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Re: Propagating Units

Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 11:47 pm
by iann
Julie, that's a Pleiospilos nelii, new to me at that time. You wouldn't recognise it now! Trust me, this is the same plant just a few weeks ago.
[img]http://www.galleries.thegardenforums.or ... nelii8.jpg[/img]

P.S. Sorry if you like them stacked high ;)

Re: Propagating Units

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 11:24 am
by Julie
I recognised your double nelii, Ian. :) The stacked one is great. Is nelii supposed to stack like that? Have you been overenthusiastic with the watering can? ;)

Re: Propagating Units

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 11:36 am
by iann
Its not really supposed to stack like that, the previous owner was too enthusiastic with the watering can. Or maybe not enthusiastic enough with the sun, it was a very lush green. But it was full of energy and sprouted the second head as it consumed all those extra leaves.

Re: Propagating Units

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 8:22 pm
by tony_lb
I notice that some of the propagators have a strip fluorescent light and others seem to use the 'ordinary' low energy light bulbs. Are these just as good (I have several knocking about the house unused)?

Tony

Re: Propagating Units

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 8:41 pm
by iann
Low energy light bulbs are OK (although the warm white colour usually found is really limited to seed starting), but a good 4' fluorescent tube gives about 50% more light for the same power (tubes shorter than 4' are less efficient). The straight tubes also last longer, do not lose as much brightness as they get old, are easier to find in the required colours, and are cheaper to replace, but you will need to purchase a separate ballast to drive them. My advice would be to use straight tubes if you have sufficient space, use the energy savers in small areas.

Re: Propagating Units

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 10:06 pm
by Julie
Aaah.. now I get it. The stack has turned into the twins. Not two seperate plants.

I bet you were very mean with the watering can, Ian. ;) How long did it take to get it back to it's proper shape?

Hmmm.... Does letting them stack then treating 'em mean generally work in encouraging things to double up?

Re: Propagating Units

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 10:50 pm
by iann
Julie, many questions that I don't know the answer to :P

You could say I was mean with the watering can, but the plant cooperated. It is easy to be harsh on these large plants, they could survive a couple of years in full sun with no water at all, so giving them an occasional sip is pampering really!

In about 8 months it went from [img]http://www.galleries.thegardenforums.or ... nelii1.jpg[/img] to [img]http://www.galleries.thegardenforums.or ... nelii5.jpg[/img].