posted June 21, 2013 08:00 PM            

Your wife is right, potted plants dry very quickly in wind and heat. A large plant can dry in a matter of hours.

Assuming it is too dry, I would suggest absorbancy beads in the soil
http://www.supercrystals.net/

or get the cute plant watering globe ball that slowly releases water over time.
http://compare.ebay.com/like/230846080468?_lwgsi=y<yp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar
I use the on my succulents. They require little but even watering.

That would be a quick fix for too dry too often.

I really don`t know a lot about either plant but lack of water is a big stressor in any plant.

posted June 22, 2013 08:05 AM            

Monitor soil moisture closely during especially hot, windy days. Windy days pull moisture from the leaves of the eucalyptus quickly, even when humidity is high. The eucalyptus will pull more moisture from the soil, and the soil will dry out faster.
my concern ^^

yet another ehow states :

Allow the soil around the plant to dry out in between watering to further protect it from humidity problems. Water deeply, not frequently. If the eucalyptus receives an inch or more of water from rain, this is sufficient water, and you can allow the soil to dry out again before you water.

Then I read this from gardenguides which is the guide I personally (ie no experience w/plant) would follow.

Step 2

Water your eucalyptus plant when the top layer of soil is dry. Established trees can survive short periods of drought. Eucalyptus plants in containers need more frequent watering; enough so that the soil does not dry down further than an inch below the surface. Note that newly planted trees should be watered more frequently throughout the first growing season so that even the top layer of soil is continually moist.

Read more: How to Care for Eucalyptus Plants | Garden Guides http://www.gardenguides.com/92709-care-eucalyptus-plants.html#ixzz2WwhB2x4a

I also was interested to read phosphorus is toxic to the tree.

posted June 22, 2013 02:20 PM            

I very much suspected both trees of needing water. I used to water the eucalyptus daily, but then my wife suggested that maybe I was watering too much. I felt the soil again today, and again it was dry, so I watered it this morning as well. Hopefully, it's not lost. It's regularly in the 80's and 90's here, so it's hot just about every day. I think I should check the soil more often.

I do have another watering question that I would suspect you know a lot about: when do I start watering the sunflowers less?

posted June 22, 2013 04:55 PM            

Most gardners water shallow often and that creates a water dependent, shallow rooted plant. If that`s you,Try this with a specific few to test run. Water deep. At least an inch deep in the evening. Watch them next day for stress (if you fear for them rewater). Do this every other day for a week. They will pout and wilt but it will give you an idea how to cut back water. That evening when it cools down, they should spring back up. They may loose a few lower leaves but no worries.

posted June 23, 2013 09:02 AM            

It was a wild ride and I enjoyed it from the newly remodeled deck ,along with the fur faces at 3 a.m.

posted June 23, 2013 03:26 PM            

I've been watering the sunflowers every morning since they were seeds. When you say, "at least an inch deep," you're talking about an inch into the soil? I think my morning watering goes that deep, especially because I planted them all in potting soil.

We visited some nearby sunflowers last night while walking the dog in the school yard behind our house. They were amazing. The tallest were probably about eight feet tall. It's hard to imagine my little plants might grow that giant.

posted June 23, 2013 04:41 PM            

Yes. That`s the way to do it. Just start cutting back a little each day Mother Nature will take over.

I do forget you have very hot days so you may have to water occasionally if they get too dry/stressed.

posted June 23, 2013 04:49 PM            

I am growing a lot of them, too. They are like 4 inches tall now

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posted June 24, 2013 01:38 AM            

I came across a young bird tonight. It could only run away from me, so I told my wife about it. We suspect it's a mourning dove. Jen actually caught it, and we're going to house it overnight, and re-release it tomorrow. I can only hope that it gets some good rest. It's in the garage where there shouldn't be any action. There's food and water for it.

Jen thinks it's just about ready to fly, it's just giving up too easily. I just hope it survives ok.

posted June 24, 2013 03:14 AM            

I'm disappointed. In January, my garden was the one positive thing I could think about. I read a book called The Backyard something-or-other (god, my memory is so bad now). But she inspired me. I was hoping to get so much out of the garden this year. Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised. I have tomatoes and peppers growing now, and my kale is giving it the old college try, even though it's a cool-weather plant. (I couldn't get them to grow in the cool weather.) I have heirloom kale, some of it, anyhow (the more attractive kind you find at the fancy health food stores). But I have no idea how to collect seeds from a leafy plant? Is it possible, or do you just have to buy more?

posted June 24, 2013 08:51 AM            

I`m excited about the trellis and the Clematis roots. They haven`t broke ground yet but we are heating up so not too much longer.

Ruby throats are the only hummer here and I have made friends with three pair that return every year. The younguns are a hoot with their little tiny feet dangling as they hoover to eat.

teasel, I`m growing kale too. More for looks/decoration than food. I wish I loved greens but I crave protien and carbs... I`m not a good veggie or fruit eater. My spaghetti squash is really off & running!

posted June 24, 2013 09:38 PM            

My quandry. My Goatsbeard has outgrown it`s happy home and the surrounding Ladies Mantle and Japenese Anenome`s are reaching for the sky to get some sunlight. They are not happy with Mr Goatsbeard in their way.

The crown of the Goatsbeard is so thick and hard it is almost impossable to divide with success.

Sooo, I`m thinking of taking my electric chainsaw and attempting to divide it. Problem is I may lose the entire plant. He is 12 yrs old and a favorite but my Anemonies and Ladies are too. It sure would leave a four ft wind hole if I lost it

I feel like the rabbit geting lost in her own burrow.

posted June 25, 2013 12:34 PM            

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Passion, Lust, Desire. Check out my journal

posted June 25, 2013 05:14 PM            

I prefer chewing my breackfast to drinking it.
I do like some basic veggies, peas, lettus`s, beans, potatos,corn, tomatos, onions, peppers and cabbage so I just hope I get enough nutrients from them. Except for the lettus, I make a fine soup out of those veggies and it is yummy.

If I had to ,I would eat spinach over kale tho.

No decision on the Goatsbeard yet.

posted June 26, 2013 01:17 PM            

This wouldn't ever be the only thing I had for breakfast if it were up to me. I'm an eggs guy. I've always loved eggs. The debate rages on about whether they're healthy enough to have multiple servings of per day, so I usually have one plus some egg substitute, which is mostly egg. I've been on a ham and cheese omelet kick lately.

I like the idea of big breakfasts, but since starting Weight Watchers a little over a week ago I've noticed that even having an omelet and a smoothie I still get the least amount of points out of the meal. Today I had cereal, an omelet, sweetened coffee and a banana. That totaled about a quarter of my allotted points.

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Back to gardening: Juni, if a sunflower's head is eaten off will it still grow? I have a stalk where it's got it's two birth leaves still, but the top of the stalk has been ripped off. Is that plant a gone'r?

posted June 26, 2013 03:14 PM            

I made up a mixture that the bugs hate and my collards look like a babies behind

I juice garlic in the juicer so it will be smooth and come out the watering can. I do a lot of cloves like 20. Then, I add a natural soap and olive oil. I also had ghost pepper powder which is the hottest pepper known.

Every night, I put this on my collards and they look great. It is a pain but the price of an organic garden imo

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Passion, Lust, Desire. Check out my journal

posted June 26, 2013 07:24 PM            

Did you get the Garden Safe? That should stop your munching marauders .

I found some volunteer sunflowers from last summers crop. They are about 10 inchs tall with very wide healthy leaves. I dug them up with a big scoop of soil and will plant them tonight when sun goes behind the trees. I doubt their survival but worth a good try.

posted June 26, 2013 08:58 PM            

A nifty twist! 3 noms for eviction, 2 made by HoH and one made by a house guest that america nominated as MVP of the week. After they are nominated, the MVP may keep self secret and even vote in secret. Imagine 2 on the block who may not go home and seek vengence.

posted June 28, 2013 02:04 PM            

Almost July... June went much much too fast.