBxUPq9BWfub2/s640/20200328_144834.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another cuppa, rescued gasteria</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuUL1Splmmrwu3uKf20ejVDkWrMAzHU-Tk-VPz1mlWL-PoLzZkJRgBOWfpfXX1iPdBychLcoCvd-ZIT-7CcI5IYDse6_29fY-LphNn1RoOYsDtxSIMbAsqDAbH7W3gwE5yjWz611ghEw/s1600/signal-attachment-2020-03-26-193004.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1167" data-original-width="1332" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuUL1Splmmrwu3uKf20ejVDkWrMAzHU-Tk-VPz1mlWL-PoLzZkJRgBOWfpfXX1iPdBychLcoCvd-ZIT-7CcI5IYDse6_29fY-LphNn1RoOYsDtxSIMbAsqDAbH7W3gwE5yjWz611ghEw/w512-h448/signal-attachment-2020-03-26-193004.jpeg" width="512" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicCjvnpNOJXzHFCOWcZtTkh-qIQKEetpjM5PfVHqwIcfBcd4GnKEhPKIg5DaIsY7aj4DWi5UvHYsGKbD5WI8gbws8km3nmE1PvB4GX4XIoFBYZ_3zTdCENUitXcVE6dLsmwwPm01vXOQ/s1600/signal-attachment-2020-03-27-184605.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="981" data-original-width="1332" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicCjvnpNOJXzHFCOWcZtTkh-qIQKEetpjM5PfVHqwIcfBcd4GnKEhPKIg5DaIsY7aj4DWi5UvHYsGKbD5WI8gbws8km3nmE1PvB4GX4XIoFBYZ_3zTdCENUitXcVE6dLsmwwPm01vXOQ/w512-h376/signal-attachment-2020-03-27-184605.jpeg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Again, just because it's gorgeous</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO9YKSc3esmKbZ9HlG-K5z10K_G_dxj7YXpFLRG9pWbd33ckeM2yr1MN6MO-mQAEPLcFBxtjRGRlg0meGDNLQx7GAt7eYThBmHyLHsu9f7XVlJdhW-RHMSkjhzVEBktnxruzyfejw4lg/s1600/signal-attachment-2020-03-25-091017.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="930" data-original-width="1332" height="357" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO9YKSc3esmKbZ9HlG-K5z10K_G_dxj7YXpFLRG9pWbd33ckeM2yr1MN6MO-mQAEPLcFBxtjRGRlg0meGDNLQx7GAt7eYThBmHyLHsu9f7XVlJdhW-RHMSkjhzVEBktnxruzyfejw4lg/w512-h357/signal-attachment-2020-03-25-091017.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not a plant.</td></tr>
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<br />The Knitty Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06811142184011373069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637856527280406298.post-73447901852046628192020-03-20T14:29:00.002-07:002020-07-22T13:54:19.498-07:00Well. Shit. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoAOW1tZlDGWDy9VsV3pVmVT-mLyMhY6H3-zWvkcfEmBv5344CLXIDgk4GCrbgUqd-LT823nu0EVQB3wmTKgae-ntWZCTnnr5crfj7_R9zRMz6R8KzTriazZzM1yjX8WIHNT8jAJnx9g/s1600/20200320_122720.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1102" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoAOW1tZlDGWDy9VsV3pVmVT-mLyMhY6H3-zWvkcfEmBv5344CLXIDgk4GCrbgUqd-LT823nu0EVQB3wmTKgae-ntWZCTnnr5crfj7_R9zRMz6R8KzTriazZzM1yjX8WIHNT8jAJnx9g/w513-h334/20200320_122720.jpg" width="513" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Echevaria setosa, under T5HOs for winter. This was acquired in 2017; I don't know how this is still alive.</i></td></tr>
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Here's the thing: I can't find the charger for my Nikon batteries. So, for the two of you reading this, we are going to regale you with top-quality blurred photos taken with our cellphones (are they even still called that? Smartphones?).<br />
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Let's not fuck around--the reason for this stunning blog revival that absolutely no one has been waiting/asking for is because Kirkwall just slithered into Act III. Yes, I know it is unlikely that a statement like that will make sense to anyone but it is otherwise impossible to explain the depth and breadth of the low, ground-trembling vibration of slow-mo toilet flushing before...well. Spoilers.<br />
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Be that as it may---Hello, Blank and Empty Ether! We are back. When I find my battery charger, the photos will marginally improve. For now, the opening salvo is this random collection of things still growing indoors or growing on Knitty Kitty's veranda.<br />
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It's been peace and generally growing merrily without comment since the Weeping Angels in 2018 but today, shockingly, all of us are indoors. It's a stark reunion. Oh, hello, plants. Look at you, still alive. I imagine a collective derisive snort from the shelves.<br />
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"How do you like being stuck indoors now, bitch," they grumble succulently.<br />
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We will ignore that drama because this Rik Ni Ran naturally stood out, blooming out of season as usual. This is one adenium variety that just doesn't give a shit what time of year it is, as long as it is warm and vigorously-lit.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Xb021fMq7Gd4HUFvNQoiaK6Wb4f5S2kxIxMfUlROBPEJJCPgU-AxnmIZipRfJfEqDqZ79DvDIisKWgoWSPccWIRkiA_PXMC1o6eVkX4r8klxQ2GRU2Yrc__jE_Lmkcyj2JhxQUrKew/s1600/20200320_122631.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="934" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Xb021fMq7Gd4HUFvNQoiaK6Wb4f5S2kxIxMfUlROBPEJJCPgU-AxnmIZipRfJfEqDqZ79DvDIisKWgoWSPccWIRkiA_PXMC1o6eVkX4r8klxQ2GRU2Yrc__jE_Lmkcyj2JhxQUrKew/w512-h331/20200320_122631.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>In this case, even a T5HO will do. The Rik Ni Ran will retain its shape and, if fed regularly, will continue to bloom in winter. Twelve to fourteen hours of light, just fyi. Also, I have all my adeniums growing in 50-50 soil and pumice now. It's just easier to keep up with their water requirement that way. In pure gritty mix, I'd have to water them very often while they are growing. </i></td></tr>
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That echevaria above is pretty cool, but it's been a boring plant for years now; surprising only because it hasn't died. Apparently, it's a low-maintenance plant. So is this...um..cactus-thing; something I grabbed near the cashier at a produce market years ago. It doesn't even have its own folder in my database so it's <i>that</i> important. It blooms almost non-stop, however.<br />
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Knitty Kitty has this one, if significantly more breath-taking:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj463VBClvJEXNsBgvb0Rew9KLzf3WR8V0vMfmMLw-sSv4dtwzc7t6n8x38uVL0-wNv-A73El3ohqOsxoFGKWVLICV86eWZckWcb1FSs2v3njIXA1Yu6d6ngcbUEAE9xitstVuNGZvy8g/s1600/signal-attachment-2020-03-18-182813.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="1285" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj463VBClvJEXNsBgvb0Rew9KLzf3WR8V0vMfmMLw-sSv4dtwzc7t6n8x38uVL0-wNv-A73El3ohqOsxoFGKWVLICV86eWZckWcb1FSs2v3njIXA1Yu6d6ngcbUEAE9xitstVuNGZvy8g/w512-h349/signal-attachment-2020-03-18-182813.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>No clue about the ID. </i></td></tr>
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Finally, behold the<i> Tylecodon buchholzianus</i>. This plant was acquired in July last year, for reasons that escape me at the moment. It is spending the winter under an LED light panel--those horrific things I call blurples. Most tylecodons are winter growers but will not tolerate even a slight frost so this one has been on the floor, right against the French doors where it was kept sufficiently cold by whatever draft managed to escape the door seal. This particular tylecodon species can photosynthesize through those stem nodules so if it is getting enough light, it will stop growing leaves. Hence all the dry bits you can see here.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSi1F_bG4CW8vMjok-4wj9ehDeHzCaWIqFD-JNzqVlRi-2KTkuqVHxhmdFFZddfMTTTXrylrJ5LZKDsJiPxWKlgbYlK0y0FW5bASKcldqDkater9ATd5h-hGYhvTiQPNx3ZmSB3GzAow/s1600/20200320_131436.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="721" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSi1F_bG4CW8vMjok-4wj9ehDeHzCaWIqFD-JNzqVlRi-2KTkuqVHxhmdFFZddfMTTTXrylrJ5LZKDsJiPxWKlgbYlK0y0FW5bASKcldqDkater9ATd5h-hGYhvTiQPNx3ZmSB3GzAow/w512-h336/20200320_131436.jpg" width="512" /></a></div>
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This is as far as we will go for now. I'm going to hunt down the plants that should be dead by now (just based on rapid drop-deading these species have done in the past) but are still strangely alive. There is a surprising number of them lurking in the shelves. The not-shocking common denominator seems to be neglect. Hmp. </div>
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Shut up and wash your hands, Blank and Empty Ether. </div>
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Rolling Eyeballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18086657711537765142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637856527280406298.post-20432998326141079892018-12-24T09:09:00.002-08:002020-07-22T13:53:53.719-07:00Holidays!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj53z_oJPctpCEVjHoY7uXcYLt9FHb2Fvb5GdmbI1onWuU2rBeJuIVFafT6VwyqFVPVC_c5W1651PNvfZ6-m6JBTl9fYuuaR-hoYCr3W4GxPZ8mWKgCnXh-C5IKYwK8CkZTEB1a9MOynA/s1600/weeping-angels.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="774" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj53z_oJPctpCEVjHoY7uXcYLt9FHb2Fvb5GdmbI1onWuU2rBeJuIVFafT6VwyqFVPVC_c5W1651PNvfZ6-m6JBTl9fYuuaR-hoYCr3W4GxPZ8mWKgCnXh-C5IKYwK8CkZTEB1a9MOynA/w512-h342/weeping-angels.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ignore everything else, just go straight to dessert!</td></tr>
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<br />Rolling Eyeballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18086657711537765142noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637856527280406298.post-65811679959152477362018-07-30T06:08:00.001-07:002020-08-12T08:31:39.531-07:00Adromischus: If You Ignore Them, They Will Thrive<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii91vRtAA2yJVTALmniJTlVNZi9f24GG3JkHk1w-CB1-QBMHkEEbRbjR3AVaB7BAd7nJgpn4cY7gxhfoaREE3n60zpPIVthGOxDeitqYaZi9sglPQIcU-iENwvdryI9Odsm0Uf5prinQ/s1600/29jul2018.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1114" data-original-width="1600" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii91vRtAA2yJVTALmniJTlVNZi9f24GG3JkHk1w-CB1-QBMHkEEbRbjR3AVaB7BAd7nJgpn4cY7gxhfoaREE3n60zpPIVthGOxDeitqYaZi9sglPQIcU-iENwvdryI9Odsm0Uf5prinQ/w512-h355/29jul2018.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adromischus marianae "Little Crusty Sphaeroid"</td></tr>
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<a name='more'></a>These little slowpokes are opportunists. They'll remain active if you can keep them between 16C and 35C. Most adromischus need adequate light to stay compact, though--dappled sun or under a thin shade cloth. Their roots are thin and hair-like but dense and vigorous enough to be able to colonize a small pot of very porous material (in this case, pure pumice).<br />
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Now, everything I said above is true for established plants. If you are getting them for the first time, you have to be careful transitioning them to the way you grow things. Water them generously the first time you pot them, then forget about them for a while, until you see new growth. After that, you're mostly home free as long as you keep them within the temp range mentioned above.<br /><br /><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJw9PD3PwTFbXz-AQ1d0Y54b8Q_jmWjcSWmIha-d7R0RioFAURsYT1iu3dD7Gis1Nr4OXqyYp0eLBLifkacH4OxJuwkGSBBehhW3ECJt83zGNQVzaxlK2EUALPpRh2WP7_jhIzH3S03A/s1600/29-july-2018.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="799" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJw9PD3PwTFbXz-AQ1d0Y54b8Q_jmWjcSWmIha-d7R0RioFAURsYT1iu3dD7Gis1Nr4OXqyYp0eLBLifkacH4OxJuwkGSBBehhW3ECJt83zGNQVzaxlK2EUALPpRh2WP7_jhIzH3S03A/w512-h368/29-july-2018.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adromischus cristatus</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdXKQdOtYIFaphVGf7r_zRiyigmzSCOeZUKwkpqv-XkBdJEs-T5XJubENoxTw5Gh3tlaE1ZImzxPPugujdYpRnkO2Dc8v-BoF7am1z-n31JSKaUXOEFrspaJy1VXoZItKSqXwnS7-K4Q/s1600/31jul18.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1147" data-original-width="1600" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdXKQdOtYIFaphVGf7r_zRiyigmzSCOeZUKwkpqv-XkBdJEs-T5XJubENoxTw5Gh3tlaE1ZImzxPPugujdYpRnkO2Dc8v-BoF7am1z-n31JSKaUXOEFrspaJy1VXoZItKSqXwnS7-K4Q/w512-h366/31jul18.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="plant_main_scientific_name_header"><a class="label_link" href="http://www.llifle.com/Encyclopedia/SUCCULENTS/Family/Crassulaceae/Adromischus/">Adromischus</a> marianae f. alveolatus</span>,</i> commonly know as "Lime Drops"</td></tr>
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<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqo3fQLPsIoG07oGvUOjpE58ZJ4J-KJLWJ3bfeRFkilJZTrxWOpUuXSR8xjdhsmLEcBCiKkCQrFCw-l345dv4HdsIUX0Vl8Tt5JCEvWNCwrVlmyo06v5I8Q0tQ5_Rbvztb6PEx1CBiRw/s2048/DSC_8024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1345" data-original-width="2048" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqo3fQLPsIoG07oGvUOjpE58ZJ4J-KJLWJ3bfeRFkilJZTrxWOpUuXSR8xjdhsmLEcBCiKkCQrFCw-l345dv4HdsIUX0Vl8Tt5JCEvWNCwrVlmyo06v5I8Q0tQ5_Rbvztb6PEx1CBiRw/w512-h336/DSC_8024.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidy-AQ6MexJpD0R5TzGnnnzL_pGklo288BJ3TCDk9aUg0y22CGnWIuOWovai7w111-brmC4TOfDKjQB3DGzbNfnIOkws5PU1NCw8KmMKFDi8RKh4WsJKPf0s-996_pW7VLc4UsZmjQAQ/s2048/DSC_8030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1353" data-original-width="2048" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidy-AQ6MexJpD0R5TzGnnnzL_pGklo288BJ3TCDk9aUg0y22CGnWIuOWovai7w111-brmC4TOfDKjQB3DGzbNfnIOkws5PU1NCw8KmMKFDi8RKh4WsJKPf0s-996_pW7VLc4UsZmjQAQ/w512-h338/DSC_8030.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVk0t-ouz0m6NGVVC2j87yQzLXatKFfWCX1nykcdD-FlG6AlefkHtJAbd-4lJefXP5DQRW-AjtnZwLCCP65nmNsMPbNYWzIMdqGhVx6EYra-lhyphenhyphens5hTwGkC_X1Ey-Ph_zemslPlPBCdQ/s1960/Untitled1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1254" data-original-width="1960" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVk0t-ouz0m6NGVVC2j87yQzLXatKFfWCX1nykcdD-FlG6AlefkHtJAbd-4lJefXP5DQRW-AjtnZwLCCP65nmNsMPbNYWzIMdqGhVx6EYra-lhyphenhyphens5hTwGkC_X1Ey-Ph_zemslPlPBCdQ/w512-h328/Untitled1.jpg" width="512" /></a></div>Rolling Eyeballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18086657711537765142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637856527280406298.post-4282312102384421692018-07-22T07:36:00.000-07:002020-07-09T15:51:08.694-07:00White Egret Orchid<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJ82QYJWzBF-eJpwJU3wwXdMuAS0QRcIS3Pk1fdsAQiaH0M5RFtU8hJ8ra1FXgfaZLj3PHP9KkR9lPBhbmVrEtnmfb7_tQ8OG-hAb9g-dq4vvdzx9CWRL2zzQ1ni-HHaiS6r2LaYDeg/s1600/Untitled1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="1280" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJ82QYJWzBF-eJpwJU3wwXdMuAS0QRcIS3Pk1fdsAQiaH0M5RFtU8hJ8ra1FXgfaZLj3PHP9KkR9lPBhbmVrEtnmfb7_tQ8OG-hAb9g-dq4vvdzx9CWRL2zzQ1ni-HHaiS6r2LaYDeg/s640/Untitled1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">After a gazillion attempts at keeping orchids alive, one of these fuckers just have to survive long enough to bloom. </span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Habenaria radiata</i></td></tr>
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<br />
<a name='more'></a>I grow this one in semi-hydro, using something called <i>kanuma</i> which, I am told, is an acidic, naturally-weathered clay material. It's a very delicate plant, in that I discovered it can not survive the whipping winds on the deck where I had it growing in full sun and heat.<br />
<br />
So, right now it is propped up by three lava rocks inside my plant shelter where it bloomed. So, out came the tripod, camera and extension tubes (the blooms are only about a couple of centimeters big). I'll at least get a few shots in before the plant starts vacillating between being alive, dormant or dead.<br />
<br />
There is a second corm in the pot but that one was completely mowed down by the wind and the growth eventually withered. That one might have to be dug up sooner than later.<br />
<br />
If this batch dies, though, I'll definitely try it again. Those flowers are definitely worth the effort of getting it right eventually. Rolling Eyeballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18086657711537765142noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637856527280406298.post-38686877445482257722018-03-20T05:37:00.002-07:002018-03-24T11:36:43.856-07:00Part 2: Succulent Terrarium: DIY<b>Part II: Succulent Terrarium Construction</b><br />
<br />
Exactly what will it take to build a succulent terrarium that will not eventually succumb to the serious and fundamental flaw in the very idea of putting succulents in a terrarium? <b><br /></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXqNYc-n3l1OchpTqlpQaqSlqXSnCR6CpC9NcQF2F7gNA2Kxrh2tRQlOn1__FamLCn-_CAn8amQCZlIJR_HLyAtbXx1hxhKZPrweNkndjeqc885WV8oU0mDnrZCXyRQFheWTRvSQqosQ/s1600/DSC_0026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="815" data-original-width="572" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXqNYc-n3l1OchpTqlpQaqSlqXSnCR6CpC9NcQF2F7gNA2Kxrh2tRQlOn1__FamLCn-_CAn8amQCZlIJR_HLyAtbXx1hxhKZPrweNkndjeqc885WV8oU0mDnrZCXyRQFheWTRvSQqosQ/s320/DSC_0026.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
<b>First things first:</b><br />
If you have not read the introduction to this project, go back and read it first; the succeeding discussion will not make sense otherwise. <br />
<br />
<b> </b><br />
To summarize, though, our succulent terrarium will have to provide the following conditions in order to succeed for longer than two weeks:<br />
1. air movement<br />
2. low humidity<br />
3. very short wet-pot period (i.e. rapid evaporation)<br />
4. rapid drainage<br />
5. high light conditions<br />
6. heat<br />
Why? Because evolution. <a href="https://kalachuchiatbp.blogspot.ca/2018/03/q-how-do-you-make-succulent-terrarium.html">See related post.</a><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b></b><br />
<a name='more'></a><b>Materials and Preparation</b><br />
To try and achieve all that stuff I listed above, just off the top of my head, we need the following materials: <br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Sealable container, typically glass. But for this project, for ease of demonstration, I'm using something plastic and easy to cut</li>
<li>Sterilized potting substrate; typically just soil. But since we're planting succulents, we will use pure pumice.</li>
<li>Some kind of cutting tool, a box cutter, say.</li>
<li>Computer case fan</li>
<li>Sacrificial succulent plant. </li>
<li>Hygrometer</li>
</ul>
Step 1: Cut an opening on the lid of your terrarium jar. This is hard to do with glass so if you are using glass, I recommend instead to get an acrylic sheet. You can get a 12-inch square of the material which is also available in various thicknesses. Then cut it down to size so that it is flush against the rim of your jar or container. After that, cut a hole so that the case fan will fit nicely. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1CbcqxsQ6xbn3tXDthmeReBnPwCIkoMjy1rb6YM7vSQNdd3Wk8Gv2S10fHdEa9utOtKHUhpM7mmRcRNGnnM_lGAbSG8iT_a0CwbMayRbmBKjgqslL5Myx_ghKEWvKXVJgBzD7VL2HQ/s1600/DSC_0028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="774" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1CbcqxsQ6xbn3tXDthmeReBnPwCIkoMjy1rb6YM7vSQNdd3Wk8Gv2S10fHdEa9utOtKHUhpM7mmRcRNGnnM_lGAbSG8iT_a0CwbMayRbmBKjgqslL5Myx_ghKEWvKXVJgBzD7VL2HQ/s640/DSC_0028.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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So, now we have a nice container with a fan on top of it for fresh air to be blown into the plant. For this project, I used a 120-mm case fan plugged in to a 12-volt USB socket. <br />
<br />
The intake, however, will need an out. I want to airflow to come from the top and exit as close to the top of the soil line. The idea is to also ventilate the pumice and help it dry out faster. So, windows! And since growing medium for succulents also need to drain fast, this
baby is going to need a drainage hole. If I don't put a drainage hole,
that water will sit there and eventually drown my succulent.<br />
<br />
So, why don't I just NOT water the plant, then? Why not just spray it carefully so that it gets moisture just enough to water the plant but not so much that the fan can not dry it out? Well. To start with, that will require uncorking the top to get the spray in. Worse, though, it will get the plant leaves wet---something you don't want to do to a succulent even when it isn't in a terrarium. Succulent plants have a rapid and exaggerated response to water so you don't want to trip off that response every time you water such a contained environment. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGzxk5Y5Otzs2L0NyEN05TZVwwiBWzcnnIfi-xdFSj5AmQVJmYOFbLz3Ka8FLQ-t35nfyM5auUiFHA0emU9DjFG0aDo9iGBsRV8j8cRe0BhvYAEsb4tSiakUtU3UZqwzNkQ0q6-VAIFg/s1600/DSC_0036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="583" data-original-width="890" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGzxk5Y5Otzs2L0NyEN05TZVwwiBWzcnnIfi-xdFSj5AmQVJmYOFbLz3Ka8FLQ-t35nfyM5auUiFHA0emU9DjFG0aDo9iGBsRV8j8cRe0BhvYAEsb4tSiakUtU3UZqwzNkQ0q6-VAIFg/s640/DSC_0036.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">So, I cut four holes at the bottom of the container and two holes on opposite sides just above the line where I plan to fill it up with substrate. </span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQrkteDrPsX0tZE838OsRIuPhfrdr5jMue4YO5H8ZbWVU5mj0oRS0KD6jolMYmFNdyoHU0nw6byy3DL1jUyvJBNG7K4Fe_PjBF5yNK1xnZAGohWj89YOjs0Y9I2HcKw3VIt1miEbKRA/s1600/DSC_0095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="691" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQrkteDrPsX0tZE838OsRIuPhfrdr5jMue4YO5H8ZbWVU5mj0oRS0KD6jolMYmFNdyoHU0nw6byy3DL1jUyvJBNG7K4Fe_PjBF5yNK1xnZAGohWj89YOjs0Y9I2HcKw3VIt1miEbKRA/s320/DSC_0095.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
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To maximize the air intake, I decided to seal the mounted case fan onto the lead using hot glue. Filled up to the appropriate depth with substrate (akadama, in this case, because it is what I have), here is finally what, in theory, a viable succulent terrarium should look like.<br />
<br />
This case fan will now have to be connected to an 12-volt DC adapter and ran 24/7. <br />
<br />
Now, imagine you had to do this with a glass container. Imagine further the lensing effect of glass and how it is likely to fry the plant inside. This means that if this terrarium had been glass, it will have to stay out of direct sunlight. Given that it will not get as much light that most succulents need, whatever plant will go into such a jar will etiolate (i.e. stretch out towards the light instead of growing compact). <br />
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So. I'm going to look for a disposable plant (turned out I don't have any) that I can test this thing with. To be furthered!<br />
<br />Rolling Eyeballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18086657711537765142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637856527280406298.post-85601217741504134962018-03-12T18:49:00.003-07:002020-12-29T11:25:15.664-08:00Q&A: Part 1: How do you make a succulent terrarium?<div dir="auto">
This blogpost will probably offend you so stop reading; this is going to be a snarkfest.<br />
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It is impossible to tone it down because...well, <i>succulent terrariums</i>. This is by far my favorite idea to filter down from the Flakeworld, along with crystal therapy for cats, and homeopathy. And what's not to like? The photos are always beautiful, elegantly understated, evoking thoughts of sunny skies and youthful sparkle. And they look like they take care of themselves!<br />
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But, like all well-packaged bullshit, you don't realize you're chewing on fecal matter until you've swallowed it.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR94JhNVNtqTc5NKtsgmB9Djrl4PydeIYbvbJU5bek75FvT-w71u14aDbZY8ONCPDsyqHSyPx5e6JZXPZ0-RbxL4sFyd920Ov5Ja1I_Tp3rICDHDLu7GEXMS7sljNwqiQTMS__Uj61TA/s1600/succulent_terrarium_large.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR94JhNVNtqTc5NKtsgmB9Djrl4PydeIYbvbJU5bek75FvT-w71u14aDbZY8ONCPDsyqHSyPx5e6JZXPZ0-RbxL4sFyd920Ov5Ja1I_Tp3rICDHDLu7GEXMS7sljNwqiQTMS__Uj61TA/w512-h384/succulent_terrarium_large.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption">This one, for example, was being sold for $125. It is, without a doubt,
at once breathtakingly beautiful and inevitably fatal to the plant. Know
that whenever you buy one of these things, you're paying for the
gesture, not the idea. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ThDzTnW9Wr0iy_mH_w9o0TjhQx7-YSelzIe1BenK4MbXx8x9Qrh7f-GSREXlzXQGqDaulqXGreIRNWrqWhfihTMJ34dDc6oZmwnPo3wGMV3UlXx_UkhEzg9-K9efW1zmJyVq_653Gw/s1600/20170325_094632.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ThDzTnW9Wr0iy_mH_w9o0TjhQx7-YSelzIe1BenK4MbXx8x9Qrh7f-GSREXlzXQGqDaulqXGreIRNWrqWhfihTMJ34dDc6oZmwnPo3wGMV3UlXx_UkhEzg9-K9efW1zmJyVq_653Gw/w512-h288/20170325_094632.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption">Then, there is this mass-produced abomination that takes the concept out
of the hands of casual hobbyist to a different level: the mass market
.I applaud the creativity, but if these are being sold as anything other
than succulent plant coffins, that's just rude.</td></tr>
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<a name='more'></a>Let us start this conversation by trying to reach an agreement on exactly what a terrarium is. This is not a matter of opinion. "Terrarium" is a word that means something specific and it is this: an enclosed container with plants in it. </div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqI4cQDDa5zDM72yH6t7ZCj0to2fLsmdHB2Rygsq9iAuVrG6zAdFj_rPqRF3bjje5lHUeyeH2xE9yo3NXgyGFnrXCgOCY0ozP-tiVt9xroPBPW2DHXlrOhQ9AX5SR0LzDtllt0-QCTQ/s1600/This-Sealed-Bottle-Garden-Has-Been-Thriving-Since-1972-Without-Being-Watered-1-600x627.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqI4cQDDa5zDM72yH6t7ZCj0to2fLsmdHB2Rygsq9iAuVrG6zAdFj_rPqRF3bjje5lHUeyeH2xE9yo3NXgyGFnrXCgOCY0ozP-tiVt9xroPBPW2DHXlrOhQ9AX5SR0LzDtllt0-QCTQ/s320/This-Sealed-Bottle-Garden-Has-Been-Thriving-Since-1972-Without-Being-Watered-1-600x627.jpg" width="306" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what a successful terrarium looks like.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Pictured here is David Latimer from Cranleigh, Surrey <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2267504/The-sealed-bottle-garden-thriving-40-years-fresh-air-water.html" target="_blank">(Daily Mail UK)</a>, with his bottle garden that was reportedly planted in 1960 and has not been watered since 1972. This is the quintessential terrarium. <br />
<br />
The idea is to put plants in a sealed container so it can be grown in a controlled environment. People who like jungle plants have to do this in temperate or dry regions where humidity fluctuates down to near-nothing. A sealed terrarium will maintain high humidity and if placed somewhere appropriate, will remain warm even without heating. The plant goes about its business and once the correct balance of nutrients and moisture has been achieved, it settles down to its own rhythm and you can pretty much leave it alone. It has reached homeostasis. <br />
<br />
Over time, people started making what they call "open" terrariums to make things less stressful. Sealed terrariums are trouble-free when they succeed but getting them to that point is not easy. Open terrariums require constant care but it spares you from start-up failures. Even open, it still achieves much of the primary goal of terrariums---high humidity and heat. These open terrariums are typically open jars, fancy globes and open fishbowls as well as leaky glass boxes. <b>They are enclosed but not sealed.</b> These are typically easier to maintain because it makes the plants accessible and easy to troubleshoot. Every time you open a sealed terrarium, you are basically restarting the process of reaching the appropriate equilibrium described above. An open terrarium does not have to reach that equilibrium, you just have to keep fixing it if it tilts out of whack. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFh2L68oMmvZYz3ez-boCWrJdd_3TJJxr-SOcEycB2_VxReqsYAttBWj8xmX669UKP_WsqfRSj2zdm_Z5numGRfohIVZjc2eKD45B0MS2jopjPq6Sa8Q6pX7pTdGfXVmpzTG8MaO2QA/s1600/original_glass-skull-vase-succulent-terrarium.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFh2L68oMmvZYz3ez-boCWrJdd_3TJJxr-SOcEycB2_VxReqsYAttBWj8xmX669UKP_WsqfRSj2zdm_Z5numGRfohIVZjc2eKD45B0MS2jopjPq6Sa8Q6pX7pTdGfXVmpzTG8MaO2QA/w512-h402/original_glass-skull-vase-succulent-terrarium.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><i>Found on a website called notonthehighstreet; being sold as a
terrarium. These are actually skull shot glasses and they look pretty
cool filled with orange juice or some nice brandy.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
That, however, is where the word-stretching has to stop. I have seen blog posts about filling a brandy glass up to to the rim with potting soil, plopping random plants in and calling it a terrarium (see photo above). What that is, in fact, is a glass pot without a drainage hole. So, <i><b>not</b></i> a terrarium.<br />
<br />
Central to the concept of a terrarium is the idea of it being <b><i>enclosed</i></b>. There is some stretch room there but the stretch can only go so far before the object you are describing ceases to be a terrarium and becomes something else. If the plant is not in any form of enclosure, it's in a fucking pot. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">But we are talking about <b>succulent terrarium</b> so the second important concept</span></span><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b>here is <b>succulence</b>. Orchids, for example, are not succulents. With the exception of severe outliers, they evolved in some of the most humid environments on the planet. They are constantly moisturized and very often showered by frequent rainfall. They do well in terrariums as a result. Also as a result of their native habitat, orchids have ways of regulating water intake so they do not drown in the monsoon. But even with that mechanism, you don't find orchids in freshwater lakes. Regardless of how humid and wet it is in tropical jungles, they will still drown in a tub of water. Orchids are not kelp.</div>
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Directly opposite to orchids are succulents. These are plants that over thousands of years have evolved many strategies for surviving low-water environments. These are plants differentiated by their greed for water. They suck it up and store it. Water comes by so rarely in their native habitats that a lot of succulents have to go to extremes to access and store it. That ability to store water is why most of them have plump leaves or fat stems. It lets them survive for a long time without water. Their reaction to moisture is to absorb absorb absorb. This is why an over-watered succulent dies seemingly within hours. Once they reach the limit of their ability to store water, their cells just burst. </div>
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Finally, one last point---<b>succulents are perennial.</b> They do not renew every year like rice or sunflowers. Most of them need years to even reach mature reproductive age, in fact. When water is scarce, you just won't have the resources to do things rapidly and start over every year. You need years.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNNYyU3pYbduRsBuRZzi2sbEOsrTYWAl5tbrUo4rz7mfHX8TLHYwiZ35W41hJV_I7rg_q_np37NFn7WS1eF6KWNhemzWONGm8kHOkhU2qx4RXSTDoo3YGrbTMouN2X3ij0At85p4D0zA/s1600/DSC_9655.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="1355" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNNYyU3pYbduRsBuRZzi2sbEOsrTYWAl5tbrUo4rz7mfHX8TLHYwiZ35W41hJV_I7rg_q_np37NFn7WS1eF6KWNhemzWONGm8kHOkhU2qx4RXSTDoo3YGrbTMouN2X3ij0At85p4D0zA/w512-h342/DSC_9655.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><i>Haworthia cooperi var dielseana </i>I have had this plant since January 2011. One of the fastest way to kill it is to put it in a terrarium.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This is why the most earnest and serious succulent growers will talk to you in terms of years and sometimes even decades. These growers are not interested in having a globe of echeverias for two weeks. Creds are earned by how long you've kept a pot of adromischus alive and "how long" is counted in years, not months.<br />
<br />
You are now probably beginning to suspect that putting succulents in a terrarium is not the brightest idea.<br />
<br />
But as a thought exercise, let's still ask---exactly what will it take to make a successful succulent terrarium that will last--not weeks--but possibly years?<br />
<br />
I have used glass containers to build sealed terrariums before---large apothecary jars, gigantic mason jars and even flower vases that is then sealed with clear acrylic disc. I have an active and ongoing fish tank that has filled up with episcias twice and had to be depopulated. For the purposes of this blogpost, though, we will work with a plastic jar for reasons that will become apparent later.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Part II: Succulent Terrarium Construction</b><br />
<br />
Exactly
what will it take to build a succulent terrarium that will not
eventually succumb to the serious and fundamental flaw in the very idea
of putting succulents in a terrarium? <b><br /></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXqNYc-n3l1OchpTqlpQaqSlqXSnCR6CpC9NcQF2F7gNA2Kxrh2tRQlOn1__FamLCn-_CAn8amQCZlIJR_HLyAtbXx1hxhKZPrweNkndjeqc885WV8oU0mDnrZCXyRQFheWTRvSQqosQ/s1600/DSC_0026.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="815" data-original-width="572" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXqNYc-n3l1OchpTqlpQaqSlqXSnCR6CpC9NcQF2F7gNA2Kxrh2tRQlOn1__FamLCn-_CAn8amQCZlIJR_HLyAtbXx1hxhKZPrweNkndjeqc885WV8oU0mDnrZCXyRQFheWTRvSQqosQ/s320/DSC_0026.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
<b>First things first:</b><br />
If
you have not read the introduction to this project, go back and read it
first; the succeeding discussion will not make sense otherwise. <br />
<br />
<b> </b><br />
To
summarize, though, our succulent terrarium will have to provide the
following conditions in order to succeed for longer than two weeks:<br />
1. air movement<br />
2. low humidity<br />
3. very short wet-pot period (i.e. rapid evaporation)<br />
4. rapid drainage<br />
5. high light conditions<br />
6. heat<br />
Why? Because evolution. See above<br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<b>Materials and Preparation</b>To try and achieve all that stuff I listed above, just off the top of my head, we need the following materials: <br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Sealable container, typically glass. But for this project, for ease
of demonstration, I'm using something plastic and easy to cut</li>
<li>Sterilized potting substrate; typically just soil. But since we're planting succulents, we will use pure pumice.</li>
<li>Some kind of cutting tool, a box cutter, say.</li>
<li>Computer case fan</li>
<li>Sacrificial succulent plant. </li>
<li>Hygrometer</li>
</ul>
Step 1: Cut an opening on the lid of your terrarium jar. This is
hard to do with glass so if you are using glass, I recommend instead to
get an acrylic sheet. You can get a 12-inch square of the material
which is also available in various thicknesses. Then cut it down to size
so that it is flush against the rim of your jar or container. After
that, cut a hole so that the case fan will fit nicely. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1CbcqxsQ6xbn3tXDthmeReBnPwCIkoMjy1rb6YM7vSQNdd3Wk8Gv2S10fHdEa9utOtKHUhpM7mmRcRNGnnM_lGAbSG8iT_a0CwbMayRbmBKjgqslL5Myx_ghKEWvKXVJgBzD7VL2HQ/s1600/DSC_0028.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="774" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1CbcqxsQ6xbn3tXDthmeReBnPwCIkoMjy1rb6YM7vSQNdd3Wk8Gv2S10fHdEa9utOtKHUhpM7mmRcRNGnnM_lGAbSG8iT_a0CwbMayRbmBKjgqslL5Myx_ghKEWvKXVJgBzD7VL2HQ/w410-h274/DSC_0028.jpg" width="410" /></a></div>
So,
now we have a nice container with a fan on top of it for fresh air to
be blown into the plant. For this project, I used a 120-mm case fan
plugged in to a 12-volt USB socket. <br />
<br />
The intake,
however, will need an out. I want to airflow to come from the top and
exit as close to the top of the soil line. The idea is to also ventilate
the pumice and help it dry out faster. So, windows! And since growing
medium for succulents also need to drain fast, this
baby is going to need a drainage hole. If I don't put a drainage hole,
that water will sit there and eventually drown my succulent.<br />
<br />
So,
why don't I just NOT water the plant, then? Why not just spray it
carefully so that it gets moisture just enough to water the plant but
not so much that the fan can not dry it out? Well. To start with, that
will require uncorking the top to get the spray in. Worse, though, it
will get the plant leaves wet---something you don't want to do to a
succulent even when it isn't in a terrarium. Succulent plants have a
rapid and exaggerated response to water so you don't want to trip off
that response every time you water such a contained environment. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGzxk5Y5Otzs2L0NyEN05TZVwwiBWzcnnIfi-xdFSj5AmQVJmYOFbLz3Ka8FLQ-t35nfyM5auUiFHA0emU9DjFG0aDo9iGBsRV8j8cRe0BhvYAEsb4tSiakUtU3UZqwzNkQ0q6-VAIFg/s1600/DSC_0036.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="583" data-original-width="890" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGzxk5Y5Otzs2L0NyEN05TZVwwiBWzcnnIfi-xdFSj5AmQVJmYOFbLz3Ka8FLQ-t35nfyM5auUiFHA0emU9DjFG0aDo9iGBsRV8j8cRe0BhvYAEsb4tSiakUtU3UZqwzNkQ0q6-VAIFg/s640/DSC_0036.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">So,
I cut four holes at the bottom of the container and two holes on
opposite sides just above the line where I plan to fill it up with
substrate. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZKo5scr4_ItwM4AYCkyuEym8DJGUsLlDAFCm_9f-NYHiJOTC7enixCfiDXb-G5sI6SHHOFT7POOxjRNV7jibJmChr5ALzKx1cjO224M1QyVcLQKFu578yxoELinCmNP5FqHibZZvFQ/s991/DSC_0095.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="691" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZKo5scr4_ItwM4AYCkyuEym8DJGUsLlDAFCm_9f-NYHiJOTC7enixCfiDXb-G5sI6SHHOFT7POOxjRNV7jibJmChr5ALzKx1cjO224M1QyVcLQKFu578yxoELinCmNP5FqHibZZvFQ/s320/DSC_0095.jpg" /></a></div>To
maximize the air intake, I decided to seal the mounted case fan onto
the lead using hot glue. Filled up to the appropriate depth with
substrate (akadama, in this case, because it is what I have), here is
finally what, in theory, a viable succulent terrarium should look like.<br />
<br />
This case fan will now have to be connected to an 12-volt DC adapter and ran 24/7. <br />
<br />
Now,
imagine you had to do this with a glass container. Imagine further the
lensing effect of glass and how it is likely to fry the plant inside.
This means that if this terrarium had been glass, it will have to stay
out of direct sunlight. Given that it will not get as much light that
most succulents need, whatever plant will go into such a jar will
etiolate (i.e. stretch out towards the light instead of growing
compact). <br />
<br />
So. I'm going to look for a disposable plant (turned out I don't have any) that I can test this thing with. To be furthered!<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Rolling Eyeballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18086657711537765142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637856527280406298.post-60103584955102910402018-02-17T10:57:00.000-08:002018-02-17T10:05:32.825-08:00Today's Photo DumpIt isn't always a teachable moment. Sometimes, you have to just stare at the shit and say, "Well, wow." <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQREyXegch5Y4Y2nBgeZNp9JQCkBCJvczeZM4b-0odqx5U0sFZ1FTFFIc9Ub32Y_uz4Pll3Z7MuDzICGSjgC6KVYZ4TAQLxH50yxrJSDZrHM1CfrrS_K_UgPo2qSstyXvJQSr71cN9g/s1600/sdgdfgdfg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="671" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQREyXegch5Y4Y2nBgeZNp9JQCkBCJvczeZM4b-0odqx5U0sFZ1FTFFIc9Ub32Y_uz4Pll3Z7MuDzICGSjgC6KVYZ4TAQLxH50yxrJSDZrHM1CfrrS_K_UgPo2qSstyXvJQSr71cN9g/s640/sdgdfgdfg.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Titanopsis primosi </i>colors up nicely. Keep it very cool but well and evenly lit. This one is under T5HO.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEurm_s-wZ6NIgGEkmSGH1TlyZLYxCyVxA3_OgjgAf3iX46NnQIPrCZAVuGXx_-25eBriQQyqROUZSMoKXnyS2LJa-ns3Gsuz1btRd6k73BrbHjN2aVyIa6j2mUtOgH93ODYqaOh3weA/s1600/blurple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="553" data-original-width="819" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEurm_s-wZ6NIgGEkmSGH1TlyZLYxCyVxA3_OgjgAf3iX46NnQIPrCZAVuGXx_-25eBriQQyqROUZSMoKXnyS2LJa-ns3Gsuz1btRd6k73BrbHjN2aVyIa6j2mUtOgH93ODYqaOh3weA/s640/blurple.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The coloration becomes even more dramatic when you put plants under blurple LEDs. My other <i>T. primosi</i>, for example, is even more showy and getting ready to bloom. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItWs1w-1eHqPhU80Xxf3gdzaWAE-FMKkjhJpuMVu58Co0cJlUjylqXD_HL7w26arsAn3wcDU3w6R4gkNH6lk_-2t7QUnDJ-H9SEcyz-C6FPiCdoAiQsFV39zqA3eDsOMbp7vr10e95A/s1600/2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1036" data-original-width="1600" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItWs1w-1eHqPhU80Xxf3gdzaWAE-FMKkjhJpuMVu58Co0cJlUjylqXD_HL7w26arsAn3wcDU3w6R4gkNH6lk_-2t7QUnDJ-H9SEcyz-C6FPiCdoAiQsFV39zqA3eDsOMbp7vr10e95A/s640/2018.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my terrifying plants, <i>Hoya davidcummingi</i>. It is a tropical hoya native to the Philippines. It isn't dead and is even blooming so...whew. Grow it in semi-hydro if you have one that is problematic. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7lVCrDkLcXWkvhdux1z-mrzxFxOTlWCCepGoaSpf2vfcAMKxGewiHVPqlrCcB3F9slmHsRrVQphLn1jr3wVXuImUgHI7MwzTzKXfuxnaLKUvq_yCFwIph6cuqL-q4hof6VashyphenhyphensepXA/s1600/DSC_9873.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="603" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7lVCrDkLcXWkvhdux1z-mrzxFxOTlWCCepGoaSpf2vfcAMKxGewiHVPqlrCcB3F9slmHsRrVQphLn1jr3wVXuImUgHI7MwzTzKXfuxnaLKUvq_yCFwIph6cuqL-q4hof6VashyphenhyphensepXA/s640/DSC_9873.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Adromiscus cristatus, </i>a restart from a much bigger BBS specimen.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn5c2MpVTp_WM3izb4TuT9VmSBgChUp8BjIBN5sTfwDPi6QmvbDTdyN_EB6o0HuTh8zCI1bNfA3NR1titYURfJfhh5GKmdd630fxLI2yjG_lDhGHLT9TSfoTsurT_byKUgE2ZKI2I9zA/s1600/DSC_9874.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="616" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn5c2MpVTp_WM3izb4TuT9VmSBgChUp8BjIBN5sTfwDPi6QmvbDTdyN_EB6o0HuTh8zCI1bNfA3NR1titYURfJfhh5GKmdd630fxLI2yjG_lDhGHLT9TSfoTsurT_byKUgE2ZKI2I9zA/s640/DSC_9874.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is an accidental community pot. Arid Lands sent me the <i>Adromischus umbraticola ssp ramosus</i> with nearly invisible Anacampseros seedlings stuck to the roots. Susan later identified the seedlings as possibly <i>A. subnuda</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3OS0EMggvhh8LW4mJBwVdZSo7TQcpqlwMCza-NlMJU5W4VWYqnCA0RUocYgFg_96EdmWoD2NT_3xY2KBIXIaMYH_ZKy4_fzMAqDgOhNqTdbcyMFFDgesrwYjJizsXGd_quc33bvJv9A/s1600/DSC_9875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="429" data-original-width="633" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3OS0EMggvhh8LW4mJBwVdZSo7TQcpqlwMCza-NlMJU5W4VWYqnCA0RUocYgFg_96EdmWoD2NT_3xY2KBIXIaMYH_ZKy4_fzMAqDgOhNqTdbcyMFFDgesrwYjJizsXGd_quc33bvJv9A/s640/DSC_9875.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Avonia quinaria ssp alstonii </i>Not as slow as I thought, doubling in size over a two-year period.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEU2MLmL8WJAod-vFr06e8SjZxv3bY3J2SrWaANSQQOOmtTSqi9FHdEGto8jDtvVq60g8r9zb6QPg_o3Nm5C6_0izYTXpKtfIFxRbf1MrhDVzhT4_1IueiHKad9IKcnxwSrYywQcMTTg/s1600/DSC_9900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="663" data-original-width="960" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEU2MLmL8WJAod-vFr06e8SjZxv3bY3J2SrWaANSQQOOmtTSqi9FHdEGto8jDtvVq60g8r9zb6QPg_o3Nm5C6_0izYTXpKtfIFxRbf1MrhDVzhT4_1IueiHKad9IKcnxwSrYywQcMTTg/s640/DSC_9900.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seeds! Once again, hand pollinated using a cat whisker.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgty-HZsRCFewyUhKweP3-OlR4t_b96z-gLn1tGMiN7dDkLba_KuggtqC4IMDgfyP18xuxtadHHchSK3uQhKSNFXyizwMaSgQJRPSjgKo-i6SSxlFJ5cOOTHiO27gXZPUHIX2zNFKYUhA/s1600/DSC_9876.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="576" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgty-HZsRCFewyUhKweP3-OlR4t_b96z-gLn1tGMiN7dDkLba_KuggtqC4IMDgfyP18xuxtadHHchSK3uQhKSNFXyizwMaSgQJRPSjgKo-i6SSxlFJ5cOOTHiO27gXZPUHIX2zNFKYUhA/s640/DSC_9876.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ihlenfeldtia vanzylii.</i> Say that three times as fast as you can. The damage on this one is from neem oil spray. I forgot to keep it shaded after the spider mites were all dead. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqwlGnS9k63GKljiyxDV1vnn94sXHGcs2tsiS8Q5O8-6Xb4j3YCit-E_lqFV-PHLTY_lrF3Gr75lwei0iVhskzSOhx4yKrSy7rNJbTITsxJMbVP75Xw6JKJ833nhXzdGXBCqE3gepLEA/s1600/DSC_9882.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="802" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqwlGnS9k63GKljiyxDV1vnn94sXHGcs2tsiS8Q5O8-6Xb4j3YCit-E_lqFV-PHLTY_lrF3Gr75lwei0iVhskzSOhx4yKrSy7rNJbTITsxJMbVP75Xw6JKJ833nhXzdGXBCqE3gepLEA/s640/DSC_9882.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Adromischus marianniae </i>Little Sphaeroid, red</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQAkB6prEgiielS8iZ2ex4KRhcyKdw2YzmvyXb4naUS1oCrQLN9IgkqNtqyP5pywH5lAmUT3GA4sFpMpgM8I0J6y-5MsyxlE9bfJ17t7Vu3JbnYj9EnPwggrVyP1ICZx7UltSl-jTpmQ/s1600/DSC_9883.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="434" data-original-width="636" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQAkB6prEgiielS8iZ2ex4KRhcyKdw2YzmvyXb4naUS1oCrQLN9IgkqNtqyP5pywH5lAmUT3GA4sFpMpgM8I0J6y-5MsyxlE9bfJ17t7Vu3JbnYj9EnPwggrVyP1ICZx7UltSl-jTpmQ/s640/DSC_9883.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Adromischus marianniae,</i> Bryan Makin. I just got this one after almost three years hunting it down.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKvLOrN6Yfj9e1GXo9tqtq42irTzyq7lHfLfvyiw-MD1e77yJHw-qgxykSWEyt4EHARwGCBtGLZcmAleda_DDRLm-nhogFBKVKCFI6Nl1j9_bCrF43WPZUl3_bcaAaFhGKZKkTa4Z5A/s1600/DSC_9885.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="395" data-original-width="580" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKvLOrN6Yfj9e1GXo9tqtq42irTzyq7lHfLfvyiw-MD1e77yJHw-qgxykSWEyt4EHARwGCBtGLZcmAleda_DDRLm-nhogFBKVKCFI6Nl1j9_bCrF43WPZUl3_bcaAaFhGKZKkTa4Z5A/s640/DSC_9885.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Anacampseros filamentosa ssp tomentosa</i> seedlings. These tiny things are great! You can forget them and they don't die.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIFUKubsvhfZ3Mqgj-5ngEutC5is13wrk-52Jevsf-CwJX-UDkAlx94fLmkCVQjB5q6nFqmpMWhl8EY3w_Msjzn_Jp_kudwoLEk9k8z7iLsGvWIMrPG2K10KayvalFJpHpu5GiZRapw/s1600/DSC_9887.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="654" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIFUKubsvhfZ3Mqgj-5ngEutC5is13wrk-52Jevsf-CwJX-UDkAlx94fLmkCVQjB5q6nFqmpMWhl8EY3w_Msjzn_Jp_kudwoLEk9k8z7iLsGvWIMrPG2K10KayvalFJpHpu5GiZRapw/s640/DSC_9887.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Titanopsis calcarea,</i> Ghams, under T5HO</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizWrXuwR8eJvy6bkdpg5mtzNw4VScNu38NEJz2JSyFBqaoX-YAgdDtUrPuHafsMJiqVwlhuZfVyHgzqWi41b-8_oM2DJYSEyVqJDgJEdCa_4yr6MC2CP2lpz9TDnidKC4HFGaAd02RGQ/s1600/ghthrth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="551" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizWrXuwR8eJvy6bkdpg5mtzNw4VScNu38NEJz2JSyFBqaoX-YAgdDtUrPuHafsMJiqVwlhuZfVyHgzqWi41b-8_oM2DJYSEyVqJDgJEdCa_4yr6MC2CP2lpz9TDnidKC4HFGaAd02RGQ/s640/ghthrth.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Adromischus marianiae</i> Little Crusty Sphaeroid</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjT-lcXAL5Zs5FCxCkqb5mLPcTlCasp-0vIe2xfYikcqcaNtjD-LGIJd0CoSafFhO_xnNA7RxIs3Nyp8TwsrDRFK49fIx2CCzi5TQMuNZ5rY-4hAG-Oed-hU2B9YQuDmTdWi11PrZKaQ/s1600/Untitled2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1113" data-original-width="1600" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjT-lcXAL5Zs5FCxCkqb5mLPcTlCasp-0vIe2xfYikcqcaNtjD-LGIJd0CoSafFhO_xnNA7RxIs3Nyp8TwsrDRFK49fIx2CCzi5TQMuNZ5rY-4hAG-Oed-hU2B9YQuDmTdWi11PrZKaQ/s640/Untitled2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Trichodiadema sp. aff. hallii </i>AL</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDiZ8OkCHZ4np7e2FzWdMgnikFGnQcWo1Gvx9FdG_Ycoa4YJIrEBP7yJL2pOQpuvQGOI5Vh93dOglwbqtPF2uzrXKcuqH7CYzv00fj2sUBkOv7cQTIos08fD-vn8v9N2VkvjiLu9-3w/s1600/DSC_9842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1129" data-original-width="1600" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDiZ8OkCHZ4np7e2FzWdMgnikFGnQcWo1Gvx9FdG_Ycoa4YJIrEBP7yJL2pOQpuvQGOI5Vh93dOglwbqtPF2uzrXKcuqH7CYzv00fj2sUBkOv7cQTIos08fD-vn8v9N2VkvjiLu9-3w/s640/DSC_9842.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Stomatium suaveolens.</i> This is a summer grower but it will stay active in winter if kept above 16C during the day. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4uk7fc19A8unPjMsFGK4tZHY847yopJicHuqyf36JEx1foOWjCiO2dYsmkuncPir6iiOcKSOTik0Txd2qw0-0ZTShluxg0lvXRg01ooeyUsxdBSyPsd_mO-jh6JNq0ehEwT76x_591A/s1600/DSC_8146c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1105" data-original-width="1519" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4uk7fc19A8unPjMsFGK4tZHY847yopJicHuqyf36JEx1foOWjCiO2dYsmkuncPir6iiOcKSOTik0Txd2qw0-0ZTShluxg0lvXRg01ooeyUsxdBSyPsd_mO-jh6JNq0ehEwT76x_591A/s640/DSC_8146c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Kalanchoe tomentosa</i>.I've given up trying to find out how much stress this plant can take. I've accidentally kept it out of the pot inside a cabinet on a hot outdoor deck for an entire summer---it didn't notice. It's growing in pure gravel right now, it doesn't give a shit either. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1tIQoXdOhUroZkNE1jwzfcku29Ie4Zw-BFeUAe-WK1QUZB_XxyC-OJzG8dPrCZnCYyTeYYUqvztv3EEGjvs09SNWqkvfXo3xYChe3l_XfooCB31sJ9hUFIizEMYnLc9JCD_xr08idw/s1600/aergrgeaer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="589" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1tIQoXdOhUroZkNE1jwzfcku29Ie4Zw-BFeUAe-WK1QUZB_XxyC-OJzG8dPrCZnCYyTeYYUqvztv3EEGjvs09SNWqkvfXo3xYChe3l_XfooCB31sJ9hUFIizEMYnLc9JCD_xr08idw/s640/aergrgeaer.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Titanopsis calcarea (Poortje)</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodJViAVVAPEXFyXb32svEX1Ns1wObyhTgFm6Eg4wUI354Jht_t9BE5oi3dp0GaqHduilCr3d9goT-uGrECA2Fvs1FfEor-vdzl_Z3LKrpGkt0kL70TWg2MS6Lzl3aY3lE-pnnDKHpQg/s1600/DSC_9862.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1021" data-original-width="1600" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodJViAVVAPEXFyXb32svEX1Ns1wObyhTgFm6Eg4wUI354Jht_t9BE5oi3dp0GaqHduilCr3d9goT-uGrECA2Fvs1FfEor-vdzl_Z3LKrpGkt0kL70TWg2MS6Lzl3aY3lE-pnnDKHpQg/s640/DSC_9862.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Crassula columella</i></td></tr>
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<br />Rolling Eyeballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18086657711537765142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637856527280406298.post-87700593532540540142018-02-09T18:33:00.001-08:002020-07-23T05:25:50.849-07:00Haworthias: How to Sow Seeds et cetera<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGlvyKmm1GXTyrEMCCRhDusJdStihqhk0Z_GrAnGRXKkp8EAZZ2g52Aoe4Z4e2ClV8vZ5y5payohnUA1pNpL8OXV63TZopGy8rVNibK1sQ6DWD2K9fvmgqlDWgsXPbLfdVH6hZSRMH1A/s1600/DSC_9745.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="774" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGlvyKmm1GXTyrEMCCRhDusJdStihqhk0Z_GrAnGRXKkp8EAZZ2g52Aoe4Z4e2ClV8vZ5y5payohnUA1pNpL8OXV63TZopGy8rVNibK1sQ6DWD2K9fvmgqlDWgsXPbLfdVH6hZSRMH1A/w512-h342/DSC_9745.jpg" width="512" /></a></div>
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Time to update! If you saw <a href="https://kalachuchiatbp.blogspot.ca/2017/03/haworthias-hand-pollination.html" target="_blank">this post,</a> you're probably expecting that all this trouble poking at haworthias could not possibly have ended there. Those seeds did go in. The experiment was not trouble-free though; hence this follow-up post. </div>
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<b>Sowing the Seeds</b><br />
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As usual, when sowing seeds, sterilize everything. I recommend a shallow container (3 cm deep, say) with a lot of holes for drainage. There's a lot of fancyass kits and overly complicated methods for sowing any kind of seeds but in my experience the simplest way is best. In this case, mix potting soil with pumice, about half and half is good. Haworthia seedlings will need a lot of water and sowing them in gritty substrate (like I did, we'll talk about that idiocy later) will later require you to water them three times a day because, you know, you have nothing better to do. </div>
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So! Shallow container, substrate as described, everything sterilized. The seeds should be placed on top of the moist medium and leave them there uncovered. Then, put the whole thing inside a ziploc bag. This thing has to remain most until they have germinated. Notice that their seed coat form a hard shell around the endosperm. If they dry out, the sprout is not going to be able to push it open. The moisture will have to soften up that shell. This is also the reason why you can't skip the sterilization process--they don't have to be sterile forever, just long enough to avoid damping off in the two to three weeks it will take for germination to occur.</div>
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Once the seeds have germinated, open the ziploc bag but do not remove it. The idea is for a bit of air to get in but not so much that it dries out the medium. You will need to spray the seedlings, preferably with distilled water just to minimize fungus or whatnot. </div>
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And, I can not stress this enough: LABEL YOUR POTS! You will thank yourself later. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukMUq5ywXLcQjWI5x2DSvrq2mlPMb4bk_sadN9GpT3WBYMpE3uhMFfk1ewF-9qHQyBFAf5uTJt0KMf5zLmj1bUSklSz3IFgL3mAzVIw7Nm97drw9KkwsTSTUlRF7VjItIK14DTEyTlQ/s1600/7may.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1162" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukMUq5ywXLcQjWI5x2DSvrq2mlPMb4bk_sadN9GpT3WBYMpE3uhMFfk1ewF-9qHQyBFAf5uTJt0KMf5zLmj1bUSklSz3IFgL3mAzVIw7Nm97drw9KkwsTSTUlRF7VjItIK14DTEyTlQ/w512-h342/7may.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what month-old haworthia seedlings look like. They will likely stay like this for a while.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3w79sSEuGjiQP9udj94lMt2gNJp3Z0_py6iLTmSdaHZsZj7aptbEdw8ZWj5yYSaKSZvTKWKdYlX6GQcBEWEHsRfrpbaYVQMxkngGbQ-jH3itljtZ58alLhnnLR1qMhPeIC478XvTOAA/s1600/56er7tiu.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="1600" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3w79sSEuGjiQP9udj94lMt2gNJp3Z0_py6iLTmSdaHZsZj7aptbEdw8ZWj5yYSaKSZvTKWKdYlX6GQcBEWEHsRfrpbaYVQMxkngGbQ-jH3itljtZ58alLhnnLR1qMhPeIC478XvTOAA/w512-h352/56er7tiu.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first true leaf appear in about a month and will stay singular while the seedling develops its first root. While it is trying to get purchase, they need to be kept consistently moist but not wet. </td></tr>
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I sowed my seeds in fine akadama which is that brown clay-ey stuff in the photo above. You'd think it would have been perfect for keeping haworthia seedlings moist but not wet. Well, sure. If you are willing to water it three times a day. These seedlings need a <i>lot</i> of water. I mentioned the akadama experiment to make you think twice if the same idea popped into your head. To make the akadama idea work, I probably would have needed akadama <i>dust</i>, not just akadama fines. Haworthia seedlings have roots that are so small and grow so damn slow that if your medium is too coarse and airy, the root sprout will spend too much time not touching anything moist. They dry out and the seedling has to start again. <br />
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In the end, I decided to replant all my seedlings in a mix with actual soil in it. This was how I discovered none of them had grown long enough roots to get a purchase of the akadama. Most of them were just sitting on the surface, starving. Transplanting anything this young is a bit harrowing so try to avoid it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0J-8POZjikAywM5yjEn9mOvUkDFVOQGTuIl0c5uPHuITUGlf_yrCc-k7WKpDGlrjykJnQwbZMPO5hr1F6Eb-5KnDL99-tNI9e0yVEgm66ZlbQO_SwV6i2SnaKHRkAk_WWg11okvcA9g/s1600/november.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="774" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0J-8POZjikAywM5yjEn9mOvUkDFVOQGTuIl0c5uPHuITUGlf_yrCc-k7WKpDGlrjykJnQwbZMPO5hr1F6Eb-5KnDL99-tNI9e0yVEgm66ZlbQO_SwV6i2SnaKHRkAk_WWg11okvcA9g/w512-h342/november.jpg" width="512" /> </a></div>
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If you do need to transplant, a pair of gentle tweezers will help a lot. Don't bother actually planting them. Just point them down into the soil. Once transplanted, you'll only need to spray them every couple of days until you see them plump up a little. After that, reduce your spraying frequency--maybe every five days or so. </div>
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When the seedlings start growing new leaves, you can actually let them dry out in between watering. By that time, you can shift from gentle spraying to bottom watering. No need to soak all to shit, just heft the pot and if it feels a little heavier than before, that's enough. Roots will try to grow downwards where the moisture is. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6D87XvItHXOp5sph7-RcdufIPOUWoo0wdZq-GG0KJJERipdOFXnl3yR4dutqgHzosAVse4Vho3Alaxc_rSXxu2GvQl7biz8B4amHX2eJr7qg4Sk_8AnmyRcZGiMbHU0IhonjwWBjbw/s1600/popopopo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="691" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6D87XvItHXOp5sph7-RcdufIPOUWoo0wdZq-GG0KJJERipdOFXnl3yR4dutqgHzosAVse4Vho3Alaxc_rSXxu2GvQl7biz8B4amHX2eJr7qg4Sk_8AnmyRcZGiMbHU0IhonjwWBjbw/w512-h344/popopopo.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three months later, the plantlings have started growing their third and fourth leaves. </td></tr>
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Next in this series: When to individually repot haworthia seedlings. Right now, I don't know, we'll see. I want them a little bigger. Also, it's nearly spring and if you hit this same time of the year when they are this size, we're all probably better off leaving them undisturbed to take advantage of the growing season.<br />
<br />
But, just to satisfy our curiosity, this is what haworthia yearlings look like at this point:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4Ls7K-dd-O1TJ58DMiR7QE1G79IocCHTUsT06LfDQOpoc5IAwNxmJIPJ_4St0bQzd1DTHVEEMtPDHYTLOowfrsQ2stQuSZkWBp-OVEv6DsHebHVKcq7Kti0qM94b9gQ2L-d6s01ziQ/s879/DSC_9855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="879" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4Ls7K-dd-O1TJ58DMiR7QE1G79IocCHTUsT06LfDQOpoc5IAwNxmJIPJ_4St0bQzd1DTHVEEMtPDHYTLOowfrsQ2stQuSZkWBp-OVEv6DsHebHVKcq7Kti0qM94b9gQ2L-d6s01ziQ/w500-h338/DSC_9855.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
I planted this seedling in its own pot and just so you know, I'm regretting it already. It needs daily spritzing.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-RT3qVeraEFUyrfUHVWmYzV-YJHSisKcJ79oPVZKqBe5FTcrK4uCrh7bAb_3-0UuYEsAeZLEqyFx-zVavAZrUOt6CQAplFBO4nk1Z_5-QjQJKsCvBMcOc2_OIQiwuTsZ3BJko7gnjMA/s697/rewtretat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="697" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-RT3qVeraEFUyrfUHVWmYzV-YJHSisKcJ79oPVZKqBe5FTcrK4uCrh7bAb_3-0UuYEsAeZLEqyFx-zVavAZrUOt6CQAplFBO4nk1Z_5-QjQJKsCvBMcOc2_OIQiwuTsZ3BJko7gnjMA/w500-h335/rewtretat.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Without its daily spritz, a plantling this small in this medium, will die.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><a href="https://kalachuchiatbp.blogspot.ca/2013/04/this-page-is-under-construction.html" target="_blank">We'll see next autumn.</a></div>Rolling Eyeballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18086657711537765142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637856527280406298.post-61144937918974023212017-03-30T10:19:00.003-07:002017-04-30T16:17:56.851-07:00Photo Dump #1: Spring Blooms 2017 (New April Update!)Starting this year, we're going start an eye-candy series. We're big on photography, as you may have noticed. And we have some weird shit. So an occasional photo-dump is a no-brainer. Right! For this spring....<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOL4uYEvpijnrygglOEPV1q9xOGsFaGq3DeKNPOipjsETi7aMsUoKR1iZJq_6bl8E7dKGcaa6dVuIxf5xOrWC-0aba7UXSIGNGE65oR8wl8qfGbK1hcDdfAKsOLmYQ0R5V-TKevdZvCw/s1600/dfghgfdhdfgh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOL4uYEvpijnrygglOEPV1q9xOGsFaGq3DeKNPOipjsETi7aMsUoKR1iZJq_6bl8E7dKGcaa6dVuIxf5xOrWC-0aba7UXSIGNGE65oR8wl8qfGbK1hcDdfAKsOLmYQ0R5V-TKevdZvCw/s640/dfghgfdhdfgh.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Euphorbia susannae</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKWWgGw40WzUcc0ArYYo-VpAIVo_62aRQmamJxVr1XCL0ZLakTxOPOOkyGcivDkxrgJKt1Azu5W90tWJRcYx9nO7cbwAa0wC0d-yg0nSV35w2ORBKGwPYne7tGeORs5O2DAfa-CoorLQ/s1600/Untitled2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKWWgGw40WzUcc0ArYYo-VpAIVo_62aRQmamJxVr1XCL0ZLakTxOPOOkyGcivDkxrgJKt1Azu5W90tWJRcYx9nO7cbwAa0wC0d-yg0nSV35w2ORBKGwPYne7tGeORs5O2DAfa-CoorLQ/s640/Untitled2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Echeveria purpusorum</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEHzN2vr-Gw4toRY3VT7cr9ZPKYm6uxrMOy5kVip54pc1yoZq-a31rFP8WjjE8QaypqLR2OY3TfzhkaeckdQl7i-fubiFeJ3Wlqcj53iTBmvp7boXcjVpB5f6YrQ4fZWXDiW1YWxwWEg/s1600/IMG_20170415_104742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEHzN2vr-Gw4toRY3VT7cr9ZPKYm6uxrMOy5kVip54pc1yoZq-a31rFP8WjjE8QaypqLR2OY3TfzhkaeckdQl7i-fubiFeJ3Wlqcj53iTBmvp7boXcjVpB5f6YrQ4fZWXDiW1YWxwWEg/s640/IMG_20170415_104742.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Knitty Kitty's <i>Huernia zebrina</i> in the tropics</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Dle_mLaFF5dAm3tMHNO0kEQZsKafQtBUlXf6qn8woglrA81qKbK01Exu93SVvadeUXRSStGwa0J8CvilqbXDSRzNTY3D_uyAALbQVSpEY5XZ-gARTB3lgxT8ds5at2W5uOR88vwf-A/s1600/IMG_20170418_072450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Dle_mLaFF5dAm3tMHNO0kEQZsKafQtBUlXf6qn8woglrA81qKbK01Exu93SVvadeUXRSStGwa0J8CvilqbXDSRzNTY3D_uyAALbQVSpEY5XZ-gARTB3lgxT8ds5at2W5uOR88vwf-A/s640/IMG_20170418_072450.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">....and as it opened.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZUtW-FW4aUzl2okKOUyI6syzKVY8sYaAsQiIfAGKkVvnrjbr7LCbn232NuMTN-7_Xx2QOGvx9CEiXudYmvV2sxRNFpUrXGkX1p-zJCLEhjQDcpvQn66sgU-ChdKJFRpCcH5JDgzV8_g/s1600/Untitled2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZUtW-FW4aUzl2okKOUyI6syzKVY8sYaAsQiIfAGKkVvnrjbr7LCbn232NuMTN-7_Xx2QOGvx9CEiXudYmvV2sxRNFpUrXGkX1p-zJCLEhjQDcpvQn66sgU-ChdKJFRpCcH5JDgzV8_g/s640/Untitled2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Euphorbia globosa</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw7VxnPeZHvoJoD6LCM-SXq-OnLQZvCOksNbGPs_cRRfg2zqWat3ZnbPhy7Mrkj3Z5uopxwoFrBNwyKyNSitay2tt5d7BaGvuXJTCXdwywj2DjMcBRuO9mEdw39Fo7pm6m2m0SHX8F3w/s1600/28march.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw7VxnPeZHvoJoD6LCM-SXq-OnLQZvCOksNbGPs_cRRfg2zqWat3ZnbPhy7Mrkj3Z5uopxwoFrBNwyKyNSitay2tt5d7BaGvuXJTCXdwywj2DjMcBRuO9mEdw39Fo7pm6m2m0SHX8F3w/s640/28march.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Neohenricia sibbettii</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuEzQRRANBpTX4jkaCywnAPTV8q6JAN-EPoevJhil4-aHHVz59svU3PvWhmobIvoRstRjuYT0JO2-ayydV9UkS0IsJGrGU4zXqZEv4xKhHtRGFtjBRDJ9ayrdmPuGIYj7xoYvxpnUafg/s1600/27march17b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuEzQRRANBpTX4jkaCywnAPTV8q6JAN-EPoevJhil4-aHHVz59svU3PvWhmobIvoRstRjuYT0JO2-ayydV9UkS0IsJGrGU4zXqZEv4xKhHtRGFtjBRDJ9ayrdmPuGIYj7xoYvxpnUafg/s640/27march17b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Neohenricia sibbettii, up close.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHTnPUPEBp5OQd5SXjbh81L-0dMDW5zPXzuLtPESMpqdCgQVfAWaA3lWOtyvr6xt9fnWIw4AS-2W8wdOjzHBfaS2wyUgSOktxkhsmfy3N5MiaexW6Y5Ag_1OOCogfCPibCrHAqorZ-g/s1600/Untitled1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHTnPUPEBp5OQd5SXjbh81L-0dMDW5zPXzuLtPESMpqdCgQVfAWaA3lWOtyvr6xt9fnWIw4AS-2W8wdOjzHBfaS2wyUgSOktxkhsmfy3N5MiaexW6Y5Ag_1OOCogfCPibCrHAqorZ-g/s640/Untitled1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Trichodiadema bulbosum</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdp09cPD_34xcTsQEH7ecdUN1JsWYjFTukM5qwDFZ8miSFWzq5-QxoVNHm-mBO2HjwLDWnsCd-x0edgkKX0VT06gDfZYWUKfsb8546FbOdhu4dHQ0K8WopAzPK8eIC8Olpu3UUBNnpIw/s1600/boy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdp09cPD_34xcTsQEH7ecdUN1JsWYjFTukM5qwDFZ8miSFWzq5-QxoVNHm-mBO2HjwLDWnsCd-x0edgkKX0VT06gDfZYWUKfsb8546FbOdhu4dHQ0K8WopAzPK8eIC8Olpu3UUBNnpIw/s640/boy.jpg" width="640" /></a></i></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Both of my Dorstenia lavranis have finally bloomed. It's a boy!</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4P0gH2zKtU-PSvITfKvcuEKFlVSfVzJFJB5IurSBMpyziAYSzLA_zFeKjoaxYYPIDkBF5GQVezg817S06rpfkm8k_9VC8a8zKOkldPnPuDQXXmoQB5ElQbWQWWoI7vDoYm9wF3xbZIg/s1600/DSC_8306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4P0gH2zKtU-PSvITfKvcuEKFlVSfVzJFJB5IurSBMpyziAYSzLA_zFeKjoaxYYPIDkBF5GQVezg817S06rpfkm8k_9VC8a8zKOkldPnPuDQXXmoQB5ElQbWQWWoI7vDoYm9wF3xbZIg/s640/DSC_8306.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Dorstenia lavrani: and a girl! </i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXGVjMqFr-B5b5jiJskujidXWlNanyTEd5jDu3azILkJYYL_KM_Hch5s_IyRkQHKKjOjgQTZbZT4HCaWiJgkbRPojsggp_9gOU9anJMQg94YKsa_FsTXDggqdH5uPcKJzMD_-1lJYqTg/s1600/Untitled1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXGVjMqFr-B5b5jiJskujidXWlNanyTEd5jDu3azILkJYYL_KM_Hch5s_IyRkQHKKjOjgQTZbZT4HCaWiJgkbRPojsggp_9gOU9anJMQg94YKsa_FsTXDggqdH5uPcKJzMD_-1lJYqTg/s640/Untitled1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Stomatium niveum, blooms open late after sundown, with a nice, gentle scent.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErnlfV8O2OyVeH2Gg1u7C4Ldyat0FF3XmPhRdZLuh85lQ_pbya3VxVupjxxxe77ciOjIk1SgqdEWjF4HHpyRYjiMzVWnNKV7wW7w0YeZJQ00SCOzb6DLaPIyFtUUqkz2BPfYkswMkYQ/s1600/rhrdhdrth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErnlfV8O2OyVeH2Gg1u7C4Ldyat0FF3XmPhRdZLuh85lQ_pbya3VxVupjxxxe77ciOjIk1SgqdEWjF4HHpyRYjiMzVWnNKV7wW7w0YeZJQ00SCOzb6DLaPIyFtUUqkz2BPfYkswMkYQ/s640/rhrdhdrth.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's always one adenium that decides to bloom in the basement before they are released for the summer. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9TV5bzJydoJg59uDBIkYtfO9lkvj0b-xrd3EPUulenjKnZz3xMtl1304K-ZQ5tz0I1wPM4CJPLphvZIignqQazAsbguV8VjwZucd20z0M3dGBDqYmBnpZ9XM_QLsJiI-f5q1flTLQfg/s1600/DSC_9109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9TV5bzJydoJg59uDBIkYtfO9lkvj0b-xrd3EPUulenjKnZz3xMtl1304K-ZQ5tz0I1wPM4CJPLphvZIignqQazAsbguV8VjwZucd20z0M3dGBDqYmBnpZ9XM_QLsJiI-f5q1flTLQfg/s640/DSC_9109.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Pachypodium brevicaule</i></td></tr>
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<br />Rolling Eyeballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18086657711537765142noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637856527280406298.post-83085910196995271072017-03-14T21:11:00.004-07:002020-07-23T05:15:15.481-07:00Haworthias: Hand-PollinationHave you ever tried hand-pollinating your haworthias? It turned out to be easy, you should try it. You just need a couple of tweezers, a pad of paper, a pen and, if your eyes are bad, a magnifying visor. Maybe an audiobook. Like "I Contain Multitude". Or Cream's 1966 magnum, Fresh Cream. For the freaks who do not like Cream, I recommend Blink 182. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwhXGfPfDAPmDMbTKzzu68HIND33_CIdaH_ypNckR9-9r7kVkNTa5wBmbcGDtASBDHL0srRkDPFCLiCooi_o-N_YOrXNSiGAJoDCDwH2nfD0a9t4A877i84oXWxCBX0TMGPkUYNNkO_Q/s1600/H-emelyae-var-emelyae-%2528f%2529-x-sylviae-%2528m%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwhXGfPfDAPmDMbTKzzu68HIND33_CIdaH_ypNckR9-9r7kVkNTa5wBmbcGDtASBDHL0srRkDPFCLiCooi_o-N_YOrXNSiGAJoDCDwH2nfD0a9t4A877i84oXWxCBX0TMGPkUYNNkO_Q/w512-h323/H-emelyae-var-emelyae-%2528f%2529-x-sylviae-%2528m%2529.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>These seeds could soon become hybrid plants---Haworthia emelyae as female parent and Haworthia sylviae as male parent.</i></td></tr>
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<a name='more'></a>Admit it, haworthia flowers are among the most boring inflorescence in the plant kingdom. Add to that, no bug in my yard ever figured out how to pollinate the fuckers and it's been almost five years since I started with this genus. So I normally just snip the stalks off when they grow long enough. I've always considered it a waste of energy that is better spent growing more leaves which is the reason for why I grow these plants.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIU1ivQ2C7GjaK7hyphenhyphenpb3HEhdI4_AQgfYJYT9echtBQ0HCf2SarOlw1GpUKaUExHouYfGqQNOoCu4tAXyqCDx1Csq7fUIXLmrgAZU_eXWduw2qFbVclbLmm7ykU9nU2sb4m1n7uC5aI9Q/s1600/DSC_8831.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIU1ivQ2C7GjaK7hyphenhyphenpb3HEhdI4_AQgfYJYT9echtBQ0HCf2SarOlw1GpUKaUExHouYfGqQNOoCu4tAXyqCDx1Csq7fUIXLmrgAZU_eXWduw2qFbVclbLmm7ykU9nU2sb4m1n7uC5aI9Q/w512-h342/DSC_8831.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This one stands so fiercely on its own, flowers will just ruin the portrait. But sometimes, you do need seeds.</i></td></tr>
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Haworthias are not self-fertile. You need two plants, one to be the female domor and a second for a male donor. For the purposes of this first try, I picked these two haworthias because they happened to be blooming at the same time:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOzD4poQrJwKnsh0lv4uZoG21bhI6unvd4BWzFTI8hp48H0g_Y6kZ38LBdc69qNXK_vQ_fbqQXfj_R2ZXTJXe9Hu2Ao04cSPi7TLQnVFYLNe-21WbNhFyL5AJDkizlFmHFs9pJ6t6yCA/s1600/DSC_8450.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOzD4poQrJwKnsh0lv4uZoG21bhI6unvd4BWzFTI8hp48H0g_Y6kZ38LBdc69qNXK_vQ_fbqQXfj_R2ZXTJXe9Hu2Ao04cSPi7TLQnVFYLNe-21WbNhFyL5AJDkizlFmHFs9pJ6t6yCA/w512-h342/DSC_8450.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Haworthia emelyae var. emelyae (picta, GM 568 AL)</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDb187R9dUASM3HxtFjHj7xIqdY74iFCuZa9Jx7V3vqWpefu8GnMy-97leSF-E_sJMXLcKUAdJ3IuTHg3kBxkdzZ8TU9ONkmYSFqCHEa0RASqLtJmbRK0CyR68LKQXcMUDc9xnqnT1Ww/s1600/DSC_8452.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDb187R9dUASM3HxtFjHj7xIqdY74iFCuZa9Jx7V3vqWpefu8GnMy-97leSF-E_sJMXLcKUAdJ3IuTHg3kBxkdzZ8TU9ONkmYSFqCHEa0RASqLtJmbRK0CyR68LKQXcMUDc9xnqnT1Ww/w512-h342/DSC_8452.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Haworthia silviae</i></td></tr>
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There really is no need to reinvent the wheel here. The techniques for hand-pollination are well-known and haworthias are among the easiest to handle because the parts are relatively large. We shall begin....<br />
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<b>1. Quarantine:</b> Select which haworthias you want to cross-pollinate. Once you have decided, it is important that you isolate these two plants, especially if you have other haworthias in bloom. The isolation will help ensure they wont cheat on you. Of course there is no way to tell whether or not a gnat beat you to it but you want to be at least reasonably sure that unsanctioned gene exchange will not happen when you're not looking. <br />
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<b>2. Age the flowers</b>; i.e. wait one full day after the flowers have opened before attempting to hand-pollinate. The pollen are immediately ready once the flower opens but the stigma will take a day or two to mature.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-weight: bold;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9YgeM1857BBCA7fn-ipzE-XkNdG-9-Z_MSgEM_bcLy5EQmBFgVVAcGdl3tQ0vDjbxIwDKnpCS6RV32Gk7lDmmPg5zDy-MJoSunruqUKC7B4XY9YAhKBVHpkhjzcDbMeS_oBvsgAvrw/s1203/DSC_2598.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="850" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9YgeM1857BBCA7fn-ipzE-XkNdG-9-Z_MSgEM_bcLy5EQmBFgVVAcGdl3tQ0vDjbxIwDKnpCS6RV32Gk7lDmmPg5zDy-MJoSunruqUKC7B4XY9YAhKBVHpkhjzcDbMeS_oBvsgAvrw/s320/DSC_2598.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><font face="inherit" style="font-weight: normal;">3. Strip the flowers. </font></span><span style="text-align: left;"><font face="inherit">Once both male and female parent flowers are ready, both have to be emasculated to facilitate better access to the nether regions we are about to force-pair. It's a disturbing thought, if put that way, but it really isn't any better if a middle-bee or middle-moth was involved. </font></span></div>
<br />Anyway, haworthia flowers typically grow in a spiral formation on the flower stalk. This will make it easier to poke and tug at it with one hand while supporting the stalk with the other. The first one that will open is your practice flower. Just rip it apart so you have a general idea of where everything is and how much contact with your metal tools these parts will tolerate before they are mangled to uselessness.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp4RgJql2XylsEqt50gEUuyTgrSG59J3OG4Pqhu324Tu0UyvgEqPWvOuJ0DeViMHgUytKNKd10Fu0x-TeHmK29a5OuYGydUod59wwmbxK5-O_J9twxQT3-jZ99w7e0VyGCg7bJ7Kg8mg/s1600/ewrtyrtyt.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp4RgJql2XylsEqt50gEUuyTgrSG59J3OG4Pqhu324Tu0UyvgEqPWvOuJ0DeViMHgUytKNKd10Fu0x-TeHmK29a5OuYGydUod59wwmbxK5-O_J9twxQT3-jZ99w7e0VyGCg7bJ7Kg8mg/s320/ewrtyrtyt.jpg" width="224" /></a>First remove the lowest three petals by gripping the petal one at a time and pulling it gently downwards until it detaches. This will expose the stamen (the male bits) and the pistil (the female bits). You have to do this with both the male and female donor plants. <br />
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<b>4. Remove the stamen from both plants. </b>Once you remove the petals from both flowers, you can better see the stamens growing around the pistil. Typically, a haworthia flower will have 6 to 8 stamens. You have to remove all of them because they'll get in the way later. <br />
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The easiest way to do this is to grab the stamen one at a time and removing them the same way you pulled the petals--downwards and off, if you are using a pair of tweezers. This is why the locking forceps are easier to use. Just grab the bottom of the stamen, lock the forceps and it will squish it with just enough pressure to snap it off. This will then expose the stigma--the female bit where you will apply the pollen later. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajWGtyc7kcDNjQ0eTKawijLj66qUXddhqJGDchObdX9qdeCww8owIp3O2WovzfVn8a0NT-SWMztvMEGIz4oUwjMNbrpWOq59kVJ93R509rYcvNsv5E0_fznhfSC-6oxu8oHlOatiGAQ/s1549/444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1037" data-original-width="1549" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajWGtyc7kcDNjQ0eTKawijLj66qUXddhqJGDchObdX9qdeCww8owIp3O2WovzfVn8a0NT-SWMztvMEGIz4oUwjMNbrpWOq59kVJ93R509rYcvNsv5E0_fznhfSC-6oxu8oHlOatiGAQ/w500-h335/444.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The forceps will hold the stamen firmly in place, making it easier to apply the pollen to the stigma.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><font face="inherit"><div style="text-align: left;">Because of the timing in which my haworthias bloomed and the flowers matured, I ended up with only two pollen sources (H. emelyae) and about six several H. sylviae stigmas ready for pollination.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-nBXRewjN82WdKtm0iZShhISm3lI9_6NqVideF9limfFm-U0Do5QOWFI_qsZvKQGKjG_rNaT9UuePA3NyHmcwpE-w_7xE5c6tSaORDTJ8eb0_cF3UmX8wPHLI7TOD69n1GCDW56UGw/s1285/DSC_8841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1285" data-original-width="865" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-nBXRewjN82WdKtm0iZShhISm3lI9_6NqVideF9limfFm-U0Do5QOWFI_qsZvKQGKjG_rNaT9UuePA3NyHmcwpE-w_7xE5c6tSaORDTJ8eb0_cF3UmX8wPHLI7TOD69n1GCDW56UGw/s320/DSC_8841.jpg" /></a></div>So, just yank all the stamen from one plant and put them on a sheet of paper. Then yank the stamen from the other plant and put them on a separate sheet of paper. Now is a good time to write down the name of the plants you are using. You will regret not taking notes at this stage because you'll probably end up going on a pollinating rampage and lose track of which was applied to what.</span></div></font></span></div><b><div><b><br /></b></div>5. Apply pollen</b>. Then, just start crossing the two plants, applying the pollen from one plant to the other and vice versa. Just rub the anther right against the stigma of the receiving plant. Touching the anther to the stigma is not enough, you have to get in there and scrape them against each other. And, you have to do this while also being careful not to destroy the stigma. If your eyes are as bad as mine, use a magnifying visor so you can see what you are doing. <br />
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When you are done applying the pollen, <b>label your stuff!</b> It's easy to remember if you are dealing with only two plants. After a week, you'll be able to tell if all that was successful. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimOvcvPcb_Se13HDTKhnaqPn5NaCjUaJprX0GGiWcC-E6kOaq28tkiiB-cP1zEwD9N9pxeg3SFUD6wxnm3LybbUhtDhqUVZfZ1EV2Wan15lEbGd9cJxsGheEDa_in0EB6T7faNW5AivQ/s1600/14-days.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="357" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimOvcvPcb_Se13HDTKhnaqPn5NaCjUaJprX0GGiWcC-E6kOaq28tkiiB-cP1zEwD9N9pxeg3SFUD6wxnm3LybbUhtDhqUVZfZ1EV2Wan15lEbGd9cJxsGheEDa_in0EB6T7faNW5AivQ/w512-h357/14-days.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Right: this is what they looked like after a week. About two weeks later, left photo. These seeds are growing on their H. emelyae var emelyae female with pollen from H. sylviae. </i></td></tr>
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<br /><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQaTrxRPpg0LeDzrrXPWIFs3EZrEEu_6eVAo6sy4CN-KMgQe6VBLNrQZwRC_7FFfAFtDtM9hzKZDgEl1qfGHzzlRFLr_gyZ46sIp7kmppvzxQG-jw215vGxWv6iD_0qCttJVMThK62WA/s2048/H-emelyae-var-emelyae-%2528f%2529-x-sylviae-%2528m%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1293" data-original-width="2048" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQaTrxRPpg0LeDzrrXPWIFs3EZrEEu_6eVAo6sy4CN-KMgQe6VBLNrQZwRC_7FFfAFtDtM9hzKZDgEl1qfGHzzlRFLr_gyZ46sIp7kmppvzxQG-jw215vGxWv6iD_0qCttJVMThK62WA/w500-h316/H-emelyae-var-emelyae-%2528f%2529-x-sylviae-%2528m%2529.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The H. emelyae var emelyae flower took its sweetass time maturing so by the time all the H. sylviae flowers were ready, it only had two flowers old enough to receive pollen. So, we have two pods from it.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">At this point, the pod will start to grow and it's a bit slow but once it matures, the pod snaps open to spill the seeds. So you will want to make sure you don't lose the seeds. One way to prevent them flying off is to wrap the stalk in something, like this:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wWOxnW4ozrWb9N9BdEyV_-0FzUrPQvuoAH5MEmAOwE9XY5sGwExb2yjDCUOt5wC8TktMFnVihzXwxNgvDdFdWkNcTpup4DkGD5Ky8EBblYCh7-V5WDXWEDKuYSY4wvW4NmWaCvjovw/s1600/DSC_8845.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wWOxnW4ozrWb9N9BdEyV_-0FzUrPQvuoAH5MEmAOwE9XY5sGwExb2yjDCUOt5wC8TktMFnVihzXwxNgvDdFdWkNcTpup4DkGD5Ky8EBblYCh7-V5WDXWEDKuYSY4wvW4NmWaCvjovw/s320/DSC_8845.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
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This is a wispy bag Knitty Kitty sent to me so it was conveniently available. Most people use various forms of hosiery or gauze. The important thing is to wrap it in something that breathes. A plastic ziploc bag is probably not the way to go.<br />
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One of the most interesting techniques I've seen is the use of a drinking straw cut up into 1-cm lengths and then wedged over each pod. It will keep the pod from popping open fully and supposedly just open enough as it dries out, without spilling the seeds where you can't collect them. Some people use threads looped around the pod, also to keep it from popping open and throwing the seeds out. I can imagine how tricky it will be to tie threads around pods so tiny but it will let you color-code the pods and keep track of your crosses.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcw2wwgx9knSxOwGy4mr-nocrhm3a41pFLPDraQ9a9ATAG6VYHCYgZdGNCJmWS8gPq2KzhH2WC4_mpoK-3YEuf0uXHrXGVR2lSeKQClt3klvHYAbHwT8A0f9KaefZM2HhH4hAVSMSXdQ/s1600/DSC_8954.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcw2wwgx9knSxOwGy4mr-nocrhm3a41pFLPDraQ9a9ATAG6VYHCYgZdGNCJmWS8gPq2KzhH2WC4_mpoK-3YEuf0uXHrXGVR2lSeKQClt3klvHYAbHwT8A0f9KaefZM2HhH4hAVSMSXdQ/s320/DSC_8954.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
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Once you see the pods getting plump, it will take a couple more weeks for them to ripen. After that, keep an eye on the tips--they will snap open as the pod itself dries out with the seeds inside ready to be released.<br />
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Fortunately, haworthia pods are not as explosive as adeniums. This kind of happens slowly, usually throughout the day. At this point, you can probably take the whole stalk and cut it off so you can store it somewhere more manageable. Fortunately, the seeds are not as jumpy as most succulent seeds. <br />
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There were six pods in this particular stalk so when the youngest one started to open at the tips, even though it was still green and not as dry as the oldest one, I removed it from the plant. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqpIY2IFTHXcwtTBE-o9MnEq9VQTEJKRmtgPOKN6M7q8Zu9DMK0lh1QjS-dfqmtmfFgU_tpPlmShGkBGMWm1fnci4Sk072AhihnhbmuLieA6C_iD79AnVChNOyCBl5eS65paij9R0-4A/s1600/ewrtyrtyt.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqpIY2IFTHXcwtTBE-o9MnEq9VQTEJKRmtgPOKN6M7q8Zu9DMK0lh1QjS-dfqmtmfFgU_tpPlmShGkBGMWm1fnci4Sk072AhihnhbmuLieA6C_iD79AnVChNOyCBl5eS65paij9R0-4A/w512-h322/ewrtyrtyt.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seeds from the <i>H. sylviae</i> (F) and<i> H. emelyae</i> (M) cross.</td></tr>
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If you have questions, ask away, yo. <br />
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<a href="https://kalachuchiatbp.blogspot.ca/2018/02/haworthias-seedlings-and-plantlings.html" target="_blank">Next: Sowing Seeds, Seedlings and Plantlings</a><br />
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<b>Further reading:</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.gerhardmarx.com/2013/02/haworthia-hybrids.html" target="_blank">Gerhard Marx' Pollination Technique</a><br />
<a href="http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/1809684/haworthia-101" target="_blank">Bikerdoc's Forum Discussion on Haworthia Pollination </a><br />
More discussions <a href="http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/4408130/calling-all-haworthians?n=451" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/4487821/m=23/calling-all-haworthianscontinued" target="_blank">here </a></div>Rolling Eyeballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18086657711537765142noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637856527280406298.post-21515020216605686472017-02-11T14:38:00.001-08:002017-03-01T14:01:01.244-08:00Rooting and Rotting: Heat is Everything<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-size: small;">We've done this cold damage thing before but one plant that was near-death deserves a separate conversation. As you know, cold damage in adeniums is more insidious than we think, sometimes. Cold, per se, is not so fatal as long as it does not drop below freezing and the plant is totally dry. But cold <i><b>and</b></i> wet---the very definition of spring---will kill your adeniums.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6qG9htfV3sdXCTx-BmGyn9yDeYrkw6Ui4DgQ-TY93CLuDBd_oX-DIq9Ty8_myBpTs0EX-LHXYRwiy5CFnEgYPYm5T97XijCp-DeWmlXj_keyk3Q1LOouJ2OFskidH61lHxr2HHoUjw/s1600/DSC_7630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6qG9htfV3sdXCTx-BmGyn9yDeYrkw6Ui4DgQ-TY93CLuDBd_oX-DIq9Ty8_myBpTs0EX-LHXYRwiy5CFnEgYPYm5T97XijCp-DeWmlXj_keyk3Q1LOouJ2OFskidH61lHxr2HHoUjw/s640/DSC_7630.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i><span style="color: #274e13;">Damage like this is hard to spot---the plant never shows stress and unless you examine closely and poke around under the soil, sometimes you won't know. This one, for instance, was not noticed until mid-summer. Look at that----rooting and rotting at the same time!</span></i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Mrba0uh0HPXYfOyfOsRTiBLpAVgXaRUcbVY36S99vF_gjdYvv4FDNJAkfyrzPFEYQZe8xlYVTj9oZbX5Ubn-yVp2ZMkAhutTxoJSx409p6WIeYjzNJIYsO_7tmtJ3NH-DH45xEfrhQ/s1600/DSC_7632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Mrba0uh0HPXYfOyfOsRTiBLpAVgXaRUcbVY36S99vF_gjdYvv4FDNJAkfyrzPFEYQZe8xlYVTj9oZbX5Ubn-yVp2ZMkAhutTxoJSx409p6WIeYjzNJIYsO_7tmtJ3NH-DH45xEfrhQ/s640/DSC_7632.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="color: #274e13;">This plant had a good-sized taproot. Brought outdoors in late March last year, by July it had lost all of it to root rot. At some point, as the weather got warmer, the plant tissue hardened and the necrosis started creeping upwards between the trunk and the skin instead. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #274e13;">After digging it out, it was apparent this plant was torn between life and death. Despite the roots coming out of the sides, though, the rot was not done, by far. That mush there was the most worrisome since it was not stopping and was actively going up. There were other soft spots on the trunk too. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy8tbGZwBw6CsOsHFT4-vA39q26BcoaLmcHtkQeO6_zkct7Kyhi2po69qpqaxW0syKAKP-msqpZTco_pLCorh0RaqTY0gkJgEFFi_qNT1v0x1LIWDeQxchRE6QJf4huzF5yUJiMN2plA/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy8tbGZwBw6CsOsHFT4-vA39q26BcoaLmcHtkQeO6_zkct7Kyhi2po69qpqaxW0syKAKP-msqpZTco_pLCorh0RaqTY0gkJgEFFi_qNT1v0x1LIWDeQxchRE6QJf4huzF5yUJiMN2plA/s640/Untitled-1.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="color: #274e13;">If you catch it early enough, you can just slice off as much of the dead or dying tissue until you see healthy tissue. Then, hang it somewhere out of the way. You want it to be dry and shaded. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #274e13;">So today, I unpotted this plant to see what's what. Kids, don't do this in winter unless you have a generous space on your heat mat. It will not be happy with just ambient warmth, it will need supplemental heat. So, fast-forward six months.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6e1agaBdGER7WtSkh1HXpPlNeg5D3uK9dgkUKiHONLBTLvZVoaA6IeCJnAL9_gARoDXO4P4tmkaltfkPe3JENkAsImVMAzfmopeTxebhvaaGH3dhCmjSnScxELigQyHJJHC7hfhW0qg/s1600/DSC_8518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6e1agaBdGER7WtSkh1HXpPlNeg5D3uK9dgkUKiHONLBTLvZVoaA6IeCJnAL9_gARoDXO4P4tmkaltfkPe3JENkAsImVMAzfmopeTxebhvaaGH3dhCmjSnScxELigQyHJJHC7hfhW0qg/s640/DSC_8518.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;">The bottom has healed completely, losing the callous. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsKwB8eQYD97ukhqBM92BUM8d6sGapK88zkbs9sgBHPt0hyphenhyphenM2zQz7kS_nDYHVo2GjxkE8-2RE5AGdXfxf7TWPI2LcUUwPDensWHYoErQb41uu4p_WsIskYh2lUuR9EuLz3akqq7bISXA/s1600/DSC_8519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsKwB8eQYD97ukhqBM92BUM8d6sGapK88zkbs9sgBHPt0hyphenhyphenM2zQz7kS_nDYHVo2GjxkE8-2RE5AGdXfxf7TWPI2LcUUwPDensWHYoErQb41uu4p_WsIskYh2lUuR9EuLz3akqq7bISXA/s640/DSC_8519.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;">This, too has healed nicely. And now it needs a bigger pot to grow in. </span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Notes:</span></b><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #274e13;">Cold damage took 4 months to manifest on this specific plant. Because it was mid-July by the time it was noticed, the heat had already stopped the rot and triggered new roots to form. This means a healthy-looking plant may not necessarily be that healthy. In spring, it pays to closely examine your plants. </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="color: #274e13;"> </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #274e13;">Air dry for a month. I found that the drying time between a plant already suffering from rot and a root-pruned healthy plant is different. The healthy plant heals over from the cut and bounces back in nearly half the time.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;">It is easier to rehab a plant like this in gritty mix <b><i>without </i></b> soil. That way, it can be watered and therefore will not dehydrate while also letting it dry faster.</span> </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="color: #274e13;"> </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #274e13;">A bigger plant will need longer drying time before being potted. I once had two yearlings out of the pot for about 7 months and when potted up, they just resumed growth. In other words, don't worry about having to keep them out of the pot for the amount of time it takes to form a <b>firm and mature</b> scar tissue or callous over the cuts you made.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="color: #274e13;">IN my experience, gluing things to an open cut only works well on healthy plants. Adeniums already stressed from root rot will not fare as well or fail altogether.From the other victims of my spring die-off episode, I found that plants that had to be cut above the soil line do not survive. They just take a long time to finally die. You're better off grafting pieces to a healthy plant if you want to save the stock.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13;"> </span>Rolling Eyeballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18086657711537765142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637856527280406298.post-80242107113722801862017-01-22T14:23:00.001-08:002020-08-12T08:26:29.586-07:00January 21, 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
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<br />Rolling Eyeballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18086657711537765142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637856527280406298.post-67979625106623592842017-01-17T03:41:00.003-08:002020-07-21T16:10:46.043-07:00Winter Sowing Projects<div> </div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Hr60N2HO9KDEuj2jepHDb0Dr24w8L6ZBgju8EBOuredOt6UI869yoIJ3kf0c4ca4-hro4qAgiir4qJIBCWNNNLeMbuQ1BYbt-3rwcNVCptU12j-bGywdT-GbYeO0ng2ytpbjsAX_TQ/s2048/seed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1371" data-original-width="2048" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Hr60N2HO9KDEuj2jepHDb0Dr24w8L6ZBgju8EBOuredOt6UI869yoIJ3kf0c4ca4-hro4qAgiir4qJIBCWNNNLeMbuQ1BYbt-3rwcNVCptU12j-bGywdT-GbYeO0ng2ytpbjsAX_TQ/w500-h335/seed.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #274e13;">Ceropegia woodi seed</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div>
<br /><a name='more'></a><span style="color: #274e13;">If I had a bear, it would probably be out of hibernation and playing chess. The oscillations have been so confusing, even my adeniums have migraine. But, as is usual during winter when a blanket of freezing death covers the Atlantic seaboard, it is the perfect time to sow seeds. (No, really, it's not). Sometime in early autumn, I somehow ended up with two more samples of Dimmit seeds. More interesting, though, is that a number of plants on my rather meager bench actually went to seed. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">This post originally started as a shout-out to Rika, over at<a href="http://lithops-stories.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> Lithops Stories</a>
(if you have not seen her blog, go there. NOW!). She had very
generously sent me anacampseros seeds from her own plants and I was
stupid with excitement to sow them over the winter. </span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13;">So
I did, taking special care to follow all my usual
steps---sterilization, two weeks to fallow after sterilization, mild
warmth and light. None of the seeds germinated and I still can not
figure out why. </span><span style="color: #274e13;">I'm a little mortified.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">There were other sowing projects, mostly because a surprising number of my plants produced seeds. I am supposing a bunch of bugs have figured out how to harvest sugar from my immigrant plants. What I don't get is why nothing has managed to pollinate the adeniums. Knitty Kitty has seed horns coming out of her ears. I suggested some local moths might have done it, since neither butterflies nor bees seem attracted by adenium flowers. But she said it was more likely the ants did it. Ants!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAkFpUh3JDMagGBJNkZIFLRWzaaZRn0lTjOSJXDP1YpXRm4Qrps-RFPVuu8hS4-S4fAUeVBKPfxX25dHi1PStbm_boNPIA6U_uY3KI60Vz4zgNDTZmd_4PQwf821TnOqy20aLG6R_uFQ/s1600/DSC_8311.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAkFpUh3JDMagGBJNkZIFLRWzaaZRn0lTjOSJXDP1YpXRm4Qrps-RFPVuu8hS4-S4fAUeVBKPfxX25dHi1PStbm_boNPIA6U_uY3KI60Vz4zgNDTZmd_4PQwf821TnOqy20aLG6R_uFQ/s320/DSC_8311.jpg" width="214" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;">
</span></span> <span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;">This <i>C. woodi </i>has been blooming all summer and actually took to seed at the end of autumn. That's slightly alarming since it was being kept in a screened-in pergola that was supposed to keep buggers out. Whoever went around pollinating the complicated flowers found a way in and, thanks, that means the facility is not secure. Hmp. It was bad enough the carpenter bees were drilling their way in all summer right up to first frost. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><br />
</span></span> <span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Anyway, if pollination was successful, you get this horn about four centimeters long. It takes about a couple of months for the fruit to ripen. There really is no visual cue that I can specifically point to. It does not turn red or change color at all while it matures. The pod just explodes after a couple of months and out come the seeds, adorned by long, wispy fluff that would have allowed them to travel for quite a distance. There were about 8 seeds in each pod that looked viable. The rest was fluff.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;">I'm not really keen to try and plant them--I'm fine with the ones I have and do not want any more. If you, whoever you are, want these seeds, drop a line below, they're yours for postage. But you have to be in the continental US, because we have to play nice with farmers whose crops we could end up destroying if we keep tossing plants and seeds across continents without the necessary precautions. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>Avonia albissima </b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;">This is a newcomer, as the search for perennially small plants continues. This used to be part of the genus <i>Anacampseros </i>until someone decided it was probably a good idea to separate the ones with the papery scales on the stem instead of actual leaves. So now, they are <i>Avonias</i>. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;">These ones in particular are delicate things. And they they freakily move around a lot during the day, bending this way and that, straining upwards and then seeming to pass out from the effort. They are perpetually reacting to heat and light. Do not be tempted to water every time you see them change pose. Just...you know, leave them the fuck alone. Whatever watering rhythm you have, stick with it. These have been kept in a hot box so it got slightly confused and bloomed. <b> </b></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAXX7sL6wiN5C-O85KaN0ON9KeQFKzBF77RutX87EagM8fmkCS3IUVkqh5dJLI7LPC0nC2Lv0IdHmVlZIutSQMgFwHf5dLMLvpZFPbXVYm9BFF3x-QobZkKD7yDGfB2IE2aPjJCd95MA/s1600/DSC_8334.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAXX7sL6wiN5C-O85KaN0ON9KeQFKzBF77RutX87EagM8fmkCS3IUVkqh5dJLI7LPC0nC2Lv0IdHmVlZIutSQMgFwHf5dLMLvpZFPbXVYm9BFF3x-QobZkKD7yDGfB2IE2aPjJCd95MA/s640/DSC_8334.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-size: small;">The papery bits at the terminal tips are spent flowers. They only last a few hours and then dry up to a crinkly mess. </span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeDkoVPrUfF5bS69lLz4TAWzDJmpoKD-TJGEEBBugI4GBpknLmLL5rRLePEoi-K1s4ApHkbQc6iSOkb_40wJ90fMYrxyoFURX2_ox67zIo807J9jXud8WgiVJPqlS21PtW3a9I2Sjt6A/s1600/DSC_8254.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeDkoVPrUfF5bS69lLz4TAWzDJmpoKD-TJGEEBBugI4GBpknLmLL5rRLePEoi-K1s4ApHkbQc6iSOkb_40wJ90fMYrxyoFURX2_ox67zIo807J9jXud8WgiVJPqlS21PtW3a9I2Sjt6A/s640/DSC_8254.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;">The flowers are tiny things about 4 millimeters across that you can easily bother with a cat whisker. I think I stuck the soft end of the whisker all the way in to the style. I got seeds! Unfortunately I was not paying attention to how long it took.</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLPhi2ln6aMszhTanpgpUAIBislAOU4Q0gbYFKdZeBcrTGwLT8-1PgmlAraTTA3CJ9E1Kp9IrA1WKhuEENdD1RL-ahLLPzYdznc2TDxRqWp854HG25L8tXK-Qvqq7xolt_Gs2AWpkSWw/s1600/DSC_8251.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLPhi2ln6aMszhTanpgpUAIBislAOU4Q0gbYFKdZeBcrTGwLT8-1PgmlAraTTA3CJ9E1Kp9IrA1WKhuEENdD1RL-ahLLPzYdznc2TDxRqWp854HG25L8tXK-Qvqq7xolt_Gs2AWpkSWw/s640/DSC_8251.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;">The seeds were planted immediately, plopped on top of sterilized potting soil and left alone in the hot box inside one of those cheese boxes. My seeds were fresh so they germinated after two days. At this point, the cover was removed but they stayed in the box for a couple of weeks more until the papery scales started to develop. </span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhag8mC9mE3XxgLc35Q3dHyvONLEwgzzn_F7vazI2uopf9HrV_HMFmE2tTLLh-ghchU_bwA0zbdZNykyjjsLUbZQJej5eWDgd7I_7_-bKGV7xa_iNG2j55tloj1pSrb8NT-KROUgCkZPw/s1600/16jan17.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhag8mC9mE3XxgLc35Q3dHyvONLEwgzzn_F7vazI2uopf9HrV_HMFmE2tTLLh-ghchU_bwA0zbdZNykyjjsLUbZQJej5eWDgd7I_7_-bKGV7xa_iNG2j55tloj1pSrb8NT-KROUgCkZPw/s640/16jan17.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;">About a week after that first seedling photo, they have started to look distinctly like the parent plant although they have not lost their cotyledons. But they were tall enough, rising above the soil that they had to be mulched with small-grain calcined clay. It doesn't have to be calcined clay, it's just what I have at the mo. Coarse-grain sand will probably work just as well but they are heavier and harder to put in without crushing the seedlings. They are only about 2 millimeters across. </span></span></span></td><td class="tr-caption"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><br />
</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>Avonia quinaria ssp alstonii</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuC5fMpmAIoGpwhoiR4LncaZH7C74J5WHl-KOfczf8Jj3lm3VE4dcdq3oT2u0_rkQM5w9yhI6AKZelJRt4F5GkRWBnvCa5fUzDxFEgtTqsk68EYAXnSj9zGx6cuAVaZiJD_ARFDcx7Ug/s1600/Avonia+quinaria+ssp+alstonii.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuC5fMpmAIoGpwhoiR4LncaZH7C74J5WHl-KOfczf8Jj3lm3VE4dcdq3oT2u0_rkQM5w9yhI6AKZelJRt4F5GkRWBnvCa5fUzDxFEgtTqsk68EYAXnSj9zGx6cuAVaZiJD_ARFDcx7Ug/s320/Avonia+quinaria+ssp+alstonii.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #274e13;">I got this amazing little specimen in late October. It is a tiny caudex-forming plant that is nothing short of terrifying. You just know it will die as soon as you start trying to care for it. I wish I had the presence of mind to measure it when I first got it but extrapolating from the size of that pot (which I still have), then it must have grown at least a quarter of a centimeter in diameter in the last three months. Or I am hallucinating. it originally came in a 2-inch nursery pot and the pot it is in is a three-inch dessert cup spray painted in metallic copper. Most people raise this plant to expose the caudex but this one will spend a few more years gaining girth under the substrate---if it survives that long. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsKBLBaJyUOHEQ3VGG73j4SMTOXPFBxtQMzNnuQOXFGjMsShCZNxsgUUfpOZa7D6eDXtgCFyqmVaFa8lOmX1BplbgwTDcO_R-Tq_adFr3xiZp5XuTIYg3k1saWAUTWwX9kV5I4GJ3p_w/s1600/Untitled2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsKBLBaJyUOHEQ3VGG73j4SMTOXPFBxtQMzNnuQOXFGjMsShCZNxsgUUfpOZa7D6eDXtgCFyqmVaFa8lOmX1BplbgwTDcO_R-Tq_adFr3xiZp5XuTIYg3k1saWAUTWwX9kV5I4GJ3p_w/s640/Untitled2.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="color: #274e13;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Now, this was sold to me as <i>Avonia quinaria ssp alstonii</i>---a variety with white flowers. But this sister clearly blooms magenta. That makes it either </span><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>Avonia quinaria</i> or </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Avonia quinaria ssp quinaria.</span></span></i></span><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;"> I have not gotten to the bottom of this thing so, to be continued, that one. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirr5jSEmYSGUfqBrb-iEvoocriaSVk7_jcbdkKzwAdqFNxiE0YgC1KGZEUadz_S9K9EOjCqBk24JDE8jKPQndKrC7gsW3YOkcb1sBjOwuqnl2Dc59wCi29KuE5JH_Pt6aFe2aGQcAFiA/s1600/DSC_8239.jpg"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirr5jSEmYSGUfqBrb-iEvoocriaSVk7_jcbdkKzwAdqFNxiE0YgC1KGZEUadz_S9K9EOjCqBk24JDE8jKPQndKrC7gsW3YOkcb1sBjOwuqnl2Dc59wCi29KuE5JH_Pt6aFe2aGQcAFiA/s640/DSC_8239.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;"></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;">I
have never ever caught it fully open. This photo above was the closest
my camera got. This is weird because it isn't a night-blooming plant. At
least I did not think so. But in case it was, I even tried putting it
in a box at around noon to simulate a dark night, hoping to see the
flower open by late evening. No banana. It stayed this way. Or maybe it
opened for 17 seconds. Or snapped shut every time I lifted the box to
check. </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Whatever. I don't like that color anyway. </span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<b></b><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>Ariocarpus fissuratus</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;">This is probably my most ambitious sowing experiment this winter, considering how many times I have failed sowing cacti seeds. The parent plant seeded in summer and I did not even notice until I poked through all that fluff. In habitat, I bet the rain just washes them off. Otherwise, the seeds will stay hidden in the cushion forever. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheHfC_b4L9P56YuALC-ygqMLjx-OsW4DjV6ijAOQcXAHy-Wn26YKwpZjKSkO5-5EM0IETOWLRJteo9MRQUXFFsUm3dz_TVyeotM5w8NMEVSClwM-Ya_eseCXaPcP1aT2bhYoSgveYObw/s1600/Untitled5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheHfC_b4L9P56YuALC-ygqMLjx-OsW4DjV6ijAOQcXAHy-Wn26YKwpZjKSkO5-5EM0IETOWLRJteo9MRQUXFFsUm3dz_TVyeotM5w8NMEVSClwM-Ya_eseCXaPcP1aT2bhYoSgveYObw/s640/Untitled5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;">The plant is a native of the high deserts. Those who have figured out how to grow them from seeds are apparently successful; seed-grown plants are fairly common. So, I say, how hard can it be? </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;">So, the usual routine--zap more potting soil in the microwave oven for 10 minutes, cover and let stand for about a week. Sterilize a salad box and a small pot. Fill with sterilized soil, plop the seeds in, cover and put under lights, preferably on a heat mat.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2USuaNHku_A2uSF0U1CgxLNUTCInBO4pLhFfrNm_3S8vd6x_UTM9k-MqNvMz6NJbl68vWDBZQz4wR7vXfQJJdxfE2PlwSdH_4RiL3qdlcEYmll11QXMqrIr4LmmxRoz_B-ethp91OKQ/s1600/drtumtut.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2USuaNHku_A2uSF0U1CgxLNUTCInBO4pLhFfrNm_3S8vd6x_UTM9k-MqNvMz6NJbl68vWDBZQz4wR7vXfQJJdxfE2PlwSdH_4RiL3qdlcEYmll11QXMqrIr4LmmxRoz_B-ethp91OKQ/s640/drtumtut.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;">The salad box said these seeds were sowed on October 10. Here they were about a month later, stunningly small. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;">The thing with cactus seeds is that they are misleadingly easy to germinate. I had 100 percent germination rate, in fact, since the seeds were minty fresh. Getting them to survive after that is where the shit falls apart. If you look at sources online, they will say keep spraying for three months and then seal the thing in for a year. I don't know who came up with this idea and how many people have actually tried and succeeded doing it this way. There's some dude on YouTube who assures you it really works. But long forum discussions, if you have the patience and desperation to go through them, would tell you exactly the opposite. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Ariocarpus seedlings, specifically, are supposed to need fresh, free-moving dry air as soon as possible. In cactusspeak, this means after about three months from germination. I was determined to seal my seedlings in for a year, trust me. Since this involved largely ignoring them--a strategy I am particularly partial to. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Unfortunately, they were turning ugly. I lost two seedlings during this period of confusion and vacillation. So, since I personally prefer fresh, free-moving air, I liberated the pot from its container and put it out there. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh23-SwITx9RgUCWb3OkokdOH1oNpSkL7-QnSu6BrnpC0NRctCmhFpeHrjWqZFXv9DOj2Mr3WHiLS64x9lYu3hPpZfVqeB6uJNJ97oCi3LhrtTQht8ngtFjoY53dWemlcdnR5QVzrZFow/s1600/DSC_8385.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh23-SwITx9RgUCWb3OkokdOH1oNpSkL7-QnSu6BrnpC0NRctCmhFpeHrjWqZFXv9DOj2Mr3WHiLS64x9lYu3hPpZfVqeB6uJNJ97oCi3LhrtTQht8ngtFjoY53dWemlcdnR5QVzrZFow/s640/DSC_8385.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Believe it or not, this is them actually looking better after a whole day in low humidity and some sun through glass doors. Fingers crossed, mofo!</span></td></tr>
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</span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Rolling Eyeballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18086657711537765142noreply@blogger.com0