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Ripe for Picking: a Guide to Collecting your own Bountiful Botanicals

tam said:
I'm just bumping this because the leaves are starting to turn and there will soon be lots on the ground for collecting!

What have you got your eye on this year?
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I've got my eye on the oak trees across the lane that surround the village cricket pitch and I'm hoping we get a nice wind that brings me some into the garden so I don't have to forage too far! And I've also got a Japanese maple, a magnolia, an apple tree and lots of currant bushes to try. Oh, and bay leaves, I guess?

What about honeysuckle and clematis? I have a vague idea honeysuckle is poisonous?
 
Hi all,
Chez_ said:
I've got my eye on the oak trees across the lane that surround the village cricket pitch and I'm hoping we get a nice wind that brings me some into the garden so I don't have to forage too far! And I've also got a Japanese maple, a magnolia, an apple tree
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All fine.
Chez_ said:
and lots of currant bushes to try. Oh, and bay leaves, I guess?
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I've never tried Bay (Laurus nobilis), but I'd be a bit wary, just because they are so aromatic
Chez_ said:
What about honeysuckle and clematis? I have a vague idea honeysuckle is poisonous?
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Clematis armandii might be all right, but I think all the deciduous leaves would be too soft.

Honeysuckle berries are definitely poisonous, I'd be a bit wary because of that.

Cheers Darrel
 
Hi All

I've only just come across this thread so apologies if this has been asked already, but is there anything that is a definite no no to use? I've recently set up a shallow tank with some wood which is partially submerged that I have put a couple of house plants on top, tannins from the wood are colouring the water massively and I'm loving it. No fish yet but want to introduce some leaves and stuff from our local common as it is now Autumn.
 
Debofputney said:
Hi All

I've only just come across this thread so apologies if this has been asked already, but is there anything that is a definite no no to use? I've recently set up a shallow tank with some wood which is partially submerged that I have put a couple of house plants on top, tannins from the wood are colouring the water massively and I'm loving it. No fish yet but want to introduce some leaves and stuff from our local common as it is now Autumn.
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Hello!

Yes the big no-nos are in this post (Poisonous Plants to Avoid section). There's not that many, I think in local parks the main one to avoid would be Rhododendron.

I don't find that btoanical leaves stain the water that much when I add them, even in big handfuls. Seedpods are a better bet, and alder cones will stain your water very well once the wood stops releasing tannins. They're very plentiful in local parks so hopefully you can find some!
 
Is this an oak variant? The leaves are bigger than my hand. Probably too big for my tank really but they were lovely and crunchy.
 

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Will our fish die if we pull unknown driftwood out of a river and use it? Could boil it possibly?

Also what does everyone think of ash? Seems like the wood is alkaline? But could soak it to overcome this?
 
greenbliss said:
what does everyone think of ash? Seems like the wood is alkaline?
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It is the bark, the wood can be regarded as neutral and is fine to use.

Although some bark may contain tannic and humic compounds, that could reduce pH in water that has very little carbonate buffering. If you take something like seasoned Ash wood (Fraxinus excelsior), or a coconut shell (below), it is going to have very little effect on water chemistry.

Chemical-composition-of-coconut-shell.png

Oak (Quercus sp.) or Alder (Alnus spp.) <"bark"> (for example) would have more effect.
greenbliss said:
Will our fish die if we pull unknown driftwood out of a river and use it?
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Mine haven't. Personally? I never bought any wood, of any description, I've always pyo <"Now is a good time to find PYO Oak branches for Aquascaping"> & <"Dead tree/ wood- how to make use of wood?">.
greenbliss said:
Could boil it possibly?
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Definitely over-kill, but if you were bothered about Hydra or Leeches? You could seal it in a polythene bag and add some <"sparkling"> water. I'd want to keep it wet, if it was already soaking.

cheers Darrel
 
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Hi all,
tam said:
Is this an oak variant? The leaves are bigger than my hand.
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Courtneybst said:
That is oak indeed! It's an American Red Oak. I use them in my current blackwater setup.
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What @Courtneybst says. I've used them as well (there is a tree close to my room at work) - <"Botanicals that last longer?">. They are easy to find at this time of year, mainly because we don't have many trees in the UK that <"reliably go red"> in the autumn.

<"Liquidambar styraciflua"> is similar, but equally suitable.

cheers Darrel
 
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Hi all,
MichaelJ said:
My front and back yards are covered in those leaves now
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Traditionally it hasn't really enjoyed life in the UK, our climate is a bit too oceanic for it. Global Climatic change may alter that, because it is a tree that does well with a warmer summer <"Red oak (ROK) - Forest Research">.

cheers Darrel
 
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Courtneybst said:
That is oak indeed! It's an American Red Oak. I use them in my current blackwater setup.
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Found some fantastic leaves in Philly today. Thinking they're also American red oak - an id on the ones pictured would be much appreciated🙂) PXL_20241121_174942481.MP.jpg
 
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