That’s a good idea, @Ceres. I’ve chopped my rhaphidophora as it was getting very straggly and I’m not propagating lots of cuttings. Hopefully they’ll root quickly.
I saw a piece on YouTube about rooting rhaphidophora cuttings in water, hydroleca+water, or compost, and the hydroleca+water won hands down. It doesn't work with everything (fig cuttings turned to an unpleasant mush) but it's certainly worth trying. Hydroleca is also great as drainage in the base of pots or mixed with compost because it retains moisture.
Apparently (YouTube again) some houseplant enthusiasts grow their plants hydroponically using leca and water plus plant food but I'm not sold on the idea for everything as there is the problem of keeping the whole set-up free of algal growth.
I’m growing some plants semi-hydroponically as well, but I prefer the pon mixture. I have some leca as well, so I might try one cutting as an experiment. I’m not sure why, but I’m not very fond of pure leca - I am using it in my soil mixtures though.
I have houseplants but like to love them outdoors in summer, as soon as nighttime temps are reliably 10C plus. They go on a north facing terrace with loads of light but little direct sun except for the hibiscus siniensis which goes in full sun.
Recently I've taken to saving OH's breakfast banana skin in a big jar of water alog with some peel from oranges and use the resulting liquid to feed the plants. Seems to be working well.
I have a asparagus fern, bird of paradise, ficus benjamina and elastica (both 40+ years old) plus a couple of scented leaf pelargoniums, aloe vera, Xmas cactus and a syngonium podophyllum. I don't want any more tho I would love a prayer plant but they're too fussy for this house.
@wild edges Shutters are usually a burglary deterrent. We don't close ours when we go out but we're very rural. Maybe insurance rules are different in higher density urban and suburban areas. I any case, ours are electric roll downs and can be left fully closed or hlaf closed with wee gaps that let in light but not naughty people.
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)."
I saw a piece on YouTube about rooting rhaphidophora cuttings in water, hydroleca+water, or compost, and the hydroleca+water won hands down. It doesn't work with everything (fig cuttings turned to an unpleasant mush) but it's certainly worth trying. Hydroleca is also great as drainage in the base of pots or mixed with compost because it retains moisture.
Apparently (YouTube again) some houseplant enthusiasts grow their plants hydroponically using leca and water plus plant food but I'm not sold on the idea for everything as there is the problem of keeping the whole set-up free of algal growth.
LECA is a great material and has a multitude of uses around the garden. We use it commercially for drainage, lightweight soil mixtures, hydroponics, and void filling. If you're ever on a roof garden then the chances are theres a significant quantity of LECA thats been used in its construction. I always keep a sack around at home for general use but never thought of rooting plants in it - I'll have to give that a try!
Do admire all these plants you people! The ones I’ve had success with are Zamioculcas z… (ZZplant) which I keep on a north facing sill, it’s on a south facing one just for the photo. My daughter in law calls them wardrobe plants because you can supposedly put them on top of the wardrobe like a suitcase and neglect them for months….Haven't tried that! The poor kalanchoe is a rescue plant from daughter. Couldn’t bear to cut off the flowers, they last such a long time, but once they’re over there are a lot of new plants there. The Christmas cactus seem to tolerate me. Rainwater and a dash of plant food every other/third/fourth watering has kept everything going so far. I like the idea of hanging plants in the window, something I’ll look into.
I’m growing some plants semi-hydroponically as well, but I prefer the pon mixture. I have some leca as well, so I might try one cutting as an experiment. I’m not sure why, but I’m not very fond of pure leca - I am using it in my soil mixtures though.
I hadn't heard of Pon until your post. It looks interesting.
Do admire all these plants you people! The ones I’ve had success with are Zamioculcas z… (ZZplant) which I keep on a north facing sill, it’s on a south facing one just for the photo. My daughter in law calls them wardrobe plants because you can supposedly put them on top of the wardrobe like a suitcase and neglect them for months….Haven't tried that! The poor kalanchoe is a rescue plant from daughter. Couldn’t bear to cut off the flowers, they last such a long time, but once they’re over there are a lot of new plants there. The Christmas cactus seem to tolerate me. Rainwater and a dash of plant food every other/third/fourth watering has kept everything going so far. I like the idea of hanging plants in the window, something I’ll look into.
I've a large ZZ plant that i've had for years. It gets watered once a month with a bit of fert, and no watering December and January.
Ooooooh, you have a lovely tradescantia @NutcrackerSouthSomerset. They used to be such a common plant when I was a child but are not seen so much nowadays, which is a pity. They have a watery delicacy but are as tough as old boots.
Posts
Recently I've taken to saving OH's breakfast banana skin in a big jar of water alog with some peel from oranges and use the resulting liquid to feed the plants. Seems to be working well.
I have a asparagus fern, bird of paradise, ficus benjamina and elastica (both 40+ years old) plus a couple of scented leaf pelargoniums, aloe vera, Xmas cactus and a syngonium podophyllum. I don't want any more tho I would love a prayer plant but they're too fussy for this house.
@wild edges Shutters are usually a burglary deterrent. We don't close ours when we go out but we're very rural. Maybe insurance rules are different in higher density urban and suburban areas. I any case, ours are electric roll downs and can be left fully closed or hlaf closed with wee gaps that let in light but not naughty people.
LECA is a great material and has a multitude of uses around the garden. We use it commercially for drainage, lightweight soil mixtures, hydroponics, and void filling. If you're ever on a roof garden then the chances are theres a significant quantity of LECA thats been used in its construction. I always keep a sack around at home for general use but never thought of rooting plants in it - I'll have to give that a try!
I hadn't heard of Pon until your post. It looks interesting.