Julie's continued growths

Outdoor electrical box/house

So, I am building a box to house my electrical and air pump stuff to protect it from the weather.

I had this huge piece of 3/4 inch plywood that was practically rotting outdoors. It was a very nice 48 x 48 sheet that I neglected to bring indoors and it got weather damage over the many years it was in my backyard. It was a bit warped and I was a little scared running it through my table saw but it cut through like a trooper. I discarded as much of the damaged and distorted parts I could and found there was plenty of material. The box measures about 8 x 11.5 inches. the roof was cut on my table saw with a 30 degree bevel to make that cute roof. I also used waterproof glue to put the baby together. The next thing to do is put little legs under the box, drill holes to allow electrical wire and air hose inputs and outputs, then put a final coat of paint.

Julie in new container.

Moved Julie into her new container. I gave it some fish-based fertilizer and vitamin B1 in the hopes that it will perk it up. There is a lot of bottom growth going on so its more or less stopping the growth on top.

Looks good but not getting much bigger. there is a little bit of yellowing on one of the leaves. Maybe caused by micro-nutrient deficiency?? I'll have to google it up.

Growth at the graft joint.

Hydroponic containers 2.0 deployed

This part is done, now on to building a box to house the electrical and air pump stuff.
Interesting note: I guess the two Brute containers must be a really tight fit because when I turned on the air pump, the pressure inside the reservoir was forcing the water out through the water level indicator.

Hydroponic container 2.0

I decided to plant my mango tree into 10 gallon containers and gave up on the larger ones I made (they were too heavy to lift). I gave two to my friend Steve and will be keeping the other two for planting vegetables. I found out that mango trees can grow quite big in a 15 gallon container and since I want to keep it small enough to carry it indoors for winter I am building new pots.

I purchased 8 of these cute green Rubbermaid Brute containers from Uline.com and got some scrap 1/4-inch acrylic from Tapplastics and made a L-shaped structure for the float valve. I got more top-hat grommets from schydroponics (local hydroponic store) and 1/2 elbow fitting for the water level. I also cut off the electrical plug on my pumps so I can pass it through one of the grommet (the hole plugged it with silicone glue).

I am using my old aquarium Rena air pump for the air stones; its quite good. My previous pump may be too old because it wasn't pumping any air into the pots.

Julie update 2

Growing.

Julie's update.

 Yippee.

Today I started the process to order from Plantogram for a Julie (so two Julies altogether) plus an Edward and a Tebow! I have high expectations for the later two mango trees.

 I couldn't believe they would carry all three trees. The cost will be about 300 bucks. Oh well, its cheaper than flying to Florida and bringing it back myself. I hope they make it through California Agriculture department.

Julie growing more buds.

Amazingly new buds are forming at the joint between the graft and root stock.

 

Trying to train Julie's growth to branch outward instead of upward.

Glenn is dead. :-(

Glenn's leaves shriveled up and now the stem turned brown, including the root stock. Pooh.

New mango status.

There is a bit of green on the graft but I don't honestly know if she'll live. It looks bleak.Carrie looks like she went to hell.
Glenn looks like he might survive.
Air pump deployed and apparently working.

Aeration

I decided to grab an empty soap refill and hack it as a container for my air pump and extension cord. The smiling monkey on the container makes it seem friendly.

Mangoes: July 4th, 2010

Julie still alive. Update: I found little green larvae on Julie that was the cause of the leaf deformities. I used soap water to wash off the bug and with my fingers, squished any I could see. Hopefully, this will put Julie on track with leaf development.Carrie still has a bit of green in the graft and stock. I hope it survives.

Glen is looking better than Carrie but I should keep an eye on both.

I should take the bag off to show how dry the leaves are.

Hydroponic Garden

Building an escape path for my mangoes.My little electrical bird house.

Glenn and Carrie are really drying out. I place them each in a bag with some misting to increase humidity. I used a canvas cloth to screen out most of the sun; otherwise the plants will cook in their bags.

At night I gave both Carrie and Glenn a quick dose of KLN rooting hormone and B1. I did this with Julie when I got it so I am hoping it will revive the two new mangoes.

Bulkhead with plug.

I built these new supports for the top of the planters. I sprayed them green.