RE: nursery critters
- Subject: RE: nursery critters
- From: M* D*
- Date: Sat, 16 Mar 2002 13:56:42 -0800
Claire,
I don't ever recall seeing liverwort on anything when I lived and gardened
in Boise, Idaho - zone "cold". Precious few slugs either.
But now am in the perfect climate for both.
I don't know what the end result of not removing liverwort from potted
plants is (but I'm suspicious that the plant would slowly "starve to death"
over a period of years) because I and my nursery helpers spend a lot of time
removing it every spring. I wouldn't offer pots for sale full of dandelions
or little bittercress either. The liverwort feeds on fertilizer that is
added as a top dressing to pots, so I have stopped that. I add time
released granules to the potting mix so it is at the root zone or use
potting mix that has a blend of organic fertilizers already in it.
Marchantia spores will float on the air movement made just from walking by a
pot infected with Marchantia. It is interesting that out of 1,000+ species
of liverwort, only the Marchantia is a problem. It is a dinosaur plant like
horsetail rush and has adapted to every kind of growing condition over the
millennia. Our extension service gives us hope because there is a "natural"
remedy in the offing for the near future. Until I have the remedy in hand
however, I will continue to curse it. (not that it does any good either)
Marilyn
The liverwort is interesting as the only time I see it is when I buy a plant
with liverwort growing in the pot. I always remove it as thoroughly as I
can
as the rock gardeners are very adamant about this creature, I don't know
where to classify it, being highly destructive in cold frames, pits and
greenhouses. I don't think, I really am not sure of this, that it does not
overwinter in zone 4. However, we do buy plants and see plants in garden
centers with it.
What is the end result of your not removing liverworts from potted plants?
I
don't think I have ever seen true death of any plant due to liverwort
growing
on pots but then I have never seen year 'round growth. I have not had an
indoor plant or conservatory plant carry over liverworts, all out pots are
grown very cool.
Claire Peplowski
NYS z4
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