Every time my mom sees me watering my plants, she always spurts off something stupid like "You're drowing them! They don't need that much water!" I retaliate by telling her they live in a bog, where there is water everywhere constantly. Can you guys please offer some watering advice, so I can show my mom this page to get her to shutup?
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Clint
Stay chooned in for more!
vft guy in SJ
VFT and Drosera lover
Go to the library and check out The Savage Garden. Then you can show her where it details how the plants should be watered, species by species. Arm her with information and then ask her to trust in you that you really know what you are doing.
If you want a firsthand "This is how this plant SHOULD be" kind of thing, then you can quote me with this: "A properly watered Venus Fly Trap, Sarracenia and most Drosera should have soil damp enough that when you pick up a bit and squeeze it in your fingers, water should run down your hand and arm like grease from a really good cheeseburger." My plants all stand in trays with water from 1/2 to 2 inches deep or more.
Good luck,
Steve
EDIT: It should be noted here that what Ozzy said is very important. Yes, some of my plants are sitting 2 inches deep, but they also use all that water within 24-48 hours (less in mid summer). So while they are filled to a couple inches deep, the next day they are nearly ready for water again.
Steve
If you want a firsthand "This is how this plant SHOULD be" kind of thing, then you can quote me with this: "A properly watered Venus Fly Trap, Sarracenia and most Drosera should have soil damp enough that when you pick up a bit and squeeze it in your fingers, water should run down your hand and arm like grease from a really good cheeseburger." My plants all stand in trays with water from 1/2 to 2 inches deep or more.
Good luck,
Steve
EDIT: It should be noted here that what Ozzy said is very important. Yes, some of my plants are sitting 2 inches deep, but they also use all that water within 24-48 hours (less in mid summer). So while they are filled to a couple inches deep, the next day they are nearly ready for water again.
Steve
[b said:
Ahem. I think you could stand to show a little more respect for the woman who braught you in to this world. :-\ Furthermore, name-calling doesn't make your arguement any more convincing... Ok, so worst case scenario she thinks you're over-watering them. So what?? Is it really worth being crass over? The best way to show her you're right is to keep a level head, stay respectful, and calmly show her. Use whatever evidence you like, or just show her later that the plants are still doing fine.... But that's just my bit.
The best advice is to show her a book, like The Savage Garden. Why should she believe a bunch of internet yahoos, if she doesn't even believe that you've done your research and know what you're doing?
My father was the same way with me... he never seemed to trust that i was competent at anything. Even when I got my MS in physics, he still would argue physics with me. He stopped being so arrogant, however, once I got my MBA, oddly. Suddenly, then, I wasn't "messing up his computer" whenever I came home, and he actually sought my advice on various matters.
BTW, you MIGHT want to edit the title of your post, and the tone of it, especially if you plan to show her the responses in this thread!
My father was the same way with me... he never seemed to trust that i was competent at anything. Even when I got my MS in physics, he still would argue physics with me. He stopped being so arrogant, however, once I got my MBA, oddly. Suddenly, then, I wasn't "messing up his computer" whenever I came home, and he actually sought my advice on various matters.
BTW, you MIGHT want to edit the title of your post, and the tone of it, especially if you plan to show her the responses in this thread!
Est, can you come to my house and be one of my sons even though you are pretty old already?
I must admit I have never been called stupid by any of my kids. I would be absolutely crushed. I must add that I have never called any of my kids stupid either. It's a matter of respect and common courtesy. My kids are pretty sharp and they have good communication skills which they practice on me! I am entitled to change a no to a yes based on what they say and I do it quite frequently these days. I am not an unresonable parent. I do like to be given the benefit of the doubt by being provided with a thorough explanation though because I just don't know everything any more like I used to when I was in my teens.
There's something out there called natural consequences. Far be it for me to interfere in that process if no harm can come to one of my kids. There are times I allow my kids to do something that doesn't have my stamp of approval because I figure no sense wasting my breath and "hands on" experiences can be great teachers.
Mannex, I wish you luck with your Mom. Here's something that one of my kids used on me once that was inarguable. Actually I had to giggle about what he said to me out of his view because it was brilliant. We had a discussion about the right and wrong way to do xyz. His comment to me was that I was probably 100% correct but if I didn't mind, he'd like to still try it his way for a month or so. Fair enough. How does a parent argue with a kid who approaches them that way? It was his wording. Under normal circumstances, I would have gone into a long dissertation on all the reasons why not. That time I thought, go for it and may the "force be with you"- an inside joke. Perhaps you might want to try a similar approach given there aren't too many Moms out there who have experience with keeping CPs happy.
I must admit I have never been called stupid by any of my kids. I would be absolutely crushed. I must add that I have never called any of my kids stupid either. It's a matter of respect and common courtesy. My kids are pretty sharp and they have good communication skills which they practice on me! I am entitled to change a no to a yes based on what they say and I do it quite frequently these days. I am not an unresonable parent. I do like to be given the benefit of the doubt by being provided with a thorough explanation though because I just don't know everything any more like I used to when I was in my teens.
There's something out there called natural consequences. Far be it for me to interfere in that process if no harm can come to one of my kids. There are times I allow my kids to do something that doesn't have my stamp of approval because I figure no sense wasting my breath and "hands on" experiences can be great teachers.
Mannex, I wish you luck with your Mom. Here's something that one of my kids used on me once that was inarguable. Actually I had to giggle about what he said to me out of his view because it was brilliant. We had a discussion about the right and wrong way to do xyz. His comment to me was that I was probably 100% correct but if I didn't mind, he'd like to still try it his way for a month or so. Fair enough. How does a parent argue with a kid who approaches them that way? It was his wording. Under normal circumstances, I would have gone into a long dissertation on all the reasons why not. That time I thought, go for it and may the "force be with you"- an inside joke. Perhaps you might want to try a similar approach given there aren't too many Moms out there who have experience with keeping CPs happy.
[b said:
Yeah, I thought that was probably the case, and we all get to that place some time. I didn't mean to rag on ya too much, just wanted to put things in to perspective for you: she's your caring Mum, and it isn't worth getting too upset over. My advice would just be to hear her out so that she's content at having said her side of the story, then show her a website or in a book to prove yourself. If you're polite, she'll be much more willing to believe you. If that doesn't work, I'd suggest subliminal messaging; you can just put headphones on her while she sleeps and run a statement in repeat telling her that you're right.
[b said:
Can you make sandwiches?!?! (Oh, and none of that peanut butter nonsense) Besides, I'm still 16, just a youngun: I'd be more worried about my height if I were you (6ft 2)... You may want to put some tress or large shrubs in the house to make me blend in more.
Ah, the laws of physics! I'm not in your league SS but I sure do get a great opportunity to see basic principles at work over here quite frequently.
Yes, Est, I can make sandwiches. No peanut butter over here other than jars in the cabinets because we use it to mix with suet, peanuts, and sunflower seeds to make cakes for birds during the winter months. 6' 2" huh? We can handle that. Our oldest is 6' 1". No need for foliage in the household. There are so many boys running around here of all shapes, sizes, and colors that you'd hardly be noticed. Added bonus for you is that we're not screamers but then I suspect your parents aren't either.
Yes, Est, I can make sandwiches. No peanut butter over here other than jars in the cabinets because we use it to mix with suet, peanuts, and sunflower seeds to make cakes for birds during the winter months. 6' 2" huh? We can handle that. Our oldest is 6' 1". No need for foliage in the household. There are so many boys running around here of all shapes, sizes, and colors that you'd hardly be noticed. Added bonus for you is that we're not screamers but then I suspect your parents aren't either.
FlytrapGurl
apple rings.. what more can i say?
He didn't say he was going to.[b said:
Well God, I wish my grandparents gave half a crap about what I know and gave me the benefit of the doubt and assumed I had a little credibility once in a while. But no, I'm a only-almost-14-year-old-don't-know-<censored>-about-<censored>-peice-of-<censored>.
I had to vent.
EDIT: Shouldn't this be in General Discussions?
