couchtripper

i grow a few different types of plants and herbs ( although my basil and coriander got attacked by spider mites last week ) and noticed that this one particular seedling had popped through the soil with the seed case still on the leaves!

so out came the camera ...

* couldn't get the bigger animation uploaded so heres a smaller version *

What a cool post.

Sorry to hear about your basil and corriander. Ours is doing wonderful however, my dill isn't looking too good this year.

i have some more on the go luckily ( we use a lot of basil and coriander in this house! ), and it gave the slugs in the garden a feast

do you do or use anything to keep bugs and stuff away?

luke wrote:i have some more on the go luckily ( we use a lot of basil and coriander in this house! ), and it gave the slugs in the garden a feast

do you do or use anything to keep bugs and stuff away?

I do old fashioned stuff I learned from my great-oma (through my mom). Salt is great at keeping slugs away. If you can put some around the pots you put it in, go for it.

I also use other plants to repel certain bugs. Gnats hate cammomile so I plant that around other plants. And lady bugs work wonders! They eat aphids and other nasties so if you can get some into your garden they'll really help with pest control.

thanks skylace, i'll try get a small army of lady bugs trained up for defensive purposes get ready for bug warfare in the herb garden

luke wrote:thanks skylace, i'll try get a small army of lady bugs trained up for defensive purposes get ready for bug warfare in the herb garden ;-)

As long as you don't get them little helmets!

they already have armor in a nice poker dot design as well

For spider mites on herbs and other plants like orchids, my gran use to use a mixture of dish cleaning fluid and cooking oil and she swore by it. My mum uses the same thing to this day.

I've a good collection of orchids in my kitchen right now and keeping a good eye on them. I got a bit of discolouring and pits on some of the petals on one so I gave them a spray just incase.

I'll actually take some pictures of them as they're amazing looking and my first go with orchids

IRiSHMaFIA wrote:For spider mites on herbs and other plants like orchids, my gran use to use a mixture of dish cleaning fluid and cooking oil and she swore by it. My mum uses the same thing to this day.

I've a good collection of orchids in my kitchen right now and keeping a good eye on them. I got a bit of discolouring and pits on some of the petals on one so I gave them a spray just incase.

I'll actually take some pictures of them as they're amazing looking and my first go with orchids

That sounds like a good tip Irish. Thanks. I'll have to give it a go.

How much dish cleaning fluid per cooking oil?

Skylace wrote:

IRiSHMaFIA wrote:For spider mites on herbs and other plants like orchids, my gran use to use a mixture of dish cleaning fluid and cooking oil and she swore by it. My mum uses the same thing to this day.

I've a good collection of orchids in my kitchen right now and keeping a good eye on them. I got a bit of discolouring and pits on some of the petals on one so I gave them a spray just incase.

I'll actually take some pictures of them as they're amazing looking and my first go with orchids

That sounds like a good tip Irish. Thanks. I'll have to give it a go.

How much dish cleaning fluid per cooking oil?

My mum will be calling me this afternoon and I'll ask her exactly how to mix it for outdoor and indoor as it's a wee bit different

Here's me new kids I put them all together so you could see the different colours.

They are a spider mites feast so I'm constantly having to inspect them to be sure they're free and clear.

Oh those are lovely! I really need to get that mix.
I wish I had more time to spend with my plants right now, but I don't!

Skylace wrote:Oh those are lovely! I really need to get that mix.
I wish I had more time to spend with my plants right now, but I don't!

It can be an expensive hobby with orchids and they tend to die easily so you have to find the perfect spot for them with a mix of sun and shade, then there's feeding them and watering and if you do either even the slightest bit too much they go belly up on you.

They are beautiful to look at though and really gives a good feeling when you see the flowers multiply. These ones are happy girls .....today. Tomorrow they could all be hanging like wet noodles

IRiSHMaFIA wrote:

Skylace wrote:Oh those are lovely! I really need to get that mix.
I wish I had more time to spend with my plants right now, but I don't!

It can be an expensive hobby with orchids and they tend to die easily so you have to find the perfect spot for them with a mix of sun and shade, then there's feeding them and watering and if you do either even the slightest bit too much they go belly up on you.

They are beautiful to look at though and really gives a good feeling when you see the flowers multiply. These ones are happy girls .....today. Tomorrow they could all be hanging like wet noodles

Wow you really have a green finger Irish! MY wife and I are pretty good at killing most of our flower plants - but we have been doing much better lately

IRiSHMaFIA wrote:

Skylace wrote:Oh those are lovely! I really need to get that mix.
I wish I had more time to spend with my plants right now, but I don't!

It can be an expensive hobby with orchids and they tend to die easily so you have to find the perfect spot for them with a mix of sun and shade, then there's feeding them and watering and if you do either even the slightest bit too much they go belly up on you.

They are beautiful to look at though and really gives a good feeling when you see the flowers multiply. These ones are happy girls .....today. Tomorrow they could all be hanging like wet noodles

That's one reason I've not gotten them here myself. With the climate we have, it would be so much work!