Interesting plant features/behaviours - eg. mulberry

[estación seca]

Pineapples are very heavy feeders. Most bromeliads are badly affected by copper, but pineapples aren't. Especially in your climate you should have fruit in 2-3 summers from starting a top. If you want to grow it in a pot start with a 1 gallon / 4 liters, but plan on moving it to a 15 gallon long term if you want regular fruiting.

Twist off the top; don't cut it. Peel off the brown leaves at the bottom with your fingers. Keep peeling leaves until you see about a half inch / 1cm of yellowish-white stem. There will probably be some light brown early roots against the stem. Press the top into some potting soil in a pot. Water, then water when it gets dry.

[WaterWitchin]

The native mulberry trees around here, leaves are about the size of a silver dollar for the most part. Most of the berries are full of little white worms. I used to eat the heck out of them as a kid... then my dad picked a bunch for grandma to make wine. She soaked them in a big bowl of water, and bajillions of tiny white worms came crawling out. Eating mulberries from trees after that? Ummm, not so much fun.

How about CompassPlant? Silphium laciniatum L.
Travelers on the prairies back in the day would use it to help track where they were headed. Mostly all leaves grow to the north and south, to avoid midday sun's heat.

[DirtyCoconuts]

Hahaha I have had that experience with the mulberries but it’s ants and I consider it extra protein lol. Ewwww but true

There are a LOT of mulberries it seems. I did a search and it is apparently an easy crossbreeder so there are a few types around based on geography etc

[WaterWitchin]

Ants, no. Worms... hellsno.

[Bulbopedilum]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

The native mulberry trees around here, leaves are about the size of a silver dollar for the most part. Most of the berries are full of little white worms. I used to eat the heck out of them as a kid... then my dad picked a bunch for grandma to make wine. She soaked them in a big bowl of water, and bajillions of tiny white worms came crawling out. Eating mulberries from trees after that? Ummm, not so much fun.

How about CompassPlant? Silphium laciniatum L.
Travelers on the prairies back in the day would use it to help track where they were headed. Mostly all leaves grow to the north and south, to avoid midday sun's heat.

Ew. The white worms part is just disgusting. But I guess you get... extra protein? I've eaten mulberries straight from the tree before, now I'm wondering if I have accidentally ingested tiny white worms... Hopefully not, last time I did that (Eating mulberries straight off the tree, not ingest tiny white worms!) was about a year ago.

I've never personally heard of compass plant. That's definitely cool.

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

Hahaha I have had that experience with the mulberries but it’s ants and I consider it extra protein lol. Ewwww but true

Haha, extra protein for sure. In my experience of accidentally eating ants, I found that some aren't that noticeable. Hopefully this doesn't disgust anyone too much.

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Back on the topic, to add something relevant... umm, has the classic Mimosa pudica been brought up? They grow like weeds here, I have some clumps next to where I live. They have thorns, too, but in my experience they aren't too painful.

Impatiens seed pods are also cool. They can explode (although not violently, just a little pop) if something hits them hard enough. I like to flick them for fun, and they pop right off the plant. If I remember correctly, this strategy is used when rain hits the seed pod, and then the seeds can get scattered a nice distance away from the mother plant.

[WaterWitchin]

How about Madagascar Jewel? It spontaneously explodes clear across the room... into your hair, into your food, all over the table, on the floor.....

[DirtyCoconuts]

wait, what???!?!

i am trying to find the name of this plant in my parents front yard that grows these huge balls od seed - like a giant spiked flail and then- pop- the shoot these enormous 'corn' shaped seeds...this plant is MASSIVE though, could never be indoors

[WaterWitchin]

No, different plant DC... look here Madagascar Jewel Question

---------- Post added at 12:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:48 PM ----------

Seeds 1/8 or less the size of an uncracked peppercorn.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Bulbopedilum

Ew. The white worms part is just disgusting. But I guess you get... extra protein? I've eaten mulberries straight from the tree before, now I'm wondering if I have accidentally ingested tiny white worms...

I think I'll skip breakfast today (as well as lunch and night dinner).

[Dollythehun]

Originally Posted by Diane56Victor

Mulberry......
Take care where those are planted as the roots are very vigorous!
I recall a friend planting a seedling tree then finding out it wasn't the best tree for a suburban block.
They dug out the tree after only a few months in their garden and thought that was the end of the issue.
For months after the plant was removed roots that were missed in the first removal kept pushing new growths even after repeated removals. This went on for at least a year. Even using a poison required several applications.
On the plus side I read somewhere that the roots of a quick growing/persistent grower could be blended into a solution that can be used to water other plants.
This blended concoction could possibly contain the vigour of the original plant.
Don't know if it does work but would like to see a study of some kind, even a home grown study.

Diane56 is right. This mulberry is a weed! They are messy, smelly, invasive, rodent attracting, weeds! And we spent the whole evening in the dark and the morning cleaning up the branches the power company cut off at 10:00 pm to get our power on. It wasn't our tree that caused the problem but, they cut it anyway and left it on our West Bank. This picture shows you what they're good for. No offense intended but you guys are "wanna be farmers." This isn't fun folks, it's hard work!