who is good with houseplants?

[JackieOnLine]

I bought two from walmart this morning, both are sort of OK looking but most of them were half dead. they have been sitting in the "outside" part of the store and nobody's watered them for months. I took the two best because a clerk said the customer service person would give me a discount (honestly, they should give them away) but that person told me they get a credit when they send the deadish ones back so only 10% off. I got them partly because I felt sorry for them but also because succulents are tough.

one is a jade and one is a snake plant.

I meant to post before doing anything but already put them in water to soak for an hour or two. any advice? can't repot yet but will ASAP.

the clerk thought the ones that didn't survive he figured it was the heater overhead (in that area of the store) rather than the lack of water.

 

[brooklyngirl]

I usually forget to water them and they die

 

[JackieOnLine]

succulents thrive on drying out < just realized the mouse-over calls this geek; I thought it was wow

 

[Barb1]

I believe you aren't suppose to water them very often so I wouldn't soak them. Let then dry out before you water again. They also don't have much of a root system so transplant in a shallow ceramic dish that has a drain hole. That's about what I know.

 

[JackieOnLine]

thanks, Barb, the soaking was just because otherwise the water ran right back out - the soil (or whatever ) was so hard it wasn't absorbing anything. they drained and will dry out fast now.

it's too early to find potting soil at the store, they said it won't be in til the end of February. hm.

my Landland is going to give me cuttings of hers - spider plant and "elephant ears" (not sure what that is)

I want TONS of plants here!

 

[Sheanie]

Yup, the jade likes sandy soil, so fast-draining is what it needs. NEVER let that one sit in water. It hates wet feet. The snake plant is similar, but I believe likes some fertilizer-type soil, like composty crap to grow in. Either way, both like FIRM soil, kind of hard. The jade is what I used to call a rubber plant. They seldom bloom, but can. I've never seen a snake plant bloom. You can propogate both from cuttings. Snake plant, you shake the dirt off the roots and cut them apart. Rubber plant, you break off a leaf and set it raw side down into the dirt. That's it. Pretty soon, it has cute little roots.

Lots of sun for both, water sparingly. Keep them both in pots with holes in the bottom, and never set them in a saucer of water. That will cause them to rot.

If they were too damaged, they might just turn to mush anyway. Don't feel bad. You gave them a chance.

 

[brooklyngirl]

My mom has a hanging spider plant right in front of a window with indirect light and that thing has been there since I was a kid! It's a very cool plant when you take a second to stop and think about it.

 

[JackieOnLine]

they look better already and on Wednesday I should get the new cuttings from my landlady. and WHERE is Ms Batt? on FB she said she is a houseplant expert so I said come over here.

@MsBatt ??? where are you?

 

[Barb1]

Check images on elephant ear plants. They are easy to grow and maintain but they are big and take up a lot of room. I love Spider plants. They are a great hanging plant, have beautiful coloring, and are easy to maintain.

 

[Barb1]

That's it Jackie get them here one way or another.

 

[JackieOnLine]

I bought Jiffy seed starting mix because I couldn't find anything else for sale at walmart to repot in. I got a jade and a snake plant, both in tiny pots and looking rough - what do I need to get to add to it, something that drains I assume. perlite or vermiculite?? sand? tomorrow I am getting some cuttings started in water, elephant ear and spider plant. what should I buy to add to seed starting mix? (I looked on their website and they won't say what's in it!!

here is the stuff, the bag just says
in California and Georgia and all other states
this mix contains 50-60% sphagnum peat moss, vermiculite, coir pith, and lime for pH balance for

seems an odd way to put it

 

[brooklyngirl]

I bought Jiffy seed starting mix because I couldn't find anything else for sale at walmart to repot in. I got a jade and a snake plant, both in tiny pots and looking rough - what do I need to get to add to it, something that drains I assume. perlite or vermiculite?? sand? tomorrow I am getting some cuttings started in water, elephant ear and spider plant. what should I buy to add to seed starting mix? (I looked on their website and they won't say what's in it!!

here is the stuff, the bag just says
in California and Georgia and all other states
this mix contains 50-60% sphagnum peat moss, vermiculite, coir pith, and lime for pH balance for

seems an odd way to put it

Jackie- I've had good luck at finding soil at dollar stores and places like Big Lots and Ollie's where they have lots of off-season stuff. I was always doing things with seeds with the kids at work

 

[JackieOnLine]

thanks, good idea!