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Post by leilani on Aug 25, 2009 23:35:45 GMT -10
These are just a few unwanted companion plants. See how many you recognize from your own garden. |
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Post by sockhom on Aug 26, 2009 7:16:36 GMT -10
Nice.
Look like some fancy herbarium samples.
François.
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Post by miacps on Aug 26, 2009 13:45:12 GMT -10
Did you dig those up from my backyard, Sam?  #2 is hands down the worst. No matter how many I pull out of seedling pots, they keep coming back.. |
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Post by jgriffin on Aug 26, 2009 13:48:28 GMT -10
The first one actually snuffed a D. capensis and some D. binata(large ones). I did not think it was possible,until somebody clued me in that clover fixes Nitrogen.
With the number of pots you have, Sam, how many man hours of weeding is that/year?
Cheers,
Joe
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Dave Evans
Nobiles
dpevans_at_rci.rutgers.edu
Posts: 490
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Post by Dave Evans on Aug 26, 2009 20:43:35 GMT -10
Hey Joe,
I believe you're thinking of Trifolium, but what Sam has pictured is Oxalis...
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Post by leilani on Aug 27, 2009 0:05:17 GMT -10
miacps ....
Most of these can be found in nurseries all around the world. I'm not sure what #2's real name is but we just call it the "cressy stuff". I should have taken a picture of a large example because, as I'm sure you know, it can grow very full and nice when left alone.
I'd say that if, this is the worst weed you have then, count yourself lucky.
joe ....
Oxalis is a pain and if not caught early can weave roots all over a pot. Its best to get this one early before it makes a lot of runners. It's a pain as it runs around the edges of a pot and hell if it gets established in the middle.
.........................................
ALL OF THEM!
I could easily have added another 6 or 8 regulars ..... different kinds of ferns, odd-ball grasses and several kinds of orchids (Phaius tankervilleae pictured, #9). Most of these can be pretty well controlled in an enclosed setting but in a forest shadehouse .... weeding is a constant process.
1. oxalis
2. "cressy stuff"
3. "Coster's Curse"
4. I don't have a name for this stuff but you don't want it as it has a strong root system.
5. I don't know the name of this one either but its another one you don't want to get established.
6. No name. I think of this and it's close relatives as the prototypical "weed".
7. An Ohia tree seedling. Since we are in an Ohia forest these germinate constantly. Easy to remove but there will always be more.
8. One of about a half dozen different ferns that show up regularly in the pots.
9. Phaius orchid
10. "Grass". We have a number of different grasses that are common and, on occasion, have strange grasses show up in sphagnum and the like.
11. begonia.
12. Once again, I don't know the name. An interesting thing about this one is the pleasant aroma of the roots.
13. Another grass.
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Post by rainforest on Aug 27, 2009 7:15:07 GMT -10
I've started using pre-emergent granules with good results. The one I like is called Preem. It is less caustic than some of the heavier petroleum based forms. I sprinkle it on the surface just after transplanting. I have yet to see if this will work on ferns.
M
Maybe we can ask Montsato to make nepenthes Round up (glyphosate) resistant and just nuke everything!
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Post by miacps on Aug 27, 2009 12:41:17 GMT -10
Why can't orchids grow with the same neglect that I give this stuff?   This weed just doesn't care; from orchid pots, cactus pots, nep pots, even in my vegetable garden. Nothing can stop it.  |
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Post by jgriffin on Aug 27, 2009 15:15:23 GMT -10
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Post by leilani on Aug 28, 2009 14:01:15 GMT -10
rainforest ....
Some of the orchid growers over here use a dilute solution of the herbicide Karmax.
Fortunately, I did some testing first.
I tried it on both pots with weeds and on pot without existing weeds.
Within a few weeks the weeds had died and no new ones had germinated. It looked good as the Nepenthes were unharmed. Then, about three months down the line all the Nepenthes tested collapsed and died rapidly.
With no time for further experiments I dropped it.
Keep me informed if what you are trying works but be sure to monitor the results for a good period of time before drawing any conclusions. And, be careful.
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Post by andrew on Aug 28, 2009 14:17:08 GMT -10
The particular oxalis species, assuming that it is the same species that grows on the east coast (Phila., PA), is edible. It has a sweet and tangy taste. Something to snack on while weeding....
I've only ever eaten a few sprigs at a time. I don't believe it has any toxicity as long as it is growing untreated. I do not actually know.
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Post by rsivertsen on Aug 29, 2009 3:40:43 GMT -10
rainforest .... Some of the orchid growers over here use a dilute solution of the herbicide Karmax. Fortunately, I did some testing first. I tried it on both pots with weeds and on pot without existing weeds. Within a few weeks the weeds had died and no new ones had germinated. It looked good as the Nepenthes were unharmed. Then, about three months down the line all the Nepenthes tested collapsed and died rapidly. With no time for further experiments I dropped it. Keep me informed if what you are trying works but be sure to monitor the results for a good period of time before drawing any conclusions. And, be careful. Orchids can handle some herbicides since they are monocots, just as the grass in your lawn can handle the di-chlorinated herbicides (which target ONLY the dicot weeds), but Nepenthes ARE dicots, just like the weeds you are trying to kill, just slower growing. The herbicides are actually chlorinated plant hormones (generally auxins), which are absorbed into the plants from their leaves, stems and roots, and any small drops, even just aerosol fumes of the stuff is totally toxic to dicots such as Nepenthes. It took nearly 5 weeks to knock out some poison ivy around my house! The monocots around it, however, never even seemed to notice. To knock out the monocots (and everything else) requires a tri-chlorinated plant hormone (again, usually one of the auxins). Be very careful when using these things as most of them are known carcinogens; Agent Orange is a prime example. Best is the good old fashioned and labor intensive hand removal of the weeds, the sooner, the better, before they develop extensive root systems, stolons, runners etc, and seed pods of their own. Oxalis is particularly difficult as their seed pods actually explode when they're nearly ripe, hurling their seed over a foot away! Sometimes, it's just easier to remove the Nepenthes from the pot, and give it a fresh start. - Rich |
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Post by rainforest on Aug 31, 2009 9:09:11 GMT -10
I have used Preen in a batch of hanging baskets a year ago with serious problems with the artillery plant (Pilea sp.) with good results. The herbicide is ONLY a preemergent herbicide and will not kill any existing weeds already growing. The active ingredients kill emerging shoot and root tips only of weeds from seeds. I have not experienced any leaf or tip burns to nepenthes. I only incorporate them as a top dressing by sprinkling liberally over plant and soil surface. Some granules have trickled down into a few pitchers without any ill effects to them. I am now replanting a lot of my larger specimen plants and with new media, I am adding a top layer of Preen to prevent new weeds from starting. I am still testing it whether it has any effect on ferns.
M
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bobh
Insignes
Posts: 52
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Post by bobh on Sept 7, 2009 9:44:36 GMT -10
I took a bunch of ferns from my pots and made a small shade garden. I will be interested to see how they do over the winter.  |
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Post by jgriffin on Sept 8, 2009 12:40:09 GMT -10
Yeah, now that is making lemonade out of lemons!
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