Please help me NOT murder another houseplant.
Discussion
Right, I am terrible at keeping houseplants. They die within weeks of coming into my "care". Fact.
Yesterday, I finally got round to replacing the dead rubber-plant type thing on the windowsill with what looks like a minature rose which was reduced in price in my local Co-Op. Bargain.
Thing is, it didn't come with one of those spikey labels that tells you how not to kill it.
So, how do I best treat this:
It's currently on the windowsill and I'll water it when I remember to.
I have access to Baby Bio, if that helps.
Yesterday, I finally got round to replacing the dead rubber-plant type thing on the windowsill with what looks like a minature rose which was reduced in price in my local Co-Op. Bargain.
Thing is, it didn't come with one of those spikey labels that tells you how not to kill it.
So, how do I best treat this:
It's currently on the windowsill and I'll water it when I remember to.
I have access to Baby Bio, if that helps.
Ideally it should be suspended in a pot with holes at the bottom stood inside a pot without holes. Pretty difficult to overwater in that case unless you pour gallons in but if you're careful just keep it as it is.
This time of year it should be safe from cooking due to being placed above a radiator and where you have it now will give enough light and air. Just be careful about watering. Little and often is best and follow the Baby-Bio instructions. Also deadhead (cut off dead flowers) and remove any manky leaves.
Buy yourself a big, floppy hat and a pair of flowery patterned gardening gloves and you'll be fine.
Edit: I'm not sure all roses make good indoor plants. It might need to overwinter outside, protected from frost.
This time of year it should be safe from cooking due to being placed above a radiator and where you have it now will give enough light and air. Just be careful about watering. Little and often is best and follow the Baby-Bio instructions. Also deadhead (cut off dead flowers) and remove any manky leaves.
Buy yourself a big, floppy hat and a pair of flowery patterned gardening gloves and you'll be fine.
Edit: I'm not sure all roses make good indoor plants. It might need to overwinter outside, protected from frost.
Edited by Flintstone on Friday 30th July 15:09
Most plants are killed by overwatering. You 'give it a bit' every time you go past thinking that more is better, and the roots get waterlogged and start to die. The leaves go yellow and you think 'needs more water...'
The best way to tell if a plant needs water is by weight. Wet soil is heavy, dry soil is very light. So keep the plant in a light plastic pot, not a stonking great decorative ceramic thing, and simply pick it up. If it's very light, stand it in water for an hour or two and let it soak up what it wants, then drain the excess. If it's heavy, leave it. Plants use more water in warm dry air than cold damp air, so central heating and position make a difference. Not many houseplants like full sun.
Every so often give it a feed of Baby Bio etc, but read the instructions, it's very concentrated.
The best way to tell if a plant needs water is by weight. Wet soil is heavy, dry soil is very light. So keep the plant in a light plastic pot, not a stonking great decorative ceramic thing, and simply pick it up. If it's very light, stand it in water for an hour or two and let it soak up what it wants, then drain the excess. If it's heavy, leave it. Plants use more water in warm dry air than cold damp air, so central heating and position make a difference. Not many houseplants like full sun.
Every so often give it a feed of Baby Bio etc, but read the instructions, it's very concentrated.
Its a miniture rose so should ideally be outside! , windowsill with pleanty of light and air but no direct sun will suffice, do not overwater, best always to let compost dry out a bit then give a good soak but let excess drain out. Plants sitting in water is the biggest killer. I put all mine in the bath then with shower attachment (water tepid) water and clean dust off of leaves at the same time, leave for a while and hey presto clean and watered plants.
Good Luck
Good Luck
Cloud 9 said:
Its a miniture rose so should ideally be outside! , windowsill with pleanty of light and air but no direct sun will suffice, do not overwater, best always to let compost dry out a bit then give a good soak but let excess drain out. Plants sitting in water is the biggest killer. I put all mine in the bath then with shower attachment (water tepid) water and clean dust off of leaves at the same time, leave for a while and hey presto clean and watered plants.
Good Luck
I tried this. Got shampoo in my eyes, tripped over my mother-in-law's tongue and had a nasty coming together with some common dickweed.Good Luck
be carefull with reduced to clear plants from supermarkets. First they are grown on as quickly as possible and made to look good / flower for the 2-3 weeks before the 'best before' date, then put in a container and shipped over (usually from holland) and sit in a draughty or low light supermarket and watered by people who don't care. By the time you get them back they are in shock with exhausted soil and unless it's a tough plant long term survival is a lottery. I have found plenty that have survive but a few that didn't... they may still look healthy initially but depending on the plant are probbaly about to sulk or just drop all their leaves and shrivle up.
I find when buying from supermarkets or simular places are best repotted into some nice fresh soil (or at least fed) and put in a warm place that isn't too dry, breezy or in hours of direct sun, and stay there until they start showing signs of new healthy growth. then moved onto wherever you want them.
your rose looks ok : is it in a normal pot with holes in inside the other thing or just straight into a decorative pot with no drainage? try to use a plastic pot inside somthing water tight, as this allows you to see if it needs watering/repotting easily.
I am not very good at giving watering and care advice- I never do anything by specific intervals- you just get a feeling for what seems 'right' when you look at a plant after a few failiures, successes and near misses
I find when buying from supermarkets or simular places are best repotted into some nice fresh soil (or at least fed) and put in a warm place that isn't too dry, breezy or in hours of direct sun, and stay there until they start showing signs of new healthy growth. then moved onto wherever you want them.
your rose looks ok : is it in a normal pot with holes in inside the other thing or just straight into a decorative pot with no drainage? try to use a plastic pot inside somthing water tight, as this allows you to see if it needs watering/repotting easily.
I am not very good at giving watering and care advice- I never do anything by specific intervals- you just get a feeling for what seems 'right' when you look at a plant after a few failiures, successes and near misses
Glad to hear its surviving CW7. Mrs Pints and I, although able to keep two small human beings and 2 cats alive, were also unable to stop anything green from dying.
Now the only houseplants which are doing quite well are these. They tend to be happy to go without water for ages and they let you know (when they start drooping) when it's time for water.
Little one in the kitchen (normally gets light from the open blinds). Drooping a bit when I took the pic so just gave it some water.
Huge one in the living room
ETA I have nothing useful to add WRT aphids. Sorry.
Now the only houseplants which are doing quite well are these. They tend to be happy to go without water for ages and they let you know (when they start drooping) when it's time for water.
Little one in the kitchen (normally gets light from the open blinds). Drooping a bit when I took the pic so just gave it some water.
Huge one in the living room
ETA I have nothing useful to add WRT aphids. Sorry.
Edited by Pints on Sunday 5th September 17:53
Marf said:
Cock Womble 7 said:
Marf said:
Cock Womble 7 said:
Any anti-aphid tips?
Ladybirds.Sort of completely off-topic, but all this talk of squirting soapy water onto greenfly made me think of a story in a very old book of mine. It's "The Wonder Gift Book For Children" and I can't find any date, but I'm guessing it was published in the '50s.
I had to dig it out and scan the page where "Mr. Bumbletoes Goes Gardening".
Wow, childhood memories eh?
I had to dig it out and scan the page where "Mr. Bumbletoes Goes Gardening".
Wow, childhood memories eh?
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