DFB's Greenthumb Project - Page 15

**GasoLane** · 22-10-2021, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tonz

chains....I donno nothing is made to last these days.
Good time of the year to remount it on hardwood backing and if chain use quality heavy plastic link chain.

DO NOT use the banana skin idea, all its useful for is attracting ants.

The wood is kinda hard to bent around the posts

My wife chucks in the occasional banana peel with no ant problem, any ants usually go for the grapes.

Tonz · 22-10-2021, 10:05 PM

previous life in Adelaide I had over 100 of those most of them you would not see in garden centres, One I drove to Cairns to buy.

**mad2** · 23-10-2021, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tonz

chains....I donno nothing is made to last these days.
Good time of the year to remount it on hardwood backing and if chain use quality heavy plastic link chain.

DO NOT use the banana skin idea, all its useful for is attracting ants.

NOT all plastics are created equal - most will eventually breakdown & do the same thing as a cheap chinese chain. use a good quality galvanised chain. def not what i see in pics

**DFB FGXR6** · 23-10-2021, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasoLane

Had a bit of an 'Oops' in the Fernery/grapevine area the other day.

After some rain the old little chain finally rusted away....The sleepy one on the floor is supposed to be tucked up under the one on the pole

image

Had a very old one fall from it's long term home recently at the nursery.

Its former home (As you can tell, it had been there for a very long time) -

And sitting on a full sized pallet -

**DFB FGXR6** · 24-10-2021, 06:42 PM

Earlier this year, we installed this custom made garden arch in one of my clients garden.

Four months later, the Cecilel Brunner rose is in full flower and starting to makes it's way over the arch.

This garden is very much a spring garden and it's looking fantastic at the moment, so much is in flower.

The Gold Bunny climbing rose is a favorite of mine in this garden, splayed across a brick wall.

Another favorite are these Just Joey bush roses.

And the two Lilac's are in flower too and smell divine. I believe this variety is called 'Cora Brandt'.

Citroënbender · 24-10-2021, 07:00 PM

Gardening looks good - but the pointing repairs hurt my eyes! Colonial bond deserves better.

**FTE217** · 27-10-2021, 10:24 AM

Had this beaut little thrilled neck wanting to come inside yesterday arvo - obviously the females of the house were freaking out lol

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**DFB FGXR6** · 27-10-2021, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FTE217

Had this beaut little thrilled neck wanting to come inside yesterday arvo - obviously the females of the house were freaking out lol
image

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Ha ha the females of the house being freaked out. I'm sure this male would be freaking out too!

**DFB FGXR6** · 27-10-2021, 06:02 PM

One of the few remaining Orchids plants from my Grandfather is in flower on the deck at the moment.

Orchids were his retirement hobby, he had hundreds of them, all divvied up amongst the family when he died. You would think I would have taken too them like he did, I guess I'm at a different stage of life to him, nor did he make a career out of growing plants like I have. I guess outside of work we tend to do other things to pass the time.

**GasoLane** · 27-10-2021, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FTE217

Had this beaut little thrilled neck wanting to come inside yesterday arvo - obviously the females of the house were freaking out lol
image

Thrilled Neck ?

**FTE217** · 27-10-2021, 09:39 PM

Gaso - thrilled neck - bearded dragons same same to me.
DFD, got to say as I like them I was freaking stopping it come inside ! It was running from our cat lol - I thought ffs if it gets inside what a bugger to get it where it will hide scared and hard place to get to.
Got to say the broom head done the job

I can manage the countless blueys around but not that spikey bugga !

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**GasoLane** · 27-10-2021, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FTE217

Gaso - thrilled neck - bearded dragons same same to me.
DFD, got to say as I like them I was freaking stopping it come inside ! It was running from our cat lol - I thought ffs if it gets inside what a bugger to get it where it will hide scared and hard place to get to.
Got to say the broom head done the job

I can manage the countless blueys around but not that spikey bugga !

I know Frilled neck and bearded dragons but never heard of a thrilled neck.

**FTE217** · 27-10-2021, 11:19 PM

cheeky bugga

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ford12 · 06-11-2021, 12:12 AM

Dfbxr6 have you any experience with growing vegies in a hot house ?
I grow tomatoes and cucumbers and can not work out how to controll 2 spotted spider mites, they literally can destroy an entire cucumber plant in days.
I've tried everything I can think of apart from the more nasty chemicals.

**DFB FGXR6** · 06-11-2021, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ford12

Dfbxr6 have you any experience with growing vegies in a hot house ?
I grow tomatoes and cucumbers and can not work out how to controll 2 spotted spider mites, they literally can destroy an entire cucumber plant in days.
I've tried everything I can think of apart from the more nasty chemicals.

Have a look through this web page on Mites, some really good info -
https://leafyplace.com/spider-mites/

"Neem oil is a natural solution for controlling all kinds of houseplant pests, including spider mites. Neem oil is also useful for spider mite prevention. Make a spider mite spray solution by mixing neem oil, a little Castile soap, and water. Spray on the infested plant leaves."

**GasoLane** · 11-11-2021, 12:56 PM

Would anyone know what this is called?

The Dragon Lady doesn't know and didn't think it's supposed to flower...it's the first time it's done it in the 4 years she's had it.

Citroënbender · 11-11-2021, 01:07 PM

It’s a palm, isn’t it? (I realise this is not an whole answer!)

Citroënbender · 11-11-2021, 05:14 PM

Actually, looking hard it’s a cordyline.

**DFB FGXR6** · 11-11-2021, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasoLane

Would anyone know what this is called?

The Dragon Lady doesn't know and didn't think it's supposed to flower...it's the first time it's done it in the 4 years she's had it.

image

As mentioned, it is a Cordyline. The variety name escapes me, which is annoying as we used to sell 100's of them through the mid 2000's.

Edit : I think the variety is 'Sundance'.

**GasoLane** · 11-11-2021, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

As mentioned, it is a Cordyline. The variety name escapes me, which is annoying as we used to sell 100's of them through the mid 2000's.

Edit : I think the variety is 'Sundance'.

Thanks, just strange that it's the first time it's flowered in >4 years and the one next to it (bought at the same time) has nothing.

**DFB FGXR6** · 15-11-2021, 06:38 PM

Flowering in my garden, Hymenosporum flavum 'Gold Nugget'.

This is the dwarf form of the Native Frangipani, growing to about 1 metre high. It has a rounded, dense habit and features white and gold fragrant flowers in late spring. This is one of a few shrubs that survived the chop in my recent garden reno.

**DFB FGXR6** · 17-11-2021, 08:32 PM

The Zanzibar Gem in the bathroom has put on a new shoot......

Zanzibar's are pretty slow growing but the side benefit to that is they are very low maintenance plants.

This the only plant I have in the house. Caring for plants all day long, doing the same at home is not on my priority list. That said, I do see the appeal and I love how people have re-discovered indoor plants again.

**Rallye Sport** · 17-11-2021, 09:34 PM

I can appreciate the delight on the new leaf. I'm much the same, after preening bent grass putting greens all day I don't have much interest around the house so these tough plants really appeal to me.
I noticed you flowered your orchid, mine says hello...

It was gifted as a flowering plant and once finished placed in a corner and all but forgotten about. Much to my surprise it threw another spike this year.

I do like orchids, just not caring for them. Part of my rehab has been lots of walking, now I'm not one to stroll around the block and I unfortunately don't have a dog, so I've been visiting the local nature reserves with my camera looking for native orchids.
Its been great therapy, stretching my aching bones, playing with my camera and then nerding out trying to identify what I've found afterwards. Heres a couple of pics of what I've found.

**DFB FGXR6** · 21-11-2021, 06:48 PM

Acanthus mollis, also known as Bear's Breeches, Sea Dock, Bear's Foot Plant, Sea Holly, Railway Plant or Oyster Plant.....................this is a classic example of why botanical names are important. Researching this post, only three of those common names I recognize.

This is an incredibly resilient plant that grows from underground tubers, forming large clumps. Acanthus can be grown in full sun to full shade and looks great when naturalized under trees. The flower spikes appear in late spring and stand tall above the dark, glossy green leaves.

The drawbacks to this plant are that it needs to be cut to the ground after flowering to rejuvenate the plant, the flowers are also pretty sharp so care should be shown when attending to this. Acanthus and can become quite weedy, so attempt to keep the clumps contained.

**DFB FGXR6** · 28-11-2021, 05:38 PM

My Magnolia Little Gem had entered it's peak flowering season, it's blooms are attracting many friends -

Speaking of friends, seems to be a lot of Lady Bugs around at the moment. This little one was very hard to photograph.

And seems like I have a new career in rubbish removal beckoning.

prydey · 28-11-2021, 08:41 PM

How much advice can you offer on a decent wipper snipper cord? I have a bump feed head and have been told not to get anything too thick as it doesn't feed that well. I generally shop at the big green shed. Was using some 2.0mm stuff and now trialling some 'aero' 1.6mm.

Both struggle with Kikuyu, esp the main runs. Is there something that cuts through better than others or are all cords much of a muchness?

**DFB FGXR6** · 28-11-2021, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prydey

How much advice can you offer on a decent wipper snipper cord? I have a bump feed head and have been told not to get anything too thick as it doesn't feed that well. I generally shop at the big green shed. Was using some 2.0mm stuff and now trialling some 'aero' 1.6mm.

Both struggle with Kikuyu, esp the main runs. Is there something that cuts through better than others or are all cords much of a muchness?

What machine are you using? I used a 2.0 line without issue on a couple of Stihl FS45's.

After much trial and error, Diamond Edge is the best I have used so far. I like how this line is softer and more malleable than a lot of trimmer lines which are harder, but also more brittle and therefore have a tenancy to chip away.

Diamond Edge is carried by dedicated mower shops but I get it online -

https://www.greenacresmowers.com.au/...w=diamond+edge

prydey · 28-11-2021, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

What machine are you using?

Too embarrassed to say. It is petrol though. Not sure of the motor specs but served me well for over 20yrs and still starts first go.

I'll give that brand a try and see how it goes.

**FTE217** · 29-11-2021, 08:12 PM

I’m posting this as a before the agga’s bloom.
Seems we have a few more than usual as well.

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Citroënbender · 07-12-2021, 11:02 PM

They’re approaching a plague around my way, too. Is it the same in your area, DFB?

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-...bers/100680890

An upside to La Niña here, has been a second or protracted blooming of many plants. Bees are absolutely going off, like the height of spring - but they’re just busy, not so aggressive.