Chop Chop

Our internet went out last night about 8 and I thought we (meaning me since hubby doesn’t do tech…) were going to have to buy and install a new router/modem since ours looked like a big, dark brick. 

 Good use for odd cups

Fortunately, it came back alive about noon today. So happy to not have that headache on my to-do list. But we’ll be keeping - just in case - the new hardware our internet provider shipped out today. Having it ready means we’ll never need it, right??!?

Before all that, I took the shears to my two money trees. I love the braids, the leaves, the thick trunks - basically everything about these things. Doesn’t mean I’m very good at growing them. Thanks to YouTube vids, they’re getting some long overdue maintenance.

I’ve had this big one since 2013. Lily Kitty looooved chewing on it, to the point I had to put stakes around it to keep her out. 

 Lily-proof spikes

It’s been sitting in the front bay window, neglected, looking scraggly but hanging on! for a couple of years. 

The wire holding this braid together should have been cut a long time ago. Poor tree.

Turns out they like neglect and that’s what probably kept it alive. Who knew??

Chopped the suckers off the base and then cropped everything back to just above the woody part of the stems. 

Put it under its own grow light - no more baking in the front window - and we’ll see what happens. 

The second tree is much smaller - I’ve had it since 2017 - and two of the three stems in the braid rotted and died last year. Too much watering, not enough neglect. 

I chopped the one lonely branch back to just above the last node on the stem (red circle above). It looks so sad!

 Soil is too wet but the trunk still looks good

The main plant guy I’ve been watching said he’s never had any luck propagating these, but I couldn’t bring myself to toss the top section sooooo… 

cut off the bottom leaf brackets and plopped them in a jar of fertilized water. Then wrapped the main stem in a wet paper towel covered in aluminum foil (old school!) Not holding my breath but it would be exciting if this worked. 

More grow lights are coming tomorrow… I’ve been pricing a second shelving system… there’s an orchid show in Santa Barbara in March (we both love orchids)… I may have found a new hobby to fill my grandkid-less time. 😁