Plant propagation part XXI based on my own experience

Evelyn, thank you. I will keep an eye open.

Jen and Merry - I have never tried Ginger. I did herbs one year and had a great crop. I spent hours making sure they were perfect. Took pictures, advertised, and I did not sell one pot. I ended up throwing them all away and never tried herbs again. LOL

Do you remember the Egg Plant Seeds I had last year. Well, I lost all of the plants but one and that one has one egg on it. I only put it out a few weeks ago after the 90 deg. temp stopped.

My newest project it to try and make a Standard Plant from my Aimee gardenias that got too big to ship. I can ship them, but the cost would not pay people to buy them. I need to get at least $15.00 a plant and they are now in 8 inch pots and getting a box big enough and shipping is not worth it to me. Did any of you ever try to make a Standard Plant?
Dave, is this something you are good at?

Here is one of my favorite gardenias, the Gardenia Tatensis. The fragrance is wonderfiul, but different from all other gardenias. These flowers are large and the plant drinks alot of water. It grows like a weed inside in filtered sun. enjoy Sorry it is so dark. I will try again , that was taken with my cell phone.

Good morning: new thread coming up soon ...today ...well I hope....

Jeanette: for your 1/2 barrell I would try anything you can to put layers of air between the roots and the cold air. I am curious as to if the bottom roots will be affected sitting on the deck? Every now and then I get these big shipping pillows filled with air. I thought maybe those might help. personally I would do just about anything to keep the JM alive. maybe one layer of shreded newspaper's in trash bags. then a layer of air pillows then a layer of insulation.

I would pile on the leaves in the pot itself soil around the tree. I am curious if the decomposing lef litter might cause some issue with the trunk above the soil line?.

The other pots should be fine as long as you can bury the pot to the soil line and then mulch with leaves.

JB: I have not tried doing standard plants but I do plan on doing a few soon. as far as the huge gardenia, I would give it a whirl and see what you come up with. Please take pics for us.

well fall is on its way. we are suposed to be a high in the low 80's tomorrow with low of 59 .... brrrr....

headed out to stick cuttings and other stuff I need to get done.
Dave

That's a beautiful flower on that JB, but the leaves are so different than the other gardenias. Speaking of which, I think my Aimee finally has quit losing leaves, I think, but how do I bring her in the house and keep her from starting in again? I have the heat on in here now and she has been outside all summer. In fact, it got down pretty cold last night.

The gingers, at least mine, are so different than the other herbs. They are more like a tropical plant. The leaves are thick and kind of leathery or more like philodendrons. I think these are right up your alley.

Just went in and took this picture. But my battery is too low to send it. Will send later. ttyl

Air pillows Dave??? Don't know what they look like??? I thought I would put a tarp underneath to keep the cold air from coming up thru the deck boards. Maybe newspaper underneath would be a good idea between the barrel and the tarp?

JB, I would love to watch you make a standard out of a gardenia. Could you take pictures as you go??? And then you use the clippings for cuttings? To start?

Well, going into town with Bob. He has a dr. appt. and then I have an appt. at the clinic in the other direction. So, going to be a busy day.

ttyl,

Hi Mary, just finished talking to you on the other forum. LOL To answer your question,

According to T. Lee Stephens on Learn2Grow, "a plant standard is a landscape feature where the plant has been trained to a single stem with a mass of vegetation at the top."
Like the first Aimee Gardenia I got. See the picture at the bottom is a stem and all the leaves and flowers are at the top When you select a plant to make a standard, you need to find one with a strong vertical growing stem and make sure the topmost growing point on the stem is present. He suggests Rosemary if you want to try something easy.( I must learn how to be sue the growing point is present on my plants) Something I am not sure I know how to do. My neighbor may be able to help me, she has a Garden Center and knows how to to that stuff.

I found this site when I was looking for information regarding HOW TO make a plant standard. http://www.learn2grow.com. . You can join and chat and they have some really great people on there who are very willing to share their knowledge. It is something like DG. I hope I have explained your question.

JB, I tried to open and got an error. I will try another way. Anyone else having problems with that site?

Howdy:
yes jb has the correct deffinition. I am planning on doing both a braided trunk and a standard form of forsythia its going to be fun. just have to get the cuttings going.

Jeanette: air pillow is shipped with things to take up space instead of peanuts. I attached a pic of the one my dw got with her insulin yesterday.

Ginger bought in the grocery store can be planted and will grow. the question 1. is it hardy in your area? 2. can you find a chunk of root with an eye on it. those make the best starts from the grocery store. If there is an eye it means the root either did not get the growth inhibitor spray on it or its growing out of it.
I planted a few starts last month to see if they will survive our winter. I am so tired of dragging in the huge pots of banannas and ginger. I hope the test plants do well.

so now the test ... who is going to try a standard plant??? what are you going to try it on??? Please take pics if you do try it

have a great afternoon
Dave

Dave:

How can I find the "topmost growing point of the plant" ? It sounds so simple but I am making it seem difficult. Why am I doing that? I trimmed off the tops of the gardenias already and some of the bottom. I think I will pick one for us all to follow, if I have not already cut off the topmost growing point...Oh Crap!

Topiaries are fun too, but I am not into them. They are good for small indoor plants if you want to take time to do them. Both Standards and Topiaries take time and patience.
Look out gang,, patience is not one of my virtues. As you all well know. LOL JB

Grrrrrrr..... OK keep slinging that new lingo my way.

What in blazen is a TOPIARY? (I hope that is singular for topiaries)

Mary

PS .... I am not planning on doing Standards or Topiaries ..... but I would like to follow along in your endeavors regarding them.

O.K. Mary, Topiaries are plants that have been trained to fill a predetermined space or form.
He suggests using rosemary, lavender, scented geraniums and small leaved ivies as table top topiaries. For example, If you find an ivy with runners and you train those runners around your container and up and down or any direction, using wire or other forms you can buy, it eventually takes a form and it is like "living art" because you shape it into any form you decide by cutting it and shaping it. Is that clear???I know what I want to say but I want you to understand. I never tried doing one because I am not good at that sort of thing.
I can cut and shape a straight line but not vines, etc. LOL

Sharon, If you can not get it to open, google the name and see if you can get there that way.

Mary ~ Have you never been to DisneyLand? They have huge animal topiaries. They are just vines or other plants formed to fill into the huge wire forms to anyone's design. Many topiaries are just like small round balls, sometimes more than one up and down a trunk of a tree or shrub. In that case it would just be pruning rather than filling in a wire form.

I believe what JB is intending to do is make a gardenia shrub look like a small tree. I hope that gives you an accurate picture.

That is correct but that is called "Standard" .Plant when completed. Must get moving here. Nite all. JB

I knew a fellow in south florida that worked for disney doing topiaries. he was english and had his own way of doing everything.
most topiaries are metal frames filled with soil and lined with long spagnum moss. the vine of choice is the tropical ficus pumila or creeping fig. I wold love to find the pic of the small elephant we had at the arbouretum. he was like 4' tall and 6' long. we would give him a trim every month. topiaries are one thing I want to do for me but thats about it. we can cheat and go buy the forms already pre made just add soil long spagnum moss and plant and away you go. I guess I need a pooh bear topiary for myself.
well the weatherman really missed it the last 2 days we had no chance of rain and my body was going off like a one armed paper hanger. yesterday evening I woke up and it had rained a nice little rain. later this week we are expecting a high in the low 70's and lows in the 50's... OOOPs

so please sound off if you are doing a topiary or standard. what are you making and what is the base plant???

I am alos off to see the wizard nite folks
Dave

Here is the ginger. It is about 14 inches tall. I have set it on a stool for the picture.

Don't know why that is so big. I will try again with the white Cypress Garden Brug. I took this thru the window.

I wonder what happened to the picture.

This message was edited Sep 22, 2010 7:53 PM

Well, cripe, I will try again. Cypress Garden Brug.

Hey all ---- When I lived in Maple Valley I used to do standards with fushia plants. I think they are the easiest, but haven't done it with any other plants. I have, however, seen it done with most any of the plants that normally grow tall and bushy. All I did was look for the strongest, straightest part of the plant, and keep the side growth cut off. Then when it was tall enough for my liking, I started cliping the top and letting the top side growth grow, just keeping a ball-like form to the top of the whole plant. They needed support for the first year or so to keep the main stem straight. The stem eventually will get woody and support itself. It does take a long time to get a nice "tree" from these, but well worth it when they bloom.
Haven't done any since I moved, Fushia's don't like it here. Had several in a pot this year, however, they didn't do very well, so I won't be doing them again. Too much work, not enough blooms to make it worth while.
Lee

Never heard Standards as a gardening term before, but I have seen that done. Too bad it takes so long because I would love to block out the neighbors.

Hi peeps.

Well JB the watering of my back lawn did the trick ...It really rained here ... hope it did likewise for you.

My younger daughter, Lisa, will be visiting me today (her weekly visit).

Tomorrow morning I see the eye surgeon again for a rountine post-opp check-up.

Tomorrow evening, I'm going to see the play "12 Angry Men" at our local little (seats 75) playhouse.

I need to get up early on Sat .... Visiting Nurse Association is having their semi-annual yard sale .... it is only a block and a half away from my house ..... trying to find Lisa a metal Tonka Truck for her pre-k classroom.

Sunday, weather permitting, I plan to tour the gardens at the former estate of William Penn. There will be gardners dressed in period garb to discuss the gardens.

Picture is of a planter that I recently purchased for $7.00 at my local Salvation Army.

Love Ya ALL

MARY

That will be a good planter for some alpine plant or cactus.

I am planning to use Bolivian Jew in each basket.

Merry, the planter is adorable. Can not wait to see it completed. Are those leaves from this year? I noticed some of our leaves are beginning to fall also. Just too dry for any Fall colors this year.

Barney got sick last night and I am a zombi today. We were up most of the night. I am hoping I do not have to take him to the vet. I medicated him and he is sleeping now and he did not throw up again, so maybe I nipped this one in the bud. He will be 13 on my Dad's birthday, which is 9/25. I miss my Dad. He was a handsome man with a wonderful laugh.
Funny how you remember the special things about people when they are gone. Now my Mother, a fine lady who used to get upset because my grandfather was bringing me up like a boy. LOL Nuff of this. I am rambling.

Lee I get the fuschia was beautiful when finished. Wow, what a great idea. They are such dirty plants to keep, but I love them.

Gotta run, believe it or not, I called my cleaning lady at 6:30 and told her to go to the beach today since Barney was sick. She was so happy, now I have to empty the trash cans and clean up the house. UGH I just hate housework. Give me a stable to clean, a chicken pen or even a dog run, but not a house to clean. LOL Hugs. Have a good day. JB

Here is a picture of my cats I rescued. One is missing on the picture. It looks like someone just dumped a pile of cats in the driveway. They wait for me to come out and play everyday about 4 P>M> which if course is feeding time on the farm.

Funny JB. Cats are such weird animals. They are so independent and yet just the little things like everyday playing with them, they wait for it.

Hobo does that with Bob. Every morning when he goes in to get dressed she goes in and jumps up on the bed with him to wrestle. Then she comes out with her ears laid back and her tail switching like "I sure showed him".

I did the same thing with the fuchsias in Seattle Lee. Yes, they are a dirty plant, but I so enjoy them. Even as dry as it is here I have my daughter get me some each year to put in my planters. With other plants they do better here.

Well, I have an appt. in Spokane today. This is the worst week for appointments since I retired. 5 this week between Bob and I both. One more tomorrow and then the week is over!!

Bob just reminded me we watched a movie last night that was so weird that I didn't even realize the star of the show, Tom Hanks, was who he was until the last screen and he didn't realize Paul Newman was who he was until the end of the show. It was so dark, and they talked so low, that you couldn't tell who was who, or what it was about thru the whole show. (LOL, yes, we actually watched it all the way thru to try to figure it out.)

We just tried to piece the movie together to figure out what happened to who by the end of the show.

Reminded me of one years ago with Marlin Brando that he played a Mexican who was sitting on the ground leaning against a building and all he did was grunt thru the whole show and he was top billing.

Well, gotta get going, ttyl

afternoon all well its one of the bad days today. I managed to ignor it for 2 days and got some things done. today was a no go. I just wanted to say hi and I am ok.

here is a pic of lucky our cat. born on friday the 13th
Dave

ROFL................Jeanette, I thought I was the only one who could not hear some of the movies. Oh my God, that is so funny. I watched "Cat Ballou" the other day and laughed until I cried at Lee Marvin, a drunken gunslinger. I love to see those old funny ones.

The newest TV HBO show that we are all waiting to see how it comes out just started on this past Sunday it is called Boardwalk Empire.....all about Atlantic City NJ in the 1920s when the gangsters were running the show. Not much different now actually, between the mobs and the unions, they pretty much have their own empire going there as we speak.
This one is similar to The Sopranos that was so popular. I DO NOT RECOMMEND IT TO PEOPLE WHO ARE OFFENDED EASILY......the language is horrible, but the history is great. So, I can not wait to see how true to life it really was.
Gotta run, need to mow grass and it is so hot..........not sure I am going to do it. If there is a breeze I may give it a go. Later. JB

Hey Dave, hope you are feeling better soon. This weather is a killer. The little black cat on the picture is the Mother, and her name is Lady Luck. We both have Lucky cats. Mine is black and therefore, I am ready for Halloween. I may just hang her on a tree someplace.
NO,I am just kidding. Never do nasty things like that. Not me. JB

Lee- you lived in Maple Valley? Was that , "Maple Valley, IA"?

Our black cat, Midnight, disappeared 4 or 5 years ago, in October. We have no idea if they were wild animals or wild humans who took her life. She did wander off the property, but always showed up for dinner...until then. She was still young, yet chased our old cat, Sunshine around and never would let het eat, as she would eat her dinner, so we had to feed them separately. Still, she was very smart. I asked if she would like to go up to the garden in the wheelbarrow, and she would jump in. Then when we were in the garden I said to her, "I am always petting you, why do you not pet me?" So, she climbed up the pine tree and went out on a very slender limb and reached out with her paw and touched the top of my head...quite unexpectedly. I was planting some things and she would try and get in the middle of everything, just to annoy me, and I told her, "Go away!"......she never came back after that.

sorry to hear about him going off on an adventure. i prefer to think that way as the other choices i just don't want to know about.
cats can be really goofy and reminds us to not take life so seriously. Lucky will get up when I wander to the kitchen for breakfast and then he will hang around at 5 ish for dinner. he knows its feeding time but he also has hard food but we only give him like 1/8 of a can each feeding.
they keep us going don't they
Dave

Evelyn, How sad. I could cry. That is one beautiful cat. We have had so many cats on this farm it is pathetic. People keep dropping them off and the hang around. I hate cats but I am a sucker for animals of all kinds. The Grey one is the male and he has decided to keep rubbing up against me. Oh how that irritates me, but I talk nice to him so I do not hurt his feelings. Cats do have feelings you know. I used to have Siamese , blue point and I forget what they call the brown, anyhow, they lived in the house and I found after they both died that I was breathing better without them. I must be allergic to cats. LOL

EVELYN....PAY ATTENTION......THANK YOU MY DEAR FRIEND.........MY NEW VICARY GOLDEN PRIVET HAS ARRIVED, HAD A DRINK AND IS NOW ON THE DECK ENJOYING THE 90 DEGREE SUNSHINE. They look great. I did not separate them because I wanted them to keep their roots together just now. They may get lonely if I separate them, so I will wait until i need to transplant them. Plants have feelings too.
Thank you so much. I am so excited I am trying to figure out where I will put it when it gets bigger. It must be someplace special. Thanks again. Love and Hugs. JB

No, Maple Valley WA. Several hundred miles from Jeanette. Wish I were there now. Gardening was a lot better and easier, except of course, the %^&*( rain. Cold here, low 40's. Supposed to warm up for the weekend, hope so, its Garage sale day on Saturday. Wish me luck, I will need it. Then maybe I can relax and garden somewhat before the cold actually gets here. Then of course it's Halloween, my favorite time of year. Can't you tell, my warped sense of humor. Some of the kids had to get used to me, before they would walk through. My breezeway becomes a haunted area instead of garden pots and waterfalls. Maybe I will post a picture this year if any of you want to see it. Later
Lee

Lee, we loved your stagecoach last year. Please do post.

Would you believe Lee that Seattle was warmer than it was here this year? Totally amazing. My daughter, in Federal Way was picking tomatoes in July!! I didn't get anything but cherry tomatoes this year. Not one. It is suppose to be in the high 70s next week. Kind of late isn't it? It has been in the 50s and raining for 2 weeks now.

I believe---I believe. Cherry tomatoes were all we got also. Has been a lousy year, and I think it will get worse this winter. We must be pretty close in weather Jeanette although I think you may be a bit warmer

Well, Lee I would love to see your Halloween Decorations. One year I dimmed the court yard lights and piped in creepy music. None of the little kids would come to the door. I had to turn up the lights and turn off the music.

Today our temperature was a high of 88. Saturday we re going back above 100. I am done with triple digits but I guess Mother Nature is not. Our low is higher than your high. I had 4 big digging projects done today by the garden helpers so all I have to do tomorrow in fine tune the soil, finish a brain storm I have and then plant and transfer plants. I will take photos tomorrow before I start. I will show you my brain storm. It is easier than trying to explain.

Had our high school 50th reunion picnic today. It was great but I was driving and I could not find the park. I have lived here since 1960 and have been there many times, but not in the last 10 years. Had to call my son in law at work and he Googled it to tell me how to get there. DH went and actually had a good time. He is looking better.

We have an appointment next week with his cardiologist. Still looking for a new Internist. The first one we called is not taking any new patients. So tomorrow I am going to call a new one. I also have to get a lung X-ray for my lung doctor and see the Skin Cancer Doctor about something on my back. Probably nothing but always have anything checked because I have been in the sun my whole life. Later. Hope you all had a good day friends.

Good morning all:
not much going on today moving slowly. the front has pushed through and I seem to be leveling out. Too many projects to do before the snow flies and I am afraid I missed my window for cuttings on the dwarf crepe myrtles. I am going to do a flat just to see if maybe I am wrong.

Have a great day
Dave

LOL, Sharon, when we lived in Seattle Bob loved Halloween and he had stuff all over the lawn and a recorder out there with a witch screaming and cackling. He wouldn't turn it on tho until the kids actually got into the yard and then the little kids coming up the road wouldn't come in.

One woman was laughing like crazy and says, "That is terrible, I love it". He had more fun with the kids and Halloween. LOL, and the adults I guess.

How is Barney JB? And Sharon, I thought it was just Medicare people that had a hard time finding new drs. Or, maybe that is your problem? Too bad he isn't closer to your son so he could see him.

Dave, I can sympathize with you 'cause I just cannot seem to get started on cleaning up for winter. Starting with such a strange winter last year has thrown off all of our seasons. I haven't even attempted to get the plants ready. One of these days it will freeze hard and it will wake me up.

Another day! I have been cheating on you guys. I have been playing with my Cafe World on Facebook and now I opened a Bakery. I am such an idiot, but it takes no thought and no stress and I do not have to "water" twice a day. I am just sick of 90 deg. heat, no rain and droopy plants by the end of the day. Crap.
I also have been playing around with Learn2Grow's website. That is really an interesting group. Very friendly.
Jen, thanks for asking, Barney is doing o.k. today. I am not feeding him large quantities but giving him small portions more often. It seems to be working. We got a good nights sleep but I have just been goofing around today. I need to sew Sleepy Huts for my birds and crochet some Scrubbies and I am not doing it. I also have a slew of tomatoes to do someothing with and and do not really care if they rot. What is wrong with me? I am not sad, depressed or anxious, I just feel great but I do not feel like doing anything constructive. LOL Love it. Maybe I will do my exercises....I hate to exercise.
If any of you living in the south near Dahlonega, GA, there is a gal on the list who has a Blue Crowned Conure she wants to give away. He sounds like a nice bird, but I think due to illness of the caregivers, they want to give him to a good home. I would like to help her find him a good home.
I will describe him if anyone is interested. Hugs. JB

Oh how I wish I were closer. I just lost my blue crown "Max" a year or so ago. He had a huge vocabulary, used to eat off my plate, loves pasta, especially the long type. He played tug o war, and other games. Never had to lock his cage, he would go back to do his duty, then come back to play. I only have my little bandit left. I hope you can find a great home for him. :)