| Author | Content |
venice62
Indianapolis, IN
(Zone 5b)
September 01, 2009
06:25 PM Post #7014465
| I bring them in during the winter but they go outside again when it is warm in the spring. Someone told me to cut the top off the left one because it was 7 feet tall, only have 8 foot ceilings. Now it looks stupid. The one on the right always has had the droopies. Can you help them? 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
trinawitch
Canton,IL &Dent Coun, MO
(Zone 5b)
September 01, 2009
06:33 PM Post #7014498
| I wish I could help you on that but I've never gotten one to last past 6 weeks it always dies on me
and the person who told you to cut your beautiful tree needs their butt kicked!
my ony guess would be not enough water, but I'm no expert so don't take my word for it |
venice62
Indianapolis, IN
(Zone 5b)
September 01, 2009
06:36 PM Post #7014512
| I know!!! I wish I could take back the top of that tree!!! I water them thoroughly once a day during the summer.
What do you think if I cut back the limbs also to make it more balanced? |
trinawitch
Canton,IL &Dent Coun, MO
(Zone 5b)
September 01, 2009
06:42 PM Post #7014535
| EEK!!! I don't know
Do you have any rooting hormone? Such as Shultz Root tone?
If you cut them off I would try using that on the cut off ones, if it works you get more trees out of the deal (wink wink nudge nudge..lol) if not then thats ok too |
venice62
Indianapolis, IN
(Zone 5b)
September 01, 2009
07:20 PM Post #7014675
| I really don't want any more avacado plants. Last year I had 7 of them. Some were very small, others were not looking too good, so I threw them all out except for the 2 tall ones.
I gave my rooting hormone away after messing around trying to start rose clippings. I decided, I just am not into roses. |
trinawitch
Canton,IL &Dent Coun, MO
(Zone 5b)
September 01, 2009
07:29 PM Post #7014706
| Well I'm great at the rose clippings, so lets make I trade I'll do the rose starts and you do the avocado starts then maybe we'll both get what we want |
venice62
Indianapolis, IN
(Zone 5b)
September 01, 2009
07:42 PM Post #7014764
| Well, tell you what. Instead of me doing an avocado start, how about if I just start another plant from a pit. I have one in the cupboard now. I will go see how it is doing. |
trinawitch
Canton,IL &Dent Coun, MO
(Zone 5b)
September 01, 2009
07:44 PM Post #7014779
| cool! what kind and color of roses do you want? I have tons (always looking for more though) Pick a color or do you want pics, cua I can do that too! |
venice62
Indianapolis, IN
(Zone 5b)
September 01, 2009
08:03 PM Post #7014851
| Anything is great. Just one that has no fragrance because of the J. beetles.
I just took out that pit and looked at it again. It has one long root and it is split on the bottom half. I can't guarantee that this seed will be good. Sometimes they just aren't. It is the small kind of seed so it may droop when it grows.
When I use to try doing the toothpick method, I thought that when the pit split it wasn't good so I would throw it out!! |
trinawitch
Canton,IL &Dent Coun, MO
(Zone 5b)
September 01, 2009
08:10 PM Post #7014888
| something the japanese beetles won't get...I haven't had that problem, I have a dog problem...he likes to eat the blooms! |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
September 01, 2009
08:42 PM Post #7015033
| Drooping leaves could be not enough water, but it's also very possible it's from too much water. Looks to me like those two plants are in the same size pot, but the non-droopy one on the left appears to have a lot more leaves which means it would likely go through water faster...so if you weren't watering them enough, then the one that goes through water faster ought to be suffering more and that does not appear to be the case (plus avocados don't need a ton of water, so overwatering would have been my first guess anyway). Only way to be sure though is to stick your finger down a few inches into the soil though and see how it feels. |
venice62
Indianapolis, IN
(Zone 5b)
September 01, 2009
08:48 PM Post #7015063
| They start drooping when they need water and the droopy one droops more. They were out in the sun all afternoon. I usually have them protected under the overhang of the balcony above and in the shade. The droopy one has always drooped. It is a different type of seed. |
themoonhowl
Prairieville, LA
(Zone 9a)
September 02, 2009
01:35 PM Post #7017649
| Venice, it looks like the one you cut back is going to push the branch on the top left into being the new leader. I would not cut on it any more for a bit and see what happens. here is a link for you with a few answers I think.
http://hortchat.com/info/growing-avocado |
venice62
Indianapolis, IN
(Zone 5b)
September 02, 2009
01:57 PM Post #7017734
| Hey thanks for the link. A lot of those people have regular avocado trees growing outside in a warm climate.
You know, I have read many times about cutting the plant back when it is 12" tall. I did that last year and it stunted the growth and only produced little tiny leaves. I tried that on several plants with the same results. That is why I had to throw them out.
But I will get some distilled water and run it through the pots for several days. It may be because of the salt that some of the leaves turn brown on the edges. I just have been cutting those leaves off. I will end up with no leaves if that continues!
By the way I transplanted them when I first put them outside when it got warm this year. Empting the pot to just look at the roots is a real mess when the pots are that big. Their growth should be slowing down soon so hopefully they will wait until next year to be repotted. I will see what they look like and perhaps do some cutting on them then.
Tell you the truth I am getting a feeling that I don't want to fuss with them any more.
By the way, you are always here and there on these threads with so much good info plus a lot of goodies to talk about. What do you do or did you do as your regular job? Just curious? |
themoonhowl
Prairieville, LA
(Zone 9a)
September 02, 2009
02:13 PM Post #7017797
| I am "retired" from "gainful" employment...grin. I still fill in occassionally for my friend and former employer. He owns a small landscape nursery and "niche market" nursery. He specializes in uncommon plants for the landscape in addition to traditional favorites. Before that, I helped a friend start her restuarant and acted as her manager while she finished getting her business degree. Before that I was the Exec. Dir. of Baton Rouge's Soccer Association, and before that worked part-time at the local Hospice as a companion (someone who lends an ear and helps terminal patients find the proper venues to get their affairs in order and cope with family issues) after a couple years, had to get away from there...too much pain on a daily basis. Before that, had kids and raised them as stay at home mom until they were all in school, and then did volunteer work at their schools. |
trinawitch
Canton,IL &Dent Coun, MO
(Zone 5b)
September 02, 2009
02:15 PM Post #7017803
| wow moon no wonder your the Plant Goddess!!! |
themoonhowl
Prairieville, LA
(Zone 9a)
September 02, 2009
02:23 PM Post #7017826
| If I could just access all the info i picked up...grin...got a great memory, just a lousy retrieval system...LOL |
venice62
Indianapolis, IN
(Zone 5b)
September 02, 2009
02:23 PM Post #7017828
| WOW!!! and WOW! again!!!!! We are so lucky to have you here! With a great background of doing so many wonderful things!
Yes, you are the Plant Goddess!! |
venice62
Indianapolis, IN
(Zone 5b)
September 02, 2009
02:28 PM Post #7017843
| It seems to me that you retrieve a lot! A LOT!
I have a bad memory and also a bad retrieval system. Sometimes I can't even think of the word I want to say so I have to quickly replace it with another word just because I can't retrieve it |
themoonhowl
Prairieville, LA
(Zone 9a)
September 02, 2009
02:30 PM Post #7017851
| Thanks, but right now I don't think goddess is the word my plants would use...grin more like that B who is neglecting to give us her full attention. |
trinawitch
Canton,IL &Dent Coun, MO
(Zone 5b)
September 02, 2009
02:32 PM Post #7017860
| I'm sure my plants think that quite often too moon |
themoonhowl
Prairieville, LA
(Zone 9a)
September 02, 2009
02:32 PM Post #7017862
| My oldest (length of friendship) friend and I refer to it as Palsheimer's...the husbands tease that we share a brain...grin We agree to an extent, and have even gone so far as to call the other up and demand full use for a while...grin |
themoonhowl
Prairieville, LA
(Zone 9a)
September 02, 2009
02:33 PM Post #7017864
| They can be so testy sometimes...feed me, weed me, look at me, love me...grin |
venice62
Indianapolis, IN
(Zone 5b)
September 02, 2009
02:52 PM Post #7017928
| I forget, have we seen your garden? |
themoonhowl
Prairieville, LA
(Zone 9a)
September 02, 2009
02:58 PM Post #7017958
| Parts of it in one of the other threads. |
trinawitch
Canton,IL &Dent Coun, MO
(Zone 5b)
September 02, 2009
02:59 PM Post #7017965
| she's mean make us try to hunt that down...that would take forever! |
themoonhowl
Prairieville, LA
(Zone 9a)
September 02, 2009
03:07 PM Post #7017987
| Okay, here are a couple pictures 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
themoonhowl
Prairieville, LA
(Zone 9a)
September 02, 2009
03:08 PM Post #7017990
| another the veggie garden 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
venice62
Indianapolis, IN
(Zone 5b)
September 02, 2009
03:09 PM Post #7017995
| Oh, yes, I remember now. It looks like you have been doing some gardening in that bed recently. |
venice62
Indianapolis, IN
(Zone 5b)
September 02, 2009
03:10 PM Post #7018000
| And your veggies are getting bigger!! |
themoonhowl
Prairieville, LA
(Zone 9a)
September 02, 2009
03:11 PM Post #7018004
| one of the hydrangeas 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
themoonhowl
Prairieville, LA
(Zone 9a)
September 02, 2009
03:14 PM Post #7018015
| almost time to turn it all under. not sure if I will do a fall veggie garden This is a favorite from a couple years ago 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
venice62
Indianapolis, IN
(Zone 5b)
September 02, 2009
03:15 PM Post #7018016
| Oh! Those are beautiful!!! |
venice62
Indianapolis, IN
(Zone 5b)
September 02, 2009
03:16 PM Post #7018026
| lol What is that? That's not the monster tree, is it? |
themoonhowl
Prairieville, LA
(Zone 9a)
September 02, 2009
03:27 PM Post #7018054
| Those are Black Magic Alocasias.My fan palm 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
trinawitch
Canton,IL &Dent Coun, MO
(Zone 5b)
September 02, 2009
03:30 PM Post #7018062
| ok now I want Moon's garden, or at least borrow t for awhile! LOL |
themoonhowl
Prairieville, LA
(Zone 9a)
September 02, 2009
03:35 PM Post #7018075
| snow on the bleeding heart 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
themoonhowl
Prairieville, LA
(Zone 9a)
September 02, 2009
03:37 PM Post #7018087
| Thanks , I will try to take a few that actually show something more than individual plants...I have tons of those, but no real "garden" pics. |
trinawitch
Canton,IL &Dent Coun, MO
(Zone 5b)
September 02, 2009
03:40 PM Post #7018095
| does it count if the "garden" is in the house...or would thisbe classified as a jungle? |
themoonhowl
Prairieville, LA
(Zone 9a)
September 02, 2009
03:44 PM Post #7018102
| Technically, it would be a conservatory, because the plants are enclosed. Actually, it would be considered container gardening. |
trinawitch
Canton,IL &Dent Coun, MO
(Zone 5b)
September 02, 2009
03:56 PM Post #7018137
| ok prepare yourselves because I think I surpassed the "Container" part of that, and I don't have them all inside yet! 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
trinawitch
Canton,IL &Dent Coun, MO
(Zone 5b)
September 02, 2009
03:57 PM Post #7018139
| Kitchen #2 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
trinawitch
Canton,IL &Dent Coun, MO
(Zone 5b)
September 02, 2009
03:57 PM Post #7018140
| Kitchen #3 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
trinawitch
Canton,IL &Dent Coun, MO
(Zone 5b)
September 02, 2009
03:58 PM Post #7018144
| Dining room #1 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
trinawitch
Canton,IL &Dent Coun, MO
(Zone 5b)
September 02, 2009
03:59 PM Post #7018147
| Diningroom #2 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
trinawitch
Canton,IL &Dent Coun, MO
(Zone 5b)
September 02, 2009
04:00 PM Post #7018152
| Dinning room #3 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
trinawitch
Canton,IL &Dent Coun, MO
(Zone 5b)
September 02, 2009
04:01 PM Post #7018154
| Dinning room #4 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
trinawitch
Canton,IL &Dent Coun, MO
(Zone 5b)
September 02, 2009
04:01 PM Post #7018155
| Dinning room #5 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
trinawitch
Canton,IL &Dent Coun, MO
(Zone 5b)
September 02, 2009
04:02 PM Post #7018158
| Dinning room #6 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
trinawitch
Canton,IL &Dent Coun, MO
(Zone 5b)
September 02, 2009
04:04 PM Post #7018164
| And diininr room #7...and I still don't have them all inside yet, plus I have them in the living room and bathroom, our bedroom, and the office, now workig on putting some in the kids rooms! 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
trinawitch
Canton,IL &Dent Coun, MO
(Zone 5b)
September 02, 2009
04:10 PM Post #7018186
| here's the front of the house...or at least most of it 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
trinawitch
Canton,IL &Dent Coun, MO
(Zone 5b)
September 02, 2009
04:12 PM Post #7018192
| here's what I still have to get repotted and in the house...#1 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
trinawitch
Canton,IL &Dent Coun, MO
(Zone 5b)
September 02, 2009
04:12 PM Post #7018195
| and #2 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
trinawitch
Canton,IL &Dent Coun, MO
(Zone 5b)
September 02, 2009
04:13 PM Post #7018199
| and here's #3 and I still have 3 huge plants on the back porch oh and two smaller ones 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
trinawitch
Canton,IL &Dent Coun, MO
(Zone 5b)
September 02, 2009
04:14 PM Post #7018203
| sorry for clogging up the thread, dial up people probably hate me! |
venice62
Indianapolis, IN
(Zone 5b)
September 02, 2009
04:31 PM Post #7018269
| LOL!! Have you got plants or what!!!
It looks like many of them are off the floor now and that is great progress!
Do you have any surfaces in your house that don't have plants on them! lol
Those are just babies outside. I was going to suggest that you put a lot of them in one big pot. Then I saw the photo that looked like you were going to do just that!
My, my -- my, my, my!!! What a job!
Teacher's Day is coming up on Oct. 15th. Maybe your kids could take some to their teachers!
I know you will find all of them good homes.
|
trinawitch
Canton,IL &Dent Coun, MO
(Zone 5b)
September 02, 2009
04:38 PM Post #7018298
| I've been mixing them up together in the pots so there are different colors to look at...In one pot I put 7 plants. a dracaena spike in the middle, with alternating iresine "purple lady" and dichondra "silver falls" oh wait I have a pic of that one...
I found it!! Yeah!!! here ya go!
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
venice62
Indianapolis, IN
(Zone 5b)
September 02, 2009
04:44 PM Post #7018316
| Right! They just need some of your gardening care to make them the best they can be. In no time, they will out grow your pot. |
trinawitch
Canton,IL &Dent Coun, MO
(Zone 5b)
September 02, 2009
04:45 PM Post #7018319
| jeez I know i"m dirty from the plants, but I didn't mea to run everybody off...boohoo now I'm gonna cry...booohooo
|
trinawitch
Canton,IL &Dent Coun, MO
(Zone 5b)
September 02, 2009
04:46 PM Post #7018325
| that's what I'm afraid of...that they'll grow out of their pots and attack mein my sleep! |
venice62
Indianapolis, IN
(Zone 5b)
September 02, 2009
04:47 PM Post #7018329
| I forgot what thread this was. It is the Avocado one!
No, no, no! Little Witchy, don't cry. We love seeing all your plants and where all you are putting them. |
venice62
Indianapolis, IN
(Zone 5b)
September 02, 2009
04:49 PM Post #7018332
| Yep! One morning you will wake up and you will be in a jungle! |
trinawitch
Canton,IL &Dent Coun, MO
(Zone 5b)
September 02, 2009
04:51 PM Post #7018340
| and I believe it is the evil spider plants that will start the revolution!
The 3 in the living rom have been eyeing me suspiciously here lately! |
Grantman31
West Palm Beach, FL
September 10, 2009
02:22 PM Post #7048125
| I'm growing one from a pit. I have it planted in my father-in-law's back yard, since mine is too small and I already have enough trees. I couldn't help with the pruning issues, since ours stay in the ground... |
bobyrd
Conroe, TX
(Zone 9a)
September 10, 2009
05:02 PM Post #7048736
| I have seen programs about hoarders before but never someone who hoards plants!!!LOL |
trinawitch
Canton,IL &Dent Coun, MO
(Zone 5b)
September 10, 2009
05:39 PM Post #7048835
| they are all so close together right now because they can't be in the kids rooms with the air conditioners!
I've been trying to give them away cause i got "gifted" (or cursed I'm thinking) with over a thousand plants when my friend closed her greenhouse due to health issues
I must admit quite a few made it to the compost pile because, well frankly, they could survive, but they'd take a lot of time and patience
it is helpful that the entire front of the house is glass though...and soon the back will be as well...hubby's building me a greenhouse attatched to the house so we can keep it climate controlled |
jewlybug
Zion, IL
(Zone 5a)
September 11, 2009
12:37 PM Post #7051538
| Hi Venice & all ;D
New here but think I can help u with ur avocados. Born & raised in So Cal, grandparents had an avocado orchard where I spent a good deal of time ;D.
Young avocados need to have their trunks protected from harsh sun. They don't really have an outer bark to protect them when young. It's more like a thick skin than a bark. In nature they grow in the shade of the parent trees. I live in IL now and have grown a couple here. Find a place where they get or can grow to sun during the day but are somewhat protected from full heat of the sun. A nice dappled but sunny northern exposure works well. Move them around until u find the spot they seem the happiest ;D
To keep them from growing spindly & tall, pinch new growth to encourage bushing out. Your friend had the right idea, but was over zealous in her approach. Since u live in the midwest, I recommend u pinch alot. Avocados will grow very tall so you will want to keep them shorter and bushy so they can come in the house in the fall.
Avocados DO NOT like wet feet. I think you may be overwatering (drooping). I watered mine well once or twice a week only. Also... they MUST have good drainage and a little bit of room to spread out their roots. They don't like hard compacted soil. A somewhat sandy, loamy soil is what they like.
From ur photo, I would say they may need bigger pots. Re-pot in the spring each year as they grow, but don't give them too big a space all at once. Also, fertilize once a month during summer with a diluted citus fertilizer. Once every 8 - 10 weeks or so in winter. Please mist them when indoors if you don't have a humidifier going and remember to reacclimate them slowly in the spring.
I left mine outdoors til mid fall, but be sure you have a frost plan (large plastic sheet or something of that nature, cheapo plastic tablecloths with the fuzz underneath work well too) to protect them until you move them indoors. I also had mine on wheeled pot holders and just as in early spring re-acclimated them over a couple of weeks back to the house in the fall.
Good luck ;D
Jewlybug |
venice62
Indianapolis, IN
(Zone 5b)
September 11, 2009
05:09 PM Post #7052429
| Jewlybug,
Thanks for all the info. The droopy one has alwasy drooped and it is a different kind of avocado. They are now in 10" pots and I was going to repot them in 14.5" pots. This past spring I potted them from an 8" pot to the 10" pot. Someone suggested putting crushed pot cans in the bottom of the pot so the pot isn't so heavy. I think that is a good idea. I will look at the roots when I dump them out and see how many I would need.
I do think that one was getting too much sun. I didn't realize how sunny it was there late in the day.
I don't think I over water them. When they are outside on these hot days, I might water them everyday or so. They really start drooping if I don't. When I take them inside. I may not water them even once a week. Also since they are in clay pots, they dry more quickly than other pots. In the winter I was spraying them with water because I thought that they might grow more then.
You said to pinch new growth. Will my top ever grow back? Also, the branches are long for its height. Should I cut them back? Last year I had a lot of shorter trees. When I pinched back the top, they basically stopped growing and produced just stunted leaves so I threw them out. How much should I cut off the branches?
Do you have photos of your trees so I can see the shape of them and try to determine how to trim my trees?
Thanks again and hope to see some of your photos. |
jasminesmom
Blue Mountain, NY
September 14, 2009
04:17 PM Post #7063881
| venice62, I just wanted to say I hope my baby will grow as tall as yours have. Mines only a few months old. How old are yours?
Christine
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
themoonhowl
Prairieville, LA
(Zone 9a)
September 14, 2009
05:16 PM Post #7064091
| That is a happy looking avocado plant, Jasminesmom. It should do well. |
venice62
Indianapolis, IN
(Zone 5b)
September 14, 2009
07:04 PM Post #7064415
| Photo taken September 2007. I don't know how old these were when I put them outside. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
venice62
Indianapolis, IN
(Zone 5b)
September 14, 2009
07:05 PM Post #7064422
| Photo taken summer 2008. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
venice62
Indianapolis, IN
(Zone 5b)
September 14, 2009
07:06 PM Post #7064425
| Photo taken December 2008. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
venice62
Indianapolis, IN
(Zone 5b)
September 14, 2009
07:09 PM Post #7064439
| The one on the left at the top of the post, was 7' tall before I cut about 3' off the top. They must be 3 years and a few months old now. |
trinawitch
Canton,IL &Dent Coun, MO
(Zone 5b)
September 14, 2009
07:12 PM Post #7064446
| Wow Venice those look good! |
venice62
Indianapolis, IN
(Zone 5b)
September 14, 2009
08:28 PM Post #7064734
| You know they are all the same plant, right? Christine was asking how old my 2 trees were. So I thought I would show the progression of their growth. The leaves keep looking bad on the bottom. Therefore, I cut those off so that is why the leaves are so spare there. |
jasminesmom
Blue Mountain, NY
September 15, 2009
07:48 AM Post #7066160
| venice62, Thank you so much for the pictures. Amazing how fast they grew in 3 years.I just brought mine in a few days ago, our nights are already starting to get on the chilly side up here. Nice kitty in the window.
Christine |
venice62
Indianapolis, IN
(Zone 5b)
September 15, 2009
02:25 PM Post #7067409
| Unfortunately, mine didn't grow much when they were in the house during he winter. I keep it about 65-68 degrees and don't know if that had anything to do with it. I did spray them when they were tall with distilled water during the winter because they get a warm draft from the vent. Once outside for a bit, they grow well.
I know a lot of info on the Interent says to cut the top off when it gets a certain height. However, I will advise you DO NOT CUT THE TOP OFF! Only cut the top off your tree when it gets as tall as your ceiling. Then maybe only cut 12' off the top. A top never grows back! |
jasminesmom
Blue Mountain, NY
September 15, 2009
06:56 PM Post #7068328
| I'll remember your sad story about cutting the tops off if I'm that lucky for it to grow that big. I imagine come spring yours will fill out nicely and you'll never even know it was cut back. Thanks for your advice :>)
Christine |
Grantman31
West Palm Beach, FL
September 16, 2009
09:05 AM Post #7069914
| I couldn't imagine an avocado tree inside the house! I do have a 2nd story loft in my house and the ceiling on that side is very tall, but we've had avocado trees 40' tall lol... |
venice62
Indianapolis, IN
(Zone 5b)
September 16, 2009
12:56 PM Post #7070576
| In the north, we can't grow avocado trees outside except in the warm months. So we take them inside during the cold months. It has to do with the temperature but also the angle of the sun. |
Grantman31
West Palm Beach, FL
September 16, 2009
01:37 PM Post #7070704
| Ahh thanks for the info, venice. I would imagine a frost, let alone the weather you experience in IN, would kill one. I'm glad you can still grow one, though! |
