Earlier this week, I admired a display of charming but tiny African violets. They were so healthy! Perky foliage, oodles of blooms. There they were, neatly aligned in lock step on the nursery shelf. Each had its own little color-coordinated cache-pot, an ornamental pot to camouflage the ugly nursery pot. Each was so perfect, a masterpiece in miniature.
Now this was a fine nursery, but those little plants looked unnaturally healthy. A little too good to be true. Watering duty in a nursery is a low man on the totem pole job and in most cases, it shows in the results. Missed plants, mangled plants, plants left a bit askew by a bump of the hose or a careless tilt of the wand. Not here, boy howdy.
All I saw was evenly green foliage, no water spots, no wilting, no evidence of shop wear or rough handling. African violets are notoriously sensitive to spilled water or a few drops overdose of fertilizer solution. These plants are sensitive to temperature changes and drafts, both hot and cold, and their brittle stems seem to break off at the slightest touch. Hmmmm.
But this picture of perfection was pristine. No damaged stems from clunky watering technique, not a wilted leaf in sight to indicate a missed pot. This place must have incredibly conscientious help, I thought to myself. And unusually gentle, careful customers. Hmmmmmmm.
So I looked a little closer. And I smiled. No wonder they looked so good. Those babies were wicked!
HOW'D THEY DO THAT!
Check this link on wick watering and you'll see how you can try that trick at home.
Trick or treat. I'll let you be the judge.
Go To Page: 1
| Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: | View all related messages |
For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to Barbara M. Martin's Cottage Garden topic, please visit the Discussions page.