Hi i am new to gardening.i have a small sunroom .itried a few plants some were easy some just died.now i am

Question

growing mint.i started by putting stems on glass of water.2 of them got roots so i potted them.1survived and the other has turned brown.and the one that survived is just growing tall.does it grow tall and then spread..

i tried black eyed susan from seeds.it grew tall an was about to flower but just died cos of pests.i still have more seeds can i try it again this season or should i wait for next yr?

i tried coriander seeds.they have grown around 3 inches tall.with 2 leaves on each..whats next??

what other simple plants can i try now.i don't want it to be costly affair but something i can watch everyday and enjoy its growth..i love to start from seeds...after losing a few plants i doubt if i have the courage to do it right now....suggestions on potted plants from stores would be good...no annuals pls...looking for something that does not die soon

Answer 1

Hi Sorry your having trouble. I am all green thumbs with plants. There are so many to choose from. You can grow an elephant ear in doors. I have since 1980.

Gets tall and needs some sun. You can go to the link below and there is a comunity there that can help you with just about anything to do with plants...and herbs.... Are your looking for something small or big? let me know email me anytime I have tons of plants and seeds.

Answer 2

It's fun to see what you can buy at the supermarket and get to grow, you can try seeds from any sort of fruit, avacado is a good one. Ginger roots, garlic cloves, chestnuts, you can get a nice trailing plant from a sweet potato or sunflowers from parrot seed.

If you grow a fruit tree from a seed it often doesn't have the same characterisics as the parents and I don't know what your climate is like or how sunny your sun room is but it is interesting  to experiment.

Answer 3

Despite its name, It sounds like your sunroom does not have good light since your mint got leggy.  But there are lots of fast-growing herbs you can grow that can survive without direct sun: try thymes, marjoram, oreganos.  Spider plants also grow quickly in moderate indirect light.  I don't know how you potted your starters, but I would recommend putting your seeds in small starter containers using a starter-soil mix.  Let the roots get very well developed on your sprouts before trying to move them to bigger pots.  Plants should be at least two-three inches tall before you transplant them, and if you use a root stimulator-powder at this point they're more likely to withstand transplant shock.  To avoid bugs make sure your soil mix is fresh.  If your sunroom gets too moist you may have to use a non-toxic insecticidal oil and/or mildew reducer to deal with diseases and insects that breed in that condition.   I think it is too late to start any summer annuals like Rudbeckia, but herbs, green onions, chives, parsley would probably grow in a sunroom or greenhouse depending on where you live.  And flowers?  Many many many!!!

Answer 4

I'd highly recommend spending a few dollars for plants that are already growing and healthy. Propagating plants indoors by seeds is NOT EASY. I think you've done well to have had the luck you've had - but it is very easy to lose plant after plant to pests, "damping off" - a virus, not enough light so plants become "gangly" with few leaves, etc.  The following are dirt cheap (pardon the pun) and are virtually impossible to kill: I'll put them in order of ease of growing. AND BEFORE YOU BUY ONE, CANVAS YOUR NEIGHBORS OR FAMILY FOR A CUTTING TO ROOT - THEN WHEN PLENTY OF ROOTS HAVE FORMED, PLANT THE FREE CUTTING AND YOU'VE GOT A FREE PLANT!

1.  Pothos (Epipremnum)

2.  Mother-in-law's tongue or Snake plant or Bird's-nest plant (Sansevieria)

3. Aloe (Aloe)

4. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

5. Jade plant

6. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)

7.  Dumb cane (Dieffenbachia)

8.  Madagascar Palm - ONE OF MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITES - BUT

   MY CATS JUST LOVE TO EAT THE THIN PURPLE/GREEN

   LEAVES!!

9. Good Old Ivy is a great plant, too

Good luck - the gardening community is a generous one and I bet your city's gardening club could provide you with free cuttings and lots of help getting started. Why should they be the only ones addicted to houseplants, right?

Happy Growing!