Brighten Up The Day/Evening with Plants & Fun Stuff

[Pen]

Sending much love to your poor cat.

You mentioned his medication earlier in the thread - do you know what's wrong with him?

[Papageno]

Sending much love to your poor cat.

You mentioned his medication earlier in the thread - do you know what's wrong with him?

Thank you, Pen

He has a hyperthyroid condition...... although I suspect there are "other" bad things developing.
So far these "other" symptoms are minor and sporadic, but they are apparent. I'll spare the details.

He takes Methimazole and lately, he seems to be increasingly in need of an anti-emetic.
The Methimazole is a flavored chewable, like a soft dough, so I hide his anti-emetic inside the Methimazole so he's sure to take it all at once.

There's a cure for hyperthyroidism that involves radioactive treatments, and then the cat has to be isolated for several weeks before he''s safe to be reunited with people. I have my own health issues and cannot take that risk to myself (exposure to radiation).

Also, that's a very severe treatment and the cat certainly won't be feeling very happy about it, especially being separated for that period of time.

I'm not one of those people who will subject a pet to severe medical treatment such as major surgery and chemotherapy.
It's hard enough on people, let alone pets, and pets don't understand why they're being put through such misery.

All I can do is make sure he's as well cared for and loved as he's always been, and when the time comes, I'll have him peacefully put to sleep.
It's the reality of life.

[Pen]

All I can do is make sure he's as well cared for and loved as he's always been, and when the time comes, I'll have him peacefully put to sleep.
It's the reality of life.

I believe that's for the best, but it's such a hard decision to make. Their little lives are so short compared to ours, but when they no longer feel like eating and seem to take no enjoyment in anything and look at you in that way it's the kindest thing to do. Our vet has come here twice to help beloved aged dogs on their way and it was very peaceful.

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[Diana]

As previously in this thread we all remarked that the Sound of Music is our favourite movie ever I thought I'd post this. It's the poster for the remake of the movie they're releasing this year to mark the year of the Covid.

[Papageno]

The Frick (Museum) Collection:

Virtual tours and lectures:

https://www.frick.org/

[Papageno]

10 of the world’s best virtual museum and art gallery tours

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2020 ... lery-tours

[Papageno]

The weather is getting warmer and the days are getting longer, time to give some of the plants real sunlight.

The String of Pearls plant is doing nicely:

[Papageno]

African Violets preparing for a 2nd bloom cycle:

[Papageno]

The beauty of symmetry in nature:

[Papageno]

"Yeah Christine, I've joined a cult and I gotta run, I'm late for a meeting"

[Papageno]

Community Radio

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/29/arts ... radio.html

[Joan Marie]

I am almost ashamed to post these photos. If this plant was a child it would be taken away from me.

I have had this plant for years, it lives outside in the summer and it does really well, then I bring it in for the winter and put it in a spot where it gets really neglected and barely survives to enjoy another summer. Then it goes out again and thrives.

Here is the poor thing now.

I'm sure Papageno, you know what kind of plant this is. I think it is kind of a sister or cousin of sorts to the bead plant. It's not a succulent but it grows (when its healthy) like the bead plant in long strings of the little heart-shaped leaves.

I know it deserves better. But if you could give me any tips to get it set up better for this summer I would appreciate it.

[stronglove]

this preview doesn’t really do it justice
if you click on the image you can see it with better resolution

[stronglove]

my polder ‘backyard’ is crawling with herons....(ah but herons don’t crawl, do they )

[Papageno]

I am almost ashamed to post these photos. If this plant was a child it would be taken away from me.

I have had this plant for years, it lives outside in the summer and it does really well, then I bring it in for the winter and put it in a spot where it gets really neglected and barely survives to enjoy another summer. Then it goes out again and thrives.

I'm sure Papageno, you know what kind of plant this is. I think it is kind of a sister or cousin of sorts to the bead plant. It's not a succulent but it grows (when its healthy) like the bead plant in long strings of the little heart-shaped leaves.

I know it deserves better. But if you could give me any tips to get it set up better for this summer I would appreciate it.

I promise there won't be any social workers taking your plant-child away from you.

Your plant is called a String-of-Hearts, Ceropegia woodii, originally a native of South Africa and it's neighboring states of that continent.
Therefore, it likes lots of warmth and sunlight.

I don't own this plant, but apparently it is very similar in nature to the String of Beads.

It probably needs stronger indoor lighting during the winter. That's what I've discovered about some of my own plants.
Cheap so-called grow lights are garbage. 65-75 watt flood-light bulbs work well, but they have to be clear, not frosted.

DO NOT use Halogen bulbs unless you want to cook the plants to death and very possibly burn down the house. SERIOUSLY.

It's a semi-succulent which means you have to be careful about the soil mixture.
My soil is a mixture of regular potting soil, sand, gravel, aquarium charcoal. I swear by the aquarium charcoal.
I suggest 75% - 80% potting soil and the remaining 25% consisting of sand, fine gravel, etc.

Be careful about the sand, some aquarium sand and gravel is coated with Silicone, I suppose to make it easier to clean or something but I personally don't like the idea.

I have also used Perlite, but I really don't like the stuff. I suspect it's inherently dangerous to inhale (wear a mask).
I will stop using it and stick to the au-natural formula.

The potting soil I use is Black Gold, the one for vegetable gardening, not flowers.
It's very high quality, fluffy and loamy, enhanced with fertilizers and earthworm castings.

During the winter, I suggest you keep your String of Hearts away from the windows and glass sliding doors, unless you have very expensive, super-insulated double pane windows.

I notice you have the plant on top of a bookshelf with no discernable (overhead) lighting, that's not good.

My prognosis:

Lack of (sufficient?) overhead lighting.
You (probably) need to amend your soil mixture.
You may also need to re-pot your plants which also gives you an opportunity to mix up a fresh batch of amended soil.
The plant looks too dry, even succulents need (very careful) watering during the winter.

Yep, house plants are a lot of work if you want to do it up properly.

[Papageno]

my polder ‘backyard’ is crawling with herons....(ah but herons don’t crawl, do they )

how fabulous is that, you're very lucky

[Libra]

I created a fairy garden <3

[Joan Marie]

Lack of (sufficient?) overhead lighting.
You (probably) need to amend your soil mixture.
You may also need to re-pot your plants which also gives you an opportunity to mix up a fresh batch of amended soil.
The plant looks too dry, even succulents need (very careful) watering during the winter.

Yep, house plants are a lot of work if you want to do it up properly.

So true.

I am pretty good at keeping my plants sufficiently watered but this poor guy is like he's camouflaged on that bookcase with all that random stuff and I know I often miss him on water day.

In the spring (haven't done it yet, waiting for better weather) I always take all my plants outside and wash them all, get all the winter dust off them, and repot the ones that need it, give them a bunch of love, but then I don't quite keep up like I should over the year. They live but they don't all thrive like they could with some more TLC.

But this one, the String-of-hearts is the saddest.
Thanks for the tips. I'll get this one on it's feet.

[Papageno]

I created a fairy garden <3

That is SO charming!

[Joan Marie]

Thank you Bill Withers for this song...Lovely Day

[Papageno]

Thank you Bill Withers for this song...Lovely Day

and R.I.P.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/03/arts ... e=Homepage

[Papageno]

I planted a leaf in with the "Pen Plant" and wasn't sure if it would sprout new growth, I expected it to grow from the top.

The leaf had other ideas and the root system that developed produced an offshoot protruding from the drainage opening at the bottom.

RootingPlant

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RootingPlant

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RootingPlant

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RootingPlant

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[Pen]

Well, what can you expect after calling it the 'Pen Plant'?

[Pen]

I created a fairy garden <3

Simply lovely! It reminds me of childhood and making little gardens on a baking tray, only yours is truly magical.

[Papageno]

Another view of the "Pen Plant" sticking out from the shelf.