Green house for one.

Eckhoffw

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It’s hard to throw out so much trash.

In an attempt to upcycle this package from a new comforter set,
I’ve decided to put this recently purchased shefflera in it 3D1C6FDC-50B8-4222-8952-BF9C3252A1A9.jpeg79B669BE-507F-40AA-AF0E-41E8FE34EB29.jpeg04F3A438-0BC4-4C3C-9B4F-47646804AE9A.jpeg
I’ve never really tried to promote aerial roots on these before. I thought this could be useful.
I do plan on cutting back this plant when spring finally arrives. 😁

Any thoughts or suggestions?
Thanks.
 

Eckhoffw

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Creative...but these are to be really good house plants without the hassle. That tree grows any...I don't know where the new growth has any room in that set up.
Certainly jammed in there now.
I’ll take it out and perhaps put a smaller one in.
I guess I was just thinking it could help with humidity as my winter basement/lights set up is very cool and dry.
I probably should read up more about promoting aerial roots. 😁
 

Cadillactaste

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Air flow is also quite important...or you can breed fungal issues. Early on...I really avoided an enclosed set up for that very fear. Actually avoided ficus...since it was the species ones always started with...wanting those areial roots

Still don't own an enclosed set up. I do have a couple ficus though. Not hard to keep at all. I seen many use tent enclosures, and high humidity breed fungal and aphids. To the point they left the hobby out of frustration.

I'm sure it can be done. I just choose to not stack the deck against me. I would prefer not to fight fungal and aphids. Though...pests do happen.
 

Eckhoffw

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Air flow is also quite important...or you can breed fungal issues. Early on...I really avoided an enclosed set up for that very fear. Actually avoided ficus...since it was the species ones always started with...wanting those areial roots

Still don't own an enclosed set up. I do have a couple ficus though. Not hard to keep at all. I seen many use tent enclosures, and high humidity breed fungal and aphids. To the point they left the hobby out of frustration.

I'm sure it can be done. I just choose to not stack the deck against me. I would prefer not to fight fungal and aphids. Though...pests do happen.
Very valid points. I imagined unzipping the plastic after watering, but yeah. Don’t need pests and rotten trees.
 

Eckhoffw

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Excellent re-use of a normally single-use plastic! Warmth and humidity promote aerial roots in schefflera, so if you put it on a heat mat I bet you will get some.
Thanks. I do think my tropical/succulents would much benefit from heat mats.
During the recent cold snap my basement was steady at or around 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Jades don’t look as good.
 

Cadillactaste

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Very valid points. I imagined unzipping the plastic after watering, but yeah. Don’t need pests and rotten trees.
I had a clip on aquarium fan early on to help circulate air. That could work inside there...I imagine? Something to move the air around.
 

Grovic

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It’s hard to throw out so much trash.

In an attempt to upcycle this package from a new comforter set,
I’ve decided to put this recently purchased shefflera in it View attachment 355580View attachment 355581View attachment 355582
I’ve never really tried to promote aerial roots on these before. I thought this could be useful.
I do plan on cutting back this plant when spring finally arrives. 😁

Any thoughts or suggestions?
Thanks.
I was able to grow aerial roots in a Ficus microcarpa by following Nigel Saunders' tutorial:


The greenhouse is a good start, I'd suggest you get a thermometer inside and put it in full sun, when the temperature rises above 104°F you move it away from the sun or open the tent a bit.
 

Grovic

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I was able to grow aerial roots in a Ficus microcarpa by following Nigel Saunders' tutorial:


The greenhouse is a good start, I'd suggest you get a thermometer inside and put it in full sun, when the temperature rises above 104°F you move it away from the sun or open the tent a bit.
For fungus, I sprayed the tree with a solution of peroxide and tap water every week and cleaned the inside of the tent throughly with the same solution.
 

Eckhoffw

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For fungus, I sprayed the tree with a solution of peroxide and tap water every week and cleaned the inside of the tent throughly with the same solution.
Thank you! I’ve accumulated many arbicola and would love to really experiment on this one.
 

Cadillactaste

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For a short term solution that's a good use, but you really don't want to keep your tree in there long term. @Cadillactaste is spot on with airflow. That is a breeding ground for fungus and insects.
Seen so many leave the hobby trying to do this...to me...its not worth it...you can get weak, or dead trees. Not worth it in my eyes.
 

Eckhoffw

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Seen so many leave the hobby trying to do this...to me...its not worth it...you can get weak, or dead trees. Not worth it in my eyes.
I get it. I will isolate my experimental tree.
Won’t be leaving the hobby!
I hope to get a greenhouse this summer. I think once I’m able to SEE my plants in winter, (not in a cold frame) I won’t be as dependent on messing with the indoor plants!🤣.
 

Cadillactaste

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I get it. I will isolate my experimental tree.
Won’t be leaving the hobby!
I hope to get a greenhouse this summer. I think once I’m able to SEE my plants in winter, (not in a cold frame) I won’t be as dependent on messing with the indoor plants!🤣.
Hey, I've 6 tropical bonsai inside. I enjoy them...This one bloomed for Valentine's Day. But a greenhouse to tinker in would be grand. For tropical or cold hardy trees? I started with majority dormant winter trees. I sort of enjoy my downtime. Plus...like I said it took me a good while before I added a Tigerbark into the mix. Love their mature old bark look. But was literally petrified to own one. (Aphids and fungal is what I thought they brought. Before learning it was specific care.) But...learned they can keep outside an enclosed tent inside with lower humidity...and I went on the hunt.

20210214_151707.jpg

My tropical are quite open.. for air flow. but I enjoy my downtime...I use winter to refresh my memory with species I own...and to plan for the next coming year.
20200911_125742.jpg
 

Eckhoffw

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Absolutely. I think I’ve mentioned before that I absolutely love your space for plants!

I have many small plants in our small house, (800 square foot bungalow in St. Paul. But, I don’t really have space for anything that won’t fit on a window sill. 🤣
That’s why all my bigger plants are banished to the basement. Not so bad. Could be worse. 73A83FFB-A963-478A-8007-743E041CC451.jpeg
 
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Absolutely. I think I’ve mentioned before that I absolutely love your space for plants!

I have many small plants in our small house, (800 square foot bungalow in St. Paul. But, I don’t really have space for anything that won’t fit on a window sill. 🤣
That’s why all my bigger plants are banished to the basement. Not so bad. Could be worse. View attachment 355636
Love that LED basement dungeon..!...
 

Cadillactaste

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Absolutely. I think I’ve mentioned before that I absolutely love your space for plants!

I have many small plants in our small house, (800 square foot bungalow in St. Paul. But, I don’t really have space for anything that won’t fit on a window sill. 🤣
That’s why all my bigger plants are banished to the basement. Not so bad. Could be worse. View attachment 355636
I like that it is open for air flow. How many trees are in that photo?
*Even my cold greenhouse I focus on air flow. I will be planting some larger potted accents leftovers (10 squat pot size ordered for a small companion pot. Leaves for potted up things.) into the landscape to make up for things ordered for companion plantings. With possibly 3 trees I may add to my bench. One paid for...one pending an air layer separation...and one I'm to reach out in spring if they have a neagari for me to purchase. So I'm thinning my winter bench space in preparation of possible material.
 
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I am going on about 6 months on my first grow tent setup, and my ficus, podocarpus and bougainvillea all do fine with no fungus problems. Two of my favorite succulents (crassulas) have been moved out after nearly succumbing to a strange crown-rot, probably fungal. Might still lose them. Portulacaria on the other hand has done great in there.

A few big differences from @Eckhoffw 's setup, though. For one, at 132 cuft the space is exponentially larger. I also have pretty good ventilation - a 6" fan for circulation and a 4" exhaust fan, thermostat-controlled. I have tried smaller setups, with no ventilation, and constantly battled mold. Like @Grovic , I took to spraying frequently with vinegar.

If I was trying to develop arboricola, i would 100% have it in a humidity chamber of some kind.
 

Eckhoffw

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I am going on about 6 months on my first grow tent setup, and my ficus, podocarpus and bougainvillea all do fine with no fungus problems. Two of my favorite succulents (crassulas) have been moved out after nearly succumbing to a strange crown-rot, probably fungal. Might still lose them. Portulacaria on the other hand has done great in there.

A few big differences from @Eckhoffw 's setup, though. For one, at 132 cuft the space is exponentially larger. I also have pretty good ventilation - a 6" fan for circulation and a 4" exhaust fan, thermostat-controlled. I have tried smaller setups, with no ventilation, and constantly battled mold. Like @Grovic , I took to spraying frequently with vinegar.

If I was trying to develop arboricola, i would 100% have it in a humidity chamber of some kind.
Thanks for your input! I think a small fan will be added. This bunker was my best solution this year as we are trying to do some work on the basement.
We do get fairly humid summers, but until I get a little greenhouse setup, I will explore results with the plastic container and take fungal precautionary measures! 🤙
 
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