Plant propagation part XV based on my own experience

Dave, you know the hostas I got a couple months ago? One is getting ready to bloom. In a 3 1/2 inch pot. They really look great. I do have them under lights and in the house. So they are warm.

I see that 2 of the ones that I got last year are coming up. I had thought the dogs dug them up but they seem to be doing well. Gotta redo that bed.

What is it with dogs and hostas? Our black lab "Mutley" used to dig up my hosta...after replanting it 3 times, I gave up until he went to doggie heaven.

evelyn, sorry to be soo dense, but what the heck is an "SFG"?
Also, I do love that cat- what a beauty!

Jeanette thats great I am glad they are coming back.. I wish I knew why dogs like hostas. they seem to find a thrill in digging up the root balls on plants. Its like they are saying you care more about these, why did you not come play fetch with me instead. Its the ole 1 track mind, no matter how much attention they get they want more.

avai ~ not dense...

SFG = "Square Foot Garden"...a 4' X 4' redwood box with a bottom of hardware cloth to protect from gophers. That term was coined by Mel Bartholemew many years ago. We used to watch his shows on PBS in the early 90's, though I believed it is no longer being aired. Since then he has written a book, "The Square Foot Garden", and also a newer version of it as well. He has gone on to create a foundation, promoting this method of growing food crops to many "third world nations", such as Africa and India, but actually around the globe. For many with little land it is a viable alternative to the traditional "row crops", that have been taught for many generations, and with poor soil and little water.

Now I wish that we had put weed cloth on the bottom as well to protect the boxes from weeds growing through them. Also, he now has a soil formula that he suggests, but we created ours many years ago, with our own soil with some amendments in each year. This year, I have sifted out the roots, all the way to the bottom, and replacing some of the soil with an addition of vermiculite, perlite and peat. It has been slow going with heavy clods of dirt and roots, having to hack them out then screening the roots out. That is why it has taken me so long, but if the soil is heavy, with little aeration, the plants have little chance of looking and doing their best.

Once the soil is prepared, the planting is quite easy. I did have to remove the plants that I had in there, as they were just there temporarily through the winter, and will be planted out soon. I stuck them in all the gallon cans I could find, and then 4" pots...I will have to see what I can do with the remaining 2 beds. I may have to plant out the plants before I renovate their beds, as it seems like a good idea for all of them. I have done this before, but never with vermiculite and perlite, just Amend, peat, manure and other compost-type amendments. I am now in the process of making my own compost, but it is not quite ready. I have found a good nursery that has a good organic compost, that I am looking forward to using. As well, their peat and other products do not contain any extra synthetic fertilizers, such as Miracle Gro. It is fine for many people, but I would like to try and see how well I can do going with the natural ingredients. Eventually, I will not have to use the vermiculite and perlite, as my soil is very heavy clay, but with the organic compost, eventually the soil will be rich, moist and fertile....hopefully. That is my goal anyway. If one has good rich loam, then it may not need much in the way of additional fertilizing, at least that is what I am reading. "Feed the soil, not the plants"...that seems to be their motto...

This message was edited May 18, 2010 6:51 AM

I swear that sounds a lot like my lasagna gardens. Lots of worms in what was formerly Caleche, beige stucco colored soil. Soil that is colorless with lack of nutrients. When you dug, it up, if you could, there was not a worm in site. Still have some parts of the yard like that. Having rich soil is heaven. My clay does not drain.

I found that after a few years of watering regularly, that the hardware cloth rusted and the gophers got back in. I am now planting all the plants with chilis from the big Mexican bags of dry red chilis or black pepper, since a mouth full of pepper or eye full, can't be fun. Then every 2 1/2 to 3 months, I put the big can of Jalapenos in my blender, with water and some cooking oil, or murpheys oil soap and pour around my roses and other favorites like Hollyhocks, that they love so much.

Alright, Dawn is it? Does that work? I laid down the hardware cloth, no, double layer of chicken wire offset. BUT, used the caster beans too. Would love to take up the wire.

People say that works, though my friend here on DG says it does not in her Oregon garden Nursery.

Dave, I don't why, Mutley never dug up any other plants, but just the hosta...over and over until I got tired of planting them or replanting the one he dug up.

Dawn, you mean the Murphy's oil soap does not damage the plants? Yes the deer love all those things, and would probably not come for seconds for jalapenos.

It rained all day today, but the weather is supposed to be warmer for the next few days, then chance of more next week. It is possible that these tomatoes I have been trying to grow may die or get sick before summer's end. If they do, I'll just have to plant something else, maybe get a head start on winter veggies. (Who knows, wintertime might be hot???) Strange weather for us.

StillI doubt that we will escape the summer heat, as I cannot recall anytime when it wasn't hot for most of the summer. Is anyone else getting unusual weather? I know you mentioned high winds and tornadoes, but aren't they normal for your area? Now the extreme flooding, that was devastating, and terrible, a whole state.

Jeanette, how is your weather in WA? I know it rains a lot in the PNW. Have you had a lot of rain where you live?

Janet, how is Sarah doing?

Well it's late now so, good night all.

"Old gardeners never die, they just go to seed..."

Thanks for the explanation, Evelyn!
Weather? ours has been great! (Nebraska) I actually planted out my summer annuals about 3 weeks before the "last frost date", just because the whole Spring had been so mild that I couldn't imagine it would frost again (Hey! SOMEtimes I get lucky :-)). So far it has still been cool- 50's-60's, but a decent amount of rain, and in a week or so I can tell the garden will really start popping!

sorry folks to be out of communication, our internet provided died, took forever to get back on line

Thank you all for you prayers for the job and my sweet Sarah. She is still with me for little longer, acupuncture has helped her rear end enough that she is getting up better or at least better than she was. We are in the take it one day at a time right now. One day good one day not so good.

Job, well there were tons of folks there to interview. I like the doctor and her nurse (who will be like my safety net) and yesterday I was offered the job. I am taking a one day break today and tomorrow I start the new job.

The pay wasn't a lot higher (I miscalculated on my part, guess that is a sign of old age for me) but it offers so much more than the other job ever did or could have.. The benefits are great health insurance is wonderful which is what I'm needing as DH cobra runs out at the end of the summer when I'll be eligible to pick up insurance. So to go from worrying each day if this would be my last day to security and getting good health insurance I'm happy.

Janet

Oh that is wonderful news, Janet! Health insurance is really part of the salary package, as I have taken my last job for that reason alone, and it worked out well. We will still be thinking of your precious Sarah. I understand about the ISP (internet service provider), as it took a while to get a good one, even if our landline is slow, as they do not have any high-speed service here out on "the sticks". (We are 20 miles from the nearest town.)

I hope that you will be happy in this job as we spend most of our waking hours at work until we retire, then we create more work for ourselves, well some of us do, especially here at DG. If you like who you work with and for as well as decent compensation that is a major part of feeling good about life. There are so many people out of work now, so Janet you are so lucky to get this opportunity.

CHEERS! ☺

Evelyn

So happy for you Janet. What a relief. That is amazing to be offered the job so fast after so many others interviewed too. That is great.

Also, happy about Sarah. She will be fine after a recuperation period. Things are on the upswing for you girl. You got new plants, after a paycheck or 2, maybe you can get the hoophouse fixed.

Janet: Congratulations on the job. its difficult to find a good work enviroment. Like jeanette said maybe a bit down the road you can get the hoop house fixed. I know at one time in the past I was looking at a pipe bender that made the hoops out of the rail pipe from chain link fencing.
Please let us know if you decide to grow the garden as I have some extras I can send to you. nothing fancy but it all helps.
Dave

Nope the Murphey's Oil Soap must help it adhere through watering, but it is a common ingredient in Jerry's Mixers N elixirs, Here is a Deer buster Egg Brew

2 eggs 2 cloves of garlic w tbsp of Tabasco sauce and 2 tbsp of cayenne pepper and 2 cups of water, mix all of the ingredients in a blender and puree. Allow the mixture to sit for two days, then pour or spray it around your trees.

Here is one for a Garden Cure all tonic, for bugs and fast.

2cloves of garlic, a small onion, a sm jalapeno pepper
1 tsp of Murphy's Oil Soap
1 tsp of vegetable oil and warm water, pulverized and sitting in warm water for two hours. Strain the mix through cheese cloth or panty hose and dilute with 3 parts of warm water, add the Murphy's oil soap and veg oil, and pour into hand held mist sprayer and take aim bugs.

This message was edited May 18, 2010 7:32 PM

Dawn ~ Do you have deer where you live?

Not at all. coyotes. I just thought of you when I saw this. you can see why all those ingredients would be a good idea and cheaper than all the crap they sell.

One of them had urine in it too, mixed with other stuff as a repellent. I think with Castor oil and dish soap or something.

I think its just the human smell. in the movie "the Rookie" they used hair trimmings from the local barber shop to keep the deer off and away while the grass seed took hold and matured.
Castor being a poison also helps because animals have a built in warning system. I always found it strange that people would use castor oil for different things, home remedies and other things. I just shake my head when I see it growing. Its got a nice leaf I'm not sure if its just the seed pod or the whole plant thats dangerous.
Just some odd trivia
Oh yea more rain headed towards you in the NE. we are getting strong rumbles this am, so its back to nighty nightville
Dave

We are also scheduled for more rain. I guess that I should not be surprised by this, as many of you get a lot of spring and summer rains, but here in CA, we usually get the last of it in March or April and then dry and hot for the rest of the season.

Thanks, Dawn. I didn't think you got any deer. (Wish there were more coyotes...) I think the locals probably shot them, as they tend to attack their livestock, as we live in an AG county. A lot of people don't always follow the rules about what they shoot, but I probably would not complain if they shot more deer, as they have multiplied in the recent years. Permits are required and limits as well.

It sounds as if you have Jerry Baker's book, as well as his unique sense of humor. LOL!

Apple blossoms have started to bloom on May 7th. We just planted these trees a year ago.

Checking in to say Hi....yes it is still raining and I am so annoyed with the lack of sun and what it is doing to the GH plants. But, sales have really picked up and I am amazed at the amount of money people are willing to spend on shipping.
I had one happen the other day. I ordered a new begonia plant from one of DGs top 30 businesses and it took 12 days to get it, which I thought was alot but I guess it is not depending on when you order. But I ordered the 5th and got it the 17th so, well that is not the issue. The plant arrived and it was half dead. They must have watered it prior to shipping and it was so sick when it arrived I could not save it. Today removed the soil and tried to replant the roots and hopefully they have not been damaged.
I wrote the seller the day I received it and told them there was a problem. That was the 17th and I have not had a reply yet. I put up pictures of it on the begonia forum under Red Robin Rex Disappointment is the name of the discussion. I mentioned no names but wanted the begonia people to see what happens to plants when you overwater prior to shipping in plastic, etc. I did not go into too much detail, just enough to see what kind of response I would get. So far, not much has happened.
I am not going to mention names unless of course the seller decides NOT to reply to my emails. They now have two email from me and I a being a perfect lady about thisl. Things happen and can happen to any of us...........but we must be responsible sellers or then you are putting a black mark on all of us who ship plants from DG Plant Scout. I am hoping they are just busy. The plant was dropshipped so it was no their fault, it was the fault of the person who shipped and packed it. I gave them all the info needed to get back to the problem and reply to me. Now I will wait a few days then I just may have to lower the boom if in fact they choose to ignore my request for a replacement and/or an explanation. It was not alot of money but the principle.

JB: you are so right about proper shipping times. I worry when it takes more than 3 days. begonias being as they are need to be handled with care. I hate seeing where someone drop shipps some plant from another place. I like to have things in hand before I even think about shipping.
I hope they will make it right.
Spent the day in the er with Kim. tight chest masive pain. they checked her in and are running more tests in the am. I think everything is ok but still a bit rattled. so I may be off a few days.
Dave

Dave, I sure hope Kim is ok. Let us know.

JB, you have more patience than I do. 12 days is terrible. What was that song "A Slow Boat To China" ? I didn't think anything took 12 days any more.

What makes them one of the top 30? Where are they anyway?

However, I do think that hobby gardeners like ourselves are much more aware of the day of the week that we send things. i.e. Mondays and Tuesdays only so they aren't sitting somewhere over a weekend. But, I do not think the growers and larger companies pay any attention to that.

Jeanette is correct. customer service is lost when the companies get so large that they have such problems that are relatively easy to remidy.
I will know more tomorrow after some more tests.
Dave

Keep us posted, Dave. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and Kim.

Rain all day yesterday...partly sunny today.

Hows it goin' Dave, any results yet?

Would you all believe we have a freeze warning for tonight? 25 degrees. I planted all my tomatoes, peppers, fuchsias, etc. etc. Last weekend the forecast for the rest of the month was mid 40s at night.

Annoying isn't it?

Hi my dear friends, I hope Kim is resting and that her tests are all negative. Maybe she is sharing our panic attacks! Sometimes I feel like I am going to loose it and my chest gets tight, but it is not my heart, it is my anxiety. Anxiety can certainly make you very ill.
Prayers and Hugs old buddy coming your way.
Weather here is so pretty. It was really warm, almost hot, not humid but a nice breeze, not the wind that knocks you over. I just heard next week is going to be in the 90s again and I have plants to ship Monday. I hate that. Oh well, maybe they will get out of here in the evening and they will not be so warm at their destination. I am not sure where they are going without looking.
Back to my saga of the Red Robin Rex begonia. I finally heard from the seller and they were very gracious. Ask if I wanted another plant, or did I want credit. I told them I appreciated their responding (took them long enough), and that I would take a credit on my credit card or for their business, but I did not want another plant from that same seller. She must sell for them on consignment or something and I do not want to go thru this crap again.

Now I must tell you about my latest incident. I honestly think the internet sucks when it comes to communication. Here on this list we are so lucky. We all know and love each other. There is no jealousy, nothing but friendship and helpfulness. I am on another group where they were talking about using the internet to increase their hits on the internet using some of the different methods. One of the people who had been talking to me privately about propagating, etc. ask a question that I did not have the answer for and I told him I am so small I just go for quality and not quantity and I do not use or know anoything about these internet things. No problem , right?
Wrong! A person popped in and said I was insulting, the quality of their things is blah blahblahblah.......gave me a sermon about whatever. Anyhow, this was not the day for me to lash out, I was being a good girl and I wrote back and apologized. I did say I was lucky to know how to work the computer much less know all about what they were talking about, and I was not even going to learn due to the fact I do onot have that many plants to sell now, much less if I get more visability. Well, then they came back with another lecture on learning, etc. and now I am beginning to get angry because they are talking DOWN TO ME, and that is not acceptable. So, I decided to just let them talk and get the heck out of that forum before I told him where to go and how to get there. I swear, as I get older I am getting so nice...........I hate it sometimes, I used to love a good argument but I have found over the years it is not worth the effort when you talk to people who are so self absorbed they don't hear what yousay anyhow. In two posts, this person told me they are a teacher, a ghost writer and has many degrees. All that education and they still can not communicate with respect.
That is it for me today gang. Got my credit, got a lecture, and now I am going to get dinner. Hugs and love to you all. God has blessed me with you nice people.

Hey, Dave, your weather looks nasty again. Hope all is well and you are not in harms way. It may be south of you again, just heard bits and pieces of the weather.

JB, LOL, you have it all wrong. Most people can hardly wait to get old so they can get mean and crotchety. When I was working we would be waiting for the elevators and the older people would come along and shove in front of us to get on or off. My friend says "I can hardly wait until I get old enough to act like that."

And now you come along and spoil it all by turning nice in your old age. You're going to give us a bad reputation.


I know, you just don't want your blood pressure to go up. LOL, Good reason.

Jeanette

This message was edited May 20, 2010 3:10 PM

Hey Jen, I know what you mean about the old people at the elevators, but it is worse in the stores...........I have no tolerance for rudeness from any age person and I just speak up when it happens. Sometimes they get nasty but I soon put them in their place.

I think about the years I worked for the Office of Aging and how I walked the streets trying to keep track of the 33 drunks I had to check on everyday. Believe me, if I would have let them get away with anything I wold have never been able to do my job. What a time I had. I even carried a gun when I went into some of the areas. I had a permit to carry my little 38. Thank the Lord I never had to use it. I would hate to have to shoot someone. But, if you pull it you shoot it............or someone else will.

I am only 5 ft. 2 and no one ever thought I was as mean and nasty as I was when I got angry, but they soon learned not to mess with me. I think I used up all my anger at that time of my life because I mellowed as I got older.

When I was working on the horse farm I was the only female and the only American. The rest were Mexicans, except for the owner. and one other man. You think that was easy since I had to give them orders and they do not take orders from women unless you talk to them with the same attitude they talk to you. So, believe me I am a walking, revolving B***** if I have to be, but it is just not becoming in this environment. I left all my anger and hate with those who are unhappy and have nothing else to do. LOL....
Now I am going to bed after I fold the laundry. For one person I sure wash alot. UGH!

.love and hugs. JB

Hi All:
Kims home no heart issues don't have an answer but TG its not a heart attack.
Jb sounds like you had a eperson that I refuse to deal with they are so arogant except when they need something...pound sand... is my answer to the negative sobs....
we had a rocky night 4 twisters out in the middle of no where thankfully. softball sized hail and 4" of rain in a short period of time... all is well here
I should know the computer stuff from a few classes but it never stuck so i am totally incompatent on anything outside the web sites and email. I guess its a need or want to know and I am not to interested in knowing it. thats what tech guys are for. I grow flowers.
I am so greatfull kims home and doing good. she is taking the day off tomorrow so thats great.
More later
Dave

JB first off I am feeling you sister. The older I get, the less I want to deal with rudeness. People don't have to like me, though it is nice if they do, but how hard is it to be civil to another human being? I too worked in a shop that was all Hispanic, males. I was young and not the boss so they would sit at their machines in the wee early hours and call my name. I would look up and there they were sitting at a threading machine with their morning Piss H>O, working away.

I finally had another female that worked in the company, who was a daughter of one of the bosses and I told her, 5 minutes later he was called in the bosses office, over the loud speaker. That was in 85 though.

I think people take liberties when on the computer, to say and act in ways they may not do in person.

I am the nicest person and I have posted things a couple of times here, that just solicited horrible hostility toward me. I did not even know why? One time I posted in many forums that day and coincidentally this one lady, kept showing up in the same threads. I thought it was hysterically funny and said, "You and I keep meeting in the same forum threads, am I going to need a restraining order"? lol

People were sending me Dmails in rapid fire to ask me what this ladies problem was? I did not know she was responding on a thread, saying, "You have a problem, you are crazy.....


Good news and answered prayers Mr. Dave.
Humor does not translate in type, I think.

Dave, so glad Kim is not having heart problems. That is good. Now for what is the problem.

Well JB, you couldn't have been too bad, you are still with us. LOL.

And Dawn, I can tell you what the problem is because I have run into it myself with people who should have known me better. It is that email is not a communication tool that lends itself to actual expression/voice inflection, so people take things the way they feel. i.e. If they are having a bad day and you write something to them they normally will twist it to something entirely different than what you meant. And then are off and running with it.

So, sometimes it doesn't matter how diplomatic you are, if the person, or, as on here, it could be any number of people, are in a foul mood, you are going to hear about it.

I agree with jeanette: Its why I sometimes apologize for how I think my posta sound as I am having a difficult day for what ever reason.
Its a shame that people don't have the work ethic or the social scills that we used to all learn as kids now its me me me and to heck with how people feel about what I am saying/doing or posting. the good news is it always comes back around.
Dave

You are so right Janette, that is it. What can you do too except be yourself. The ones that love you and you love, know you would never say something to offend someone, even if it sounded that way. Some friends have called me on the carpet to say, Dawn reread your post please, and you may not see what you thought you were saying.

I found that I can not post if I am in a hurry when it requires time or sensitivity. If I need to be there for someone in a post, I have to wait till I am not in a hurry so my heart shows through.

Absolutely right Dawn, and I am probably worse than anybody. That is why I try to reread my posts. And even then they don't come out the way I mean them some times. I read them the way I mean them and not the way someone else is going to read them.

I guess that is the answer. To try to put yourself in the shoes of others when you read them back. Also, I find that I should never post when I am upset with something one of them have said. That is hard to do also. To stop yourself.

I agree Jeanette, it is hard to put yourself in someone elses shoes especially when they are smaller shoes .... LOL .... sorry could not pass on that one....
Dave

Dave, what are you still doing up? Just being silly aren't you? Go to bed!! Right now!!

yes ...ummmmm night night

I have more fun the way I begin my day. I sit with my coffee after I have fed the animals and read what you guys talked about the night before. Of course, I am in bed when you all are having such a good time. The last post was 2:18 a.m. and I was in dreamland. LOL

I always feel so much better when I hear I am not alone in my misery. I do get angry at times but then we all do I suppose. The statements about the commjnication on the internet are so right. I really think sometimes we would be better off without it., but then I would not have you all.
How is Kim today, Dave? I feel sure she was just having a panic attack. They so look like heart problems.
Another beautiful day and I have so much to do outside. I do not have any tomato plants in the ground yet, been too cold.........need to get squash for the birds and tomatoesfor us.

Also, I have the big field of baby trees to cut today, so I had better get moveing. Thanks again for your wonderful words of kindness and support. Love ya. JB