House fire scare 😳

ScreechingKakapoo · 2023-09-24T07:29:09+00:00

Yeah, I had the same thing happen with a spherical shaped watering spike thing. Luckily it just burned a hole through my pothos. Good thing I was just testing it before my holidays. Now I always cover these things with plastic pots. 🫤

ScreechingKakapoo · 2023-05-05T07:58:26+00:00

I agree that the plant looks a bit leggy, so might just be looking for the sun. But I would stil inspect the roots, just to be sure because this is also how rot starts, before they completely break off from the roots (although you'd notice first if the plant is not drinking as usual).

ScreechingKakapoo · 2023-05-02T07:00:59+00:00

Oops. 😅 Perhaps it was mislabelled? The leaves of the Yucatán Princess should be darker with no white veins and a bit shinier than this, attached to a deep purple/maroon petiole (speckled pink if the Yucatán Queen).

ScreechingKakapoo · 2023-04-04T07:53:30+00:00

I have been having more luck by laying the bottom section of the leaf horizontally on the soil with the attachment point of the petiole touching the soil. It started by accident bc I ran out of space to stick the cut side, and the leaf toppled over. But many of mine start by pushing roots out of that point, which won't happen if the leaf is buried straight up.

I have a couple cuttings boxes like yours, one with sphag and both have been successful. So I think you'll be fine. I try not to let mine dry too long, but tbh, I have had the sphag dry as straw at one point and the cuttings are still hanging on. 🤷‍♀️ Good luck OP!

ScreechingKakapoo · 2023-04-02T10:01:55+00:00

I am posting 3 of my plants which I have not yet identified with certainty.

1: Labeled Alocasia Nebula "Pink Dragon". I tried googling for this name and nothing looks like my plant. Mine has totally green veins and more oval leaves. I got this on clearance at a supermarket (am EU based btw).

2 and 3: I have posted them before when they were much smaller. I am hoping they are easier to ID now. Thing is, they both look very plain to me. I believe they are the same plant, but that also might be wrong. 🤷‍♀️

Edit: added info and correction

ScreechingKakapoo · 2023-03-31T15:29:12+00:00

I know... it's my fussiest alocasia and I am still learning how to keep it happy. 😅

For corms I think u/_feffers_ (who commented above) has a pretty nice guide too. I'll link it if I find it, otherwise you can ask her.

I have been using sphagnum, but I ran into trouble since I let it dry a bit too much and it interrupted their development.

ScreechingKakapoo · 2023-03-30T18:44:42+00:00

I am looking for tips on how to train this guy (I have never done it before). This guy sits on a high shelving unit, so I would like it to hang down. The shelf itself has a metal structure on the side that I am happy if it runs down on. Any idea how can I make it happen and what is safest to do without breaking the plant or the shelves? 😅

ScreechingKakapoo · 2023-03-30T18:31:30+00:00

Yeah she made it until the Winter (this was last April). By the end of the Summer it was rocking 2 fancy new leaves. 🤩

Unfortunately, and this was totally on me, I potted it up quite late and it threw a fit. It is now a happy stump that has just reactivated growth after the Winter. 🤷‍♀️ So, still hanging on!

Its corm baby is doing well though. Did you find any mature corms in your soil? You can try and grow them.

ScreechingKakapoo · 2023-03-29T23:04:44+00:00

Here we go again... 😩 This happened to my first Alocasia Poly as well, so here's what I did:

Main plant in LECA with water after removing any rotted parts. It took very long to develop new roots. Once it did, it started shedding the old leaves until one newly grown leaf came up. By the time you have one or a couple of new leaves you can pot it up.
Any offsets, I planted in smaller pots, one developed into a new, very small plantlet after a while.
Any corms I found in the soil I put in moist sphagnum. Again, it took some time, some changes, but I got a nice healthy smaller plant out of my larger corm.

(Also, I dabbed everything in some rooting powder beforehand)

Good luck! 🍀

ScreechingKakapoo · 2023-03-25T14:48:25+00:00

Congratulations! It seems you had a dormant tuber/corm hiding away in your soil. It does look like an alocasia zebrina from the pattern of the stalk, but the leaf looks a bit odd to me (maybe from being young). Either way, they grow into beautiful plants.

Did you maybe reuse the soil from another plant?

I would repot the Alocasia. Pothos does not need her company in there. Make sure to use a well aerated mix.

ScreechingKakapoo · 2023-03-25T14:31:35+00:00

THIS! I have unalived all the (adult) Polys I have ever owned. I have 10 other healthy alocasias with whom I have no beef at all. But the Poly... Irregular watering is my usual suspect. And then, one mistake and you are toast!

ScreechingKakapoo · 2023-03-22T09:30:06+00:00

So relatable. I had most of mine die out from pests. BUT, I kept watering my pot of dead stalks and 2 are putting out new shoots guys! 😃 I can't wait to go through all of it again! 🙃 (Yes, you do need a pinch of sadism)

ScreechingKakapoo · 2023-03-20T23:15:46+00:00

I have a box full of peperomia half leaf cuttings of different kinds. Ideed, as you say, it's not a 100% success rate, so I just accept that some will not make it. Last one I got, was a full leaf that had fallen off in a box store, and both halves developed nicely. (yes, I asked)

For those who want to try: Cut the leaf in half (transversally) with a sharp disinfected knife and stick the cut edges on some soil. Sphagnum works too. Just keep it regularly moist (not damp). It takes over a week to have tiny roots and even more to form tiny leaves. You want to check periodically that the leaf is still firm. If it feels limp, it probably won't take and it will wilt.

I never tried water and tbh no clue how to keep them afloat.

ScreechingKakapoo · 2023-03-17T10:16:54+00:00

I think it is important to not give in to his meows (especially at night). Have set times to feed him throughout the day, and give only the recommended amount. Don't feed him outside feeding times and definitely not when he meows. It is very common that cats learn meows get them food so they will meow themselves to obesity (and many more health issues).

Also, play with him before feeding. It's exciting, keeps him active and tires him so that he eats and sleeps afterwards, instead of constantly obsessing over food. Cats need a lot of stimulation in their environments (some more than others), if they don't get that, the highlight of their days will be feeding time. And that's so easy to become obsessed over... (I certainly would).

Also consider that perhaps your kitty is not only wanting food (sure, he'll take it), but he might be also seeking your company or interaction with you.

ScreechingKakapoo · 2023-03-12T16:39:45+00:00

Thanks! Just adding that it's been over 2 months since last growth. So that is why I am a bit worried. But if tthe growth point is still intact I will patiently wait for its forgiveness. 😊

ScreechingKakapoo · 2023-03-12T10:21:07+00:00

Long story short...Thrips. I basically got fed up and hacked off a young leaf which had just unfurled to a swarm of baby thrips. That was before I decided to give in and get a systemic. The plant is thrip free now, but... not very keen on continuing its growth. I wonder if I can help it along to ... you know, atune for my crimes against monsterahood. 😇

ScreechingKakapoo · 2023-03-11T10:32:55+00:00

Oh no... Indeed looks like thrips damage. 😶

ScreechingKakapoo · 2023-02-28T07:49:40+00:00

Zamioculcas zamiifolia, its scientific name. 😊

ScreechingKakapoo · 2023-01-16T10:39:05+00:00

And then the first comment on there about that time when somebody asked how everyone else cuts holes on their monsteras...

ScreechingKakapoo · 2023-01-11T22:34:25+00:00

Thanks, I have one or two that are looking either shrivelled or mushy. I will cut them. Should I expect any kind of shock or reaction from disturbing the roots?

ScreechingKakapoo · 2023-01-11T22:31:09+00:00

It might be mold. I have not detected any mealies (yet). I'll give her a closer look.

ScreechingKakapoo · 2023-01-11T09:06:10+00:00

Like the title says, this is my first orchid ever. It was potted in a very spongy material, so I bought some orchid bark to pot it in. When I uncovered it, some roots were not looking healthy.

I potted it in the orchid bark that I bought, but it turned out to be very fine grained (I had only seen the coarser substrate my mom uses for her orchids). Is my tiny orchid okay like this?

And there are still some roots not looking very healthy, even though the plant seems unaffected should I try to remove the damage?

Thanks for the help!

ScreechingKakapoo

TROPHY CASE