Ive been told, - Plants - gardenersworld.com

tony williams2

30/10/2012 at 12:26

Hi,ive been told cold tea is very good for house plants is this correct ? if so why ? one more question please my rooting gel is smelling terrible but seems to be working is the smell normal because it smells as if its gone off its called Growing Success organic rooting gel.Thanks in advance.

nutcutlet

30/10/2012 at 12:48

How old is your rooting gel? It won't last forever.

obelixx

30/10/2012 at 12:52

Tea contains water, obviously, and minerals too so is good for plants.

Don't use rooting gel or powder so can't help with that.

tony williams2

30/10/2012 at 13:22

Hi nutcutlet its about 6mnths old,still seems to work. Thanks obelixx will try it i wonder if they prefer milk and sugar too .

sotongeoff

30/10/2012 at 13:40

Putting cold tea on plants is something that my granny used to do-but times change-tea-pots are a dying species,tea-bags came in and cups rather than pots of tea are made- and we buy plant-food-so who has cold tea?

kate1123

30/10/2012 at 13:52

I use a tea pot every day

On a side note I worked in an office where the staff used to empty their dregs into a large plant pot so that they could bin the plastic cups, after a year they could not work out where the smell was coming from and apparently all that milk and sugar had fermented

Alina W

30/10/2012 at 14:27

I was going to say avoid the milk and sugar

Alina W

30/10/2012 at 14:29

Seriously, tea has some mineral content and is acidic, but that's about it.

chrissieB

30/10/2012 at 16:00

Re the rooting gel - it can get dirty/infected if you dip stems etc directly into the pot - you should always pour some into a separate container to use and then thrwo away any residue otherwise you risk infecting the gel with any diseases/moulds and muck/sap etc on your cutting (should also do the same with rooting powder).

Can't think of any other reason why it would smell - unless it always does! I don't use anything as most of the plants I tend to propagate will root ok under their own steam - although I haven't got room to do very many or anything very exciting.

tony williams2

30/10/2012 at 17:03

Thank you all,i always use rooting gel because i normally work away so cant tend them ,it seems to be more reliable. As far as tea pots go make a little time and enjoy tea (a very good excuse to sit down for 15mins ) so praise the humble TEAPOT..Thank you all.

tony williams2

30/10/2012 at 17:05

And i,ll change rooting gel to

flowering rose

31/10/2012 at 14:31

Tea has tannin in it and is good for plants in small dose.I put it on my camilas as they are bushes.also the tea bags around roses or small shurbs (not pretty)keeps them moist and feeds them.And have a cuppa yourself.

chica

31/10/2012 at 17:35

while we are tailking about tea,does anyone else put banana skins on there roses? or is it just me.

sotongeoff

31/10/2012 at 17:39

chica wrote (see)

while we are tailking about tea,does anyone else put banana skins on there roses? or is it just me.

I find it ruins the taste-but it takes all sorts

http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n627/thedogcody/cadburyroses2.jpg

http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n627/thedogcody/MOJE_crnadama.gif

Actually aren't they a good source of potassium?

Verdun

31/10/2012 at 18:17

I use tea bags around camellias, Rhododendrons, azaleas, etc. however, not too put too many as to "starve" surface roots of air. Probably better to open bags and spread tea leaves. I think tea leaves are acidic and they seem to promote healthy growth and flowering.

Supernoodle

31/10/2012 at 21:05

I use teapot dregs too. Although, saying that, it's been a long time since I've used a teapot.
I get the used coffee grounds from my work canteen and sprinkle them around. I've got acid loving plants so ok if it's a bit acid. Although I think used grounds are supposed to be not very acid. Dunno if it helps but smells nice!