Propagation: Propagation: Propagation: part XI based on my own experience, 1 by Pughbear7

Pughbear7 wrote:
Hi Jeanette:
Yes I will hold them until spring. I am planning to try to get 1200 of the little ones going in January. Here its ifey on wether lantanna and verbena will die back so I think they are good choices to start off with. I am going to put a small space heater in their area to help with the chill. My only issue is the lighting issue. I only have 4 shelves with lights. but I will do it a piece at a time. Our frost free date is april 15th and I can most likely get them out the first of march. Now I may have to do a fast dash with sheets and beach towels a few nights but I am used to that anyway. I am really surprised we have yet to see any of the fluffy stuff. usually we have had one dusting by now.
I will fill my flats outside and stack them by the outside door until I am ready and then pull them into the garage a couple of days before I plant them. I am thinking i will split the orders up into 2 batches so I can plant 600 and then do another 600 when I am ready for them. It will be like 15 flats at a time to get them planted and I truely think I can get that much done over a day or two.
The one issue I have is the BIL & stepson are still working on organizing the garage. they started a year ago. boy they flipped when they were told the plants were going into the garage... but hey its my garage.
One thing I just remembered was the nesting trays do not fit the 1020 trays exactly. I can get them fitted into the nesting trays but there is a 1/2" gap from the bottom to the drainage holes in the pots. I have to buy 14 nesting trays, 8 light fixtures, and 8 heat mats. I am hopeing that the lantanna will root quickly so I can move them off the heat and start more cuttings. I am not sure if it will work but I am trying to do this on a shoe string. I started out with 5 plants and 3 years later I have a huge grouping of hardy ornamentals planted and trying to get more next year with a few wholesale flat purchases. I believe sticking to the newest and hotest plants I should do ok.
I wish i had the crome bakers shelves but we had the plastic ones already and I feel they will do quite well until I can get it all nice and shiny. I am hopeing DW will let me put up a bigger GH. I spotted the clear fiberglass rippled sheets and they have the fitted mounting. I am still tossing around the option of regular lumber vs the alluminum studs they are using.
My poor GH has started to lean and sag so I am thinking I have a few years left. A month ago I lost one of my roof pannels and I managed to get it back in place but it wont take much to move it out of place once I remove the protective blankie next spring. I am hopeing to be able to buy the materials from my growing fund instead of the household fund. I know my wife would be a bit more cooperative on size if she did not have to find the funds to build it.
Oh well enough of my general fantasy future. I kind of look at it if you don't try you will never make it happen but even if you put forth the effort it might just happen. The pic is of the planting cart with the bamboo/banannas in thye way that I am using.
Dave