Hello,

I have bought 2 pot plants, but being the practical person I am, I've got no idea how to water them. I tried to identify them online, but there seems to be to much plants on me.

So I would be grateful if you help me identify them and advice on watering.

Specifically, can I water them in a batch-like manner, i.e. letting the water pour through until it fills even the round tray under the pot?

Anything other is welcome, though I really am no expert, so I am going just for basic maintenance.

Pictures are here (high-res versions if you need more detail):

http://www.box.net/shared/svg25u2j2b

Thanks.

"jk451" wrote in message
...

Hello,

I have bought 2 pot plants, but being the practical person I am, I've
got no idea how to water them. I tried to identify them online, but
there seems to be to much plants on me.

So I would be grateful if you help me identify them and advice on
watering.

Specifically, can I water them in a batch-like manner, i.e. letting the
water pour through until it fills even the round tray under the pot?

Anything other is welcome, though I really am no expert, so I am going
just for basic maintenance.

Pictures are here (high-res versions if you need more detail):

http://www.box.net/shared/svg25u2j2b


I'm no pot expert (ask me about gin) but that looks more like palm than pot.

On 6/23/2009 11:27 AM, jk451 wrote:
Hello,

I have bought 2 pot plants, but being the practical person I am, I've
got no idea how to water them. I tried to identify them online, but
there seems to be to much plants on me.

So I would be grateful if you help me identify them and advice on
watering.

Specifically, can I water them in a batch-like manner, i.e. letting the
water pour through until it fills even the round tray under the pot?

Anything other is welcome, though I really am no expert, so I am going
just for basic maintenance.

Pictures are here (high-res versions if you need more detail):

http://www.box.net/shared/svg25u2j2b

Thanks.

Plant #1 is some kind of palm. Plant #2 is either a Dracaena or a
Cordyline (more likely the latter). I have a much smaller palm and a
much smaller Cordyline. I have a large Dracaena and two smaller ones.

The small plants all get the exact same care. I water them once each
week. I give each a little water to moisten the soil surface and let it
soak in. Then I give each more water until there is a little in the
saucer underneath. I don't let the saucer fill to the top.

The large Dracaena gets watered at the same time as the smaller plants
BUT ONLY IF THE SOIL SURFACE IS QUITE DRY. Its pot is about twice the
size of the pot for your #2. My pot is set inside a slightly larger
jardinière; I can't see how much water has drained out of the pot and
into the larger container. If I do water it, I give it about a quart or
two. But first, I test the surface with my finger to see if it's damp;
if it is indeed damp, I wait another week.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary

Thank you very much. Searching for the images, I think that #2 is a Cordyline.

From your description it seems that neither will completely die if they don't get watered for a week, which is a rather nice tolerance to forgetfulness.

jk451 wrote:
David E. Ross;852830 Wrote:
On 6/23/2009 11:27 AM, jk451 wrote:

Plant #1 is some kind of palm. Plant #2 is either a Dracaena or a
Cordyline (more likely the latter). I have a much smaller palm and a
much smaller Cordyline. I have a large Dracaena and two smaller ones.

The small plants all get the exact same care. I water them once each
week. I give each a little water to moisten the soil surface and let
it
soak in. Then I give each more water until there is a little in the
saucer underneath. I don't let the saucer fill to the top.

The large Dracaena gets watered at the same time as the smaller plants
BUT ONLY IF THE SOIL SURFACE IS QUITE DRY. Its pot is about twice the
size of the pot for your #2. My pot is set inside a slightly larger
jardinière; I can't see how much water has drained out of the pot and
into the larger container. If I do water it, I give it about a quart
or
two. But first, I test the surface with my finger to see if it's
damp;
if it is indeed damp, I wait another week.


Thank you very much. Searching for the images, I think that #2 is a
Cordyline.

From your description it seems that neither will completely die if they
don't get watered for a week, which is a rather nice tolerance to
forgetfulness.

The advice sounds right.

I think I have the same two plants bought at discount at Walmart. I
have them outdoors, repotted. Neither get much attention or watering and
are doing fine. It's rather hot these days. I think such plants are
better off with too little rather than too much water. Unlike most of my
non tropical plants.

Jeff

On 6/26/2009 10:59 PM, jeff wrote:
jk451 wrote:
David E. Ross;852830 Wrote:
On 6/23/2009 11:27 AM, jk451 wrote:

Plant #1 is some kind of palm. Plant #2 is either a Dracaena or a
Cordyline (more likely the latter). I have a much smaller palm and a
much smaller Cordyline. I have a large Dracaena and two smaller ones.

The small plants all get the exact same care. I water them once each
week. I give each a little water to moisten the soil surface and let
it
soak in. Then I give each more water until there is a little in the
saucer underneath. I don't let the saucer fill to the top.

The large Dracaena gets watered at the same time as the smaller plants
BUT ONLY IF THE SOIL SURFACE IS QUITE DRY. Its pot is about twice the
size of the pot for your #2. My pot is set inside a slightly larger
jardinière; I can't see how much water has drained out of the pot and
into the larger container. If I do water it, I give it about a quart
or
two. But first, I test the surface with my finger to see if it's
damp;
if it is indeed damp, I wait another week.

Thank you very much. Searching for the images, I think that #2 is a
Cordyline.

From your description it seems that neither will completely die if they
don't get watered for a week, which is a rather nice tolerance to
forgetfulness.

The advice sounds right.

I think I have the same two plants bought at discount at Walmart. I
have them outdoors, repotted. Neither get much attention or watering and
are doing fine. It's rather hot these days. I think such plants are
better off with too little rather than too much water. Unlike most of my
non tropical plants.

Dracaena in particular will suffer if overwatered. I'm not sure about
Cordyline. They (and other house plants) are all thriving indoors with
my once-per-week schedule. However, in extremely hot weather (when the
air conditioner dries the already dry air) or during a Santa Anna wind
(outdoor humidity below 10%), I sometimes water twice a week.

If you don't live in southern California, you can read about Santa Anna
winds at my http://www.rossde.com/garden/index.html#santa_ana.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary

g'day

ok the palm is a date 'pheonix' of sorts probably dwarf date(doesn't
mean they stay small they still grow big enough but small in overall
stature) 'ruebelini', so google pheonix ruebelini. itg will be one of
the pheonix palms maybe even rupecola they grow very large.

the other is a cordaline the australian dragon tree

tghey will both take it dry so no need to over water depends whether
indoors or out doors (they will both take good sun), indoors mabe
monthly water outdoors may 2 weekly in summer, in winter longer

the palm has nasty spikes at the base of the fronds these are the rib
of undeveloped leaflets, so be sure kids can't get near them they are
as sharp as an injection needle and hurt heaps. tghe pal not the best
for pot culture better in teh garden at the back and right from day 1
trim off the dying fronds and cut off the spiky end and dispose of
that the rest can be composted.

On Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:27:09 +0100, jk451
wrote:

snipped
With peace and brightest of blessings,

len & bev

--
"Be Content With What You Have And
May You Find Serenity and Tranquillity In
A World That You May Not Understand."

http://www.lensgarden.com.au/

In article ,
"David E. Ross" wrote:

Santa Anna
winds

Back in my day, they were called Santa Ana winds, just like they are now
in Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Ana_winds
--

- Billy

There are three kinds of men: The ones that learn by reading. The few who
learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence and
find out for themselves.
Will Rogers

http://green-house.tv/video/the-spring-garden-tour
http://www.tomdispatch.com/p/zinn