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Plant ties - and too much time on my hands

BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
in Tools and techniques
To tie in my plants I sometimes use disassembled old fashioned mop heads - the ones got up to look like rastafarians. This season, however, I have gone one step further. I bought a couple of the mop heads on the local market for next to nothing but then bought some green dye on eBay because I thought the white was too jarring. How precious is that! 

The cords are currently steeping in the dye in a bucket in the potting shed. When it stops raining I’ll rinse and dry them.
Rutland, England
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Posts

  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    You can create a natural green dye from plants you've grown if you really have too much time on your hands. Or make some natural cord from nettles.

    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    I discussed natural dyes with the gardener but we both knew that all that boiling in the kitchen would never get Head Office clearance. For the next batch I might aim for sludge brown and use lots of old tea bags.
    Rutland, England
  • Papi JoPapi Jo Posts: 4,254
    Sounds more like an experiment in dye-and-tie than the better-known tie-and-dye technnique. ;)
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Or maybe just buy some green or brown hemp twine?   Works for me.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    Thanks for reminding me to buy some velcro ties (other brands are available)  :)
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    Obelixx, I prefer the mop head ties to hemp twine because it is fatter and softer giving a more cushioned support.
    Rutland, England
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    I like the idea of mop ties, picadae. Hemp string can be harsh for soft stemed things. Old tights are another good one, as well as being ideal for a temporary fan belt for your ancient land rover  :)
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Never had a problem with hemp string but then I never tie it tight.  Always leave room to wiggle and grow.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    I have used old tights Nollie, but they don't look very elegant on the climbing rose! I also save all the bits of ribbon/string that clothes labels get tied on with - I'm a really sad person. I blame it all on my Dad (bn 1905) who never threw anything away all his life.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    I heard of someone with a biscuit tin with a label on it:’Bits of string too short to be of any use.’ Your Dad, Lizzie?
    Rutland, England
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