Nice people thread 2 - now even nicer

silvercar

I leave tops off ...when I remember silvercar.

I cut the tops off and inverted the bottles, so there is no air getting in. Youngest says the plants take in CO2, give off O2 and will starve if I don't put holes in the bottles!

lostinrates

silvercar wrote: »

I cut the tops off and inverted the bottles, so there is no air getting in. Youngest says the plants take in CO2, give off O2 and will starve if I don't put holes in the bottles!

Ah, I see, I do it the other way round, cut the bottom of the bottle of, so the top is...at the top.

I'd punch holes in it then. Although my fusias have been out in pots for weeks, bought as plugs (not hardy) went through the worst of the cold snap with bottles and have been braving the big wide unprotected world for some time now....;) You are more attentive to their needs than I am

SingleSue

From what I remember of my lessons years ago, it is a case of osmosis (or something like that), plants need to be able to breath to get in the nutrients and having them stuck in bottles with no means to breath, means they cannot get the nutrients.

So several holes all the way down is the best way to go.

As for the washing machine......dare not try it! Ok, I will be trying it later but it was so late last night when I sorted it out and it was like WW3 here between eldest and middle sons, that I thought it best not to try it. Will hopefully try it later today when I have many hands to catch the water just in case.

Think the problem re eldest and the job is as you all think, youngest would love for me to work at the school (he is a bit over attached to me), whereas I am probably too uncool/old/etc for eldest.

Davesnave

My daughters had to put up with me all through their junior school careers. It didn't bother me, or them, that much. Both would have preferred not to have me preaching at them, but they had to admit that my assemblies were more entertaining than the Head's. Ha, captive audience... all teachers are failed actors!:rotfl:

I would go for the job, Sue. They will get used to it.;)


I don't think I'd put any small plant under a bottle at this time of year, as it might soon be cooked! A wall of plastic around, formed from a cut off open bottle would keep the drying, chilly winds off. Sunday Times offers are usually Thompson & Morgan.....say no more!

silvercar

I don't think I'd put any small plant under a bottle at this time of year, as it might soon be cooked! A wall of plastic around, formed from a cut off open bottle would keep the drying, chilly winds off. Sunday Times offers are usually Thompson & Morgan.....say no more!

In the shade, so no cooking. Whether 2inch high plants in 1 inch of soil can cope with instant transfer to our garden we will see.

They are T&M; came with a one hour DVD about Fuchsias which was hysterical -think 80s style hair and clothes and descriptions aimed at 8 year old blue peter viewers.

tomterm8

T&M offers are a complete waste of time... I don't know why they do them, all it does is give them a bad name.

SingleSue

Ok, tried the washing machine after clearing out the drain filter last night....it failed, water was still gushing. So called eldest down from upstairs (early exam today and no more lessons) and got him to look to see where the leak was coming from.

The water was gushing from the top of the down pipe, so I knew then that there was a blockage at some point between the top of the down pipe and the bit that drains outside the house..so it was just a case of logically going through the sections of pipe.

First thought was to make sure the drain was clear outside and that the pipe was clear...ok.

Next was to remove a u bend section of pipe at the end of the down pipe and although partially blocked, it was not fully blocked.

Next was the short bit of pipe which connected upto the bit that goes outside to the drain....it was completely and utterly blocked.

So all the pipes were removed, cleared of any gunk and cleaned to a spotless white and put back together (all this with the help of eldest).

Time to test again.....fingers crossed, breath being held and me hoping against hope that this time it worked.

And it did! Bodge and son strike again!

I was absolutely determined that I was not going to get a man who can in (even if I could afford it - which I can't) and wanted to solve it myself, albeit with a little assistance from eldest with the bits my hands can't do due to the arthritis.

Davesnave

tomterm8 wrote: »

T&M offers are a complete waste of time... I don't know why they do them, all it does is give them a bad name.

Did they ever have a 'good' name? There have been several threads on their offers over on Greenfingered. Most folk, on receiving their plants, are underwhelmed.

tomterm8

They did have quite a good name, not the best gardening company but reasonably good. It used to be a family run company but went public, and got taken over... and since then, their quality has gone downhill fast IMHO... they used to be very good at seeds, now I wouldn't touch their product with a barge pole. A pity.

silvercar

I only went for the offer because it was for Times subscribers only, not a general advert/ offer where you know there will be a catch. £5 (AKA postage) for 6 fuchsias - we'll see.