After the "whackage" -- the update

13 years ago

Well back in August I posted about my Blue Twinkle in my 90gal terr that had gotten too big and needed "mowed down." In doing so it went from this

to this

I got the impression that the brutality of my ministrations surprised and perhaps even shocked some folks. A member queried as to how long it would take for the plant to "bounce back." So by way of answering said question (and for any who may have questioned my sanity) I offer the following updated pics ........

*Keep in mind that the "whackage" occurred the beginning of August.

So by the first week of September -- only about a month later -- I had this:

Now about a month after that (took this photo the first or 2nd week of October) there is this:

In my original posted response to the poster inquiring as to the "recovery" time, I think I guess-timated that it would take about 5 or 6 months until it would get back to its overblown "shrub" state and likely need chopped down again. Based on the growth displayed above after only 2 months, looks like it is probably well on its way to achieving "shrub" status by month 6.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

ultra_violet
13 years ago
Spectacular growth! What are your growing conditions like? water, fertilizer, medium, etc? I need to threaten my AVs that have never bloomed with a whack job if they don't show buds soon.
paul_
Original Author
13 years ago
Ã¢ÂÂ¢Posted by ultra_violet
What are your growing conditions like? water, fertilizer, medium,

Medium = pure sphag
*water = RO water
*fertilizer = I don't fertilize. Salt build up from fertilizer or tap water can occur very quickly in a terr unless one has a design allowing for the media to be regularly flushed out (and mine doesn't).
*temp =70's and 80's usually
Media occasionally gets a bit dry but more typically is always very moist.
Related Professionals
Ocala Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · College Station Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · South Bend Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Bainbridge Landscape Contractors · Morgan City Landscape Contractors · San Antonio Landscape Contractors · Elgin Landscape Contractors · New Bedford Landscape Contractors · Utica Landscape Contractors · Bennington Landscape Contractors · Huntsville Architects & Building Designers · Barnstable Architects & Building Designers · Mission Viejo Architects & Building Designers · Scottsbluff Architects & Building Designers · Sanford Architects & Building Designers
ima_digger
13 years ago
Paul, I'm surprised at how fast they rebounded. My little babes I received from you are doing great. No blooms yet, but I'm sure I'll see them soon.
Eileen
petrushka (7b)
13 years ago
paul, is it long fiber sphagnum? or sphag peat? or chopped up long fiber? hard to see from pics!
so i assume it stays very moist AND humid? how often do you ADD water? mist or dribble?
i haven't read the prior post - so you cut off the crown and it re-sprouted? the growth rate and fast blooming is phenomenal!
do you think it's due to sphag?
paul_
Original Author
13 years ago
Long fibered sphag.

Humidity is usually 50% or better.

I aim for always moist, but there are occasions I get busy or forgetful and it does get a bit drier.

Neither mist nor dribble but rather dump/splash. (None of this foolish hokum about "not getting the leaves wet".)

I think the rapid growth is largely due to already having an established root system.
petrushka (7b)
13 years ago
so i read your other posts about this terrarium to get more detail.
you have sphag over scoria and open top - not sealed. i am playing with semi-enclosure now and trying to eye-ball the watering needs - for when i am not there to water.
so, on avg in winter, when it is cooler - how often do you actually add water - 2-3 weeks? how long does it go without watering and still remains moist enough to do well? and how long when it gets borderline dry? approx?
i know scoria stores a lot of water, more then just plain mix. so that must help too.
i am thinking in the future to start adding scoria to the bottom of my AV pots that i keep on wicks (i have it in other wicked pots with reg plants) .
i read irina's post somewhere, she said she puts a thin layer of perlite on the bottom of hers, on wicking mats.
so i figure scoria should be ok too and probably will store even more water then perlite. and actually plants can extract some nutes out of it too.