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Sunday, March 1, 2009

I'm a killer of houseplants!


Hello everybody! I haven't done much blogging lately because I have stayed busy cleaning, and also doing fun things this weekend. Doozey says hello too!

I think I have about decide that any plant requiring more water than once a month (houseplants), just basically will be killed under my care! This is so sad. My two Fittonias have just died from neglect...OMG, I am ashamed!!! I still have my Spider Plant, and a few Pothos left...oh and my Angelwing Begonia, and a couple others, but basically I am discouraged that I am such a watering weakling! Succulents really are the only thing for me!

I am fixing to take out one whole tire full of near dead, if not dead, Stapeliad Giganteas. That particular tire is actually a stack of three tires high, and I am going to separate them and get one more tire, so I can have two that are two tires high. In those I will plant okra and collards for a little summer garden. Now, you may ask just how I intend to water them daily??? I will not allow myself to walk into the house each day after work until I walk around there and water immediately! One good thing is that I see the tires out my kitchen window, so it will remind me several times a day.

I am also discouraged with myself because I keep intending to cut the top edges off all my tires, and I never have even tried yet to do it. I will experiment with the ones I take apart for the vegetables, and I am hoping I can be successful. I hope I will not have to spend a fortune on a tool that will do the trick. Tonight I saw an electric sawing action type thingy that construction guys were using at my grocery store...(another expensive tool, for sure)...I asked them if they thought it would cut through a tire, and they all said yes! Hmmmmm. I need a nice construction man to bring his cutter to my tires and get er done! LOLOL.

17 comments:

Cathy S. said...

Oh shame shame on letting your plants die!

Claude said...

Well, any sharp knife will cut through a tire, just don't try to cut through the tread, where there's a steel belt, and don't try to cut through the inside bead that fits on the rim... there's usually a steel wire in there too.

Okra and collards are good choices... Okra has those really great hibiscus flowers, and it's a heavy producer. With the collards, watch out for insects, they're a bit prone. Liquid Sevin is the safest insecticide to use... It's a plant hormone and won't harm people or pets. Some people actually put powdered sevin on dogs to keep off fleas. I've never done this, but some people say it works... Grow a few onions in the tire with the collards, like right in the middle with the collards all around. Some people swear that it helps keep the bugs off.

Claude said...

Oh, about the stapeliads... if they're still green, they're still alive... they shrivel up for the winter. Now if they're brown and crunchy...

Judi said...

Julie Hi!

Oh *lol*... I was laughing at your comment about the nice construction man coming to cut your tires..*s*. Cute.

hmmmmm...so THATS why you grow succulents and they do so well? I'm sorry you aren't having great success with some of your plants right now. Sounds like a good plan to water right after work...good luck Julie!

My mom has been shopping at Boynten (spelling) Beach Mall or something like that while staying in WPB. Do you shop there also? Neat that she's so close to you right now for another month.

have a good evening
Judi

Julie said...

Kathy- I know, I know...I actually had you heavily on my mind as I wrote this and how sad you would be over my ill actions!!!

Claude...OK...I am gonna try and good sharp knife-like instrument to try and cut them! Thanks for the tip about the onion with the collards!!! I will do that!

Julie said...

Cluade- OH...BTW...yes, the Stapeliads are sort of a brown-pink and crunchy state! Not good at all.

Judi- Yes...I have driven down to the Boynton Beach Mall a few times...but it is far away...I live about 25 miles north of there!
I know your Mom is enjoying her winter-spring time here...the weather has been devine!

Hermes said...

I do the opposite and overwater, no doubt why I prefer tropical plants and aquariums.

soulbrush said...

been there, done that...and so have we all. never mind, you are still my hero as far as the beauty of your succulents goes.hcm fellow cactuteer.

Serena Lewis said...

Well, at least you tried ~ (((Hugs)))

Unknown said...

okra and collards! that sounds so 'southern". I worked in an American restaurant as head chef back in the 90's, and I learnt all about southwest american food. I miss it so! It was the best!
I think you should go back to those construction guys and throw them some cash to come around to do those tyre's for you. Sounds like too much hard work to do yourself (especially if you are hard pressed to even water your plants!! hee hee hee...

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Don't beat yourself up too bad for not having success with house plants. I too have to limit my inside collection. Just too much work otherwise. You tell that Doosey that he isn't a cat and should leave your houseplants alone. Every once in awhile Luna will munch on some houseplant. I have never figured out why.

walk2write said...

I am not kind to my indoor plants either, Julie. Claude sounds like a very sensible person, cautioning you about the steel belts. I would have been tempted to just "get 'er done" too and start sawing away. You have some thoughtful, caring visitors here. Thanks for stopping by my site last night!

stapeliad said...

Julie I have trouble imagining that you could kill a plant.

But don't worry, it happens to all of us.

I have just lost my stape G too. We had a cold spell a few weeks back and too late I remembered to take it out of the window. My jade plant died too.

HCM!!

yoon see said...

Cute doozey! So tame too:)
Happy cactus monday!

marianne said...

Hi Julie!
First of all I love the cute face of Doozey in your hands, I just love her nose such a cute brown shade!!!
And as to the plant I must admitt I am the same.........shame on me. All plants die here or lead miserable lives. Since I am a Cactus Monday Member I have a few cacti in the house, let´s see how I do with these.....

happy cactus Monday!

My Little Family: said...

Julie - I grow my spider plant outside and it requires very little watering from me. Of course, it'snot in the sunniest and hottest of spots, just kinda medium light. I am a bad waterer too. Doozey is a cutie!

Teri said...

Maybe that's why I like cactus-hard to kill. You are funny.