July 20, 2013
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Plants — 2 part post
My goji berry plant (as posted about back in March) was alive and kicking! However, white flies and aphids started destroying its leaves faster than it was growing new ones.
Until I saw its recent new growth, I prepared to say “Adios!” and “Guess I’ll see you next spring, lol”. I’m assuming the two spiders hanging out at the top act as a deterrance. Yay!
(I would post photos, but Xanga photos is currently down.)
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“Ye shall know me by my poop”?!?
We adopted a cherry tomato plant over the Fourth of July and it’s not looking so hot likely due to a number of factors: (1) it’s too hot and the weather is not agreeing with it, (2) I may have underwatered it in the beginning, and (3) baby caterpillars!!!
I’ve since moved it to a place with more shade, and I’ve been giving it time to absorb water instead of draining it as before. Today, I had some time and decided to tackle the last problem.
I started noticing black tiny round er, droppings (though I wasn’t sure what they were at first) littered in and around the plant soon after bringing it home. Like poppy seeds, but not. Then I found a baby caterpillar lounging among the leaves. A lightbulb went off.
I recalled how the farmer would know there was a tomato hornworm directly above when he saw droppings on the floor. (To be sure, I’m glad these are not tomato hornworms because I do not want to touch those. He’d just hand pick them and stomp.)
So bam. Between yesterday and today, I must’ve dispatched 5 of these babies. It’s kind of like playing “I spy”. Unlike some bugs, they don’t try to run away. They hide, binding two leaves together with a sticky cocoon-like substance. Then they feed on the leaves, leaving them holey and tattered, while they grow, grow, GROW!
*Ahem.
Here’s to hoping I don’t see more “poppy seeds” tomorrow
