heat mats and lighting

That is a lovely clematis!

Tammy and Pirl, this is the 4th time i've tried to message yous guysI must be tired. Thank you.............................................................................................................JIMT.

Thanks, Shune. It's won awards for me last year and this year in the photo contest but even if it didn't I'd love it best.

Jim - you're welcome four times!

Oh pirl what a beautiful flower, so elegant it should win awards ! We have an old car we sometimes take to car shows ,I love it when some one comes in with an older mercedes. But honestly I get more joy out of looking at flower gardens and flower shows.
JimT sorry you had trouble posting happens to me all the time for some reason I hit something that makes everything I write delete sometimes.

Thanks, Tammy. I love it so much that I ordered two more of them!

I lose posts, too.

Hey Pirl and Tammy. I just set most of the basil into their permanent home!!! No matter what they say to me they are home.Thats a fact Jack. Alot of my Gazanias gave me the skunk eye and took off to fairer homes in the sky.But goodness There are plenty still getting to the 4" mark. A good friend offered to get my little Mantis out and earning it's keep tomorrow.(for a dozen ea. orange, coconut, and liquid dark chocolate center Truffles) My rib says Good Deal JIMT. Got enough Passiflora cuttings to root a dozen from my woods this morning.I saw a stand of iris reticulata while out there I hope mine will look as good. Thanks for being here.Talk to you later JIMT.

Sounds like you're having fun, Jim! Keep us posted on your progress.

ARRRG!!! My post went to the twilight zone again. Cripes; Synopsis:::::: Potting up 2, 22yrs. old Pony Tail Palms. for 15 yrs. they have lived in the same 18"X7" pots. New pots are 21"X13" I'm filling bottom 1/3 with clay pot shards They are like a part of my family (But Not crazy at all) Poppy Anenome (Red) Blooming:::lots and lots of daylily are Up Checkerd lily's are up:::Iris reticulata about a dozen up.My new(1yr.in the ground) Banana Shrub is covered with blooms even sweeter than a real Magnolia. I moved mulch and lots of route 66 Coreopsis & Cosmos volunteered Yea. Native Azalea Admiral Semmes (Hot Yellow w/ Orange)budding, Agapanthus up, sweet pot. vine up, Lantana up, Lots and lots of Huckleberry blossoms.Blackberries look like R.I.P. All ferns sending up fronds even the rabbit foot Fern is doing fine Passiflora(red w/ white center made it)up.Peacock moss up & keep finding more.I seem to be missing 100 or so minor bulbs.But I'm the only one who will know.Siberian Iris Up!!!! I feel foolish puting all of this on here but by gosh I'm very happy indeed!!!! Pirl did you get my info? I will check the Mail with anticipation daily JIMT.

You're doing just terrific!

Yes, got your Dmail and replied. We'll be mailing to you tomorrow.

JimT I am so happy that your plantings are doing good and you have help getting the others in the ground. OK guys I am starting to think I got the posting mystery figured out!! remember the twighlight zone episode with william shattner about the airplane GREMLIN , I believe that there is a computer gremlin out there causing problems for us. It is probly out there right now just waiting for me to turn my head so he can hit that delete button.
Yea!!! my husband finished my shelf today , he also felt sorry for me being so sick that he bought me two more roses they are Chrysler Imperials He likes there name. Pirl doesn't JimT get you excited about getting back in the yard and working in your flowers , oh Man , Pirl your cabin fever must have been contagious cause I got a bad case of it now.

Chrysler Imperial is a beloved rose. Pretend you're not well until he buys 'The Paul McCartney Rose' for you!

Yes, JimT does get me yearning for spring!

I'm beginning to think Mother Nature has inflicted this cruel punishment of snow/ice, cold/wind, more snow and ice as some kind of bizarre punishment on us. I hope we've all atoned enough all winter and we get a beautiful spring, summer and fall in 2011.

Pirl I believe your right it is as if mother nature is just down right mean to us this year. I am tired of winter it was in the 50s yeaterday today we have snow and ice and its in the 20s. I have not heard of The Paul McCartney Rose what color is it. I think we deserve an early , long ,warm ,spring and the sooner the better. I am starting to feel like jack in the movie The Shinning if I dont see some sun soon I am going to crack up ,only I dont have the energy to chase any one around with an ax.,and I dont think me sitting on the couch and throwing old valentines candy hearts at family walking by is having the same chilling effect . I wonder if it would be more menacing if I threw the chocolate kisses?

Eat the chocolate kisses!

All we see in the new snow in the back yard and across the front are deer tracks. If this really is a joke by Mother Nature, it's just not funny.

The Paul McCartney Rose (it might just be The McCartney Rose - winter has frozen my brain) is a lovely deep pink/rose color and has gorgeous blooms when the deer don't devour them.

Y'all make me happier than you will ever know.What; with out Tammy's Gung-Ho ieness? I never could have kept this seed-starting going and going It would have just faded away right along with the million other things I've halfway finished over the years. My friends are almost convinced This Garden "Fad" is going to stick. When I called 1800GotJunk,Emptied out My Plant Room, Scrubbed,Painted,varnished, Hung the plant Lights & have my plants To show them. They asked about you guys!! They think I'm online with two motivational gurus. Not farfetched to me at all. Because of pirls advice my plants are not just alive but thriving.Right now I'm hanging my floodlight to containerize all of the poor lilies I misplanted last spring. except not my Fritillaries I counted around 30!! I'll leave them for fall or spring 2012. Phooey on the Myan calendar. Thanks again . I'm off to find the OFF (mosquitoes) JIMT.

Hate to tell you this, Jim, but having to find mosquito repellent is only a dream here in the northeast right now. I'm a wee bit jealous.

Annie you cracked me up with the refrence to the shinning , but I agree with Pirl aint no way I would throw them kisses but then again you know my boys I 'd never have any chocolate left in the house so they really wouldn't have to worry about that. JimT You got me chomping at the bit to get out in the yard. got a question for ya Pirl I seen that when you plant vinca they need to be in the dark and a warm place I was wondering I have a closet in one off my bedrooms it would be dark and warm I wonder if the lack of air flow would be bad though. what do you think? and dont you wish someone would invent snow repellent.

I'll gladly vote for snow repellent and deer repellent that sends them into the ocean.

I've never grown vinca. Could you set up a fan in front of the closet and turn it on for five minutes at a time for three times a day? Don't aim it at the plants - try to aim it for the ceiling.

yes the fan is a great idea I planted vinca and more petunias tonight , I ordered some wave petunias, they have a new wave I haven't seen yet it is called an easy wave{ I think that was the name of it } they are suppose to grow more in a mound but still spread out , have you seen it or heard of it. Hey they have sea horses so why not sea deer I personaly think mars is a wonderful place for snow the further away the better.

Keep on planting and keep notes on the petunias you tried so you'll know which ones to order for next year. We have grown some petunias but Jack is walking Harry (the dog) so I have no idea of the name.

Tammy,Have your plants gotten to or past the potting-up stage? Or are they ready to start taking them on their daily walks to harden them off? Tell me about what ALL plants you started. Sedum? Wave Petunias? What Vinca did you decide on? & Veggies too. Any beans (I too love the legumes.) Cukes? Burpee sent a Free gift with my order. They are Marigolds, Burpee's best mix. and Cucumber White Wonder. They are two things I just would not plant. I wonder, would you want them? If so you would be the first person i'd give them to.D-Mail me your info and i'll send them. Last year I planted Stonecrop blue spruce sedum. After August It just faded away, none to be seen any where. I'm glad I was carefull removing fallen leaves because There is blue spruce 3"-4" tall allover the place. I think I'll pot all I can with the pony tail palms. They will like containers over clod footed gardeners any day or some with the lily Bulbs too?What do you thnink of that idea? Oh, if you like the Cosmos Bright Lights Mix, there is pack you are welcome to also. I like when the late afternoon sun hits their blooms they do look like bright lights! Orange and yellow.Let me know all about your progress. Well I'm going to hit the hay Keep Warm.JIMT.

Jimt I planted two flats of seeds that I had gotten off my own flowers . I wanted to see if they would grow so I'd know if I wasted my time collecting seeds . I did this way to early to actually plant outside but I didnt know if they would grow or if I would need to buy seeds. The really bad thing is that I cant remember now where I placed those seeds I collected so I had to buy seeds anyway. My memory is so bad, I found a present I bought my son last Christmas hid in a closet this week . I am now planting for this spring normaly here in indiana we can set plants out after Mothers day . so I have a ways to go yet weather wise. I am planting 4 different petunias, geraniums ,impatients snap dragons ,ghypsophilia ,pansys, verbena ,sweet williams, my vincas are red from flowers I had last year. I planted three rose bushes inside I was afraid they would dry out and die before it was time.

JimT I am sorry I had more tp write last post but my arm gave out on me . I thank you for the offer on the seeds I already have my cucumber seeds and like you I dont plant marigolds . I got a free package of basil you are welcome to, I'll dmail ya. I also have some bulbs to plant , canna and freeza , what is really bad is at the end of december I planted 50 spring bulbs ,my husband threw my packages out and I cant for the life of me remember what they are.. I plan on planting tomatoes green beans, lima beans , carrots sweet potatoes and onions, banana peppers , I will let you know any thing else I plan on planting.
Pirl I was wondering my petunias and geraniums say they need lots of lights, should I leave the lights on all the time till they get seedlings or should I have them on for 16 hrs .

16 hours - not all the time!

Pirl help!!! one of the clematice I am growing is starting to die I think . it is smaller than the other one I planted but it was growing fine, but now the stem has gone limp and the leaves are kind of curling. I watered them both the same but the other one is taller and its stem is more hard like a twig . do you think transplanting it would help or should I just prepare for the worst and say my final goodbyes to it! any idea what is wrong with it or what may have caused it?
tammy

So sorry to hear that, Tammy! Don't try to water it or feed it. Can you post a photo of it for us? Some seeds are just stronger by nature and more able to grow into what we expect while other seeds are not as strong. Post a photo ASAP. Thanks.

I am not computer savy so to speak but I will try and post a photo as soon as possible

When the stem goes limp it's generally not good news. Is the soil, down deep, damp? It sounds as though you'll lose it BUT clematises have a way of sometimes resurrecting themselves and sending up more stems. I would not water it unless it's dry - then just wait it out and see what happens and only water when they need it.

If you have any Epsom Salt on hand just mix up a cup of it with just a tiny amount of Epsom Salt in just tepid water and when the clem's need water use that but don't drown them with kindness. You can use any leftovers you have of the Epsom Salt solution for any other plants - it promotes more basal break (more stems).

Hello Tammy,Pirl Well I went and got the Abyssinian Red Ensete Banana Tree,The tytyga.com site was no shipping and such a deal I could not refuse. Tammy good luck with the clematis!! Epsom salt did wonders for my ferns,and my peacock moss. Do not give up the ship. I have got to get time to plant out. My seedlings (some) are larger than what home depot has for sale.Do youz guys have the banana tree? Very messy durring fall and winter. I had forgotten their beauty during the rest of the year.Pirl can you tell me how much direct sun, Stonecrop Blue Spruce (sedum reflexum) needs? I had it in part shade as a ground cover last year. No good for it at all.Night All JIMT.

Here the sedums can take full sun but in Alabama I think I'd avoid any midday sun.

I haven't grown the banana tree at all. It probably works better in zone 8 than up here.

Here's what I found:
http://www.pendernursery.com/Catalog/Detail/sedumreflexumbluespruce.html

You might want to ask other gardeners, in your zone, how much shade or sun they give it to get good results.

Pirl ,Epson salt, never heard of useing it on plants, but you can be assured I am going to get me some. I was wondering can you use it on all flowers and how about roses .my clematis went to that garden in the sky, I gave up on it too soon , its a good thing being a bad gardener Isn't against the law or I would be doing hard time in some jail made of marigolds and posion ivy . I have all these seedlings coming up now and I am scared I will kill them now too. JimT I dont know of any one around here that has grown banana trees but I seen where there is suppose to be a new one out that is tolerant to our cooler seasons , can you eat the bananas you grow?
Tammy

The following is an excerpt from About.com regarding Epsom Salts:

What are Epsom Salts?
Epsom salts are a naturally occurring mineral. They were first discovered in Epsom, England, where they got their name. You can find cartons of Epsom salt in drug stores and groceries, either in with the laxatives or the sore muscle section.

What do Epsom Salts do for Plants?
Epsom salts contain hydrated magnesium sulfate, two elements crucial to plant growth.
•Sulfur (13%) is crucial to the inner workings of plants, but it is almost never lacking in the soil, thanks in part to synthetic fertilizers and acid rain.

•Magnesium (10%) can become scarce in soil, usually because of erosion or depletion of the top soil or a pH imbalance. Some plants, like lettuce and spinach, don’t mind going without magnesium. Others may exhibit symptoms like leaf curing, stunted growth, that could be attributed to more than one cause. Magnesium deficiency has even been blamed as a cause for bitter tomatoes.

In general, magnesium plays a role in strengthening the plant cell walls, allowing the plant to take in the nutrients it needs. It also aids in seed germination, photosynthesis and in the formation of fruits and seeds.
******************************************************

Roses LOVE Epsom Salts. Just dissolve about a tablespoonful to a gallon of tepid water (plants absorb tepid faster than cold water) and give them a treat. It will give you more basal break (more stems) but not more flowers. For that you'd want a food with a high middle number, like any of the Bloom Buster products by Miracle Gro and others.

Never give up on a clematis. Plant them about 2" deep (just remove any leaves that will be covered) and make sure you have lots of compost and manure in the planting hole. Compost is a wonderful addition. Use even more compost to act as mulch. Plant them at a 45 angle towards the trellis or whatever they'll use to climb.

Keep the faith! Water (don't drench and water only as needed) from the bottom, give the seedlings 12 to 14 hours of light each day and keep those lights close to the plants but not touching the leaves and let us know how well they're growing for you.

We are all "rooting" for you.

Thanks Pirl , I needed the PEP talk!! I was wondering how often do you use the epson salts , every time you water? also I planted a lot off flowers so when my seedlings get to where they can be transplanted I will run out of room on my grow stand ,do you think it would hurt to stagger the plants ? like have half under lights every other day , to you think this would stunt there growth to much?

You can use it on established plants, outside, once a week when the gardening season begins but inside I'd limit it to only those where you can see the plants are really putting on growth since the roots are not capable of using food until they do establish some roots.

Is it not possible to buy more lights or is it a lack of space? Could you compromise by trading off plants and giving them all 12 hours of light daily or is that more work than you want?

Without enough light they can become tall and lanky but what you want is short and stocky at the start. Good luck, Tammy.

Hi Pirl, a question. I started sunflower seeds inside some are normal but a dozen or so are too tall.how deeply can I transplant the taller ones?I think i'll just sow the rest next weekend outside. Over sown Basil+chop stick = success.Thanks again JIMT.

I've only planted sunflowers directly outside and never tried them indoors. You wouldn't have much to lose by trying to plant it deeper - that's your call.

Great work with the basil! Just yesterday I got out a chopstick to plant coleus cuttings and it worked very well.

Gotta love it! Had orange chicken for supper.JIMT.

...and you didn't share with the rest of us?

Pirl I agree ! Jimt Didn't your momma teach you about sharing, well I hope you enjoyed your chicken , and I bet it was really good too , Pirl I can almost smell it ! And here I am with my hamsalad sandwich and the real kicker , it aint even real hamsalad its sandwich spread.. Oh well we'll forgive ya Jimt glad you put your plants to such good use. Pirl great idea about 12 hours for the plants that is what I will do . I am afraid to ask for more lights or space in the basement it is also our garage and I believe I would be pushing my luck to take any more space . my husband was ok with the grow stand but now I have 6 rose bushes planted and sitting around he said that his garage is becoming a green house . He talked about kicking the whole lot of us out of his man cave . LOL I can tell ya it dont smell like a greenhouse in there smells like theres a bear living in his cave!!!!

As soon as you can dig you can plant the roses, Tammy. I've done it in March though my first attempt resulted in ice chips flying into the air. I tried and succeeded a few days later.