CookieCows

doesn't look like I can get the cyprus mulch, mskitty's right. We live in ajoining states so pretty close together. Can I just mix the spahgum moss in with the potting mix? I've got to pull those pups out I think and re-do the mix.

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CookieCows

OH I forgot.. the spahgum moss retains water so I guess that isn't want I want to mix in with the soil!

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bananimal

Logos,

When you were in Fla where did you get cypress mulch? Do you mean the red stuff commonly used as landscape top dressing? Comes red stained and natural, right? And what about "river" sand?

Dan

Ahava

About Cypress mulch... http://www.actionstudio.org/public/p...in&pageid=7467

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GpD79

Wow...I never knew that about the cypress tree. It looks like we better find an alternative for it. At least I will.

mskitty38583

i wont ever use it again, thats for sure. did you sign the petition?

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Ahava

I filled out the little petition myself. It's definately a concern. We always need to be careful of the materials we use if possible.

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formontcalamus

Bananimal . . . The Cypress mulch available in Florida comes mostly from State sponsored programs (in N. central Fla. where seedling Cypress is being cleared for farmland (Trenton Fla. near Gainsville) and in The Big Cypress where small trees are cut to alow large tree to develope. Cutting is paid for by the state). The Big Trees you see in photos in Louisiana are being cut for "lumber", and Cypress bark is usually a waste product. I am not defending the bark companies because they also contribute to forest destruction. But thoes really big trees have been cut down for the last 90 years for very valuable lumber. It is the same situation as in Oregon where the whole state is being clear cut to provide lumber for the booming home construction in Florida. (Here in Puerto Rico all houses are built of Concrete, floors, walls and roofs. Do you live in a wooden house ? Would you like to give it back to Oregon ? It is a real delema, isn't it? And what about where you live in Port St. Lucie . . . several of the worlds largest paper mills right next door, clearing thousands of acres of forest a year ?

Western societies, mostly USA, consume about 3/4 of the worlds natural resources. The paper products made from trees, packaging at your local suppermarket, Walmart, K-mart, even the boxes we ship and share plants in are all made of MULCH. We are all guilty ! Perhaps the only answer is to re-cycle as much as we can.

At least in Florida the EPA has a thousand dollar or more fine for anyone, including lumber companies who may cut down a Cypress tree larger that (I think) 1-1/2' circunfrence. I know not about Louisiana.

I use about five bags of Cypress mulch per week for rooting and small pots. The landscapers in Florida . . . I know many who use 500 bags a day or more. I have always worried about where it is all comming from and which beautiful forest is being cleared. Big trees are definately not cut for mulch, they are cut for lumber. Mulch is made from the trimmings cut from milling. Mostly, but also harmfull is too much clearing of seedling Cypress. I think the companies that do it are not trustworthy to cut only a few here and there.

The Red died Cypress mulch is probably toxic to plants. If you use it, use only natural.

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formontcalamus

I hope you are all happy . . . you guys got me feeling so guilty. Even my wife agrees with you'all. I won't be able to sleep tonight. Think I'll go out and sleep in the shed with the cats tonight. At least they are not so judgemental !

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mskitty38583

when you cut a tree you should replace it with 2 trees. that way there is a greater chance of survival by at least one tree. and if both grow hay thats awsome and even better. i have 2 ironside oaks that unfortunately have to be moved. thats what happens when someone just sticks a tree in the ground and dosent relize its gonna get bigger. i have been putting this off for almost 2 yrs now. i just cant wait anymore. so instead of just planting the 2 trees back(different species ) i will plant a fence row. you never have enough trees. wonder if cypress will grow in middle tn...have to do some reading..

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mskitty38583

we are not judging, were just informing. maybe the cats will be mad at you too. lol. just joking. its gonna be an endangered tree if we dont do something. sorry.....

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magicgreen

Whew........What a wealth of knowledge! I had to start at the original post and work my way forward!
Iam constantly learning on this site! I never {honestly} gave too much thought about the environment before becoming a member here! The oceans, cyprus trees,environmental factors,soil, composting, air, food we eat, genetic testing, till i came here!
Iam a city person and my world has consisted of robbery, murder, theft, you name it!
All of you have expanded my mind!
Thank-you---------Magicgreen

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(Zone 6)

microfarmer

I got a huge bag (lawn and leaf sized) of perlite and vermiculite at Home Despot in the grass seed aisle, not the bagged potting mix area.


Mskitty, I have removed 0 and planted over 30 fruit trees since I moved into my home 9 years ago. That isn't including any of my 25 bananas, as everyone here knows, bananas don't grow on trees... The house next door was bought by an arsonist and after burning the house to the ground, he cut down all but 2 trees on the lot including a 70 foot tall Elm and 7 full grown Cypress (French?). He replaced the Cypress wall with a bare cinderblock wall and black iron fencing... It looked like a prison... The new owner at least finally stuccoed the wall. I planted bananas to help break up the sterile-ness of all the concrete.

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Oh, after the arsonist rebuilt the house double the size of the original, he immediately put it up for sale. I figure I need to plant another 30 trees just to replace the Elm. Now if only the new owner would finish the irrigation he's been installing for the last year...

I can't complain though as my Studebaker has been out front the whole time. At least it was hidden under all the Cypress.

What I use for potting soil is Kellogg's patio plus. It has manure, worm castings, bat guano, and a few other things. It is not good for winter, as it holds too much water. Summer it is a dream for the plants. Whae I initially water in, I try to recapture the runoff as it is a wonderful tea that I water other plants with.

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mskitty38583

i havent taken any out yet.i have planted 11 trees in my yard. when i bought my house 1 yr ago, 2yrs ago? i cant even remember, there was 5 trees in my yard. these older trees in my yard are not in the best of health, i hate to take them out but its a lose lose situation, to leave them. so ive been trying to decide what to replace them with. the ones in the side yard are going to be replaced with nanas( i hope). the tree by the road isnt bad, but it is starting to rot and bugs are eating it. it may sound stupid but i can almost feel its pain. my parets had 3 HUGE maples (they were very old) remove out of their yard and i sat there and cried. tree freak here. my parents planted 2 dogwoods and i bought her a weeping black cherry tree. by my count their 3 trees short of the 2 for one goal. lol before i bought my present house i lived in a house that had a maple tree that was over 200yrs old( guy from the extension office guessed at the age.) it was a beautiful tree. i fought w/ the city, they wanted to take the whole tree down and i told them no. it was on my property and they could take the limbs over and under the power lines,i told them they were limited to taking just the limbs. so they trimmed about 10 branches( big ones) and she looked better. not 3 months after we moved out half of the tree broke off and missed the house by 1/2 ft. the wierd thing, the tree was healthy, the trunk was stable and when it didnt rain it got watered. as for your neighbor maybe you should offer him a housewarming present..maybe a tree or two. the arbor day foundation offers free trees with a 15.00 membership. and it might be a good way to introduce him to lowering his monthly energy bills.( stratigically placed trees in the landscape).if no one has told you this then i will, thank you for your upkeep, maintance and the planting of trees in your yard. may you never run out of room to plant a tree.no mater what kind it is.

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CookieCows

I can't speak for Cyprus trees but I grew up in No. Calif. and Southern Oregon and I know that the methodology for clear cutting over there has changed since the old days of ignorance. The forestry chooses areas of forest that need regeneration where normally a forest fire would do it naturally and we sure don't need as big of forest fires as we have over there,or as many.... so clear cutting actually prevents fires and in fact allows certain plant species and animals that need open areas a place to survive.

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sib

I use miracle grow potting soil for all my plants and have never had a problem. For my bananas I mix 1/3 miracle grow potting soil, 1/3 perlite and 1/3 peatmoss. I have a saba and a mysore from Ted at Greenearth in that mix and they are putting out a new leaf every week. It drains very well when I water them. I also use it on all my houseplants and on my tomatoes that are grown in very large pots during the warmer month.
Sib

mskitty38583

cookiecow you are very correct. it is when they clearcut and dont replace that its bad. in ga. where we hauled chalk out of the mines, the law requires that the company re-claime the land. there are 2 options( unless they have changed in the last8 yrs) they can fill back in the 1.5 mile deep holes and plant trees( they have a certian number of trees to be planted per acre) or they can turn it into a park like setting with some of the biggest ponds you have ever seen. when they opt for the ponds it has got to be managed and it has to have areation pipes put in it( chalk sucks air) they must also take chemical readings 2 times a week, for 2 yrs to make sure when they stock the pond the fish will survive. most of the time they opt for the trees to be planted. its less work. and yes for the forest to rejuvinate it self fire is the best, but we dont want that, so some cutting is good. however MY OPINION, you should still plant 2 for 1. if not in the same place as the original cut , close to it.

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CookieCows

Yeah, I'm not going to dump out the miracle grow I planted my two pups in.. will just take what I need out and add the perlite and peat. I have one lemon tree that I noticed has some mildew on the dirt (surface) and I bet I need to pull that out and add perlite also. They've done fine for 3 years and I repotted this fall before I brought inside for the winter and put them in straight potting soil. I know now that perlite is important!

I think our feet are getting wet ....

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Tony O

If they'll grow for me here, they should grow there for you. I collected a few cypress seeds about 20 some odd years ago from Louisiana. I really didn't know it they could live here in zone 6, but I grew them to one gallon pot size & planted them anyway. I now have a grouping of 4 beautiful Louisiana cypress trees by the edge of my pond. They've even started putting up knees last year. Up until the last few winters, they've taken from single digits, to below 0*f almost every winter. I say, "Go for it!!!"

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mskitty38583

i actually have a grapefruit seed sprouting. in the whole ruby red grapefruit there was 2 seeds. i thought that odd. but i have it growing in my banana mix. my pondarosa havent sprouted yet but i feel it getting close! as long as their feet arent wet they should be ok cookie. if they are getting wet you might need to get them out of it before root rot starts. my white bird of pradise seed went kapoot, but thats ok, ill get some more and start all over again. the soil i put them in was to heavy and it didnt drain well. so my seeds rotted. a single tear rolls down my cheek..sorry moment.

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