Over the years, I have
tried many different methods of maintaining plants of my own. I've met
with varying degrees of success.
The Early Years.
Growing up, I helped my parents maintain their gardens. But I wanted to
try a thing or two on my own. I was becoming interested in herbs,
especially 'wild' herbs. I asked for some space in the garden to grow
some Achillea (or yarrow, if you prefer). I had a plan. My parents,
having seen my plans in action in the past, were cautious. Dad tilled a
piece of grass next to the greenhouse. The greenhouse was a good
distance from the garden. It was unlikely any crazy thing I did could
disturb the precious green beans and squash.
Smart parents.
I had already scouted about on the property, and knew exactly were I
could dig up some Achillea for transplant. I had never done this before
and wanted to be certain of an at least moderately successful outcome,
so I transplanted a lot of Achillea. It turns out Achillea transplants
rather well. Under cultivation it does
extremely
well. The small plot grew far more yarrow than I alone could make use
of. (You are doubtless wondering what possible use I might have for
'wild' yarrow. Especially as these are most commonly cultivated into a
variety of different flower colors, and wild yarrow flowers are quite
plan. A topic for another day.) And then I went away to college and my
parents were left to deal with the Achillea madness.
For a time my parents hoped the Achillea would just die off without me
there to tend them. And then upon realizing that these plants were a
hardy sort, they decided on more drastic measures. The greenhouse was
demolished. The earth was scraped even with a tractor. The ground was
tilled, limed, fertilized and planted with grass. Mom says the Achillea
never made reappearance. She says
grass covers all.
They claim that it was simply time to do away with the greenhouse. As
for me, I think it was the yarrow.
College Dorms (of doom) Part I.
My first year in college I lived in a dorm. The dorm room had very
little sunlight. I did attempt to grow a miniature rose (given to me by
my mom). To provide the rose with light I had to put it up high on a
windowsill behind a tall bookshelf. What with all the moving in and
starting college, by the time I thought to check it for water, it was
one crispy critter. Resuscitation was impossible.
College Dorms (of doom) Part II.
The following year brought another dorm room with a
friendlier roommate,
Meredith.
We had been keeping two pet rats (another topic for another day). We
decided to give them away. Suddenly the dorm room was just too quiet.
Perhaps a fish tank? Once at the pet store a leopard gecko caught
Meredith's eye (this is not however the gecko's story). To go with the
gecko we eventually grew crickets and of course grass for the crickets
to eat. The grass grew quite well. As did the crickets.
Eventually both were liberated to the wild.
The Apartment.
My
final year in college I lived in an apartment. At last! Real windows
and a covered porch. Perfect! I could have indoor and outdoor plants.
The room overlooked the porch so I could, even with my busy schedule,
monitor the plants and make sure they had sufficient water.
It worked pretty well, right up until Meredith and I got a cat. As it
turns out, cats (Or perhaps only our cat. My feline experience is not
broad enough to generalize.) like to eat green things. It took me a
little while to catch on to what was happening. At first I thought my
indoor plants must have some sort of strange insect infestation (I was
taking entomology classes, and worked in an entomology lab, so insects
were on my mind . . .). When the cat started throwing-up the pieces of
the plants, the 'ah!' light went on.
I had selected most of my plants from things that were to be discarded
from the lab I worked in. Many of them would not survive a North
Carolina winter. I had upon selecting them thought I could simply bring
them inside for the winter. But now, doing so would be a death sentence
as surely as leaving them outside.
I figured out that my dresser was tall enough that, provided I didn't
put anything shorter next to it, the cat couldn't jump the distance to
the top. So the plants were able to come in for the winter. But on top
of the dresser they were well out of my field of vision. So I didn't
really get to enjoy them. Also they were pretty far from any real
sources of light. Eventually I managed to get a light for them and they
made it through the winter, but it was a close thing.
Most of the plants I took care of that year, were pretty useless types
of plants. Primarily decorative plants meant for more tropical
climates. I wanted to keep practicing at taking care of green things
and their main appeal had been that they were free. After college, I
ended up giving most of them away.
There was one plant though that I have kept. It makes me smile every
time I see it. It is a
purple Oxalis
The Duplex.
(Success?)
Now
I live in a rented duplex in Florida. I have a cat still and my
roommate (not Meredith this time, Jesse) has two as well, so indoor
plants are again out of the question.
The Mosquitoes
here are gigantic. I learned this while planting some hibiscus around
the duplex.
.
The
Mosquitoes were so large I could actually feel them
landing. I make
Mosquitoes
salivate.
I was determined. I managed to get quite a few hibiscus planted before
being pumulted on all sides by
vast hordes
of blood sucking
fiends.
I was forced to retreat indoors, to a shower to get them all off.
At least the hibiscus got planted though right? Right. A week later
they were all eaten by
snails.
I managed to save one lone hibiscus. It is doing quite well. I never
have to water it. Which is good. Since it is unlikely I would survive
the endeavor.
The Mosquitoes
regularly patrol the neighborhood, waiting for their favorite blood
supply to make an appearance.
I attempted to keep potted herbs just outside the sliding back door.
The rather strong winds given off by the tropical storms that regularly
head this way, knocked over the pots and in the few weeks of
distraction that followed, the plants dried out before I thought to
check on them.
How could I keep plants inside without having them be savagely ripped
apart by my roommates kittens? The kittens are rather energetic and
have no problem leaping to the top of the dresser I had used previously
for overwintering. I kept thinking that I could some how modify a fish
tank into a terrarium. It would need to be tall, so the plants would
have room to grow. And rather thin, so it would fit on my window sill.
And I wanted to come up with a way to modify it so it would open in the
back so I could easily do maintenance on the plants. And of course some
sort of cat proof lid. I was pretty sure I could make all of this
happen. I thought to my self though, 'But wait Liz. Why reinvent the
wheel? What if some other enterprising spirit has already done this and
has detailed plans online that could prevent you from wasting money on
incorrect materials and useless tools?'
Fifteen minutes of googling later, and I had a much cheaper,
less crazy solution.
Basically you use some sort of glass jar, filled with different soil
layers and then put a lid on it. A little self contained environment
that doesn't need to be watered more than once a month. I already had
some huge mason jars (thanks mom!), that would work perfectly. I ran
out to the garden supply and bought six different herbs and soil. I was
also suppose to get activated charcoal and pebbles but in my excitement
forgot! So I get home and cast about for a pebble substitute.
Aha! Marbles! :)
I had time to pot up one of my plants. The next day I went to the pet
store for activated charcoal and pebbles. A few hours of labor later
and I have six jars of potted herbs. Lovely.
In a few months time I will update on the success of this endeavor and
post some pictures.
