Plant propagation part XVIII based on my own experience

What are burgs?

When is the best time to transplant Lily of the Valley?

So far today, my area has received a few short showers.

Hoping to visit my daughter today and go to the Christmas Tree Shop.

Mary

Dawn, my grandson is taking his college on line and he is near enough to the college (a branch) that he is working there. LOL. BUT, it is expensive and he has tons of homework he has to send in. The college is one of the main ones in the state. I think it is expensive but when you consider all the expenses he doesn't have because he doesn't actually attend classes at the college.

Even our little rural town has college classes on line at the community center because that is where the computers are. They could take them in their homes. These people are being retrained tho because the mine shut down and they don't have jobs.

So, you see, you can take college classes right at home. All you have to do is go to the college and work with a councilor to determine what to take and what it costs. Any more there really is no excuse not to do it if you want to work at it.

avianut, is it Jillann? Like I said, that is even better. That sounds great. So hope you get it. Keep us posted. Wonder why it takes them that long to go thru the apps. But you know, in Seattle, my daughter was telling me you apply on line and the computer apparently culls them out, and one wrong answer (just on the application) one they don't like, kicks your app out, so you never get to talk to a person.

They have kiosks in the malls to fill out applications that way, or you can fill them out at the company where you are applying, that way, on the computer, or you can fill them out at home. Again, the computer culls them out. Is that sick or what????

Mary, burgs, are Brugs. Angel Trumpets.

Howdy:
wow congrats on the new degree. as far as college goes it is possible to do. I did find a loop hole a few years back... i don't know if its still there but its a good one. as long as you are taking 6 hrs of college you don't start making payments for 6 months after your last class. i knew one guy who was a professional student. he had 3 or 4 different degrees from the same 2 yr college. he would get close to graduation and then start a new degree program while finishing the last one.
a city Job is well worth the effort.Can we say Benifits.... retirement is also great.
it sounds like evelyn has the phlox. I do sell small quantities also in the market place. I have not added the newer stuff yet. Dmail me what everyone is wanting and we can work something out.
I hope I have not missed anyone
Dave

Well you guys, seems all I get done any more these days is watering and fertilizing. You would think I would have time to clean my house wouldn't you? Guess I will work on it today. LOL

Whoops!! Forgot today is fertilizer day. I'm telling you, if it's not one thing it's another. But, I am going to try my steamer again today. LOL.

I also have a lot of my wintersowed plants that I didn't get planted but it is too hot to plant them now. Will wait another month and see. Some of them are blooming already. Rudbeckias.

Dave, Sharon was talking about her cloner. Do you remember, did she say if the stems of her plants are in water? Is her pump in side the cloner in water or outside on an airstone? If the roots are in the water then I would say it is a bubbler. If not, is it an aeroponic system?

Jnette ~ Yes, the housework can get put on the "back burner", when keeping up with watering and weeding. At least the outside looks nice and tidy... Yesterday I had to steam the kitchen floor 3 times, and the third pad was dirtier than the first one. (It was 3 days since I cleaned it last!) I does help if I do it every day...also, do not put the pads in your dryer or use any fabric softener for best results. Still, I do not have all the weeds done and was watering several beds at once...and trying to keep up with them. at least I have timers on 2 of them so I don't overwater and the water won't run down over the beds. I need to get all of them on the better timers. What is the best kind to use?
You seem to know a lot about cloning...what projects are you working on right now?

Dave ~ Do you have your watering on timers? What kind do you use?

Mary ~ I only have a *very* small amount of creeping phlox, but I can send you a little bit this fall, if you wish. D-mail me if you are interested, OK?

Jillann ~ Ok, so let us know if you get an interview...

Dawn ~ Maybe if you start a few, or even one online course, maybe your DD might follow suit. (Just a thought!) There are so many interesting courses...maybe even botany or something else in which you have an interest.

Hi Jeanette:
You are right about it being a bubler. I think sharon is AWOL ... she said it was a cloner so I am wondering if its one of those things that sprays mist on the rootzone while the roots develop?
I try to do one thing every day to make forward momentum. yesterday was quite the interesting day. We built a new bench for the GH. I had the measurements exactly, so it ended up we had to force it in. and wouldn't you know it, ....I was on the inside behind the bench, so I had to do some acrobatics to climb out. boy it was tough to climb out. I was so afraid the bench top slats were made out of 6" pt pickets. I know I will have to recover in a year or 2 but I found a sturdy plastic 2'x4' grated top from one of the big wholesale hort suppliers.
Today I got 15 flats ready to sow or stick so now on monday I can start cutting some of the plants I need to. I think as long as I am moving forward each day I will be in better shape come spring next year. I have most of the nursery ans GH on auto watering so thats a big help. I found 2 different timers at HD so I am able to run the mist house every 3 hours for 5 min and the nursery 3 times in the day.4:00 noon and 8pm for 20 min.. I have noticed that I need to trim a few things back as the water is blocked causeing me to have to hand water and thats DEFINATELY NOT the idea ....lol
well I am taking it easy the rest of the day.
Have a great day
Dave

Hi all! Looking for suggestions in regards to clear waterproof products. Yesterday at the Chrustmas Tree Shop I found nice sthick solid glass soap dishes that i plan to use for plant markerlels ... I would like to print a picture of the flower and its commoin name ... glue it to the bottom .so the picture and name will be visible through the top ... I want to seal the bottom with a clear waterproof product ,,, preferably a spray.

Has anyone propragated shasta daisy ... if so how?

Mary

evelyn:
I do have timers from HD. I bought 2 on closeout this spring. well I found out why they were close outs. the plastic that attaches the timer to the water supply broke off in a month's use. I returned the broken one and set the other one on the ground with a feeder hose from the tap and the mist heads to the GH on the timer. the thing that caused the break was useing the external outlet on the timer body. I have hoses attached to everything so I don't worry about breaking. I did have a lake when the 1st feeder hose broke. boy what a lot of water.
Stay cool
Dave

Mary:
I do alaska from seed. I am sure its an easy one to do cutting of, as its like a weed at least it seems so to me.
Dave

Mary: I will look into getting some creeping phlox to grow for you and your friend. Please remind me next week to make sure I have not forgotten.
Dave

Here is a picture of 4 of the glass soap dishes (I bought 31). I think they are 2" by 4" and 3/8 in thick. I have them placed upside down. The top which I will have as a bottom has a slight ridge. I placed a pictue of a rose in one for this shot.

The next 3 posts are about japanese red leaf maple.

Mary

Some seeds on japanese maple..... Taken today

Close up (also taken today) of leaves on small japanese maple. I think its leaves are so red because it has been watered frequently .... the mother of this tree leaves are not this red ... no way would I attempt to water it ... it would cost way too much money.

Evelyn, Thanks for the tip on the Steamer covers. I should have gotten more of them. But, I am having Bob pick up some of the microfiber cloths today in town and some velcro tape. I am going to see if I can't make some myself. Seems like that should be easy, I'll let you know how it goes. I just will not do them every day. I have too much else to do.

I did get my 36 foot hose for my vacuum and now it is easier to reach the entire kitchen and that helps a lot. Much better.

It's been a long time since I have used timers so you need to get that info from Dave.

I have used both kinds of cloners evelyn and didn't have very good luck with the aeroponic, where the roots are not in water but just misted while hanging from the top.

I am thinking I might start a couple of shoots off of my brugs rooting and they might be easier to hold over instead of the big plants this winter.

Dave, I think if EZ Cloners are charging that big price for a bubbler they should be ashamed of themselves. They sound like they are no more than the way we used to bubble in a waste basket or garbage can. Same results. You can even do different size containers for different size plants.

Your benches in the greenhouse sound really good Dave. Lotsa work, but nice to have done. And so useful!!!

You don't have any problems with diseases watering that late at night Dave? I would think with the plants being damp overnight that they might get mold or something.

I'm interested in the outcome of your plant markers Mary. Sounds neat. Be sure to post pictures.

Where did you go JB? Lee? You two out to lunch? I know Sharon has her family there so don't expect her for a few days, but how is Barney? And Lee, how is your mom doing now?

We sure would like to hear from you guys, even if it is b------g about the heat. LOL

Have a good day.

OH, One last thing, You guys, where do I get the hand steamer?????

Here is the picture of the small japanese maple that I had previously posted.

That looks like a Bloodgood Maple Mary. Is it in your yard? I had 2 of them in my yard in Seattle and really liked them. Dave sent me 2 seedlings of them and they were so close together that I twisted their trunks together. I might not leave them that way. Seems they are growing awfully fast i should take a look and do something with them. Either take them apart or decide to leave them.

Would you take a picture of the whole tree for Dave. That would help him know how to proceed with them when you send him the seeds. I am not sure where he got the seeds but don't think he has the tree.

LOL, we've been crossposting Mary. Is that the one that you took the picture of the leaves up above?

Jeanette, leave the seedlings together. Dave can always send you more seedlings. I will be sending Dave seeds from the mama tree .... I believe it was full grown when I moved in over 45 years ago. Only a few of the seedlings from it (at least those I have seen) were not this red ... Once in a while there would be a green leaf one.

I am reposting the picture I have of the mama japanese red leaf maple .... small one does not have any seeds .... I wonder how old they have to be to produce seeds.

Mary

I wonder how long we can keep this cross posting going.

LOL, guess I broke it.

That is bigger than mine were and I think my oldest one was probably 15 years or so. But it sure didn't seem to grow any after about the 8 to 10 years. Maybe it isn't Bloodgood. humm



For those of you who have the handheld steamer? (Sorry Dave, just a minute) How do you use it with just the little pointy thing. Do you use a rag or something, microfiber cloth to clean it up? I that how you are suppose to use it?



This message was edited Jul 30, 2010 4:37 PM

I do not have a little pointy thing on mine. The base of it is a triangle, which makes it great.
because the cover that goes over it fits on it and you just remove it, and throw it in the laundry to wash for the next time. I have purchased a few extra's The triangle shape makes it easy to get into corners, etc. Sorry I am no help.
I do not know when I was here last but I have been extremely busy with trying to find a place to move my cousin (the one who had a heart attack Tuesday of this week). they sent her home with nurses, but she is hopefully going to cooperate and permit us to move her back to our hometown in PA. That way my son and his wife, who are her POAs can take care of her without driving an hour to get to her.
Also, you all have so many different plants that I do not even know what they are, that I just skim over the mail every morning and if I do not see anything I know what you are talking about, I just go on to the next and get my work done.
I have no idea what I am going to be selling this year except the cactus and gardenias.
It is time to take cuttings from the Jasmine but if this heat does not ease up I just can not ship. I was talking to one of the guys in Texas on Plant Scout and he has suspended shipping also because of the heat. This is a first for many of us. I am still propagating some cuttings and transplanting stock plants into larger containers but like this morning. It was in the 70's when I got up about 5:30 a.m. and I turned off the AC and opened the windows and gave all the birds a bath so they would dry before the AC went back on.
I still have to water everything in the house, which takes a good hour, and do some sewing of sleepy hut covers for the birds....I also need to crochet some scrubbies which I use to clean the cages. So, I have plenty to do when I find time and energy to do it.
BTW, how do yo mix the polymer? If I get a break in the weather I want to ship your Black PWs, but I got the darn polymer and no instructions to mix came with it.
Talk when I can. Hugs. JB

What would happen if one prunes a blueberry bush now? It has not been pruned in years. It is not my bush ... it is tall and lanky.

Thanks
Mary

Does anyone have cyclamen?

JB, Use one teaspoon of crystals per cup of water. Does that give you an idea? Then use maybe a tablespoon of the hydrated ones for shipping per plant. Just an estimte. You would be able to tell better what they need.

I put the tsp of crystals in a pyrex cup of water and take a fork and stir it up. I take about an hour and every once in a while walk by and stir it again. Then I figure it is ready to use. You will be able to tell.

Don't rush on sending it if you aren't comfortable with it.

Mary, I would say to prune after they are done producing. Then maybe, if they are like other shrubs, take a third out per year over 3 years. However, why don't you google them instead? You should be able to find a lot of info on blueberries with a little research.

Hi, Jnette and friends. I have graciously allowed to return to DG and this was one of the threads I was watching back in '08.
Mary, first thing to do is take a qt. jar, fill 3/4 full of water and put One teaspoon of the polymer crystals in it and leave over night. This will give you some idea of how much they swell.
Do not do like Bunny did and put dry crystals in the bottom of the pot, add a plant and soil, then water. When the crystal swelled they heaved the plant and potting soil on to her white carpet.
I mix some dry crystals with the soil and then water. Let it set overnight and then plant.
Here is the place I get mine from and some information.
http://watersorb.com/application.htm
Sidney, professional lurker

What is polymer?

I'm sorry Mary
I thought you were talking about water crystals.
I'll just go back to lurking and stay out of the conversation here.
Should I delete the advice? or were you actually talking about the crystals that hold water?
If you are speaking of the water retaining crystals that look like dry grits, they are super absorbent polymer. (SAP) It will significantly reduce water depletion while dramatically improving plant survival and growth.
My apologies.
Sidney

Sugaer, I think JB asked how to mix polymere. She is extremely busy ... I do not know were she finds all the time and energy to tend to everything.

Mary

LOL,
I ma a lack-luster lurker, and can't keep up with who's doing what.
Thanks Mary.
;)

I need to order more in bulk. Someone here on dg sells it in bulk and I talked to someone on chat about the crystals and how I saw that a person on dg sold it at the market place, it turned out to be her that I was talking to.

Hi Sidney:
It is quite challenging to keep up with evertone and whats going on. The story of the "crystals" is funny. I had a similar experience. I had never worked with them and my dear wife was insistant on using them in plantings for our last residence. we mixed them in with the soil and transplanted everyone in the garden. a couple of days went by and I noticed all the soil was heaved around the new plants and they had this wierd looking jelly stuff in the soil. I still find it fun to joke about my original experience with them. I like to have fun even at my own expense. She has not allowed me to forget the incident since. I now mix the soil and water the day before I use it so I get a nice mix that will ettle and not heave out.
We always like new blood on the thread. I have found that everyone has something neat to contribute to our discussions.
Mary I am always seeking seeds for specific trees to grow out. its real fun to watch in the spring as all the new seedlings emerge. The only issue I have had in the past is my cat who thinks my seed trays are either a new bed for him to lounge on or a new litter box. I can't seem to catch him in the act but its quite obvious when all the seedling disapear all at the same time
I built a new bench for the Green House and it was quite a treat to get it in the green House as I measured to the exact fraction of an inch and had to force it in the Green House. The best part was the acrobatic act it took for me to haul my fat butt over the top of the bench. My dear niece was amazed at how I was still able to climb out all the while worrying i would fall or the slats on top of the bench would break. I am sure I can imagine her trying to lift me as I am about 4 times her tiny size.
Oh well now I have the room for 40 trays in production. if I can get everyone to cooperate I will be able to crank out 160 trays a year and all I have to do is find a buyer. Oh treat - oh joy. i am sure they will all find new homes
ut oh i just realized i may have repeated my self on the bench sorry if I have done so.
Have a great eveing
Dave

Hi Dawm:
Yes its good to find it in bulk Please let us know if you do find it.
Dave

Watch out for bulk in those crystals you guys. What do you mean in bulk? I bought 5 lbs. 2 or 3 years ago and still have almost all of them left.

Mary, Sidney is right. Whoops, Sugarweed. The water crystals are actually polymer crystals that hold water. Now if JB is talking about something else then I am at a loss
'cause I assumed that is what she was talking about also.

Glad to see you Sidney, haven't for a while.

Jeanette

Why do you still have them Janette? They would all be gone here in a couple of weekends of planting and I would be looking for more. Want to sell them?

Greenhouse megastore has Soil Moist crystals- 1 lb for 11.50, 3 lbs for 29.50, 8lbs for 69.00. I assume you're not interested in the 30 or 50lb drums... :-)
http://www.greenhousemegastore.com/Soil-Moist-Granules/productinfo/SO-MOIST/

I don't use this product, but I order flats/pots from them in bulk sometimes

Hmmmm .... seems like polymer is something I could bebefit from. I would like to hear were you all order it.
At this site I can order 4 lbs for $34.95 .... Price includes US priority mail shipping. If there is a better source please post.

http://www.watersorb.com/prices.htm

Mary

Mary,
Watersorb is the only place I would order these from.
The very best prices I have found.
The guys there are very accommodating and worked with me to get a mixed order back in '05.
The last time I ordered I got 55# sack and divided it into pkgs to be hand delivered at a round up here in Florida.

A year or so ago one of the TV news 'feature' stories was about this fellow here in Jacksonville who was very concerned about what appeared to be crushed ice all over his front lawn. LOL
He said it was slick like ice, but wasn't cold.
I knew immediately what it was.
These crystal are not designed nor able to do anything for your plant when applied to the surface. They need to be root deep to feed water to the plant.

Jeanette ~ I have the steamer with the point on the end. They supplied one microfiber cloth in order to wipe afterward if that helps. I admit, I have not been using it as much as the floor steamer, but thanks for reminding me as it is very handy and saves on using other products using for cleaning. Did you get your floor steamer working or is it defective? D-mail me and I can give you more info on that, if you need it, OK?

Sidney ~ Yes, welcome back. I was not on this thread when you were, though I have been a member since 2002. I have been away a while as well due to many operations, but I am back and trying to get things in order. This year I planted 8 square foot gardens in veggies that I grew all from seed, except the broccoli and the potatoes. I will try again with the broccoli for this fall, as I am determined to succeed. It takes me a lot longer than it used to for many things, as I am getting older as well...just almost 69, but not really OLD...I had to sift them (the SFG's) all out after digging to the bottoms to get the clay, weeds and old roots out, as it has been a while since we put them in.

I grew peas, carrots, beets, potatoes, many kinds of lettuce, of which we are still harvesting, and now the tomatoes are finally starting to bear fruit. It has been consistenlty hot, but before that we had late snows and hail in May so everything got planted late. I could not work the soil in such wet and cold conditions. I know I will plant a lot more peas, lettuce and broccoli and some cabbage, too, for this fall.

Also, I started a new flower garden, I call it the "Cottage Garden Border", as I dug out the old White Daisy Garden, which had all sorts of daisies, asters, mums and boltonias, and wanted something new. (I moved those daisies into the White Flower Border, which needs to be reworked as well.) This time, instead of just amending small parts or "amending the planting hole", I dug it all out and put in a lot of organic compost and peat with bone meal, blood meal, azomite, biochar and some other various organics to beef up my soil as it is hard clay, but that bed is, for the most part, no longer hard. I have to be careful where I walk as it is like walking on a pillow instead of my old hard ground...LOL!

I have a question for you...you said that the Watersorb stores 95% of the water, but at what rate does it release it? And how long does it last? I put some under my hydrangea as it is a waterhog, but I still have to water it daily as it flops over towards the end of the day. Maybe I did not use enough...not sure....

Dawn ~ Do you use them? Yes, maybe you can get them from Jeanette...LOL! Jeanette, are you going to sell your polymer crystals?

This message was edited Aug 1, 2010 11:45 AM

Hi everyone, Sidney the lurker too! I do appreciate all the information except you gave me two different amounts of the polymer to use with the one tsp to hydrate. I am not sure how much 3/4 of a quart would be but I can figure it out. One cup was easier but I will work it out and I do appreciate your help.
I am hoping this conversation was about the Polymer crystals you get from www.water-sorb.com
because I got 2 lbs of Medium polymer for $19.95. Not counting shipping. That site is good and gives you information that is good but they suggest 1 tsp per 1 qt. of water to hydrate for bare root transplants, and they use Powder polymer. I bought crystals. Did not realize there was a powder but I would guess that is like a jell when hydrated, yuck....not sure I would want to mess with that in shipping, so I bought the crystals.
Hey Jen, you were edited again. Did you do that? If not, the edit fairy is back again watching us, waiting to smack us for saying bad words. LOL
I swear to God, the mealy bugs are going to make me totally crazy. They are outside on bushes and inside on plants....but I did see a praying mantis on my Aimee on the deck. I am hoping the eat mealybug.
I spent yesterday moving things around in the greenhouse. I still have not done inventory because things die daily. The weather was great for one day and now it is back up in the 90s again and to stay that way for three or four more days.*&^%^%$#%^^ I moved all the new begonias to the GH since they are now big enough to be on their own. I am hoping they make it in that heat. I need them to grow so I can start taking cuttings.
Must go, kids just got back from weekend wedding and I need to talk to them about my cousin who had the heart attack. Later. Have a good day. JB

I got mine, Watersorb, on a coop. Dawn, you just think you could use that many. These things could eat the world. LOL

Find someone to do a coop on them. BUT, coops are not instant if you want them tomorrow. It would take a month at least to get them back.

Dawn, you ask why do I still have them? Because I don't use them for everything. I use mine for my hanging baskets etc. Not for planting in the soil. The ground. They might work for that.

Maybe since it is so dry down there, possibly you would use that many. If that's the case, then you need to find someone to do a coop. My 5# wouldn't be enough for you.

Those prices are really high. Mine were not near that, but then that was a couple of years ago. However, they do give much better prices to coops.

Maybe Sugar would do a coop? Or, get Pagancat, she might, Cathy on Cat 1465 or something numbers. There are a number of really super good hostesses out there that might do it.