Bird Paradise I have a Bird of Paradise plant, which has taken 7 years to flower? I've heard that this is normal?
Is this correct? Also, I'd like to know if it is ok to prune the 2 dead flowers, and just how low would I cut them ?
Seven years is longer than the average. When started from seed, they begin to bloom when they are about 4-5 years old--according to this article: http://www.bachmans.com/retail/tipsheets/indoor_plants/birdofparadise.cfm
Other sources say 3-5 years. This one had some additional info that may be helpful to you:
Is the browning edges of a bird of paradise normal?
I recently got a bird of paradise, I give it at least four hours of indirect sunlight a day, sometimes direct. I've yet to get a spray bottle to help with the humidity. I've put water on the leaves once to deal with that issue. It is near a heat vent, could this play a part? The leaves are a bit torn from recently being in a small green house and catching on some hooks while we were moving it. The actual edges are crispy, but the leaves are still green. Is this normal?
Good Morning Kirsie J ,
I just got back from walking at Venice beach. Then I had to take the wife to get a leg of lamb for Easter dinner. Please do not mess up on my (smile) favorite flowering plant. I hope I can be the cavalry.
NO! Brown and yellow leaves are not normal. Make sure your Bird of Paradise receives adequate moisture during the first six months. Both totally dry and soggy soil conditions will make the leaves yellow and eventually die. I think your heat vent is causing this problem. Your plant needs stable moisture conditions for at lease six months.
After the first six months (the establishment period), frequent watering and spray on leaves provides the ideal amount of moisture. During the winter months, made sure your soil is dry before watering.
Mulch will help your plant retain moisture and stabilize root temperatures. Do not put mulch against the plant base/stems. Leave an inch circular area around the stems free of mulch. Constant contact between mulch and the stems of the plant can cause stem rot. I use dried leaves and grass cuttings for my mulch.
Also, it is okay for the roots in your container to become a little crowded. It will not hurt your Bird of Paradise plant. That is completely normal for this type of plant.
Try to provide more direct sunlight. By the book, is not always right.
Please be a better nurse, and don't you hurt my favorite plant. Your rewards will be worth your effort. You can look forward to years of beautiful flowers. Does your plant have (smile again) a name?
Good luck Kirsie J. You and your family have a great Easter Sunday. Peace, from Los Angeles.
Yellow Delight Would you comment on a metaphorical poem?
The Tumbling Tumbleweeds
Desert floor in full season's bloom
cacti's waxen flowers delight the eye
blooms of white, yellow, orange and red
springing forth from what barren seems
hot wind carries across dry plain
lonely, loose tumbling tumbleweeds
they leave no mark
they don't detract
from painted beauty of desert floor
inconsequential ugly weeds
keep tumbling to own
purposeless fate.
I get a visualization of motion without sound. A sense of desolation, stillness, emptiness, vacuity. Yet reflective, contemplative, appreciative, and not completely detached.
Also symbolic of the true potential we possess, the opportunities we are often presented with, and how we can ultimately wind up.
But then, after all, isn't it all so very...
tragically beautiful?
Rabbit Dog Bird Where can I volunteer to help bird center or animal shelter?
I have many free time on weekdays and weekends.I usually use yahoo answers and play games but I enjoy taking care of birds,cats,dogs,fish,
turtles,and rabbits (Almost all animals).I am 12 and I would like to volunteer for anywhere that needs help like animal shelter or bird shelter (If it exists).I enjoy taking care of bird mostly where can I volunteer? Any websites to find it? Thanks!
Note: I live in Southern California (Anaheim) if that matters.
This is a great idea! I would go to your local vet clinic and see if they need any help. If they do not, I am sure that they can recommend animal shelters that are always in need of volunteers. There is also fish and wildlife, though they may be difficult to get a job with. Either way, you should get out there, get off the computer, and go play with some animals!
Part 1 Bunny Rabbit Slide Show Fotos De Conejos Parte 1 Duran Duran - Nice
Learn To Attract Beautiful Birds To Your Yard
If you are interested in bird watching and would like to see more birds in your yard there are ways to invite them. Birds are fascinating to watch and observe. First you need to capture their attention visually and you can do that by planting brightly colored plants. They most certainly are always looking for food so, if you planted fruit tress or other plants that bear food, they most surely will be interested. There are a variety of birds that enjoy eating berries and seeds including, cardinals, finches and sparrows.
Some examples of fruit bearing plants are ones with berries, oranges and cones. Also these trees provide protection which will encourage them to settle.
If you have large trees in your back yard that is even better, as birds are always looking for protection from the weather and other harsh conditions. Large protective trees such as spruce, oak and maple trees are favorites of birds.
Robins are very pretty and unusual birds. They will be looking for worms and insects in the lawn. They love to sing at sunset, so they will most certainly serenade you if you are fortunate to be there within close proximity of them.
Water is always welcome also. If you have a stone or other large object that holds water. They will look for that.
If you are a serious bird lover, you will most certainly want to transform your yard to attract birds. If you are a bird lover and have a willow tree in your yard, you are very fortunate as most likely you will see a variety of birds including orioles and warblers.
If you have a vacant field with a variety of flowers, you will most certainly attract a variety of birds including quails and pheasants.
Old large trees are a perfect settling ground for all kinds of birds. They enjoy the protection as well as fruits and seeds and the availability to sit and next on the limbs.
If you enjoy woodpeckers, they are looking for hard wood tress such as ash, cherry and birch trees. It is actually the insects underneath the hard bark that they are looking for.
The variety and types of trees will attract different birds. The softer wood tress such as pine and spruce provide a comfortable place for birds to rest and nest.
Birds are beautiful creatures and they can be attracted to your yard through a variety of means. If you have a brightly colored garden with flowers, shrubs and large beautiful trees, you will most certainly find a multitude of birds in your yard.
If you are interested in drawing birds to your yard, make sure you have brightly colored plants and flowers as well as old large trees so they will feel welcome in your yard.
Humming Birds Why don't my grandmother see any humming birds?
Hi, my mother-in-law has lots of humming birds in her yard but for some reason my grandmother says she hasn't seen any in her yard. She has her feeder out on the front of her porch but no humming birds have visited. Does anyone know how to attract them? Does it depend on where you live?
HAHA...KERFOS 1...YOU ARE SO FREAKIN FUNNY! NOT!!
From what I understand, if you put the right food out, they will come. It just takes time. I know they love yellow and red gladiolas flowers. We always had them every year once we planted those in the yard. Make sure the feeder is not to close where humans walk by all the time. We had one near our kitchen window and it seemed ok.
When shopping for bird feeders you are likely to encounter a number of different styles and designs. The type of bird feeder that is best for you might depend on the type of bird you want to attract and how close you want to be to them in terms of an observer of their daily habits.
For a real close up view of feeding birds you might want to consider window bird feeders. These types of bird feeders are attached to the window glass with suction cups. You can buy these types of feeders for smaller birds and also humming birds. Be sure to make sure this type of feeder extends far out enough away from the window so that the bird does not fly into the glass.
The screen tray birdfeeder, also known as steel mesh birdfeeder is a tubular silo that is filled with different types of seeds or nuts depending on what kind of bird you aware most interested in attracting. These are hung from a tree and can also be quite popular with squirrels. The most popular type of food used to fill a screen tray bird feeder is peanuts. However they can also be filled with raisins, mealworms, black oil or sunflower seeds.
If squirrels and other rodents are feasting too much on your bird seed you can also buy types of bird feeders that are the weight activated and spring shut once it detects the presence of a heavier small creature. You can also buy cage protected feeders or ones that are totally housed in metal. Other protective devices for your wild bird feeders include spinners, dippers and flippers. The purpose of these gizmos is to throw the squirrel off balance should it attempt to venture onto the feeding platform.
Decorative bird feeders are brightly painted because the purpose is to fool the bird into thinking they are feeding from a fruit tree. These are excellent for attracting songbirds, especially the oriole. To attract singing birds choose decorative birdhouses in colors such as yellow, orange, red or pink. These types of bird feeders are often made of plastic and might even seem a little tacky or not to your taste but it is this type of bird feeder that will appeal the most to different types of song birds, as well as humming birds.
There are many different types of humming bird feeders on the market. Perhaps the most popular are the large pink plastic vessels shaped like large bulbs or blossoms. These types of bird feeders have tubes that allow the hummingbird to suck up nectar in the same way as he or she would suck up nectar from the throat of a flower. However if you really want to observe a hummingbird up close then you might want to install window feeders.
If you want to attract wild birds, a wild bird feeder can be as simple as a wooden trough, a plastic plate set out on a table or a ball of suet hung in a tree. These should be placed some distance away from the house so the birds are not intimidated by a human presence.
You can make your own wild bird feeder from an old milk carton that is glued to a paper plate. A little door cut out of the bottom of the carton serves as the dispenser for the food and the top of the carton is left, as it is so more food can be added to the feeder as needed. The feeder is then hung in a tree with a long piece of invisible thread or skinny wire to discourage squirrels from getting at the food. This is one of those types of bird feeders that makes an ideal craft project for kids.
You can purchase a bird feeder in a retail store but sometimes you can save quite a bit of money by purchasing birdfeeders online. One benefit to purchasing a bird feeder online is that often you can buy one that is more eclectic or creative than one that you find in a store. There are also many niche sites that you should check into when purchasing birdfeeders online. These web sites are like small boutiques that specialize in particular types of bird feeders. Choosing a creative and unique design for your birdhouse can also prevent your backyard looking just like every one else's on the block.
Bird One How do you train a Love Bird to poop in one place? He spends a lot of time out of his cage.?
Our love bird is used to having total freedom in our house and we just moved into our first home. I have heard you can train them to go in one place I have no idea how old he is but he is very intelligent and picks up on new things very fast. Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated!
My peachface, Simon, is six years old now. I had him trained when he was about a year. I got sick of being pooped on so i payed attention to how often he went poop. Its about every ten to twenty minutes usually. Well after 10 minutes i would hold him over a napkin and say "Go Poop". He usually had to go by this time anyways so it eventually became a habit of his to poop on a napkin. Now that he is older, he has a playgym in our dining room. He has a seperate coner with a napkin on it and he alwyas goes there to do his duty. Its not hard training a bird to go potty, but it does take a little patience because they are like children. Good luck and dont let anyone tell you it cant be done.
Part 1/2 Bird & fortune - Financial crisis - Silly Money, Nov 08
Bird Control for Commercial Applications
Bird control for commercial applications
by Alex A. Kecskes
Building owners and businesses spend millions of dollars annually to deal with infestations and the problems associated with pest birds. The risks associated with these pests increase year after year as bird populations continue to grow in both inner city and urban environments. The fact is, these pests are out of their natural element and without proper bird control measures, they can wreak havoc on commercial buildings and the people around them.
Perhaps the most obvious of problems are the droppings pest birds leave, which are not only unsightly, but can cause accelerated deterioration of buildings, structures and statues. Limestone is particularly susceptible, not just to a bird’s droppings, but the acid secretion produced by the fungi that live in them. Cleaning and restoring buildings so damaged can be expensive. Nests and droppings can quickly clog gutters and down pipes. Left unchecked, these bird by-products can lead to timber and structural damage, unsightly decor, and huge repair costs. Pigeons nesting around commercial air conditioning units deposit fecal matter that can get sucked into ducts, grilles and vents, damaging these expensive systems. Bird droppings that accumulate on ledges, sills and signage are unsightly and ruin the image of a business, especially an eatery. Droppings deposited on pavements, entrances and fire escapes makes them hazardous as pedestrians may slip and fall on them, creating a huge legal liability to commercial property owners. One quickly can see why bird control has become so vital to commercial building owners.
But bird control solves other problems as well. There’s the incessant and irritating noise pest birds produce whey they gather in sizeable numbers. They not only annoy maintenance workers, but can be distracting to visitors in hotels, hospitals and office complexes. Another problem is the offensive odor many birds produce—both in droppings and nesting—a particular nuisance to restaurants with outdoor service. Droppings also spoil finished products in loading bays and storage areas. They can severely stain and damage goods, ruin expensive paintwork, and mar the appearance of costly finished goods, metal panels, and stonework. Droppings can also eat into and destroy wood, paper and cardboard packaging.
Pest birds can be a health hazard, carrying and transmitting any of 60 known diseases. Sparrows and Feral Pigeons can carry bacteria causing Salmonellosis. Feral Pigeons carry Ornithosis, which is similar to viral pneumonia. Birds, bird droppings and their nesting materials contain insects and mites. These insects can damage property, stored foods and fabrics.
As many building owners have learned, keeping pigeons and other pest birds away from commercial buildings is not an easy thing to do. These days, proper bird control takes more than a plastic owl or two to scare away pests. What to do?
Thankfully, there are a number of effective and humane bird control products to keep pest birds off your property. Most are maintenance free and easy to install. Bird spikes, for example, are ideal for pigeons and other large birds. Some have spikes made of strong, rigid unbreakable polycarbonate. Others have stainless steel spikes. Another useful bird control product is the bird spider. It’s ideal for awnings and patio covers. The spider arms move with the breeze, keeping pest birds from landing. Most of these deterrents are sturdy and stable, come in a variety of diameters, and install easily. They also won’t harm the birds.
Another effective bird control solution is bird netting. It’s ideal for a broad range of commercial uses, including signs, warehouses, courtyards, canopies, airplane hangars and rooftops. With its ability to control all species of birds, bird netting is often prescribed by architects. Some products in this category are U.V. stabilized, flame resistant and rot and waterproof. The webbing is usually available in a variety of mesh sizes to deter sparrow, starlings, pigeons, seagulls and larger birds.
A simple, easy-to-install bird control device that discourages bird pests from landing and nesting is the bird slope. These angled, slippery panels are ideal for eaves, ledges, beams and other 90-degree areas where pest birds tend to nest and roost. Also simple and easy to apply are bird gels. This bird control measure creates a sticky surface that birds hate.
Finally, there are the higher –tech bird control solutions, known as electric-track systems. Ideal for deterring all types of pest birds, these are easily mounted on ledges, signs, rooftops, and flat or curved surfaces. They discourage birds from landing by conveying a mild electric shock that’s harmless to birds. They also alter a bird’s habits to nest or feed. These systems are low profile and almost invisible. Be sure to get a flow-through design to prevent water from damming up on rooftops and other surfaces. Look for corrosion-resistant products that can stand up to alkali and acidic environments. The bottom line: bird control is good for your business.
About the Author
Alex Kecskes writes for Bird-B-Gone Inc, leading manufacturer of humane bird deterrents that work.
