Holly--
I do not know how the "Plume" is propagated. Probably by stem cuttings????
Because mine is all new growth (because it fell)--I do not have any cuttings to try.
Next time you go to Rawlings--ask them if they have any starts....
Sorry! Gita
WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THE MID-ATLANTIC FORUM?????
Thanks Gita. I wasn't sure if you had tried propagating them.
I wondered if anyone might have an answer to this question???
My Castor Bean plants have put up huge spikes full of seed pods. They are so heavy they are pulling the plant over. I have been harvesting seeds from them as they had groups of 4-6 pods and would all dry about the same time. These must have 20 or 30 pods on them. I wondered if I should cut off the stalk and let it dry in the house so the plants didn't hang over, or leave them on the plant until the pods dried. I don't like them hanging so low to the ground. I tried to keep them up by hooking over the fence, but the wind sometimes pulls them off the fence. They are pretty good size pods and have been there for a while.
You all are sooooo smart. I have some questions I put on Ask a Gardener quite a while back, and no one has answered me. Maybe someone here can help. Here is another one.
Is this clematis seed? Will it grow new plants?
This plant has gotten real leggy. Can it be pinched back and the parts be rooted into another plant?
Since this picture was taken, I have cut off the tall stems and put them in water.
THX!
Crit
I have a datura moonflower plant. It had 2 rounds of blooms about 3 or 4 weeks ago and nothing since. I didn't pick the blooms off as I wanted to get some seed off of it. The seed balls are still green. Now, 2 questions:
1. Why is it not continuing to bloom?
2. How long does it take the seed pods to grow and dry to where they are ready to
pick off?
My guess is that growth has been halted by colder weather. Seed production is part of the flower growing time period. My guess two months in total to make and another month to dry on or off the plant.
Thanks Doc. I got 2 rounds of blooms in September and nothing since. It's still in the 80's and 90's here. Nights get any where from high 40's to 60's. I've seen others that are still blooming. But mine is in part shade, that could have something to do with it.
Crit
Night temperurature below fifty is getting on the edge. Add your shade and a couple less degrees for the shade is most likely what is going on.
Crit, I spent part of my evening cleaning Castor Bean seeds. This is my first year for them and I will say they were beautiful. I don't have the same problem with mine the flower/seedpods are all standing up tall and solid. I only harvested the stalks with dried seed pods. If for some reason you don't get enough good seeds let me know I have plenty to share.
Crit, ss I forgot to acknowledge your little Rat Terriers. Someday when I get some time (what is that?), We'll Dmail each other about our Rats. Buttoneer.
Everybody, please keep us in your prayers tomorrow we leave tomorrow morning. We are FINALLY leaving since we waited til the N'or Easter left and the winds died down.
Patti--
I will give some of these a shot......
Clematis---yes, those puffy things are seed heads. WHERE the seeds are in it--i do not know.
Probably at the base of each of those feathery things....
That red plant--all leggy--I have seen it and grown it--but cannot remember the name.
Is it--"blood"---something????
Anyway--it seems to be, in texture, the same as Imatiens and Coleus--water-filled stems...
I would say you could easily cut off about 2"-3" from the top and put it in fresh soil mix to root.
After years of propagating--I am no longer a fan of the water method.
Right into soil does it for me!
Your white Datura is the native form of the fancier Daturas. I believe it is also called
"Jimson Weed"???? This version will come back every year....and, it it fairly fragrant.
This version also is lanky and viney. It tends to flop all over--vs. the more advanced varieties,
like the ones I have, that grow in stiff, upright stems and can spread to 4'x4'.
You cannot hasten the pods on a Datura to ripen. They take their time.....Around October--you need
to check every other day to see if any of them pods have split open.
THEN you can cut them off of the plant and remove the seeds to dry. NOT before! DO NOT pull by hand!!!
The pods will fall apart in your hand. CUT!
I grow my daturas from seed--and in a timely fashion, plant them outside-- sometime beg. of May.
My pods are just now starting to ripen/split! I check them often. You do not want to let them go
too long--as the pods will spill all their seeds on the ground. Sometimes--they literally "pop"...
**DO NOT cut them off before they split. The seed is not ready!
You asked for some of these seeds from me--please remember what I have written here....
Gita
Here is a plate-full of ripe Datura seed pods I picked a couple of years ago.
You can see how "pithy" the outer coating is. It falls apart at the touch.
Tonight--I harvested an average-sized pod from my Yellow Datura--anf just for the heck-
I counted how many seeds were in there. 210!!!!!
Thanks so much Gita! I am looking forward to having the different colors from you too. I already have my 2 pots picked out for the pot-in-pot method of growing. *see, I HAVE been paying attention* :-))
Patti--Maybe the mid of this week i will have time to mail the seeds to you.
POTS???? Do you plat to put seeds in big pots? A roomy cell-pack will do!
Small plants...small pots....Seedlings???? A cell pack is good for the first month or so!
Please realize that--roots need "boundaries"--just like children.
You give newly sprouted plants too much room--they will spend endless energy to try to fill that space....
Small plants--Small space-----Bigger plants--bigger space---etc....etc...
Like--new-born babies are calmest if bundled up. in the bunting...
Newly "born" plants (from seed) like the same thing....As THEY grow--you can give them more "space"....
This is a VERY basic philosophy! NEVER give plants (kids?) more space than they can handle!!!
Aren't we all alike??????
I hadn't even thought about that! Guess I need to 'get back to basics'. :-)) I need to get some of the cell packs. I left most of that stuff at my other house, but I know where they are.
Anytime you can get them in the mail is fine. No worries!
Thanks!
Crit
Gita,
When I saw you were sending me seeds, I got all excited. Then I realized it wasn't me. I don't use my name here, just my initials, so Crit, I hope you have fun with all those lovlies.
We took a trip to PA to visit my mom which allowed us to spend about 1/2 day at Longwood Gardens. It was such a pleasure to be there, a little warmer than I had hoped, and the pumpkins and squashes weren't yet on display, but it was glorious inside the conservatory, with most of the windows open. Mom can't walk far and won't be pushed in a wheelchair, so it was just DH and I. We saw just about everything, but the Idea Garden because we needed to get back. We had the most wonderful lunch at the 1906 restaurant there at The Terrace: Kennett Square mushroom soup, a local goat cheese and micro green salad with melon and basil vinegarette, and a dessert with an almond cake, cherry compote, basil-cherry couliss and dark chocoate. It was the most beautiful presentation (and tasted sublime) I've ever seen. They served a beautiful drink in a tall glass made with black berries and cucumber and basil and honey and it was so glorious, it didn't need any alcohol but some nice champagne or prosecco would have made it nectar for the angels. If ever you get the chance, go to the 1906. Since it has white table cloth service, I was a little reluctant, but everyone was dressed for a day of walking the gardens, so we didn't feel underdressed after all.
Also I purchased a stephonotis vine at the Garden Shop. It was $18.99, which may seem extravagent, but it was glossy and had numerous fragrant flowers on it. I probably would have felt a little guilty, but we had been down the street earlier at a to-die-for nursery called Terrain at Styers, where slightly larger stephs were $50.00. So really, how could I possibly not pick up on such a bargain. The flowers bloomed for a couple of weeks and I have replanted it in an octagonal terra cotta pot with a tutuer, and it is happily growing away in my kitchen. I hope the picture is uploaded here.
I miss all the posts on DG. I just can't get into the 'other one'. It's good for co-ops, but the community aspect doesn't seem to be there. Am I missing something?
PAM (Patti to myself)
Love that pot and trellis!
Ditto sallyg
Doing nothing much today and decided to see what all I miss by not visiting the MAG forum very often these days. Just read the last couple of entries here and decided to take the time to thank Gita for several of the plants that I have been the happy recipient of. Several of the Begonia starts you have given me have become some of my best performing house plants. They seem to be very happy living here.
I am still known to kill some plants from time to time, but the ones that you have grown and shared with me are doing well I am happy to report. Now....if someone knows anything about ferns, I would love to have some info. A couple of months ago someone who was moving offered John three types of ferns that were small but healthy when they arrrived here to live. Now they are still small but fading quickly. Any ideas on their care?
I am also very happy to report that I was able to have my plant room idea come to fruition. At the moment there is extra furniture in the room that at some point I would like to move elsewhere and devote the entire room to houseplants but that won't happen until younger son sits up housekeeping away from here and there will be space for my furnishing in his bedroom.
Good to see you all today and Happy Holidays to each of you.
Ruby
Ruby--
Thanks for the feedback on my Begonias....They really do not require a lot of care...
FERNS-----
The most important thing Ferns need is humidity. Any way you can provide it....
An often used bathroom--with some med. light by a window--would be ideal.
Also--NO direct sun! A bright, northern exposure would be ideal.
Contrary to the need for humidity---ferns do not like wet feet. Do not over water ferns--
or they will not do well....Moisture in the air is needed--moisture in the soil is not....
Keep them barely moist--but, if you can--keep them on a tray of pebbles with water underneath
to provide humidity by the water evaporating....Mist often--just a bit....a very fine mist....
They also like cool temperatures. Not the high-heated homes kind.
So--in capsule:
Cool--moist--high humidity--no direct sun. That's about all I know.....
Good to hear from you, Ruby!
Merry Christmas to you and John!
What kind of ferns did you inherit? Some, actually, do best in a large terrarium--
like a small fish tank.
Gita
Wow Gita, great advice. That explains why my Boston fern seems OK even though the soil seems to dry out so fast.
I have a big Begonia from Gita too, only at the moment it is several small 'big Begonias.'
Sally--
One of the small, prettiest ferns is the Maidenhair fern.
Not a fern at all-but I think the Creeping Fig is also pretty.
Both require lots and lots of humidity....
You're talking about the Angel Wing Begonia? I have several starts of it also.
My big one is sitting, ignored, in my spare bedroom. Slowly--it is dropping all it's leaves,
as it always does. The canes are now tall and leggy--about 3' plus.
Not to worry....all I want is the growing tips for next season's big-plant-to-be....
Will, probably, uproot it next year--clean up all the roots and re-pot it in fresh soil.
Wish me luck--I am heading to NJ Friday morning....My yearly trek.
I-95 to NJ Turnpike--exit 11--then 20 minutes on the Garden State Pkwy north.
Bloomfield is my destination.
Don't like the snow warnings over the weekend!
Can anyone from "up there" fill me in what they are saying for weather????
Thanks, Gita
Thanks for writing Gita. I will do as you suggest with the ferns. I am not sure what type of ferns they are. I will do some research and let you know though. Wow, I was thinking that my Angel Wing Begonia from you was large and it isn't even half the height of yours. I don't believe I had ever seen one grow that tall. I hope mine will eventually grow to that height.
I will go on Facebook and ask my niece in New Jersey what they are saying weather wise. Gosh, she now has three little ones under age five. What an exciting time Christmas will be at her place. So many little smiles. Should be lots of hugging and smiling and thank you's going on here too when Emily and baby brother Isaac visit on Christmas Day. It has been fun buying things for her to open. My son will need to rent a truck to take in the haul she will get with having three sets of grand parents. hahaha
Will make a note to tend to ferns today before any more damage is done. Thank you for the help.
Ruby
Good Morning and Merry Christmas from New Jersey.
Gita, the weather report this morning has pushed the coastal storm back a day. We are not going to feel any affects of it until Sunday. You should be having no problems on Friday.
Hope that helps. JB
Thanks JB. That is the same report I got from niece on Facebook. Snow possibly on Sunday. Hope that isn't your return day Gita. Be safe whenever.
Ruby
New ideas about the next growing season are being considered.
One thing I really detests are SLUGS. I am not successful in having marigolds,dahlias, or zinnas survive if they are planted in the ground ... they are a feast for slugs.
So I am seriously considering buying myself a birthday present next spring
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xgy/R-100655730/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
I want an inviting habitat for frogs and toads .... no fish
22 yr old grand son will be deligated for installation.
I plan to start winter sowing those seeds that require stratification .... Japanese Red Leaf Maple (bloodgood) and some dogwood to start.
MARY
Hello Mary, Good to see you planning ahead. I am working on the purchase of more colors of Holiday Cactus. I do want to find an Easter Cactus. I understand they are more difficult to grow and that does not make me too happy. No one will ship just now, so if I order I will have to wait until April for shipping.
What are you going to do with the Red Leaf Maple after you start them. Put them in your new yard? You are so brave trying to start dogwood. Wow, I never had any luck with seeds anyhow.
Have a Merry Christmas and thanks again for my angel. God Bless. JB
JB .... I detest being the bearer of bad news ... but maybe you already know this
Beginning Jan 2, 2011 the rates for priority mail will change
http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abn/y10/m11/i08/s01
Mary
PS ... Now you can start the grumbling
This message was edited Dec 22, 2010 5:10 PM
JB--
Thanks for the weather report.....
It is not Friday I am worried about--it is driving back Sunday late afternoon.
How much snow are they calling for on Sunday? When will it start?
What direction is it coming from? I will be heading back to MD.
Garden State is bad enough even in good weather....Not used to NJ drivers...not too courteous...
Then the Turnpike....There can be congestion around certain exits....like between #8 and #6.
I will have to just chill and go with the flow.....always a good way to be. Driving by myself....
Gita
Gita, I live just across the Delaware river from NJ.
The projected forecast for Sunday and Monday for my area and Bloomfield is cloudy, snow possible.
So you will have to listen to the weather forecasts when you are there.
MARY
Gita, I have something from the weather channel called "Intelicast" on my desktop. One click and I get local conditions, hourly forecasts up to 72 hours out and a ten day forecast. This is for my zip code and any other zip code you type in...like where you are going in NJ.
The storm is coming from the Pacific, dumping massive amounts of rain on Calif and the southwest over the last 2-3 days. It is very slow moving and so it is hard to predict a storm track. across the country to the Atlantic. They think moisture will begin to arrive here late Sat pm or early Sun am through Monday as storm either makes its way out to sea ( a couple inches here in Annapolis over the two days) or swings up the east coast and hits a big front just off the coast from NJ to Canada, in which case we get a major dump from MD all up the coast
Maybe you could alternately plan to leave earlier on Sun or prepare for a longer visit and stay a day or two in NJ just in case... Such a dilemma, even though I know how to drive safely in winter conditions, I cannot account for all those who think they do....
We need a whole thread on this! Good luck, and I'm sure you are old school enough to have or get all of the emergency survival/gear etc. you might need and to make back up plans to back up plans! Judy
Judy--and Mary
Thanks for caring! Yes! I will be listening to the forecast there.
I hope if a serious snow is coming--they will be salting the main roads and highways....
Yes! I could leave Sunday AM--even though my sister has a neighbor invited for
lunch on Sunday. I'd like to stay--but it all depends....
Judy---You should see my Coleus cuttings! Man! They are huge!
I keep pinching out the growing tips--as there is almost no more room under the lights.
Last year I actually took cuttings from the original cuttings--but I have too many going to do that.
Pleas have a wonderful Christmas with your loved ones.....
Gita
This was back in November--they are bigger now.....
Another tray.....
I have 2 big trays. One is for me--the other one is for my Manager, Donn.
Most everything he has in his garden is from me. I have never been there--unethical!
The one in this picture is meant for a woman I work with. She is a gardener too.
I just love to share plants....
Gita, they are now saying the storm should start late Sunday and continue into Monday.
You got it right about the NJ drivers. I came here from PA and I thought they drove crazy but believe me, NJ drivers have only one thing in mind.....themselves.............I usually take as many back roads as possible to go into town. I live near Ft Dix, McGuire AFB and the traffic there is wild also. People from all over the USA are stationed there and drive up and down our roads that go by the farm. It gets really crazy at times. LOL Have a wonderful day. If you are going to South Jersey or the Shore area near Cape May or Atlantic City, you may get snow earlier. They still are not sure of the path this storm will take.
Good Luck.
Thanks again--JB...
I am going to Bloomfield. Exit 149 (I think) off of the GSP.
It's crazy how in this area--you drive a few blocks and you are in a different Township.
East Orange--West Orange--Bloomfield--Glen Ridge, etc....
If you don't live around there--you have no idea!
The worst drivers are in NY...Oh, my God!!!! No one yields to another--no courtesy!
no matter how desperate you look to want to change lanes....
Everyone out here is out ONLY for himself...Then the cabs! The tunnel! UGH!
Back in the 60's--My husband and I (stayed with my sister) and drove every day into NY
and across Manhattan to Flushing Meadows where the World's Fair was. What year was that???
It was a daily nightmare!
I will be fine! I am not an insecure driver. I have no road rage--I just go with the flow.
Practicing defensive driving and trying to guess what the next guy is going to do.
Put in a nice CD to pass the time....And--I have a Subaru Outback--a bit of an advantage
in snowy weather.....
Merry Christmas to you all! Gita
Gita ... the best radio station for weather in the NJ area ia 101.5 FM.
They are presently saying that the storm schedule could miss us (go out to sea) OR we could get clobbered on Sunday. They said they would have their emergency weather team on stand-by.
MARY
If I was not in love with my old Jeep Wrangler, I would own an Outback. My daughter in law just gave hers up for a Volvo..........I was so sad about that. I drive my old jeep around here and it is great for me. I only use my pick up when I have a load I can not carry in the jeep.
I just had the jeep painted and got new tires., so I am ready for winter. LOL
You will be fine, you have a long trip so turn up that CD and enjoy. Merry Christmas. I
Thanks, JB.
My Subaru is a 2002. Bought it used in 2003 from Car Max.
It was the ONLY one on their lot. For a one year old car--it had 35K miles on it.
Must have beed a lease car--or a traveling salesman.
After 7 1/2 years--I am now up to 73K miles. As you can see--I do not drive anywhere much.
My one, long trip is to NJ for Chrismas...
I feel very secure in it. I have had no problems--except replacing regular wear and tear kind of parts.
Only minus is that it is a very small SW..I have always had SW's--as I haul all kinds of
garden stuff home from HD. Bags of mulch--trays of plants...etc...
Here is a picture of my house and my Subaru. This was in 2005.
Definitely a family of Subaru drivers here too. We love them. John used to make his living as an auto technician and he said that he hardly ever had them come in for repairs of any sort. He often brags about how many miles a person usually gets before having to replace brakes and other things such as that. Living on the hillside where we are makes it mandatory for some type of all wheel or four wheel drive.
Be safe on your trip Gita and enjoy the family.
Ruby
Thanks, Ruby!
Best to you and John as well.....You two are some of my favorite people...
I will be gone to NJ as of Friday AM. Will turn off my Computer for that time...
I go that way every year for X-mas. My sister is up there--her 4 grown daughters--all over NJ--
and 11 Grandchildren. If I stayed home--It would just be another ho-hum day...
I bet I will have a lot of reading to do when I get back...
Gita