Dear Plant Pimp

[wiffledaddy]

Happy Hornet, that's a big question, and it's kind of hard to know where to start.

Can you take pictures of plants? It's always helpful to see the plants, what condition they are in, and get some idea of where the light is coming from.

The plants have different water needs, for one thing, so they don't want the same amount of water, and they should not be watered using the same technique. For example, orchids don't like to sit in water, but a palm might not mind in a warm, bright environment.

post pics, we go into more details

 

[wiffledaddy]

my organic wheatgrass in my room is dying... it was all green when i bought it from the store... but after awhile... the green started to turn lighter, until it changed to yellow... i give it plenty of water... but it seems like it not doing anything...

how can i make it green again?

Buy a new one. (Hah!)

Wheatgrass requires a lot of light or it will fail rapidly.

Also, it's not a good choice for a decorative or ornamental plant. Usually people harvest it for health drinks or feed it to their kitty. If you aren't doing either one, put it by the window and give it regular cuts with scissors -- like mowing the lawn -- to keep it looking good longer. But, it's not going to live too long.

For more fun, grow your own wheatgrass! It's just like a project from 2nd grade science class in that it is easy and rewarding. If you want to know how, lemme know.

 

[wiffledaddy]

Dear Plant Piamp -

I too have a lucky bamboo plant, sits in our office up front where there are many large widnows but is shielded well from direct light. The leaves up top are drooping and turning yellow. Becuase of the chloramines in the tap water i've turned to the alahambra water we use in our office. It stays above 60 degrees over night here and doesn't get too much neglect. Every morning it recieves water and sit's in about 1'' of water.
[/B]

Is the plant just in water, or is it planted in soil?

Can you post a picture?

Believe it or not, this is one of the easiest plants to take care of once you figure it out

 

[JakesKTM]

Dear Plant Pimp,

I want to get into Bonsai.... what would you recommend?

Oh...and what are the best plants to put in soil that is constantly wet (from an adjacent pond spilling over).

 

[wiffledaddy]

If your profile is current and are in Yuba City - hardiness zone 9 - then papyrus would work by your pond, and it looks really nice. There are a bunch of different kinds of papyrus, but a really nice one is Cyperus alternifolius. go to a nearby nursery and have a look around. Tell them that you are planting by a pond, there should be a section of plants suited to that.

To get started in Bonsai, I think it's a good idea to get a good book or do reading online. Don't buy a pre-potted Bonsai plant, though. While you are at the nursery, pick up a couple of inexpensive 1 gallon size plants that look appealing to you. Practice on those. Shape and trim them as you like until you get the hang of how it all works. You'll save $ initially, and if things work out, you might end up with a super nice plant that you can transplant into a fancy Bonsai pot later. It's a long, slow process, so be patient.

If you've seen Bonsai plants that you find particularly appealing, find out what type of plant it is. Then, when you are at the nursery, you can buy that same variety in the plastic pot.

 

[acer66]

I grow mint outside and it seems to attract bugs,
is there a non toxic solution to that?
It still has a lot undamaged leaves and grows very fast.

Thank You

 

[Dandelion]

I water my plants once a week and I have a ponytail palm with double stalks and one is withering at the top. What should I do to make sure the other one doesn't follow?

 

[wiffledaddy]

I grow mint outside and it seems to attract bugs,
is there a non toxic solution to that?
It still has a lot undamaged leaves and grows very fast.

Thank You

You like mint, bugs like mint. It really shouldn't be much of an issue. Do you know what kind of bugs they are?

When you are watering the mint, you can direct a spray of water sideways -- not straight down -- and wash off the bugs. Or, just rinse off the mint before using it to garnish your cocktails.

 

[wiffledaddy]

I water my plants once a week and I have a ponytail palm with double stalks and one is withering at the top. What should I do to make sure the other one doesn't follow?

I need more info to answer this - I'd really just be guessing and not helping without it.

Is the plant in a container or the ground? If in a container, does it have a saucer and do you let water sit in the saucer. Where is the plant - full sun, southern exposure, etc...

I love this plant, and have a few myself.

Can you post a pic or two? One of the plant in its environment, another close up on dying area would be best.

 

[JadedOne]

 

[Mistyz]

I recently started an herb garden out of a window box. I have lemon-thyme, sweet basil, rosemary, chives, and cilantro. My cilantro has turned RED. Not brown, but red. Every other herb is thriving. Is this reversible? Thanks, plant pimp!

 

[owlflavored]

dear PP -

the soil in my garden is infested with weird worms. they're more or less clear-colored, but with a blood-red tip on the end. are these useful, or should i continue smashing them?

 

[wiffledaddy]

I recently started an herb garden out of a window box. I have lemon-thyme, sweet basil, rosemary, chives, and cilantro. My cilantro has turned RED. Not brown, but red. Every other herb is thriving. Is this reversible? Thanks, plant pimp!

Generally, cilantro only lasts a few weeks, maybe 2 months at best, if I remember right. If you use it a lot, then just keep planting more.

Also, if it's getting a lot of direct overhead sun, that's not ideal.

 

[wiffledaddy]

dear PP -

the soil in my garden is infested with weird worms. they're more or less clear-colored, but with a blood-red tip on the end. are these useful, or should i continue smashing them?

Make with the pics.

 

[owlflavored]

Make with the pics.

upon further google'ing, it appears these are white grubs (Pyllophaga)

(1) yuck. (2) help!

 

[wiffledaddy]

It sounded from your description like some kind of larva rather than earthworm.

This is kind of a difficult propostion, and I'm not that informed about this, but I'll give you some BS advice that should be somewhat helpful.

If it's practical, dig up the areas where you find a lot of them and leave the soil loose - you want to essentially till or aerate the area. This allows predatory insects and also birds to find and eat the larvae. I'd keep doing this once a day for a while until you find fewer and fewer of them.

I'd go a step farther and scatter some sunflower seeds to attract some birds, which will eat the seeds right away and then discover the larvae. Good luck.

 

[JakesKTM]

Thanks ... you're pimp!

 

[*Tina*]

Thanks ... you're pimp!

Hellz yeah he is !!!


Plant Pimp,

Are there any plants that grow well in clay ?? All the land around my home is clay and most things I've planted have died. In fact, I think they all have died. Is it my black thumb or the soil ??

Thanks !

 

[Mistyz]

Generally, cilantro only lasts a few weeks, maybe 2 months at best, if I remember right. If you use it a lot, then just keep planting more.

Also, if it's getting a lot of direct overhead sun, that's not ideal.

Hmmm, I had read that the cilantro doesn't go bad until it flowers, and it hasn't flowered yet. I also read that if you cut off the flowers it won't ever go bad? Doh. Stupid internets. Oh well, maybe I'll just replant. I just took a look at it today and it looks as if its starting to go brown instead of the bright bright red it was. Weird. Thanks for the pimpin! Oh, and I DO know that green + red = brown.

 

[owlflavored]

Hellz yeah he is !!!


Plant Pimp,

Are there any plants that grow well in clay ?? All the land around my home is clay and most things I've planted have died. In fact, I think they all have died. Is it my black thumb or the soil ??

Thanks !

hey Tina - i'm sure the PP can give you better advice, but you can do a lot with soil ammendments. i had pretty much the same problem at my place and i fixed it by:

(1) renting a roto-tiller at home depot to chop up the super hard ground
(2) mix in 1-part topsoil, 1-part compost, 1-part maneure with 2-3 parts chopped up hard soil.
(3) rake together + water
(4) wait a few weeks.