Propagation: part XIV based on my own experience

Yes we get sun in the spring through fall but the winter months not so much, as the house casts a wide shadow. I do agree with the idea of thyme, now just to get enough to get going. we will see what the budget is. I am thinking at least 4 per stone if not 6 to get a good coverage. hmm oh well we will see how fast we get coverage. More news as it comes in
Dave

How much do you have Dave? How big an area do you have to cover? I wonder if it wouldn't be better to get some bulk seed??? Have you considered that? Just sprinkle it in between the stones or pavers and then rope it off from traffic for a while.

I need to look at my list of ground covers good in hot, dry summers. I know there are some that smell good when lightly walked on. Are you thinking light traffic or heavy traffic Dave?

Sharon that story is so typical of the stuff that goes on in the world today, but it makes my heart sing when the little guy gets recompensed for some big, fat cat, trying to screw the little guy over. Thanks for telling your neighbor too. I don't remember what tracks we were looking at up in the foothills overlooking the smoggy strip, just to the South of Vegas. I kept saying, Where is the fire? I don't see it but you sure can see the smoke. That is where they told me about the dynamite for the tree planting and how much they charged by the truck load to haul the rock out.

Holy guacamole, I was shocked. Foreign idea to me. The Western ground feels like you won the Decathlon, when your soil has worms, doesn't it. I pray your hubby is doing better.

Too bad we can't have someone in Barstow have an RU, so we could meet in the middle. lol

Jnette ~ There is a lemon-scented thyme, but it is taller than one would what for stepping stones. The lime thyme would be a good choice as it is a beautiful golden-colored low growing one, but possbly still a bit large for stepping stones. Thymus 'minus' is the smallest, but, of course, slow growing, and very nice for stepping stones. Lavender thyme is a bit frilly, though not too tall, kinda' fluffy in appearance, delicate looking and lovely flowers late spring - early summer. 'Pink Chintz' thyme is an excellent choice, lovely flowers, a bit faster growing and nice and low-growing. (I have them all!)

Evelyn

I have the chintz' and a couple others that I have had so long I don't know what they are. Dave does a lot of research on things like this so I am sure he will pick the right one. As long as it is low and rugged. I like fragrance myself. But, the amount of traffic means a lot.

LOL, maybe his wife will over rule all of us and pick something else totally.

lime thyme.... oh I would love to have that, I just picked up some orange thyme and can't wait till folks tell me they can smell it (I lost my sense of smell).

Do you know of any place on line to order it?

Janet

Good morning:
I don't have any thyme yet. hmmm im all out of time... am I late???? lol
I was looking at one that has a redish flower. I could not see the plant itself though just a small pic in a catalog. she is real picky ...but does not care what it is... try and figuire that one out.
we went rock shopping yesterday and stopped by a nursery to get her to look at some possible plants. of course she found the only plant with out a name tag. its in the sedum family so its going to be a fun hunt.
I have about 6 cells of moss I will try. they just came up volunteer. one has flower spikes up its kind of cool to see. of course they are happy little things as they get a daily watering and are in a shaded area with high light coming in filtered.
The issue we have is she is cheap. an accountant who wants it all for very little.
we did find some flagstone for a front sitting area that was 12 cents per pound. acording to the store a ton will cover 75 sq ft. so its figuireing out how many sq ft we have in an area with 2 straight sides and one side that curves from one corner to the 1st one. I guess its 3 sided as it only has one 90 degree corner.
as you can see we have our work cut out for us. in the pic there is a curved 6" curb that comes from the house (under the 1st panneled arch) and curves around to the japanese maple. between the curb and the sidewalf the motor cycle is sitting on is the area we are putting in the flag stone sitting area.
we are planting red tip photinia Photenia frazerii and something in the front of them. another I'll know it when i see it.
argh @#$# more pics to follow as we progress.
Dave

Hey Dave, I am so happy, my little hosta I bought from you has just started to push up. I thought it was dead but it is still alive and growing. There is a God. Have a good weekend everyone. Hugs. JB

JB: I am so glad to hear about his appearence. Its been a wierd winter. I think i lost my prized dwf crape myrtle. I have others coming on but he was perfectly arranged in branching. I hope he still comes back from the roots.
We lost a lot of pampas grass around town. the late hard freeze really hammered a lot of plants. I am just now seeing just how bad it was.
Dave

OK, Dave, what do you wonder about? Am I telling the truth about our unexpected snow storms in April? The pictures that were posted were current and up-to-date. I have no reason to look for sympathy. I have been quite frustrated in being able to get my gardening chores done, as each time I think I will have a chance it will rain or snow, keeping everything soggy and of course the weeds are growing so well. If you want, I'll keep to the topic at hand, and just post them on the weather forum. I should have already had my cold-weather veggies in months ago, and now putting in the warm ones, only it has not been warm, with the exception of a few days, and of course, they were followed by cold weather, so no point in rushing them. I will just "go with the flow", as they say.

We live in the Sierra Foothills, at 3500' in elevation, with snow every year, though usually ending in March, and then hot all summer, with sometimes a week or two of spring-like weather before it turns hot. It is supposed to be warm on the weekend, and they are saying no storms for next week. They have predicted 80 in the Sacramento valley by Sunday, so maybe we will get up to 65-70°.

Have a great day, all! ☺

There was a big inventory auction at one of tha largest nurseries in NJ today and they closed it after a few hours becasue they were not getting the prices for the plants and trees. To stop an auction of that size is unheard of. Wow.

Also, I heard on the radio that one of the Home Depots were selling plants for 5 for $10.
Can you imagine how much they have too move to sell them at wholesale or less?
Things are worse than we can imagine.

HD had similar sales last year...I thought that I was getting bargains...pink muhlies were going for the same price 5 for $10.00...Since smaller ones by mail order were selling for $14.95. Well they were pot bound and though I tried to tease the roots out, they did not grow well. The wholesalers are the ones who dictate these prices, and they are able to unload their slower sellers...many times pot bound, as thay cannot do anything with them either. If you are a careful shopper, you can get a bargain, by knowing your soil and looking at their roots.

Evelyn: My wonder was how you were doing with all the wacky weather. I am also curious as to how much our weather people streatch the truth on the weather in your area. I did not mean to sound like I was questioning your weather updates. I just tend to get concerned when my friends are dealing with problems of any sort. I know we are all happiest when we can get our hands in the soil and plant,weed and do our ususual gardening activities.
I feel like everyone on this thread is like family to me, which is why I worry so much.
Home depot had the same sale here but when we went this morning they were sold out. I wonder what they had. I know my favorite sale is lowes fall blow out right before they get their christmas trees in. I can usually buy most plants at $1.00 per gallon. Last year I got the photenia we planted today. year before that I bought some fantastic japanese yews. I will try to get pics of the work that was done today.
I thought I would need to take my wifes temperature today. she actually bought 2 - 5 gallon knockout roses. They were $29.95 each. this is the same lady who is freting over $2.00 plants for a walk way. Of course we will need something like 168 plants for the 3 - 4" pots. which does figuire out to a lot of money.
I think we settled on me trying to propagate the plants for the project so its economical. I just have to remind her every now and then that its a work in progress.
I know we had one of the greatest days today. I am so glad tax season is through.
I want to thank everyone for their help and advice on what to do with our walkway. sometimes I feel so dense because I should know some of this and its crickets in the brain...the lights are on and no ones home.
I will post pics of the project from today.
Oh yea I am hopeing to get some pics of my specimines in the day lily bed. I noticed 4 different spikes with nice buds.
You are right about watching what you get on some of the specials. I know a lot of the time we end up with some nice suprises and then we sometimes end up with someone elses problems. Evelyn is correct about knowing your roots. it pays to know what a good healthy root system looks like. Does any one want me to try to get some pics of what to look for and why?
Have a great evening and a wonderful sunday
Dave

YES!!!!!

I will get some posted next week. i will try to avoid the picasso imitations

You know my grandma was the most special person and the greatest influence of my life, I believe. She was a gardener, she was kind to everyone, showed compassion to all, she loved to bake and cook and would help con artists again and again, because they seemed like they needed help. Her entire church was invited to her little cottage for dinner, a family or a person at a time. Christmas she baked for all the people at her church.

I am a gardener, not a great one, nor is my garden fantastic, but there is some quality that I find in most all of the people that I've met here at DG. They too have a willingness to share from their wealth of knowledge, ideas, products, seeds, plants etc. They encourage each other and there is a bond that seems to be as real as a neighbor or friend, as if we were near.

I appreciate all the traits that you gardeners have that reminds me of my Grandma, who I still miss, after many years.

Hellin, I talk to my mom when I am working out in my garden. She was a real gardener and has been gone now for 12 years. But, when I get stumped on something I ask her and get the answer.

I suppose if anyone were listening in they would probably think I had lost it, or was crazy or something. Maybe would just think I had a Bluetooth in my ear. Or whatever they do with those things. LOL

But, it is comforting for me knowing that she is with me, we spread hers and my dads ashes above my house on the hill.

But, you are right. When we need answers about certain plants, right now I am working on ornamental grasses for my niece and myself, we turn to the threads on this site and normally get a lot of help with the things that are new to us.

Jeanette:
I am also into the grasses. Its always been a chalenge to find some of the newer ones. I have been looking at the new red miscanthus.
There are a few of the non hardy grasses that are good looking. The one thing I really want to find is a nice red one that resembles red pennisetum, but hardy in my zone. which grasses do you have so far for your collection? I have some little bunny in cells that are real close to being ready to transplant into 6" pots. I will try to see what else I have out there.
Have a good night everyone
Dave

Dave, I will take a look tomorrow and see what I have. I bought a lot of seed this year but have been reading up some on them and apparently there are certain times of the year that you don't plant them.

Oh well, live and learn. I will let you know what I have. I winter sowed a bunch and it has been so darned cold that a lot of my stuff has not germinated. I am about to bring them in the house and to hell with that.

Grasses are tough for me because of rabbits, but I also love them and am trying some new ones, for me from seed too, this year.

I think that it is a special thing you have Jnette, you with your mom's garden inspiration.

hellin, I have never grown grasses before. I was loaned a grass encyclopedia from my niece's husband and it sounds like you have to germinate some grasses at odd times of the year. Anyway, I have winter sowed several but it is so cold at night that they are not doing very well. Don't know if it is that, or like the book says that it is the wrong time of year.

Good morning to all:
Jeanette: What denus are you dealing with? I try to stay withing the Miscanthus, Pennisetum and Cortaderia genuses. they seem to be among the most common grasses which gets kind of boring.
I have not had success with the winter sow method and it might be our wacky weather here. Its hard to have a consistent temperature pattern. Most seeds are waiting for the big rush of spring weather, both moist and warmer, which I am guessing evryone knows.
I figuired out one of my issues I had with my cuttings I bought from NC farms was temperatures ups and downs in my green house. I had decided to plant a few baskets to get them going earlier this spring. when I touched the soil from the rooted cutting it was ice cold.
I believe the keys to seed starting is in temperature moisture and light. Once the seed has put on any roots its up to us to keep the temperatures a nice toasty temperature for the roots to take off and grow. I believe I am guilty of getting germination to happen and then either too cold in the garage or not enough light, which unfortunately I knew it might be an issue but I chose to ignor.
I have a flat of beautiful dianthus I grew from seed. Unfortunately my thick headed pride had told me "oh it will be fine". Well they have a great root system and a nice top growth, the stems from the soil to the foliage are so weak its not funny. Now I am faced with the harsh choice of wait and see if the stems will ever get big enough to suport itself where the top wont snap off when handeled.
I think the temperatures have a lot to do with your success with the grasses. Are you covering the seeds with soil?
Here is a pic of the leggy dianthus that I am on the fence with. they have such a nice root system I think I am going to try to get them into some 4" pots and see where they go from there.
the pic is of my leggy dianthus cell. and the tray is next.
I hope this helps
Dave

Well, I just don't understand why everyone else had good luck with theirs and mine aren't even up yet. It looks like I wasted all of my seed. Just makes me sick. I should have known better but let myself be talked into trying it.

Oh well, live and learn.

I am not sure whjat I am looking at on your picture Dave. Dianthus grow like what you are discribing. I have some carnations that are like that. Very nice, but they flop around too. It looks like your dianthus is really super pot bound if I am reading that right.

Dave, have you tried Epsom Salts on the dianthus? Do try it.

My night time temps get low too, and the grasses are just sort of sitting there, alive but not doing much, but it got warm this week and suddenly they seem a tad more alive.

I did blue oat Grass, a few other odd ones that I had not done, plus some Maiden Hair grass, which is staying small, but is alive and Black Moudry Fountain grass. All seem to be alive at this time and the nights have still been in the low 30's and even a few high 20's. I did not know grasses were funny. I have had horrible luck with Bunny tail (hare) grass, germinating in the past, so may be that is why.

mornin:
Its time for roots 101
Yes they are to tight in the tray. the stems below the top and above the rootball are thinner that I like. The root zone is what I like to have white and fuzzy with lots of hairs. This is a sample of what I like to have going into a bigger pot. just before they are too pot bound.
I have found that most grasses prefer annight time temp of 65 and up with 70 - 75 being optimum. The pic shows some flat tan roots right besides the green fertilizer prill. These are dead roots, if watered too much they can become a black color aand smell to high hevens. more to follow
Dave

This message was edited May 4, 2010 10:18 AM

This pic shows a root bound pot where the roots are circleing around the pot. these need to be seperated. some people cut them and rip up the rootball. I like to pull the roots apart and cut in a couple of spots to encourage some roots into the new area. as you can see the newer roots are a nice white color.

Here is a pic of some nice roots on a hosta TC plug. notice they are white and tan. I like to have white roots

here is a pic of the dianthus seedlings. they are ready to go into a larger pot. I tend to leave these alone and let them grow as they want to. The roots ar filling the soil area with nice white and fuzzy with root hairs. Microrhyzae are tiny fungi present in this area and they aid in the plants absorption of nutrients. I shoot for this look on all my plugs.
If you pull a plant out of a pot and it smells bad kind of like something is rotting, it is. the roots are rotting and most likely are being attacked by one of the soil borne disease's. I try to target the soil borne diseases when I am trying to clean up this issue.
Most of the soil borne diseases are oprotunistic. They are there just waiting for the plant to be weak or stressed in some way. By keeping our plants well fed and propely watered. I hope this all makes sense
Dave

The area that looks saturated is actually wet root hairs. If you look at the bottom of the root zone you can see a couple of rrot hairs coming off the root itself.

Dave, do you use Mychorrizae? When do you think is the best time to use it? When they are small plugs, or when you up-pot them into the permanent home? I have some water soluble that you put in the water when you water them, and also some that you sprinkle on the roots when you pot them.

I got them in a coop last year. From what I have heard and read, it seems like root blast might be the same thing?? Do you have any knowledge of that?

Hi Jeanette:
I am not familiar with root blast. I use it when I am doing my plugs. I am thinking of adding it to my fertilizer progran though. I get the mychorriza from the concoction I use on my growing cart. It comes in with the Terrantula and pirannah that I buy. I am not sure which has what but between the 2 of them I get some awesom root action. My biggest issue lately has been the lack of flower but I believe I have fixed that with the rounded liquid peters/miricle grow I am using weekly.
I would use it on potting things up. Its suposed to grow once its established in the soil. I am curious as to what the label on the root blast says? I used up most of my transplant booster when we planted last weekend. I know I need to give them a blast of mychorriza as they were homedepot specials. we all know how much product doesn't go in the product. Its just grow'em up and blast'em out.
I guess what I am trying to say is to apply it when you are not sure of the presence of or the lack of. I know a healthy root system helps for a greater plant.
Dave

Ok, guess I was thinking of my plants which are almost all grown from seed.

When I am starting seed I use the mix to water from below Kelp, pirrahna and terrantula. It really helps with rooting. I do recomend a weak solution of a good all around fertilizer also for seeds.

I got some seeds and fertilizer from the Seedman, and he recommends his fertilizer to soak the soil before you put the seeds in it. And then to use it half strength after that.

Maybe I will try that on some seeds that are pretty hard to germinate.

Please let us know how it works for you.
how is everyone this am? I am ok just a good case of the flu bug.... anyone want it I am sharing ???

we are moving to:

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1094442/

Please check in
Dave

Dave, I have a question...I am not familiar with "Tarantula" and "Pirannah"...are they fertilizers? What is on their labels, or is there a website that you can point to me so I can read up on them?

Thanks! ☺

They are name brands of mixes available from a hydroponics place on line. its a big operation so they know there stuff. here is a link to their ebay site
http://cgi.ebay.com/Tarantula-Beneficial-Bacteria-25-Grams-/110497973493?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Fertilizer_Soil_Amendments&hash=item19ba3144f5

I prefer sunset hydro because I have been buying from them for a couple of years. but they are all the same product. they will carry the pirahna as well and most likely have organics for you as well just ask.
I love their products for roots and general startup. I switched to MG for all purpose fertilizer feed. a fish emulshion would work also I am not sure how much it will take to do the right job though.
i get my kelp from these people they mix a gibb acid in with the kelp.
I hope this helps
Dave

they say:
They say
"Fulvic acid is the most plant-active of the humic acid compounds. It's a plant growth stimulator that increases plant metabolism, nutrient intake and improves root development. It is naturally produced in soil by composting and can rejuvenate soil. Fulvic acid is an excellent supplement to fertilizers to improve nutrient absorption. Fulvic Acid is a vital nutrient for soil bacteria like Mycorrhizae. Mycorrhizae boosts the plant root system and helps plants absorb much "

I have humic acid as well as kelp, and that is what I use for starter fertilizer. I don't think I would need anything else, but I was just curious...