My little grow op

[Nick Freeman]

This ONE Jalepeno plant has 12! Flowers?!? And more coming!!

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

Oh my - that's awesome!
Keep us posted on how they go. Are you hand-pollinating them?

 

[Nick Freeman]

@daveb had said just to shake them a but from time to time. But honestly I'm just moving them around to look at them.

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

Yeah that might work just fine.
Some people like to pollinate using their old toothbrushes too

 

[daveb]

peppers pollinate easy moving or shaking either will dislodge enough pollen and just make sure Mandy its fluoride free toothpaste

You actually can make the same thing as the vegi-bee from an old tooth brush just take razor blade cut the bristles off, narrow the head a little and smooth is and just rest it under stem tight to flower blossom.
I also recommend a dark smooth plastic spatula or spoon that you can collect the pollen on. hold spoon close almost touching blossom and touch the modified tooth brush against stem you will see pollen collect on the dark spoon then after,
you can go back and make sure the stamen is presses into the pollen to insure it is coated.


and still another method is a soft artist brush the pollinate. just need to move the flower enough to dislodge pollen on to brush then dab it on the stamen

 

[Nick Freeman]

I'll have to try with a paint brush tonight!
I keep taking photos to update and show what's going on and then forgetting to actually add them..

So one of the basil seems to have completely died but one is coming back!

AND! Someone didn't check the Oreganos neutriant level!! Everything's topped up at the moment but the safe looks like it's dying... I'll have to take a photo and add tonight..

Thank you @Mandy Onderwater and @daveb Always So helpful!

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

Looks like the basil is springing back quite alright.

The oregano might survive. The existing leaves however, look like they might be goners.
Being part of the mint family means that they tend to be sassy plants, but fairly hardy as well. I like using mint plants (like basil or lemon balm) to see if my plants need water. They start to droop and look really sad way before any other plant experiences significant stress. I find that mint recovers really well after drought, though that they prefer staying moist at all times. In my particular case I could keep them wet and they'd love it.

 

[daveb]

yes some of the Oregano leafs i can see in the mix look like they will come back ok a few probably not, the basil starting to make a come back now if you have done the nutrient as i had mention it is a weaker solution then a full mix correct?? if so after the basil has put on another good inch to inch and half growth and by then should have 2 sets of leafs and a 3rd and 4th starting pour out the mix check roots and snip back dead stuff and bring the solution strength up. as they get big enouh you can pinch tips back so the fill out to a bushier plant or even take cuttings.

when i take a cutting i will snip it off then in a saucers of water and a tiny bit of H2O2 added i will slice at a steep angle as in first picture with a new sharp razor blade becise they make a finer cut and dont crush the capillaries in stem like a sheet rock knife blade would cover top of water glass with blue painters tape tiny slit and push stem down in, and in no time fresh roots you ca poke a hole with pencil through the grow cube biggger then the roots ans slide it down into the nutrient. the plant just rest on the top of the cube, and you have a new plant

 

[Nick Freeman]

So I went at all the flowers on my Jalepeno's this last weekend and now we have this mess...

3 so far that I can find.

 

[Nick Freeman]

I also have a couple basil cuttings that are doing well! I'll have to take more photos. I always seem to respond when sitting at physio.

 

[Nick Freeman]

The old basil and the two cuttings I took as the old plant was dying off.

 

[Nick Freeman]

@daveb would you call this Oregano dead? I think thats mold.

 

[daveb]

@daveb would you call this Oregano dead? I think thats mold.

yes toss it and start fresh. wash thats container and lid real good they a wash with water hydrogen peroxide as ive commented before

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

Everything (but the oregano) looks awesome! Really looks like you're getting the hang of it - and that your main enemy is time to check on them. I bet you could install automatic things to tell you if the water level gets low

 

[Nick Freeman]

Ohh! A tazer! Water level gets low I get zapped! Never kill a plant again!

I'm actually working on coming up with a float system to keep them full.

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

I'm having a fair giggle at that idea!

We have made our own dog bowl with a float system - they're marvellous. And ensures the dog never runs out of water in the heat here.

 

[daveb]

lol i have a koi pond the heat has been horrendous here we hit real feel of 103 39.5c yesterday i call the pup to come in look out and he is layin on his back in the shallow end of koi pond on back legs out head turn to one side laping up water . call and all he did was turn head and i swear he gave me dirty look.
yes i link a simple valve to nick while ago we will give him a few days before we dig the tazers out. i am working on a new idea for a float valve can just pop a hole in lid and stick it down in going to print up a couple ideas this week

 

[Nick Freeman]

I thought I responded to that 10 days ago... but I guess I never hit send! It's been too bloody hot here too high 35-40°C with humidity... Your dog sounds amazing and goofy like Diesel!

So everything save the sage is doing well! 4 basil's growing 2 are cuttings from the one that died. But apparently there were 2 plants on that peat pot. Keeping an eye regularly on neutriant levels. And a dozen Jalepeno's already growing with 6ish starting and countless flowers I pollinate daily. And many ideas how to improve that system. That container will turn into a Lettuce station when the peppers are gone. I'm not really able to get to the back plants easily so I'll have them in buckets I can move. Added a hole and got a funnel so I can top up the neutriant every couple days.

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

Looks like you're getting the hang of it! Lookin' good mate

 

[Nick Freeman]

It's tricky but definitely rewarding!