Christmas holidays are a time to relax and enjoy each other’s company.
When the weather is nice skating, skiing and tobogganing is often at the top of the list. Unfortunately, the weather outside isn’t always conducive to outdoor activities. After a while movies and games become boring. Try building a family project.
Know the people involved and choose one that they can achieve and feel successful. It should be long enough to grab their attention but short enough to still be fun.
One project that most children enjoy are Chinese Fighting Fish.
These fish do not fight but they can live in a small container and require little care. The water will need to be changed on occasion and the fish should be fed daily.
Start by gathering the materials.
A large clear glass or plastic container with a 10-15 cm (4 in.) opening on the top, clear plastic plant saucer that fits the opening, a plant, newspaper and a sharp pair of scissors or a knife.
While there are other plants that will root and live in water Spathophylum or Patho vines tend to be easy to find and work well.
Start by removing all the soil from the roots of the plant. This is a slow process as care must be taken not to damage the roots.
First remove the pot and gently squeeze the rootball to loosen the soil. Next dunk the root ball into water and swish it back and forth.
The soil will begin to wash from the roots. Keep doing this until most of the soil is removed. The water will need to be replaced when it becomes saturated with mud. It is best to strain the soil from the water before putting it down the sink or pour it outside. When most of the soil has been removed, place the plant in the sink under warm, slow running water and wash away all the remaining soil.
Once the roots are clean remove all pieces of plant and root that are ripped or broken with a sharp pair of scissors.
Place the roots in water before going on to the next step. Roots that are exposed to air, for any period of time, dry out and die.
Take the clear plastic saucer and cut an X in the center. The cuts should measure approximately 5 cm. in length. The saucer supports the plant and keeps the greenery above the water with the roots in the water.
The plant will have to be threaded through the X or hole in the plastic saucer which has sharp edges. To avoid the plant being damaged, lay a piece of newspaper on a flat surface. Place the plant at a corner and tightly roll the plant in the paper forming a tight tube.
Take the tube and work it through the saucer until the area between the roots and top is at the saucer level.
Fill the clear container with room temperature water, leaving two cm at the top for air. And place the plant and saucer in the contain Christmas holidays are a time to relax and enjoy each other’s company.
When the weather is nice skating, skiing and tobogganing is often at the top of the list. Unfortunately, the weather outside isn’t always conducive to outdoor activities. After a while movies and games become boring. Try building a family project.
Know the people involved and choose one that they can achieve and feel successful. It should be long enough to grab their attention but short enough to still be fun.
One project that most children enjoy are Chinese Fighting Fish. These fish do not fight but they can live in a small container and require little care. The water will need to be changed on occasion and the fish should be fed daily.
Start by gathering the materials. A large clear glass or plastic container with a 10-15 cm (4 in.) opening on the top, clear plastic plant saucer that fits the opening, a plant, newspaper and a sharp pair of scissors or a knife.
While there other plants that will root and live in water Spathophylum or Patho vines tend to be easy to find and work well.
Start by removing all the soil from the roots of the plant. This is a slow process as care must be taken not to damage the roots. First remove the pot and gently squeeze the rootball to loosen the soil.
Next dunk the root ball into water and swish it back and forth. The soil will wash from the roots.
Keep doing this until most of the soil is removed. The water will need to be replaced when it becomes saturated with mud. It is best to strain the soil from the water before pouring it outside.
When most of the soil has been removed, place the plant in the sink under warm, slow running water and wash away all the remaining soil.
Once the roots are clean remove all pieces of plant and root that are ripped or broken with a sharp pair of scissors.
Place the roots in water before going on to the next step. Roots that are exposed to air, for any period of time, dry out and die.
Take the clear plastic saucer and cut an X in the center. The cuts should measure approximately 5 cm. in length.
The saucer supports the plant and keeps the greenery above the water with the roots in the water.
The plant will have to be threaded through the X or hole in the plastic saucer which has sharp edges. To avoid the plant being damaged, lay a piece of newspaper on a flat surface.
Place the plant at a corner and tightly roll the plant in the paper forming a tight tube.
Take the tube and work it through the saucer until the area between the roots and top is at the saucer level. Fill the clear container with room temperature water, leaving two cm at the top for air.
And place the plant and saucer in the container. If the plant leans to one side, place weight on the saucer to keep the plant in an upright position.
Leave the container overnight and change the water if it is murky.
Once the water stays clear and it is at room temperature, a Chinese Fighting Fish can be added.
Place the container with or without a fish in an area out of direct sunlight.
The plant will thrive in low light levels and the water will stay cleaner.
The fish and plant can both live and thrive with this arrangement for a couple of years.
Linda Tomlinson is horticulturalist that lives near Rocky Mountain house. She can be reached at www.igardencanada.com or your_garden@hotmail.com