A bit off-topic....about ceramic plates and spots.
catherinet (5IN)
4 months ago
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carolb_w_fl_coastal_9b
4 months agoRelated Discussions
Serious root problems, droopy/brown leaves, and white spots, help
Comments (13)Thank you for further opinions/advice. ashes_of_the_fire those roots are gorgeous! For most part I tend to slightly underwater my orchids, before the ailment that is (I always thought it was fine as they flowered and looked healthy) and the roots would be slightly thinner than yours. I am especially grateful for the step by step instructions. I will definitely need them as this will be my first repotting on my own! (mum refused to help as she says last time she got involved it got them to the current state). I have something by Westland called 'orchid compost'. It says it has organic matter, bark and wood fibre. This is the only thing suitable at the shop nearest to us (and that is 30 minutes away). There is another shop that is about 1 hour away in another zone that requires 2 buses. But I am not sure that one is much better. I think I'll repot the worst first (I will do it tomorrow morning when there is more light and might post photos in case I need advise of whether they are actually alive)... to see how they take to this compost. And order the following online: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Elite-Orchid-Compost-Range-for-Phalaenopsis-5-Litres-/261365464855 Does that seem like a good mix? Apparently one of the orchids is not actually a Phalaenopsis that mum owns (since it hasn't had flowers in years I did not know any better). Though she cannot remember its name. meyermike_1micha thank you for the tip ... I have been reading many websites and books about caring for orchids, but none actually go into any sort of detail. Something I read a year ago said that orchids can grow without any medium! in baskets but would require very frequent sprays. Wow! Maybe I need to do that to avoid the bugs. jane__ny thank you for the link! It is very helpful. As I said the books I could get from the library and some websites I came across weren't as helpful. Most of the books had various pictures and species, and talked about reproduction, illness and the fact that orchids depending on the type like various mediums including moss, bark, and something else. No one ever went into basics of how to physically water them (just state that you can spray or pour). Cloths were a strategy to get rid of insects. They have only been covered in them for about 3 months. These bugs are a pain to get rid of ... and one of the solutions is placing a layer of sand on top of the peat ... it cuts air supply to them and cuts their wings when they crawl out. I was a bit apprehensive of doing that (since who knows what the sand will be infected with!) So I saw someone's solution of placing denim to a similar effect ... break the cycle. Each fly lays many many eggs ... and the problem multiplies. Most of these I read were for houseplants ... as no one wrote about infected orchids. But the things is one of the orchids I bought was already infected and it was in bark! So it does happen. Probably not as frequently. I know most of the solutions I was trying were damaging the health of the plants, but as I mentioned these stuff eat roots ... and reproduce fast. So the fact that some of the orchids are still alive is pretty much a miracle. I do not wish this infection on anyone's plants. Oh and I place my stupidity/naivety to the fact that for many years that I have owned orchids they were healthy and I never saw what I have been seeing in the past 3/4 of the year. Thank you so much for your support! I also include the picture of the flies! (this was when the situation was improving too! before then you couldn't see the yellow ... it is a lot a lot better now). Just about 3 or 4 flies per sticker. Another quick question ... do I need to dry out the orchid compost completely before planting? (that is where I went wrong with the peat apparently) Lija P.S. Liquid Oxygen contains Hydrogen Peroxide. It was advised to me as it apparently burns up the larvae which seemed like a pleasant thought....See Moremy bit of Fall Decorating
Comments (14)Thanks, Gang. I really appreciate everything you say. About the speckled pumpkin, yes it is ceramic. I found it last year at Joann's on sale. OA, the glitter pumpkins in the apothecary jar aren't ornaments, just table decorations. The "spotty glasses" are cute by the way. Jeanne, I don't like using glitter either but I learned two things. First one, do it outside. LOL. I usually take a shallow box, to catch the excess glitter and reuse it, and hold the item over it or sit it in the box. Also, a gal told me to put glitter in a salt shaker as it gives good control. Truthfully, I rather BUY glittered stuff. LOL. I remembered this morning, thank goodness, that I'd bought a Pilgrim Nutcracker months ago. So got him out of my closet and he's now next to the new tall apothecary jar. I also felt the green turkey on the kitchen counter was lacking, so added a slim little green vase of colorful faux mums to her and the Dollar Tree platter arrangement. hugs, Karen who's still trying to find a place for her 4 S&P turkey sets!!...See MoreProblems Dura Ceramic congoleum
Comments (24)Glennsfc, you are correct about doing all the research before buying a floor. I had read all the reviews and I knew I was taking a chance on this flooring. I was hoping I would be one of the lucky ones who wouldn't have any problems. And I am happy with it for the reasons I stated. I just wish it had been more durable. And Duraceramic is more expensive than most tile, but costs less to install. Overall, it costs about the same as tile. And doug_gb, yes, tile and wood are ABSOLUTELY better products. But no matter how much poly you apply to wood, it will warp if you have enough standing water. It's not exactly the best product to use in a kitchen, although many people do and probably don't have any issues with it. And tile is hard. If I stand on it for too long, for even an hour or so, my back and legs ache. I can stand on my duraceramic floor while cooking and doing dishes and not have a problem. And tile IS cold. I have tile on my floor around my fireplace. It's right next to the duraceramic. The tile is cold to the touch while the duraceramic feels the same temperature as the room. I wish I had a way to test the actual temperature difference, but the tile IS definitely colder. (And I have tile that is farther away from the fireplace that is still cold, while the duraceramic next to the fireplace still feels like room temp. So, it doesn't have anything to do with distance to the fireplace. It is the tile.) But we are planning on redoing our master bathroom soon, and we'll probably have to replace the vinyl floor with tile, just for resale value. And odds are I will put in tile when we have to replace the duraceramic. And then I'll be over in the tile forums complaining about how much colder my house is and how my back and legs always hurt... I just don't think you can find perfection in a flooring product. You've just got to look for what's most important to you. So, I wanted to let people know that there are good things about duraceramic, but that the tradeoff (durability) just might not be worth it to them....See MoreMy 'little bit of Easter'!
Comments (12)Thanks all, Judith, before you & this site, I'd probably have set the bunny in the middle of the table all by himself!!! He's from Hobby Lobby last year, I had him on the kitchen counter last year. Luvs, the bunny plates also have a garden saying on each of them so appropriate for spring too, and I bought then at a yard sale for .50 cents each, they had a new tag on back said $7.99 each. Dining_delight, I have Judith to thank for putting the two plates together & then adding the flowers in the background. I am learning to experiment & try things til they look "better" than what I used to do! I'm not sure what to put out next, realized I don't have a lot of "spring things" and too early for my lemon table or my watermelon table. Guess I'll have to wait for ideas from all you wonderful friends!!!!...See Morecatherinet (5IN)
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