Propagation: part XIV based on my own experience

My neighbors (2) have wonderful wisterias that are in full bloom every year. Currently in full bloom. I can provide photos if you desire. I could get you cutting if you want. You just need to tell me where the cutting should come from. I am trying to root Texas Laurel, blue and white flowers both.

I would think as soon as the plants are done blooming that is the time to take cuttings. But, with woody plants I don't know. Now I got pussy willows and I don't know where JB took the cuttings from but I put them in a pot of planting mix and they don't want to let go so I can pull them up, roots? And one has new growth!!

Do I have new plants? I am going to take them up and either plant them out or put them in pots soon. JB said the rabbits would love them and clean them up so I have to do what I can to protect them.

JB

I've just been hearing from some speakers at the last several seminars that I've attended that PW around here are used as sacrificial plants to save roses. In that they plant the PW several yards away from roses and the jap. beetles go to the PW instead of the roses, scratching head, have you hear of this?

I was just about to pick up some PW but I couldn't bear to see them eaten alive by the Jap beetles but now rethinking it if it would save my clematis then I might be more inclinded to maybe plant PW's.

I love to hear if anyone else has hear of this.

Janet

I heard if you have Jap beetles, you have a food supply of aphids.

food supply of aphids, what you mean I have a lot of aphids?

I did last year on a milkweed for the betterflies and there were millions of them, and that was the worst year I've had in my garden with those beetles too. the beetles ate everything in sight, especially my spiderwort and Clems

Janet

Janet have you done any research on the Milky Spores? If/when you do let us know what you find out.

Janet I am so glad they area growing for you. They are a hardy lot so do not worry about them. Rabbits were not bad this year, no doubt because I have those stupid barn cats out here driving me crazy. Oh well, if it saved plants, I will be happy. I do not like cats, but when you are stupid enough to rescue them you own them. How dumb can I be?

Jap Beetles eat the white PW but they do not seem to bother the black. The blacks are just so beautiful this time of year. All the green leaves and red/burgandy stems are so nice. They are bushy and stocky and just make a wonderful hedge. I am hoping my cuttings take hold. Those I lost in the storm had nice roots but they just did not grow in the Miracle Grow soil and the roots were not developed enougjh when the winds came and they all perished. WAAAAAAA! You win some and you loose some. Right?

Howdy:
I will check my books on what they say about ctab apples and texas laurell's. as far as what to take on whisteria I believe the soft green cuttings should root really easy. its such a monster that takes over. here we have sprouts in the drip line from the blosums...I think unless its seedlings. I never really checked it out so it might be fun to do. I will get you a pic of .... a tiskett a taskett a wisteria in a basket....la la la.....
It was the bigest pot I had a t the time I recieved it and I have issue with throwing anything away. but I will be glad to see my chinese lantern's go this week. I kept them in pots and they still managed to get out of the pots.
Ok whats a PW??? pussy willow? perri winkle? proven winners? sorry not on the wave length. I have been told some people sacrifice merrigolds for spider mites to protect their gardens. It can work as far as sacrificing a plant but when a bugs population reaches a certain level some leave and hunt for new food sources.
Aphids are so easy to controll just some dish washing soap and a spray bottle will knock them out. it might take a couple of sprays but it will work. I know it also works on oleander catterpillar. I believe it cover's their bodies with a film that doesn't allow them to breath through their skin. Oh yea baby aphids can be borne pregnant so its easy to get them out of controll quickly.
I have to do some packing but I will return with some answers on whats best for cuttings.
Dave

Thanks Dave and yes PW is for Pussy Willows.

Janet

ok I was not sure and I thought it might be. it makes sense that it would be a sacraficial tree as they are suposed to be real easy to root.
Dave

I stand corrected, your advice to try to root in the spring has resulted in root sightings of a couple of Xylozma's I cut from my X's house. I freely cut and take seeds when he is not home, since I planted all the stuff and bought it all too. lol My son lives there and he is 20, so he just laughs. (Of course it would root, It's the slowest growing shrub in North America.)

Hellin, what are those? Do you have a picture? Very curious now.

LOL, your interpretation of "freely cut and take seeds when he is not home" is kind of an oxymoron don't you think?

Am I the only one getting snow today? Where is Spring??

OMG.I WOULD HAVE A HEART ATTACK IF WE STILL HAD SNOW.

You poor darling. When does it stop there? I can not imagine. I am annoyed because the temperature goes down to the 30's and there is still a chance of frost.

Sharon: Is your Texas Laurel - Sophora secundiflora?
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/55062/

If so The only reference I can find is a close relative the Japanese Pagoda tree. All the one reference I can find to it is that it grows quite easily from seed if soaked to brake down the outer seed coat. I would try a pill spliter to barely nick the seed to allow moisture in and soak the seed over night.
If seeds are not available I would try softwood or Green wood cuttings. I am sure they will root its just a question of which process to use. This might be a good time to experiment with different kinds of cuttings to use.
You will need to look closely at the area you are thinking about taking cuttings from. A lot of my cuttings are intermediate or semi green wood cuttings. this sounds confusing but its easy in that its the wood just behing the really green tips. it starts to harden but not yet teking on the woody apearence.
ok rembrant I am not.... in the drawing you will see where the cut is just below the tip and out towards the end of the branch. see the pic. i will do some pictures to help you see what I am talking about. Its a bit more than just the tip being green wood. often it can be 3 or 4 nodes down from the tip.
like I said personally i would try both. I hope this helps.
Dave

here is a good picture of semi hardwood cuttings of confederate Jasmine. the hardwood on the jasmine is a tough bark where the tips are soft greenish. as you can see the farthest stem cutting is the greenwood or tip. and the rest are a darker color.
I will try to get some better pics to show a compairison of all 3 types. please keep in mind that each plant mey have a different coloration or look to the potential cutting stock.
Dave

Crab apples are a softwood cutting in june to july. seeds must be held at 60-65 degrees for 2 - 3 month's and then into the veggie crisper or meat drawer in the refridgerator. Hmmm I am picturing someone digging out the itty bitty seeds out of a crab apple. Of course seedlings would be different based on their parentage. There are over 600 different varieties of crab apples.
As far as I can remember most of the literature I have read tells us to take cuttings of the woody ornamentals in june or july especially the tougher plants like trees.
I guess my take on all of it is that try it whats the worst that can happen? compost material????
I will take pics of the cuttings I do on the whisteria. it will be next week I hope...
Please let me know if I missed anything or there is another plant you want info on.
Dave

Dave, whats that stuff you have them rooting in?

Yes, that is the right Texas Laurel. Thanks for the excellent drawings. I will give it a shot this weekend. They are in bloom.

Jnette it is an oxymoron, but he could honestly care less. It is my X's new wife that would have an issue with him giving me anything, so I go over and take seeds when I go over to see my grandbaby. But she shared my husband so I don't feel bad about getting some seeds or cuttings. She let the yard go, compared to how it was, so she can bite me. lol

Let me see if I can find a pix of Xylozma. I should take one at my old house. I loved the way it looked at someones house because you can shear it to any shape, but nobody told me that it would take 200 years to do it. It is about 12 years old now and cool. It grows as fast as Laurel's.

http://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=1614
I misspelled it, it is Xylosma, in the willow family of flowering shrubs, DG says. They are cool because they can be clipped into any shape, they grow really tight like an Olive Tree. Can be clipped, into an umbrella shape or other.

I am still working on the RU with Jules. So far close but I may be able to escape. All depends on my DH Doctor tomorrow. All tests are clear so no proof of blood loss. Why is he so anemic? Why is he so tired? I just answered that question. I will be there in mind only. But DH has been my best friend for 36 years of marriage and 9 years before that. See you all next time. Love you all.

Jeanette:
i have managed to make Miricle grow with water crystals and slow release fertilizer work quite well for me in almost all my growing. I use the one with 6 month's slow release.
I have to watch it though, I bought a bag in january that looked the same but was a 3 month slow release and the stuff must of had some other addatives that I was not aware of> I am sure I could come up with a good mix for cuttings but its a time and energy thing with me. Being the only one doing most of the tasks puts me in a time crunch some times.
To tell the truth I think i just got lucky in finding the correct mix that can be bought as needed.
Dave

Sharon:
you are lucky to find someone you connect with on so many levels I will keep your husband in my prayers
Dave

Sharon that is really tough doing one test after another. Is that what they are doing now? Good luck, I hope all is well in the end. that they find an answer.

Dave, draw me a picture on the MG crystals and fertilizer.

Sharon

sending healing prayer to you both.

Dave

have you tried coir fibers for a starting medium. I'm having wonderful success with it this year for my seedlings. Planting in it instead of seed starter mix or even the pellets has done wonders for ease of transplanting as well as it has eliminated the nats that I was getting.... drainage is wonderful.

Janet

Hi Janet:
I have not tried them. I find I can barely keep up with just using the MG. if I find myself with the energy and time I will try mixing a batch with it. besides perlite, osmocote and moisture crystals what else do you mix in? sounds pretty basic for a mix. I wonder how much shipping would be for a big bag of perlite? please let me know what all you do tocvdbuild you mix.
Jeanette: I will get you a pic of the bag of my last one. I go through at least 1 bag of 2 cubic ft a week and its about $14.00 a bag
Dave.

Never mind Dave. I dthink it is the same one I am using now. I got a 2 cuft bag for $12. But, I am not that happy with it. It clumps real bad. I could add a lot of different things to it, but for that price I shouldn't have to.

I agree about not having to adjust a bagged soil.I had a pic but my camera flipped out on me. I have pure white pics on all i took today... bad camera... I will get a pic tomorrow. I had the same issue with the more greenish bag I hated it. it had some blue on it but the one I like is almost all blue with a pic and some green.
Dave

Dave, when I told you to "draw me a picture", I didn't mean it literally. I meant make me understand what you were telling me about mixing the different soils. What were you mixing. That is all. Forget I said anything. I figured out what you meant.

Sharon I am sorry but you are making the only decision that you can, it is an easy one in the big picture. Have they considered ulcers? I know several people that have had bleeding ulcers and nobody knew for ages why they were tired and had severe anemia?

Do you guys get your crystals from the girl here that sells 5 lb bags cheap?

What girl are you talking about hellin?

She was/or is on the market place. I don't remember her name, but I can look, if you don't know. I think I saved it in my garden blog or something.

Did you read my response to the thing with my old house and the seeds and cuttings?

Yes I did. Was rather puzzled tho about the grandbaby but did not want to pry. Your business. Now also yes I looked at the plant and it is nice, but would like to see a picture of the plant itself. The whole plant. You talk about shaping the plant to anything you want, but all I see is the leaves that it is made up of.

I know I was looking for some pictures too.

I am not private, much at all, so it is fine to ask, since I brought it up. My 19 year old son, at that time, got his girlfriend pregnant and he just moved back in with his dad after almost 3 years, and he has his daughter 3 or 4 days a week, so sometimes I go over and see her or pick him up to go to church or out to eat etc. Then when I leave I pillage for seeds here and there. I cut off some rose pieces and took some vinca Mj and Algerian Ivy and Virginia Creeper pieces. That is about the extent of my thievery. I told my X before and he did not care. Now I just take it because they are mostly living elsewhere during the week.

Sharon ~ My prayers for you and your DH.

Jeanette and Dave ~ Boca Bob (who is a member here) is shipping a free sample of coir (first time buyers only) for the price of shipping. I think I will send in for it.

http://www.instagarden.com

And yes, it snowed again (and rained!)

Evelyn my heart bleeds for you, don't you get the sun too in summer?

Are you by Tahoe?

We do live in the Sierra foothills, west of Lake Tahoe, southeast of Placerville, in El Dorado county. And yes, we get hot dry sun, all summer, and it rarely rains. If it does, it is brief. I am just hoping for at least a month of "spring", before it turns hot. It is supposed to be 80 in Sacramento by Saturday, so maybe it will be 70 here...

hellnzn11 ~ Where is Rosamond? Have you been getting a lot of rain? Any flooding in your area? Hail?

This picture is from the 16th, when we had a sunny day!

Oh pretty and hopeful too. It is under there somewhere, waiting for the week end.

I am an hour south east of Bakersfield. By Palmdale and Lancaster if you know where that is.

My sis lives in Susanville. We are going to Tahoe for the first time on our 10th anniversary next month. Should we plan for snow then?????? hope not.

Hi All:
I am sorry for the past confusion. its been brought to my attention that I am sort of half listening and interpating way too much in my converseing with others. Its like the lights are on but I am somewhere else most of the time.
Soils: a good mix is like a perfect cake it takes all the right ingreadents at the right amount mixed in. the coir is for moisture holding perlite provides air space. also if you mix in some small chipped wood or rough cut coir (do they make it?) woild also help with the airspace.
Air space is usefull to the plant on that when its watered properly the old air is pushed out and ne air replaces it. I like to water my plants at least 3 times when I pot them up. what i look for is the air bubbles poping in the excess water. it means the air space is being evacuated and filled with new air. I realize the 1st watering would be fresh air anyway but by watching for the bubbles I know there are air pockets like there should be.
The airspace is key for proper root growth. roots need some air to function like plants do just not in the volume the upper parts need. does this make sense?
From what I have read the coir does all this without the need for addatives like perlite to give groper airspace. what experiences do you have with this? is this correct that all it takes i coir and the fertilizer to grow the plants? how much soil does 1 #2 brick make? I am ordering the brick just to try it to see how it workes and the cost compairison.
I look forward to your replies
Dave