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KathyBC

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Posts posted by KathyBC

    Weekend discussion topic: jumping tiers for CV vax UPDATED: appointments releasing in ten minutes!

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    32 minutes ago, katilac said:

    Wow, just opened for 90+? That seems really late in the game! My state was doing 80+ (not in nursing homes) in January, and started 65+ in February. Everyone over 70 who wanted the vaccine has had both doses by now. 

    I was hoping it was a typo, but you put it twice . . . 

    Yup, short vaccine supply, hopefully things are rolling along now. We are about halfway through phase 2, high risk population, but that's not a large percentage of the population. With more vaccines approved, and a new plan to go 16 weeks between doses, they hope to have everyone with first shots by summer.

    • Like 1

    nm

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    16 hours ago, J-rap said:

    ETA:  I realize you're looking at a younger age group.  Will you have the opportunity to choose, again, which high school to go to after middle school?  Or is there a natural path from that middle school to a private Catholic high school?

    Even then, it varies.  The private Catholic high school in my own home town would have been just an extension of Catholic middle school.  My dh's private Catholic high school, OTOH, was a super challenging, stimulating, positive experience, with tons of opportunities. 

    This was the first thought that popped into my head. Catholic for now, moving on to public high school. Completely speculative, of course.

    • Like 1

    Daily Movement - Sunday, February 28

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    Tried a 30 minute Strength, Cardio, and Pilates Core Workout. I was not entirely able to keep up but it was okay. A little heavy on the pushups. Not that I couldn't use strength, but I have "swimmer's shoulders" and really don't need a ton of that. Maybe a bit too much of a stretch for now, will keep looking.

    Any reformed house plant killers out there?

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    54 minutes ago, PeterPan said:

    https://www.readersdigest.ca/home-garden/gardening/hardy-indoor-plants/  On this list you'll notice snake plant and aloe, which several have mentioned here. The show a peace plant, which is what I was saying earlier I have.

    As far as lights, you can buy "grow lights" on amazon. They plug into a regular light socket and make the correct color spectrum. Don't ask what they're meant to "grow"... 

    I believe it is a spider plant that I am currently murdering but I've moved it upstairs and will repot. Fingers crossed.

    Yes about the grow lights. It is now legal here, up to four plants per household for personal use. I'd probably kill that, too, though.

    Any reformed house plant killers out there?

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    12 hours ago, Alte Veste Academy said:

    KNOCK ON WOOD 🤞🏼

    I am a reformed houseplant killer, and my collection is growing. The other day, I bought 6 small exotics and a huge Monstera. (She is beautiful.) I did start with pothos and succulents, because they both do ok with neglect.

    I highly recommend New Plant Parent. It was slightly repetitive in places, but was super useful in moving me on to a bigger variety of more interesting plants. One super useful tip was to use something to poke holes in the soil before watering. Plants in their natural environments have insects reworking and aerating the soil under them, so it helps to replicate that with houseplants. He also talked about people being afraid of overwatering but not understanding that the real problem is watering too frequently, not too deeply. Anyway, good stuff on the very basic way plants function and how your care meets their needs. 

    My library has that one! I've requested it, along with Indoor Plant Gardening for Canada, 37 Houseplants Even You Can't Kill, and How Not to Kill Your Houseplant: survival tips for the horticulturaly challenged. ☺️

    • Like 3

    Any reformed house plant killers out there?

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    1 hour ago, Alte Veste Academy said:

    I bought the monstera and other plants at a local plant store. 

    He recommends a light meter (even if just on a phone app) so you can see how much light plants are actually getting. One of the things I took home was to look at light from a plant's perspective. How is their view of the sky? That changed my placement a lot. He said a lot of plants labeled low light don't actually thrive in low light. They just tolerate it. "If plants had eyes, they would roll them every time someone said the phrase, 'thrives in low light.' This is simply a justification for using plants purely for decor. I prefer to say of the plant that it 'starves gracefully at 50 foot-candles.' Specifically, this means the plant will remain relatively good-looking even though it is hanging on for dear life. When horticulturalists use the expression 'low light,' they are referring to the area under a forest canopy, which is not completely opaque to the sky." 

    I will say I live in the desert, with lots of windows and an overabundance of sunlight. So I'm lucky that way.

    Just what I am looking for? lol

     Now that all the kids have moved out, as of 2 weeks ago, I have access to windows with light. Of course, no one goes up there for long periods of time, until we start repurposing the space.
    I would love plants that can survive down in our actual living space which, with a covered deck to the east, no south facing windows, just north and west windows (the west under a steep rock bluff) sunlight is at a premium. So actual low light.

    You guys have given some good advice on that front, so thank you.

    • Like 1

    Any reformed house plant killers out there?

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    3 hours ago, Pawz4me said:

    Do you mean the water is draining out of the pot's drain holes but the soil in the pot still seems dry?

    If so, what type of potting soil are you using? Water will drain through soil meant for cactus and succulents very quickly. Regular potting soil will hold more water.

    You know those cute little plants you buy at the grocery store/gift shop/craft fair? They are in a plastic tub inside a cute little metal container. I just kill those. They don't really drain. The plant still looks dry, but the soil is submerged with the least amount of water. So I bought the spray bottle, but I don't know. I think I've tortured my latest victim beyond recovery.

    Any reformed house plant killers out there?

    in The Chat Board

    Posted · Edited by KathyBC
    Formatting issues

     

      

    8 hours ago, Matryoshka said:

    I seem to do fine with outdoor plants - I actually had a very nice garden last summer.  But indoors... um....

     

    2 hours ago, Homeschool Mom in AZ said:

    The tag should also tell you when and how to water it-put it on your calendar for the rest of the year like appointments.  Get the little slow release plant food spikes that go in the pot with the plant. Write on your calendar when you put them in and schedule replacing them on your calendar (every 2-3 months) according to the package directions. People more knowledgeable than me figured out those schedules, I just follow them.

     

    I've had outdoor flowers for the past three summers and done pretty well! I think I need to stop buying (or getting gifted) houseplants with no tags. I can't even search for help since I have no idea what they are. Well wait actually, with today's technology I probably could. Huh.

    • Like 1

    Any reformed house plant killers out there?

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    1 hour ago, Kebo said:

    I THINK I've reformed ...  I chose easy-care plants (especially at first).  I water on a set schedule -- Wednesdays and Sundays (dry, hot environment); some plants won't need watering that often, but I at least check on them.   I use a terra cotta plant watering spike for plants that are supposed to be kept evenly moist and then water sparingly otherwise. I use a foliar spray for diluted fertilizer, which also helps keep dust off the leaves. I checked the pH of my tap water adjust as needed with pH Down drops.  

    So far I'm doing better than I ever have, but I haven't got my Miracle Berry  or coffee plants to set fruit, so I'm sure I have room for improvement.  At least they are alive!

    So there's hope? That is good news. Thank you!
    Watering spike? Yeah, I have a timer set on my phone for Sunday afternoons. After I water, they still seem too dry yet they also seem to be sitting in too much water. I bought a spray bottle for misting. I use either bottled water or outside tap water, not our softened water because I'm certain that is way too salty. I will persist with the two still clinging to life, fingers crossed.
    Any other tips welcome!!

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