Propagation: part XII based on my own experience

Good afternoon:
How long have they been soaking? even though my next coment will go against this, I would still use them all. I am thinking that I have seen a coment where the floaters after a while will sink and if not they are bad. How many are you doing? you might try a little experiment and do a few in the refridgerator.

Here are the pics from the cuttings I just recieved and planted. getting ready to stick

This message was edited Feb 10, 2010 12:42 PM

cuttings ready to stick

another pic of cuttings readyto stick

empty flat of 3601's - preforated 2 1/2" cells - 36 to a flat

stormy weather cuttings

verbena lavender bicolor cuttings

One of how small the cuttings can be

closeup of a stuck cutting

1st row stuck

1st flat ready for the propagation cart.

These cuttings would be difficult to handel if I did not have a place ready to put the flats with high humidity 16 hours of light (high light) 4 florescent tubes per shelf. Once they have rooted I will pull them off the cart and hopefully it will be warm enough outside to go straight outside with them. if not I have other shelves ready to take them to hold untill it is warm enough. the seller says it takes 4 to 6 weeks to finish the cuttings off and have them ready to plant else where. One thing the pictures don't show is the firming up I did to each cell. I used 4 fingers to firm the soil around the cuttings giving better contact to the cuttings. I did 800 cuttings in an afternoon. the bigest secret is being prepaired for the plants before they arrive.
I am planning to sell most of them and then use a few for some hanging baskets. the one thats an odd ball and not well know is the lotus vine here is a link for info here on dave's.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/58243/

Dave, it appears from the pictures that most of them do not have nodes to put in the soil. So, do you plant them down to the first leaves? But, it doesn't look like you took those leaves off. If you did, you wouldn't have any left.

So, do you think they will get roots out of the stem under the leaves even tho there are no nodes?

That was very interesting. It will be even more interesting to see if they all make it. Those don't look any bigger than what Lee told them they were too small so they sent rooted cuttings to her. Is that right Lee?



This message was edited Feb 10, 2010 12:04 PM

You are right. I didn't have any luck with the small ones, but the rooted ones were OK.
But, Dave has lots more experience than I do so they probably will do fine for him. They are pretty small tho. The rooted ones came with more leaves, and they also were very healthy looking, where the cuttings were kinda scraggy and limp.

There were nodes I removed all but the tiny leaves at the tip. a few were unacceptable but I am sure thats why they sent extra's. I have lost a few cells already. But for the most part they are doing ok. time will tell. I have been misting them as much as I can each day. the propagation cart with its clear cover helps a bunch because I can see the humidity is high from the condensation on it.
If I did not have this set up or one similar I do not recomend the cuttings. The loss's would be almost all. They do have several vidio's that say if you are not set up or a pro with cuttings stick with the rooted plugs and I agree. I will second guess my next order with them to be rooted plugs with a few unrooted. not 800 though. It was an interesting endevor.
Dave

if you look closely at the stormy weather and the verbena you can see the nodes and they are mostly like I got. The lantanna was really small though

here is the current pic of my bicolor verbena

and here is lantana fireworks. I am afraid I will loose them all

Do any of you guys use this Dr. Jerry something or other, that has all these home remedies for every plant problem under the sun, fertilizers and repellents too, he is an organic gardener but his stuff is ingenious.

I made a concoction to repel gophers and rabbits and I don't know if it will work, but it made me sick.

It has some cool stuff like gin and beer, whiskey, ammonia, green sand, rubbing alcohol, powdered milk baby shampoo, Murpheys Oil Soap etc.

I wish I had more of a talent for rooting cuttings, but so far your suggestion to do it during this particular time of year, seems to be paying off. I need to be proficient at it, so I can take stuff to the RU this April.

I like your little set up Pughbear.

Jerry Baker. I didn't know he is suppose to be a dr. I have never gone to a dr. that would even handle the stuff he puts on his plants. However, he normally puts at least one ingredient in the mess that helps the plant. If you used that one or two items that is all you would need to have the same affect.

Yes, that is what I do, I mix and match some of his ingredients. Maybe I am wrong, but I thought it said, Dr. Jerry Baker.
Do you like his mixes? I have good experiences with them in the last 6 months. I hope to try more this year.

I have never used any of his stuff. I have seen his books. No, never have bought anything.

Sorry, I wouldn't put a lot of that stuff on my plants. But, it is wonderful if it works for you.

Oh, he might have dr. I don't know.

With: Not all of California is the same. I live in Northern California, about 3500' in elevations in the Sierra foothills. We get snow here every year, and we did get about 2' a while ago, but the last few storms have brought rain, so yes, it is warmer, and we have our power back on. Though very muddy, I suppose it is better than having to shovel out. In January we had our power off for 4 days. We do prepare in advance for these occasions, as well our neighbors do as well. We have a wood stove and a propane furnace, as it will not keep us warm enough when it is that cold, well, not as cold as you get, but 17 degrees is cold enough, really. (Huge icicles, when the sun came out and melted some of the snow...)

Well, the forum is propagation, so I am off topic already. I will have some extra tomato seeds, and others. I will list them after I get them all, as I don't want to send you my old seeds. Still, Carolyn has encouraged us all to try and start our old seeds anyway, as many will germinate. How many people have germinated old seed with success? And how old were the seeds??

I hope the snows are over for all of you. it is cold here today, but not brutal. I am having another bout with the pnuemonia/asthma thingy and it has worn me down unbelievably. I had planned to do lots of winter sowing, but I haven't had the strength. I did go out today to check the greenhouse and some daylilies I had started last fall. It looks as though a lot of those will be coming up. I cannot wait for warmer weather. I think maybe some sunny days will help dry up whatever this bug is that just won't go away.

Dave,
what varieties of lantana did you get? Did you order from nc farms?

Hellnzn11, I loved your comment about the landscape there. I spent quite a lot of my childhood at Edwards, so I remember those brown/more brown landscapes. LOL

i hope everyone stays warm and has a great week. I am off to pick up kids from school and then I will soak some seeds. 1 child wants money for the weekend, so I think i have someone to fill trays for me. LOL. It is bad when you can't do it yourself.
Take Care everyone, linda

Howdy:
I have planted old seeds with in a year or two of the current year and had a pretty good germination. as with all things the older the seed the less the seeds will germinate. I wish I had the time to do all my seeds I have.
Linda: I got fireworks and fuchsia. I know I ordered samantha but they were left off the invoice so I am feeling no harm no foul, as I am quickly running out of room.
Yes filling flats works as a work for pay but the older they get the less they are around to do it for you...at least thats how my nieces are.
I am thinking the oiled soap acts like a dormant oil for bugs (do not quote me on that ...its just a swag)
I am surprised they did not call for molassus. Its a common ingredian in compost tea.
Stay warm everyone
Dave

I would like to try more varieties of Lantana too, it is so pretty in bloom. It went almost completely dormant or died back in the winter but it is coming back already now, in our odd weather this year. I only had three plants. I would like to do some cuttings of them, but I still need to see more growth before I try yet.

Ibarto, you are probably the only one who knows what it is like here to garden.
I can't wait for the Poppies to come out this year, with all the cold and rain.

Do you guys have any preferred rooting gel or powder, liquid that you think works best? I got some gel, with my cloner but it is a small dab and I never see it around here, just powders.

Personally i use Dip-n-grow. Its easy to use and it allows me to mix up small batches.
http://www.planetnatural.com/site/dip-n-grow.html

I prefer to recomend ordering the into kit. Its cheap and has the fancy measuring cup. the line for the concentrat is down low on the measuring cup and hard to find if you are not looking closely. I split a bottle (1/4)of the quart size and I am still using it. I think it was last year or was it 2008 when we all did the grow bags co-op with Lorraine? I am leaning more towards 08. anyone have a better memory than I do???

Sounds about right. Yup, I still have my Dip-n-grow too. It lasts a long time. Dave, if I wanted to put some of that dip n grow stuff in my cloner water, how much would I use? I have about a gallon of water in it. What do you think?

I had thought about putting some Mighty Myco in after they grew some roots. That would/should give them some feeder roots.

Is dip and grow purple gel? Is it only an on line thing?

My dip n grow is not a purple gel. It is a tea colored liquid. I don't know where you get it. Google it.

I got mine from Dave. I tried the powder before but think the liquid works better, and goes a lot farther. and Dave, didn't you say it was available at Growers.com? Seems like that rings a bell, only they carry a huge amount???

I wuz going ta' follow you guys to the end, but I am no pro, have no greenhouse, and now I realize that you all are pros or near so. I was just germinating old seeds, thanks to Carolyn, but I shan't be taking a hundred or a thousand cuttings of anything. I tried to follow you until you started cloning....tissue culture?? Still, I MAY come back later, if I have the time. IT IS very interesting, but I just use the old rooting hormone for things that will not root in water. I am amping up the seed starting, so I'd better mosey on to the seed starting forums. Thanks.

Evelyn

Evelyn, please don't leave, we are not all pros and there is so much here that I have learned from the others. It gets really fun.

Those of you who have had snow so much this winter will enjoy the fact that we are expecting snow here this afternoon.
Snow hasn't happened at the beach in about 12 years. Needless to say, it won't last long here so it will be playtime for a while.

I checked the greenhouse yesterday and everything seems to be ok. I haven't started near the plants I had planned, so I feel as if I am way behind. Maybe next week's weather will be warmer and I can start a few things.
Hope everyone is warm and safe.
Linda

EVELYN!!! Don't be silly. We are not pros. We are all experimenting here. I don't have a greenhouse even. I do everything in my kitchen for heavens sake. You should see my seed starting. I have to move my kitchen table to make room. I have milk jugs on my kitchen deck with winter sowing in them. First year for this, gotta try everything.

Come on, try things along with us. Yes, I have been growing things for a lot of years, but please consider the fact that I am no teenager. Had to do something with my life. LOL, but still in the seed starting stage.

I don't think you ever quit starting plants from seed. So, come on stick with us.

Jeanette

Good evening:
Evelyn: even though I have all the experiance I am using an *' X 10' greenhouse that is unheated. I use radiant heating as well as I put a shop lightsuspended from the ceiling with a 75 watt bulb for heat. its just enough to knock the chill off and allow marginally hardy plants to surcice my winters. I am in zone 6b and I have had a couple of zone 8/7 plants survive in the environment I just described. washingtonia palm comes to mind as one that survived and oh yea I had a begonia survive the winter.
I am doing all my "playing" on a shoestring so it is possible to do almost anything you want to as far as plants go with what ever conditions you are dealing with. If you need idea's on how to make it work we are all more than happy to help as much as we can.
The link above is for a starter box of dip-n-grow its like 10.50 plus shipping...here it is again You might check with everyone to see if maybe they might want some to split the shipping with you. I have found if its just you and one other person its not really a savings but in bulk 3 or 4 people it might be cheaper. Its just a thought. I know I am still good for another year but others may want to order with you.

http://www.planetnatural.com/site/dip-n-grow.html

Has anyone tried using radiant heat as an an alternative heat source for heating cold frames and green houses? One source I use is keeping Gallon milk Jugs filled with water where the sun will warm them during the day. the milk jugs release the warmth they are storing into the greenhouse whe the temps drop at night.
Other sources of radiant heat are Concreat, gravel I am sure there are more it just escapes my brain at the moment. Also its better to try the radiant heat with as many plants as possible all grouped tightly together. That helps hold in the heat from the daytime.
Evelyn what hardyness zone are you in? I would like to recomend everyone to put there zone on their personal tab (the one that shows when you post) It helps to know ...I really have lost it this afternoon as I can't say why it helps...I guess I like to see it and I am curious how things do in other zones.
JB are you snowed under yet??? I would send you a cup of hot coco but I am afraid it would be cold by the time you recieve it and all the little marsh mellow would be gone

Stay warm
Dave

Evelyn, stay with us or at least keep in touch. We all love meeting new people and we all learn from each other. No-one claims to be a pro but we all like to experiment and try new things. Actually it's kind of fun trying all the different ways of propagating seeds and cuttings and we do have a good time. We get off topic quite a bit but no one seems to mind and we just keep chatting on about any number of things.

Evelyn, please stay with us. I am so far from a pro it isn't funny, but I do enjoy everyone on this site, and I can't tell you how much I have learned just from lurking in the shadows. I no longer lurk here, I participate, because everyone is so patient and helpful. I also have tried the old seeds, and while they don't all grow, I really don't lose that many. Last year I started 3-4 year old petunias and had pretty good luck. They started really slow, and didn't seem to grow, but when I moved them to the natural light, they did well. I have a little 6' counter that the DH put shop lights over on both sides, giving me about 12' of starter space, and believe me, I have started lots of plants with the help from everyone here. So, please don't leave us. Lee

Sorry, folks! I did not mean you snap at y'all! You are really a great group of people, and now that I read more carefully, Dave is even new to seed starting, well veggies anyway. We all have to start somewhere, and I want to start off my giving you my sincere apology.

I just got a bit overwhelmed after following all the messages re: floating styrofoam, and now to look back at it, it gives me a bit of a chuckle...watching those little cuttings bobbing up and down for joy because you all gave them the gift of life, instead of the compost pile.

I have been "out of the game" for a very long time, due to a series of operations and when I was working full time, I gave up what was my feeble attempts at growing more plants. So now, I am in! I will learn to hold my tongue unless I have either a question or something to contribute. And I will have a surplus of seeds, for any who want them, after I get mine going....as I have placed new orders of seeds, until I learned from Dr. Carolyn that many of the seeds that I might have thrown out could be viable. So, now, let's learn together, and I promise to behave better, just don't ask me not to run with pruning shears.....

Evelyn

P.S. I will let you know as soon as I have my seed list ready. I will only put current seeds up to either give away or trade, but y'all get some free seeds, OK?? Veggies, annual and perennial flowers, and some (fast-growing) shrubs and trees. The list is long, so it will take a while. Right now, I still have some seeds coming in and I need to sort them to their start-dates, and will be starting some of the hardy annuals and slow-growing HHA's indoors. Thanks for your patience (and luv!)....

Evelyn, I just found some four year old Pepper seeds and had some room in a flat and thought " oh well, beats having an empty cell just sitting there". All the other seeds came up and are just starting their second leaves, oops, be darned if two of the pepper cells don't have little points sticking up, so there is hope for them after all. If you mention you have seeds that are "such and such" years old and the person on the other end is interested in them you have done your part. I for one never throw away seeds, there is always a cold rainy( or snowy day in the case of JB ) that is looking for something to be started on. If they take, they take, if not, well we have just used up one more day of winter and are that much closer to SSSPPRRRIIINNNGGGG.
JB- my niece and nephew came up from Philly to get a break from all the snow. That is sad when you come UPSTATE to get away from snow. Loved teasing them about it though.