12.18.2014

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9.01.2013

Sarracenia flava (yellow pitcher plant)

I ordered this wonderful plant from a merchant on Amazon. When it arrived it had three small traps growing. Now it has 8 large traps and more are popping up. Below is some info I found on Wikipedia.
the yellow pitcher plant traps insects using a rolled leaf, which in this species is a vibrant yellow in color, and up to over a meter in height[1] (although 50 cm is more typical). The uppermost part of the leaf is flared into a lid (the operculum), which prevents excess rain from entering the pitcher and diluting the digestive secretions within. The upper regions of the pitcher are covered in short, stiff, downwards-pointing hairs, which serve to guide insects alighting on the upper portions of the leaf towards the opening of the pitcher tube. The upper regions are also brightly patterned with flower-like anthocyanin markings, particularly in the varieties S. flava var. rugelii and S. flava var. ornata: these markings also serve to attract insect prey. The opening of the pitcher tube is retroflexed into a 'nectar roll' or peristome, whose surface is studded with nectar-secreting glands. The nectar contains not only sugars, but also the alkaloid coniine (a toxin also found in hemlock), which probably intoxicates the prey. Prey entering the tube find that their footing is made extremely uncertain by the smooth, waxy secretions found on the surfaces of the upper portion of the tube. Insects losing their footing on this surface plummet to the bottom of the tube, where a combination of digestive fluid, wetting agents and inward-pointing hairs prevent their escape. Some large insects (such as wasps) have been reported to escape from the pitchers on occasion, by chewing their way out through the wall of the tube.

7.24.2013

My Spider Plant (care instructions as well.)

Got this plant from a mother Spider plant at work. There are actually four. Once I planted them in good compost and let this uncommon rainy season take over it grew quite well.

Below I found some growing care that I following closely. See my image below.

Pot your spider plant correctly.
Use a good houseplant potting medium, not garden soil.
Repot it in a larger pot each spring or divide the old plant into several smaller ones and repot them in a fresh potting medium.
2
Place your spider plant in the right light.
Put your spider plant in an east, west or north windowsill any time of the year.
Put the spider plant in a south window during the winter months or 12” (30.5 cm) away from a south window in late spring and summer.
Provide bright florescent or other lighting and spider plants will do fine.
Provide light shade to deep shade for spider plants that are used outside.
3
Water the spider plant correctly.
Use room temperature water.
Use distilled or rain water, if possible.
Let the pot surface feel dry to the touch before watering.
Water until water drains from the bottom and empty drained water from trays promptly.
4
Fertilize spider plants once a month in the spring and summer with houseplant fertilizer mixed according to label directions.
5
Keep spider plants between 40º and 85ºF (4.5º to 29.5ºC).
6
Groom spider plants by trimming off dead leaf tips or leaves with scissors.

(Wikihow.com)

(Photo by J. Allen)

8.14.2011

Google + GET IN IT!


About a month ago I put out a form from google documents to add you guys to my Google+ page. Remember Google+ is not open to the public yet so if you got one feel lucky, find the email I sent you and jump on board. I read today that Google+ is only second to Facebook. It's moving up and you (we) should be in the loop. As far as videos are concerned on the YouTube page expect some stuff soon. I want to get back to my roots of reactions and rants. I love to record them and I think you guys like to see them.

If you want a google (+) plus invite email me (jallen285@gmail.com) or find the form before this post. Would love to hear from you guys.

Also Rehab or Bust is taking a lot longer than I expected I've lacked so much motivation nonetheless, yes, I will finish it and you guys can see the great end results I've been seeing since our 'subject' returned.