Propagation: part XIII based on my own experience

Hello,

I have a question... I bought some purple wave patunias seeds. I got 15 in the pack. Only three took. I did something wrong, I think they got to tall before I took them out of the dome.

Anyway, I found some seed pods of last years purple waves and planted them in cell packs. Has anyone else ever started theirs from seed pods?

Thanks for your help

Amos

Amos, I haven't, however I saved a lot of seed last year to plant this year and I am anxious to see how they are going to look. I do not expect them to look like the parent. Will be interesting. Let us know how yours do.

Let me make a suggestion to you. Don't wait that long to remove the dome. When the petunias get 4 leaves, take tweezers and pinch out the 2 middle leaves on top. Then when they bush out, do the same with all of the new ones. You will have a much nicer plant.

Jeeze Jeanette, you didn't tell me that last year. I was under the impression you didn't have to pinch the Wave type of petunia. Anyway will try this year. I also planted via the pelleted seeds, and found you really need to mist enough to disolve the coating. I have much better germination this way. Most of the babies have awakened now and are peeking through, you do need a magnifing glass to see them (well almost) I have hibiscus, datura, coneflower, veggies all waking up. Painted daisy are doing the leggie thing, but I lowered the lights again, hopefully they will get second set of leaves so I can pinch quickly before they are too bad. Most of the rest of the seeds, ( yours and Dave's) are up. What a wide assortment I will have this year. Planted the MG tree seeds today, am anxious to see them along with the vines. Just thought it might be a little too soon for them, Usually, MG don't like to be transplanted, but then I don't have very good luck with them anyway. Lee

leebauch I love Wave Petunias, I just go nuts for them, I think the seeds are overpriced for the few you get, but the variety in seeds is better than most of the nursery colors. They have these dazzler, or something like that, Petunias too, that are like the wave ones, I like them too. I have three of them, no four of them, that were somewhat protected, that all of the Petunia died but one part of each survived as a perennial.
My seedlings just popped up and I moved them in my bathroom window, because we are having sudden freezes and icy rain and I will be mad if I lose them. I don't know if I have more seeds.

Worms you must be very proud of him. Wish I had a doctor that looked so kind and happy.

I see one of my Hostas in the container, popping up a green sprout, so maybe I will check the other's out on the weekend. I needed to check for Gopher activity before I plop them in the ground. I poisoned the area tonight. They are ruthless.

When do they flower and for how long do they flower?

Let me make a suggestion to you. Don't wait that long to remove the dome. When the petunias get 4 leaves, take tweezers and pinch out the 2 middle leaves on top. Then when they bush out, do the same with all of the new ones. You will have a much nicer plant.

I am copying this in my blog, so I don't forget. The first time I planted them they ran crazy and got bushy, this last year, they did not get as full except in one pot. My seedlings are like red ants too so I will wait and pinch them when they are larger, so they spread full and bushy this year. I have one of the silver ones that overwintered completely and is already bushing out, so I will pinch it this week end. I always thought pinching was for flowers, not leaves. Thanks.

You guys don't need to pinch if you don't want to. That is just the way I do it. They may be bushy, I like them very full. I see some get long here and there, I don't like that. I want them bushy all over and all the way down.

Try it on some. You can always pinch some out but it isn't the same if they are long and you just take out a couple of leaves. They will branch but will be leggy.

How do you know wheat worm's son looks like Helen? I didn't see a picture, did you? Or did I miss it?

She is a witch....

Go back Jeanette, he is the good looking Dr. holding a precious newborn.( A real one) What a great looking Pair. Picture posted on Mar. 3. I looked it up for you to save you some time. Lee

The newborn is his and just moments after his "Son" was born. Grandma and Mother. Who is worse.

LOL, you guys are right. I had forgotten that picture. I talked to my sister last night and she said she was going to call. Right now she has a lot on her plate and has just started acupuncture for her back, so she may wait a bit. But, when we were talking last night I was telling her how disgusted I was getting with my dr. then later was thinking maybe I should try to get an appt. with Sharon's son.

I think my dr. is getting tired and needs to retire. Maybe even go on a long vacation. I don't know, but I don't feel like I am getting his full attention.

Oh well, think that happens unfortunately.

Lee, are you running out of seeds yet?

Jnette, the problem usually is not the doctors. It is who own their practice. If they are in privater practice they cannot make a living because what insurance pays and the cost of malpractice and cost of office. Then thre big insurance corps move in and purchase the practice then the doctor only has 10 minutes to spend with each patient. That is why Todd moved to Spokane. Old business practice. We will pay you and you take care of the patients. I think you will enjoy the difference. Your old doctor is probably tired fighting the system. That is why I retired from Mortgages in 2005. .

You are right. My dr has been in with 4 other drs for years. I got a letter from him a couple months ago saying they had joined some group (read that probably a large corporation) . I haven't been in since getting the letter. I had gotten a letter several months ago saying they would no longer be visiting their patients in the hospitals. They would be tended by the drs provided by the hospitals and they were called hospitalists I think.

This is an East coast thing that has finally made its way out here. Well, I do not like that. If I am in the hospital I do not want my care and release left up to someone who does not know me.

He's probably too nice to be a Work Comp Insurance whore, too. That is where the $$ are. lol

If I want it spreading and bushy, do I just pinch off the center leaves after there are 4 throughout the plant and do I pinch the flower blooms still too?

No, once it starts blooming let it go. You don't have to keep pinching it. Just a couple of times. each plant. You will figure it out.

Actually, I have shared with my good friend Pat. I planted about half for him. He takes care of his mother so has lots of time to garden. But they are started here as usual. Most are in starter mix now, and up peeking at me. I still have a few left tho. HEHE
Sow many seeds Sow little time. Now I have to worry about the little devils.

Howdy: From my experience most of the hospitalist don't do well at all they don't know their stuff its like they are quoting from a preplanned web page. I hate them, I am sure there are some wort it but most of my experience has been they are from the middle-east and some of the southern european countries.

Ok stepping down from my soap box.
Pinching the plant removes whats called apical dominance. apical dominance is what makes the plant get long and single stemmed. I just went through and cut the tips of all my urc's from nc farms. they were getting into the lights. by pinching a couple of times it makes them branch out and are a really nice plant. now not all plants need to be pinched but i treat everyone the same and pinch a few times.

I will be off and on the next few days as either my head cold is back or my allergies have hit me hard. here is a pic of the front yard after my BIL finished with it. I hope to put together a series on how it progressed, from the azalea's removal and planted out. stay warm everyone
Dave

Take a rest and feel better soon. Drink alot of water. Allergies are coming out again, look out gang.....sneeze. Take a look at this, my dog was sleeping this morning and the amazon got down on the floor and was heckling him. Fortunately I caught him before he bit him in the butt. He loves to grab his tail. That hurts.

jberger

what a sweetie pup, the bird is incredible. I looked into the birds a few years ago and when I found out how long they live that made up my mind for me, as I would be dead before they were very old and from what I read and have seen in the rescue groups they take it real hard when they loose their owners... so I just couldn't have that on my mind... so I just admire them from afar...

Dave I know about the allergies, just had my second sinus surgery and it is turning out to be a bust. I can't breath through my nose any better now than before and my Dr is starting to P....... me off. Went in yesterday as I have a full blow sinus infection and he is telling me that I'm not blocked and that I should be able to breath and of course when I'm in his office and after have several sprays of the numbing medicine (which constricts the blood vessels) then I can breath through my nose he more or less said it was in my head that I couldn't breath nothing was wrong with my sinuses. So I'm not sure what to do about him.... the only releif I get is to use the afrin which you can only use so much (3 days) and the rest of the time I have to breath through my mouth which then sets off my asthma. He tried to tell me that breathing through my mouth would not start problems with my asthma.... OHMYGoodness..... I hate when drs can't make you well they then decide that it is you that is doing something or that you are crazy. I go in next Thursday so my continued visits after that one will be based on how he talks to me. If he is just as crazy as he was yesterday then I'm gonna be looking for a new dr.

the past two years I've gone to too many drs and my quality of life just stinks!

sorry didn't mean to go on, I'm just so frustrated, all I want is to be able to breath through my nose all of the time.

Janet

Janet: i do understand...dr's have such huge ego's and they don't like saying I don't know or I have done all I can and refer you. My question is...is the dr you just saw the same dr for your asthma attacks? I would look for a new dr but thats just me. anymore If I don't like the vibe I get I move on to a new one. a lot of dr's should be doing nothing but wipeing snotty noses of little kids and that I wonder if they are qualified to do some times. I know I am preaching to the choir here.
it looks like the parot is getting ready to jump on and say giddy up....
I have heard that some people will their birds like they arein trusting their child to a relative or something. I know it can be a strong bond with any living animal. I know I would go balistic if anyone tried to do smething to our little kitty. here is a pic of lucky and kim...Lucky AKA shadow as he follows me all over the house

That's a cute picture Dave. JB, what is it about sleeping dogs that birds like? My mynah used to pull my dogs eye brow hairs when it was asleep. I don't know if it was trying to wake the dog up or what. Maybe just being playful or ornery.

Well, back to doctors. Most internal medicine doctors have hospitalist. The reason being is they are at the office all day and then on call. Some nights they get no sleep. That is why the hospitalist position was formed. My son in Spokane, all the doctors in the group use the same hospitalist. The job is really mesnt for a doctor who has no family and no life.

Janet, I know about sinus and asthma. I actually had sinus surgery 8 years ago and have not had a problem since. They discovered my drainage hole on my right side was not large so the sinus infection would just fill up and try to blow out the bone right behind my eye. Anyway, that is what happened the last sinus infection I had but it was not discovered by my doctor but a neurosurgeon they had sent me to because of my horrible headaches. When he walked into the room, he asked why the lights were out. I told him the lights killed me so he ordered an MRI after he found out I had never had headaches until about 2 months prior. Then the MRI showed I had a large mass on the right side of my head above my eye. The cat scan showed it was a massive infection and the infection had blown the very thin bone behind the eye just before your brain. I was about 4 days from death because the infection was getting into the area of the brain. Sorry, not the end of the story. I just had an appointment with a lung specialist Tuesday because I could not get rid of my cough and asthma problem I had had for over 4 months. My doctor told me I had COPD. I just about went ballistic. This is after 3 different doses of steroids, antibiotics, and etc. I called my son and said I need a phone number for a good lung doctor because I have lost confidence with my doctor. My doctor is new to my DH and I because our doctor of over 25 years left the business screaming. (She married a rich guy.) My DS called and got me an appointment the next day. I was there 2.5 hours with the doctor and his assistants. What a wonderful experience. He said I did not have COPD. I had chronic bronchitis inflammation asthma. I keep getting it because it has not killed. Now I have a breathing machine with steroids, steroids, Z pack of antibiotics, instant inhaler and Advar. He told me the steroids may make me nervous. I said no they just make me move the house 3 feet to the north and then back. Now I am on medicare and have retirement medical from my former employer JP Morgan Chase. So this cost me nothing and just one day I am already feeling better. I think just talking to someone that knows what wrong immediately. He said he knew I did not have COPD the minute he saw my breathing test. OK Janet, I am done. Go see a lung specialist.

Well Sharon, in one breath you tell us that that is the way it is and get over it, and in the next breath you tell us how you call your dr. son and get an appt. with the right specialist in an instant that solved all of your problems.

Sorry, for your unpleasant experiences, but the rest of us do not deserve unpleasant experiences just because we do not have drs for sons.

Yes, but you can get an appointment with a lung specialist, just not as soon as I did. I would not normally pull these perks but I was going down hill mentally and physically. I had not been off the couch for two weeks and the sun was shining and I needed to get to my gardening. I only meant this to help, now blow air up your skirt.

Well, lets see, 4 days to death? How long would it take? Not sure what my skirt has to do with anything.

Ok Sharon, you spilled yours, now let me give you mine. Without getting into all the facts about their losing me 3 times in the helicopter on the way to the hospital and on the table, you have to realize that because of it I was gun shy. So, when I went into the ER they admitted me to the hospital (the hospitalists) and I was put in a room with an elderly woman whose husband had dementia, a 2 year old in a 60 year old body, and she didn't have any place for him to go so he was in our room, throwing tantrums as only 2 year olds can do, from morning 'till night when her daughter got home from work to come get him.

The drs that came to check on me decided they could not release me because my blood pressure was so high. Now who's wouldn't be in that situation? I asked for my dr. and was told he wouldn't be there that another dr. would see me. The other dr. didn't want to take a chance on releasing me because, again, my blood pressure.

Finally I could not take it any more and called the switchboard of the hospital and demanded to speak to the person in charge of that hospital. I got the treasurer, or some such person. I demanded to be put in another room and to see my dr.

They put me in a room with another person who I have to say was very quiet. However, people kept up a running use of my bathroom as a toilet about every 5 or 10 minutes. I think they were having a meeting or classes of some kind and were all using it.
I finally told them I was leaving whether anyone would release me or not. So, guess who showed up, but my dr.who proceeded to release me because he knew I could take care of my blood pressure better at home.

Oh, BTW, I had not told him of my experiences with all of this.

Well I was put in a hospital because of a concussion and I was put in a four person room. I was about 33 years old and everyone else was over 70. I was their daughter, their sister, their husband and their mother. I became the room angel because the nurses never answered the bell. I was not suppose to get out of bed but when some room mate wanted to get off the bed pan and she waited for 30 minutes, I would take her off. And then I would go to the door and scream, wee need help down here.. Boy were they ready to get rid of me. I am so sorry because I did not recognize the problem because I was so happy to g out of there. Now looking back, I should have been there every day for mthe last 20 years. Shame on me...

I am sorry to the rest of you who don't really give a darn about our hospital experiences. This will end it here.

Thanks for sharing Sharon.

disaster struck today. I was spray misting my seedlings and dropped two flats. I can't tell if I saved them yet, the babies were so small. I did find some of them and put them back. Guess time will tell. I am about ready to give up, can't even water without a problem. Wish me luck. These were from seed you sent, Jeanette. I think I am jinxed. Maybe getting too old to do this anymore, then I read posts from JB and tell myself to quit feeling that way. Thanks for listening to me cry. Lee B

Lee
We all have those kind of days.

Take a break and tomorrow will be better for ya.

Keep us posted on their survival......

Janet

Lee, you aren't alone. Like Janet said we all have that happen once in a while. I think like she also said when that happens it is time to sit down and take a break.

I did that with one of my winter sown jugs outside. Not sure if/what will come up. I think it was one I had 4 different kind of seeds in it. So, don't feel bad it happens to all of us.

Jeanette

Yes lee even I have issues sometimes more than I want to admit. I really hate it when I pick up one of my nesting trays and I get old nasty water all over me from tilting it too far. Oh yea there was a couple of prizzed hosta seeds I lost because I dropped them both on the ground and I could not make hide nor hare of them...hmmm whats hide nor hair??? Its something I learned very young but never got it....
and then there was the horrid attempt at winter sowing. I lost several expensive batches of seeds from very exotic Jap. Maples and yew's. I am sure everyone has those days we just don't want to admit it. I know some days i just don't even want to think about getting up but I make myself and I actually get something done ...ok 1/2 the time... alright a 1/4 of the time and thats my story and I'm stickin to it.
here is a pick of 3rd year dl seedlings. I am so p...ed off My labels failed on me so most of my 1st year dl seedling crosses have no info on who was their parents. Oh well I will have to name them as they flower and do a better label. any suggestions on a better lable? I tried sharpee marker on strips of mini blind, cut up butter tub lids and popsickle sticks. It seems nothing wants to stay put. I have yet to resort to greese pensil or #2 lead. I am proud of my babies but I wish I knew who's kids they are not just orphans. I do know their were no stella's.

Dave, I have been kind of half assed looking at label makers. So, if you come up with something I would be interested in seeing what they are. I think there was a coop a year or two ago on them. But don't know what kind they were. Very curious tho if anyone knows.

You probably are looking at the kind that make an impression or indentation on the colored metal tape. I think it is metal isn't it?

I think we all need to take a shot of whatever JB is on. How she finds the energy is beyond me. JB?????

I told you Dave on the other thread that I am too darned tired to work in a greenhouse if I had one. Well, gotta get busy, I am planting tomato seeds.

OK, Jnette...then you can join us at the tomato forum and tell us what tomatoes you planted this year. I am trying to figgur out which ones I have that must be sown, as too many seeds, and so little space/time continum.......ooohwee...and has anyone grown tomatillos? I would think to plant them the same as tomatoes, but if anyone has different info on this I would much appreciate it....thanks!

Howdy:
I just started digging into the label stuff and I came across this site it seems to have what I am looking for and works with my computer so no equipment to buy.

http://www.onlinelabels.com/OL875.htm

Now I believe it would be benificial to buy in bulk and split them up. I know I am talking about a co-op. But I also like to do stuff fast and loose so anyone up for runninga co-op or is this just and idea?

What I am looking at is Weatherproof Matte Inkjet OL875WJ (Inkjet Only). 100 sheets of 30 per sheet at 60 dollars its matt finish and waterproof. better than the ones I just pull out of the address labels. shipping for 100 sheets is 5 dollars. It might be just as easy for everyone to order what they need.
I am planning to use these for my dl's as it will correct my issue with names disappearing. Let me know what everyone thinks
Dave

it would be nice to find 6 people to go in on this one as it would be $11.00 each and abut 16 sheets of 30 each. Or 10 people at $6.50 each for 10 sheets @ oh well I know I am always looking fr the better and cheaper way to make things work. Maybe just regular avery lables will do the trick.
Just thinking out load

I am interested.
My So called fade proof paint pens are fading. And they have been in the GH only 2 weeks.

Ya know I've been playing with some waterproof labels that I use for my soaps and lotions. I print them off of my ink jet printer and I've never lost the type.

So I was thinking about using them for my labels on my seeds this year and my metal plant ID's.

Otherwise I would be interested, but I really want to try this idea out first.

Janet

I would be interested Dave, will have to check my printer.

Janet, what is it that you are using. Dave, maybe we wouldn't have to get anything if whatever Janet has would work for us??

Jeanette

You are right. It was a quick search and I found hte labels I am sure there are a good deal more out there. I thought the price was realatively affordable though. so janet where did your labels come from? "as i adjust the flood lights and turn the heat up"
Does the packaging have any manufacturer's name or other odd stuff to leed us to their source?
I have been chatting with Janette about some grafted Japanese Maples That I am looking at buying. some how we ended up on the subject of seeding a flat.
I told her about a piece of equipment that acurately seeds the tine seeds in the 505's (505 cells per 21"x11" tiny tiny cells). anyway they make a vacume seeder that picks up one seed per hole and holds it in place while the loose seeds can be moved back into the seed bin. It places one seed in each hole. no quess work or fumbleing with the microscopic sized seeds to sow into flats. Has anyone ever seen the size of a begonia seed? It looks like 1/4 of a pepper flake. Here is a link that talks about mecanization of planting and transplanting.
The process starts with a person placing flats and poys in 2 seperate hoppers. The machines lift out the exact number of pots and places them in a flat and onto a conveyour belt. the flat moves down the line where it is filled with soil. the excess soil is brushed off the flat and drops down to another conveyour belt that takes the excess back to the hopper of soil. the flat continues on and is drilled with holes the size of the transplant going into the flats. as the flat continues on down the conveyour workers place transplants into the holes and the flat continues on where the flat is water by an automatic waterer then the flats continue on to be placed onto a cart or other moving aid.

Here is a link explaining some of what I may have missed or a better explaination.
http://www.umass.edu/umext/floriculture/fact_sheets/greenhouse_management/jb_labor_smgr.htm

I got the treat of buying the left over pentas from parks plants. their facility is just outside tampa. They have 2 levels where worker place plants into their holes as the flats go by. they use styrofoam flats and move all the flats flooding water into the trough and bay . Its kind of like the boats in venice italy. They have 2 main troughs that go the length of the greenhouses and meet up at the other end of the head house. they fill the area where the new flats are going as well as the main trough and float the flats to the area they are going to. Its all concrete with 4 inch side walls to hold all the water and flats in. By useing concreat they can also disinfect each bay between crops. the greenhouses are about 150ft long and they must have 20 to 40 houses conected to the head house. for small orders they use either a rail system or the water to move the plants as they are sold.
The styrofoam flats are 2' x 4' and hold a lot of plants. The water is recirrculated so there is no waste and very little exposure of chemicals and fertilizers to the outside enviroment.
We would buy qt pentas for 10 cents each. They were the rejects from their operation. we would pick them up at their facility take them back to our nursery and plant them in gallon pots. right after they were planted we would cut them back and propagate the tips.
They must have had 20 to 30 ladies sticking the transplants into the flats going into their new homes.
I am sorry if some of this is redundant as it all is off the top of my head from memory...we all know I sometimes have issue with my memories. Partimerze kicks in from time to time.

Where were you working when you did this Dave?

It is interesting. Wish we could see the operation. Reading is good, but I like visuals too. LOL, Just me I guess.

OH Dave, If I only had a pepper flake of your knowledge I would be a happy camper. Question-- What is winter sowing? Dumb I know, but you always say, if you don't know Ask!! Would this be something I could do with my large planters? They are too heavy to move, so I usually just wait and put out bedding plants. Also,in my seedling flats, some of the seed hasn't come up yet, could I just reseed the cells? Haven't tried this before, I have used sterile seed starter so thought maybe, since the flats are taking up room without being full------ The sprouted seedlings have been up for over 10 days. I figure maybe the seed that didn't come up wasn't viable. Any thoughts. Room is getting pretty scarce. Thanks, Lee