Question
Hi Sam, I have a few questions for you....First,I am in NB, Canada & it's now getting nice out so I'm putting some of my plants outside. Will regular bugs outside stay in my plants when I bring them back in & will they do any damage while they;re out..ie.spiders?
Second, my ponytail that I bought last year is very healthy & green but it doesn't seem to be growing at all.Is there something in particular that I can do to promote height? I know it's a slow grower but I don't see any difference since I bought it.
Third, my grandmother gave my some cuttings from her grape ivy. I live 1 1/2 hr. away from her & she had put them in a pot with no drainage & watered them then into a plastic bag that was tied up over night before I received them. They were in very poor condition when I got them. The soil was like warm mud so I decided to try to save them & repot. Well, only one of them had a root so I put that in new soil & the others in water. The one in the pot now is still looking so sad & droopy. Do you think it's a lost cause or is there something I can do to save it?
I think that's all for now. Thanks for any advice. Pam

Answer
The first question is unanswerable, but if your ponytail has lots of shoots try cutting some off to make the plant put the energy toward the sky, so to speak!
For the grape ivy since I don't know much about it I copied some info from the Internet!


DESCRIPTION:
Compound leaves with pointed tips are shiny, dark green, on brownish trailing stem.


FOLIAGE COLORS:
Dark Green


CONTAINER:
Small planter (hanging basket).


LIGHT:
Medium. East or west window, about one thousand footcandles.


WATER:
Normal to frequent. Water thoroughly, keep soil moist. Can let soil dry to the touch to a soil depth of 1/2".


TEMPERATURE:
Warm. 71 - 85 (degrees F) days, 66 - 75 nights.


HUMIDITY:
Average house - Can tolerate low humidity well


FERTILIZER:
Every 3 months; don't overfertilize.


SOIL MIX:
1 part sterilized garden loam, 1 part clean coarse sand or Perlite, and 1/2 to 1 part sphagnum peat moss.


PROPOGATION:
Stem cuttings (very slow)


SELECTION GUIDE:
Select sturdy, shapely, healthy plant free from insect and disease damage. New leaf growth is desirable. Avoid those with yellow or brown leaf margins, wilted or water soaked leaves.


CARE:
Easy. Tolerates wide range of conditions. Good for beginners.


PROBLEMS:
Root rot: Provide adequate drainage. Do not let plant sit in water.
Fertilizer burn: Leach pot 3 times with water between fertilizer applications.