A place to post and chat about plant pics...

Love that Bay Laurel, i have a thing for it, few years back i have 6 plants and each time i past by it at the greenhouse i still stop to look, and wanted to buy. I have to tell my husband to stop me if i can't control it lol... some thing is wrong with me :) now i have two 12" pots + 1 in 10" pot. Almost buy another last month :)

This just bloom couple days ago

 

So pretty - almost look like daffodils!

: O

Yes, I love the Bay Laurel plant too. It is very special to me as well. You would never believe what I paid for it, but I just had to have it! If it was any other plant, I would have laughed in their face at the price...


((((((15 bucks))))))




It was worth every penny, and then some - to me. I just had to have it. Leaves from the grocery store, do not hold a candle to fresh leaves from your own plant.

The picture above really doesn't show how beautiful my plant actually is. It is over a foot tall already, and the leaves are just perfect. The shot should have been taken without the grassy background and it would have shown up the bay leaves more.

Anyway, thanks for the compliments Et2007. My mom is as excited as I am, because she wants some of the leaves. I intend on treating it similar to my Hollyberry shrubs, which are slow growers too.

Just got it today, on my back from the cemetery. I will post more shots as it grows...

: )

 

ShearMe - I heard it was the exact opposite!

: O

It was my understanding that the whole lure of hydroponics is the super-size, bumper crops they produce. I have a book that shows gigantic peppers - even basil plants that look like they're for dinosaurs! The plants are getting nutrients everyday, and at the precise and exact levels that are needed, so the plant and fruits get super huge and amazing!

I also heard that because the roots don't have to go anywhere, in search of nutrients nor water, they actually stay small and compact, in camparison to earth grown plants.

: )

 

depending on how long the plant is in the hydroponic trough, the roots get fantastically dense, forming a long thick mat that can join the plants together underneath. I suppose if an earth grown plant was extracted with all roots intact it may prove to have as much or more mass, but I definitely wouldn't call our hydroponically grown plants' roots small and compact.
The roots are in water but also need air, so are thick enough to be above the level of the thin stream of nutrient solution passing through it.

 

I said 'small and compact' in comparison with earth grown plants. My book shows pictures.

: )

 

This was my pathetic attempt at snapping a shot of the fish earlier last evening. You will not see them. One of them, you can kind of make out at the very bottom, but he totally blends with the soil, so it's not likely.

These 5 fish were from a river, and they are very frightened of humans. I believe they feel the vibration in the container, because I've even tried to sneak up on them, but they rush to the bottom in a blink, and they're gone!

The three types that live on the bottom go right under the soil a bit, but the other 2 just lay real low and still, when I approach. I only really see them swimming early in the morning, but only for 3 seconds and then they see me, and dive to the bottom!

If I ever get a clear shot of them, it will be a miracle.

: )

 

I am going to have to get a picture of this one pepper that i am growing, it said "mystery pepper" seed on the packet, and its a pretty purple and so far has tiny little purple peppers.....i'll try and do that in the next day or so and see if anyone can tell me what it is.
Other then not knowing the name, its growing really well.

 

Oh, well, I just told it the way I interpreted, but I could be wrong.

Yes, the plants in hydroponics get huge, but that's not to say they can't get that size in soil, although a bit slower. The roots do get 'small and compact' in comparison with earth grown plants, but to me the dense mats of root looks like nothing you'd find in soil even in root-bound potted plants. Plus I'm a big science nerd so I relate size to mass rather than length, width, and height - the denser the more mass and thus more roots.

 

Thanks HBL. Some greenhouse here sale $29.99 for such a small plant, i got my so long ago, if i remember right it's $7.99 for a 4'' pot and about 3" plant. Now it about 6',
i just chopped the top off last march because it's hit the ceiling, bended and keep growing :)

 

ShearMe, i think hydroponic grow is wonderful, but until some one write a book call "hydroponic grow for super dummies" my idea of hydroponic is put the plant in a glass of water and it doesn't live long for me :)

 

Well, the roots need oxygen and nutrients in the water, so you'd need an air pump hooked up to an air stone to bubble in the water, or a waterfall system like what's used to filter fish tanks.

 

Thank you. Maybe I will try to learn more, right now i have lucky bamboo and a few lemongrass in water, remembering to change the water is a chore :) i some day can't remember if i eat lunch or not lol.

 

Wow - so you can cut the tops off of Laurel and it will still grow. That's what I wanted to know.

Guess what?...

I think the fish are getting used to me, because I was just outside and one of them was swimming near the top of the water while I was watering the passionflower vine beside the pond. I was so surprised because they never come up to the surface when I am around. Of course, the camera was upstairs, but I just enjoyed watching him swim. Fish are so cool.

I noticed too this morning, that the top of the water was covered in tiny little air bubbles! I could also see air bubbles coming up to the surface, like a glass of pop, from the bottom of the pond! The water is completely oxygenated! It really seems like this is working out. Soon they will have lots of hiding spots under the nelumbo leaves also. I am so tickled to have actual live fish in my pond! Wow.

Needless to say, there isn't one mesquito larvae in sight.

: )

 

By the way...


Lorax and Tugo:

I am so excited to report, Tugo, that one of the sand lily seeds has germinated today! It looks like a short blade of grass. How exciting! I had it in what I thought was sand but it was more like mud, so I put it in my soil-less mix, because it is extremely light and well draining. It worked out because one of the two seeds you sent me, is up!

Oh Beth, one of the 'taxo' passion flower seeds popped today! Yippeeeeeeeee. I am just bursting to see this gorgeous beauty, take off. How amazing to have another variety growing. ShearMe's incarnata will likely pop soon as well. I am misting the soil everyday. It sure worked for your seeds, Lorax.

 

Penny:

Is this purple pepper, one of the hot pepper varieties I sent you? If so, it could be Aurora.

: )

 

Happy for you HbL. My two sand lily seeds had also one sprout each and nothing happend for many days but today I have seen that one of them gives a new spring also. I believe, this time they are working under ground and building up a mass of roots. I have digged up and seen some but they are easy to break, so better not to touch, I believe. Also there must be some bulbs growing down there. Let's wait and see.
My good news is, the first nelumbo seedlings, I had mentioned before, after having a bad pond experience because of the koi fish and placed back to a container like yours, has the first aerial stem out of the water surface, 113 days after germinating. I believe this period could be shorter but they were too much disturbed in the pond. Tomorrow, I hope the leave will be open and I will post a photo.

 

Ohhhh how wonderful, Tugrul!!!

: O

I just knew you would have success - I believe in you, my friend. I think your large scale experiment will work out for you, in the long run. Imagine how much experience and know-how you will have?

I cannot wait to see your aerial leaf. I have dreamed of the day when I too would see these leaves. The floater leaves are so attractive though, and they sit so pretty on top of the water. None of my fish are bothering my nelumbo at all. How wonderful this is turning out for me.

Someone told me to cut the plant back before frost, and bring it inside. I am worrying a bit, about what to do for winter. I am going to have to capture the fish in my pond and put them back into the river.

: (

 

Those tiny pointed bud seem like it will not do anything until i chopped the top :) by the way when you dry the fresh leave, it so much better than store bought...

 

No, actually its not, its from another swap and the person didnt know what it was, other then a purple mystery pepper.
My cell phone is charging and my digital camera is at work, so I'll try and get a picture of it tomorrow for you.

 

Oh, I'd love to see it, Penny - and you too!!!

: O

 

my Clematis sp. is starting to bloom! :)

 

Huzzah!

 

Blake,

Thats an extremely nice clematis!

 

My indoor Banana baby...

: )

P.S. Fabulous clematis, Blake. So unique and graceful. I've never seen that kind before. Thanks for sharing.

Glad you got the seeds today. Feel free to post shots here when they germinate...

 

Some nice pictures everyone, I like the Clematis Blake.

Here are this weeks fotos of some of mine, the mangoes are really coming on.

Nath

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