Forgot to post the picture of Socks :)
ants
Seed Swap & Chat # 54 sowing and growing
Oh, no! Poor Socks. Did the vet think the teeth would need to be pulled if they weren't capped? I'm glad he has a good human to provide for him, would be harder to eat mousies without canines.
Thanks Critter :) He said we could have them pulled, but he wouldn't recommend it. He said it may eventually need to be done, but not right now. I just hate it for him because he is still a youngster (about 6 years old). His poor little chin is swollen & his bottom front gums are bloody & his mouth is all skinned up & he looks just pitiful :( He's my little 'titty baby' & I feel so bad for him. Good mouser too.
ants
Ahhhhhhhhhh poor kitty. Don't know if it woudl help or not, and you might check to see if you could use it on kitty first, but that baby oral jel is great for tooth pain, the problem would be getting it o a tip and holding it there for a couple of minute s on the busted teeth, but it doe s numb and help the nerves back down so they not so open to the air.
Did you do your monkshood in ice cube s and throw out? Forgot to ask how you sowed yours?
Star, I never heard of the ice cube thing until it was mentioned on this thread. I just sowed the monkshood in a styrofoam cup of potting soil & put a sandwich bag over the top & secured it with a rubberband & poked holes in the top (bottom of the cup too for drainage) & set it outside. I also just direct sowed some in a flower pot outside, but no sprouts there yet, only in the cup.
Socks only broke the tips of his teeth off, not too far up & split the one half way up the middle. He is still eating, though I have been giving him tuna fish since he did it. He acts like he is doing alright :)
ants
I'm glad to hear Socks didn't do more damage to his teeth... gums will be sore for a while I'm sure, but hopefully the split didn't reach the nerve. I'm sure he appreciates the tuna, LOL, although if he keeps demanding treats you might switch to tuna flavor cat food (cheaper and not so much salt for his kidneys).
Awww, poor Socks. Glad to hear he is doing better! I bet he's licking his chops after that tuna. lol
My kitty only gets the tuna water, but he loves it.
I'm running out of space now in my basement. The tent greenhouse won't go up till April 1st. And I'm feeling guilty about all the seeds I wanted to plant. Especially the Salvias. The seed longevity chart says 1 year. I hope that is wrong cause I really want to grow them.
Yesterday I planted my '03 impatiens ... it's a little test I'm doing, just with these seeds to see how well and long they germinate for. Last year they were down to 50% germination.
Off to work ..... sigh.
Ella, Thanks for the offer of more lisianthus seed. I actually still have
more that you gifted in the Piggy Swap. Just not sure I have the heart to
replant. Hard to believe that these actually wildflowers. I'm sure if I didn't want them to grow so badly I'd have them volunteering all over my yard!
Toofew, think I posted awhile back about some 7 yr old HH seeds one
of close-by DG'er gave me. HH had about 50% germination I was delighted as neither of us was sure I'd get any at all.
Cris... I know it a bit dis heartening to have to re-sow. Having to to do that with a bunch of stuff myself, but when ya do finally get some plants it celebration time for sure.
Stick the salvia seeds in the fridge, and they should last just fine.
Thanks critter.
Cris, what are HH seeds?
Absolutely horrible day at work ... spinal fluid anyone ... I need to unwind!
HH == Holly Hocks
that is my guess anyways... i use that all the time.... just faster than typing it all out. .
Thanks tcs. I knew it had to be an easy answer, I kept rolling the letters over in my mind, but to no avail. Now you know how brain dead I was after that horrible day at work. LOL
Hello All,
Am needing some help on lions tail plants they are growing super fast and know they are not a outside till after spring just need to know what to do , had them in tiny cells transplanted to pot and it is already about 8 inchs tall , does it send off vines cause is looking like a bush . Really wanted this plant now just don't know what to do cause leafs hitting lights and don't think can extend them any further?? Any grower's of this here , if can help would really appricate it.
Carolyn
I've only grown the annual form of Leonotis (Leonotis nepetifolia, I think)... it grows very tall very quickly and does not vine, although I would not call it a bush.
I'd suggest sticking it off to the side where it can receive as much light as possible without getting in your way, or putting it in a sunny window. Soon, you'll be able to plant it outside, so it should be able to hang on a little while longer even if it's not getting quite as much light as it would like.
I don't know about all Salvia seeds, but I've grown Salvia coccinea seeds that were about 5 years old and still got very high germination. They were even stored at room temps most of the time. However, I do give them a long soak overnight, up to 24 hours, just in case they are dry. If you do soak, be prepared for the mucilaginous seed coat to swell and make the seeds look like sticky frog eggs. It really freaks people out if they aren't prepared for it! :)
Ella,
Even "planting with the moon" I'm having to re-seed a lot of veggies
and flowers.
Does look like I'll have a huge bumper crop of dalhia's though.
Almost every single seed germinated & I have an entire flat filled
with 6 different cultivars. Think Piggy Swap lol
tcs has it correct - my HH abbreviation does stand for Hollyhock.
Signs of spring in my yard - baby blue-eyes are everywhere ! Not to
mention the daffodils :))
Ants - how is Socks doing?
Thanks Critter,
Just worried am gonna loose them and thought for some reason they put off vine with the flower on it I can put on top of the plant stand and turn over head ceiling light on . Those and the tomatoes haveing a race at which can out grow the lights , my aunt told me to take the tomatoes out from under the lights also so may put them all on top for few more weeks and pray for the best, just got to transplant the tomatoes once again. Hopefully next year I can hold off on them a little longer.
Was haveing such hard time with the flowers went to veggies guess got them on right moon cause the squash and tomatoes gone crazy.
Gonna do some anneuls tomarrow and see if they take off for me.
Carolyn
Socks is doing just fine. He has scabs on his face & looks really bad. His poor little chin is really bruised. But I can't keep the little brat baby in the house! Meows to go out until you just can't stand it anymore & have to let him out.
I grew the lion's tail, but they were already about 4 inches tall when I got them. I tried to over winter them, but they look dead. Have plenty of seeds though :)
I love dahlia's & just transplanted 5 of them into a big pot. Need to start the rest of them. Also bought some Le Baron dahlia @ Walmart & some Bleeding Heart, Bowl of Beauty peaony, pink lily of the valley, & Belle of Woking clematis. Knocked 3 more things off my want list :) LOL :)
ants
Ant's did your lions tail bloom first year?? I know will have to bring in if they make it but am trying to keep them till can put out , really don't know when safe to put out, Do you??
Carolyn
Yes, they bloomed the first year for me. I would think it should be a bit warmer before you put them out.
ants
Thanks Ant's,
I figure gonna be May before can put out just have to keep them okay till then.
Maybe able to do last couple weeks of april but just don't know what temp they would be okay.
Carolyn
Carolyn,
The Lion's Tail or Ear can be grown as a houseplant I believe, and can take pruning without harm, so if yours is getting rootbound you can just transplant it to a bigger pot and keep it cut back until time to put it out.
Carolyn, I grow Lion's Tail as an annual. Once in the garden they do get side branches, so I think it would be fine to pinch them if they're getting too tall. I've always started mine later, so I haven't had to contend with them getting too tall for the lights, but I wouldn't have any reservations about pinching them back. They look pretty with Morning Glories growing up them, by the way :-)
Hmm, so I'm wondering... anyone have things that they start inside, but can put out (gradually) before last frost? Running out of room here under the lights, and thinking there must be some things that would do ok, not necessarily now, but in a couple of weeks...some of the perennials maybe...?
Kelly, what have you started? There are several things that could go out if hardened off.
Out of the seeds i sown in that 50 cell flat on Saturday... i have germination on Salvia Sylverstris?? Dwarf Queen.
thought i had it in my spreadsheet... but i dont. **scratches head**
according to the 'directions' on the flat... it said to dampen the cells | do not let dry out ... blah blah...
well of course -- bits of fuzz on some seeds by the next day.
spritzed with peroxide and water... hope for the best.
made some of my "plant tonic" this morning... gallon jug, one 'eye dropper' of THRIVE and 'some' compost tea.
hoping for the best.
here is what i have in that flat....
tomatoes -- Beef Maestro, Napoli Roma, San Marzano
Salvias -- Subrotundo, Black & Blue, Dwarf Queen, Snow Nymph, Transylvanian Sage, Pineapple Sage, Yvonnes, Coral Nymph, Whopper - lighthouse, Dwarf Red Sage
Penstemon -- Electric Blue, Red Rocks, Violet Dusk
Black Eyed Susan Vines
Cat Nip
Purple Majesty Millet
Coreopsis Mahogany Midget
Abutilon Mix
Ptilotus exaltatus - Joey, Lambs Tail
Alternanthera dentata - Purple Knight
Ugh, just spent time uploading some of my 'haves' in the trade area. Also, pictures. All that takes time.
tcs, the H2O2 spritz should do the job. It has been working wonders with mine. I use it all the time now.
toofew... i was gonna ask...
I got 2 seed packets from you...
Salvia Transylvanica ... one also says "Blue Spires"
do you have more than one Transylvanica? or do you think they are both Blue Spires?
One is marked 2005 seeds and I think the other was 2007.
Terese, you don't have your Electric Blue's too warm do you? I can't remember off hand I think I sent you the pack they came in but the EB's are suppose to be a little cooler to germinate than a lot of other things you have on your list there I just kept mine at the side of the lights where it was cooler. I want these seeds to germinate for you :)
I've tried to grow the lion's tail several times and never can get it to germinate I finally gave up on it. The same with that easter egg plant.
>>I can't remember off hand I think I sent you the pack they came in but the EB's are suppose to be a little cooler to germinate than a lot of other things
no - you didnt - but i'm sure i have my packet from last year. if so... i'll pull that 'cell' out and put it elsewhere....
Lions Tail is new for me. a friend bought a plant at a flea market, and in the fall i took all the seeds in hopes to grow more for him.
I looked for my pack and there's no telling where it is lol I have a shoe box I keep my old packs in incase someone wants germination insturctions or me and can't find the darn thing! Seems like it said something like 68.
I hope you get some lions tail I've got my fingers crossed for you and your EB's!
Lea -- found the Summerhill envie...
Sow in moist potting mix, press seed into mix, barely cover. Keep at 40-42°F for 2 weeks, bring to 60-68F and bright light. Transplant to 3" pots when 2 sets of leaves appear. Germination in 14-21 days.
currently no sun, and i put in the Frig thermometer and it's ready 63°
I had the seeds in the freezer for about 2 weeks... hope that is enough, though her directions was to sow them, then chill them.... I just tend to "wing" things... maybe that is why i dont always have successes.
I read that seeds that need chilling actually need to be sown first in order for the chilling to work. See, the don't start to wake up until they get water. If they need warm, you don't set them in the sun first & then sow them. They need the warmth, the water, & everything at once.
ants
ants -- the prechilling seeds... i try to WS all of them.
the ones Lea and I were talking about... well, i REALLY want to see it grow/bloom. I had ONE germinate out of 21 seeds last year, from WS'ing... so i was trying something different this year.
Ok :) next year I am wintersowing everything. Only 3 things i planted in house made it. I lost my "mohogany midgets' :(
ants
Terese, those were 2 seperate packs. One was just Salvia Transylvanica , and the other was Salvia Transylvanica "Blue Spires". You asked for them both, lol. They were both from trades so I don't know if they are the same or not.
I didn't get the Electric Blue, but I followed those directions for my P. chocolate drops and it worked beautifully. Well, I froze the seeds for 24 hours first, then frig. for 3 wks, then they germinated at basement temp in the same plastic bag under the lights.
Famous last words for a seed that you really want Terese 'wing' things LOL If my babies make it looks like they will so far and yours don't I'll have to send you one or two :)