Plant Propagation part XXXVII based on my own experience

A man Sharon? What about those women? Must be awfully hard up.

Amanda, if you wanted side shoots, why didn't you just cut it off? We all thought you wanted to start a new plant that had a good shape. You could do both by doing what they said to root the top, have a good shaped new plant, and then cut the stalk off and it would get side shoots.

Had no idea that is what you wanted to do.

It's funny, no matter how they look, men think they're fantastic. Women, they examine every flaw.

I am waiting to hear how air layering or pruning works for the NIP. Mine will ultimately need it, and it's a plant my husband picked out because he likes it. I'd hate to make a mistake with our "Christmas tree".

Mornin all:
sharon is the chip monk to confuse jeanette and JB? we all know shiney things distract them and then they are going in a new direction....

In order to encourage side shoots you need to at a min. remove the tip of a plant. Its whats called apical dominance. removing the dominant bud causes side shoots to grow more vigerously.
are we going to try the air layer on the northfolk island pine? I have seen them in south florida with a trunk about the size of a man hole cover so it might be a while before you have to take the tip. be aware that it will look funny once done. A lot of people just toss the tree out after christmas as its served its calling.

as far as air layering goes I recomend using like the cling wrap. it sticks together and lets you see when the roots hit the side of the plastic. here is a link ti show some of the how to
http://www.ehow.com/how_5086532_propagate-hibiscus-air-layering.html

I hope this helps. if you get confused please ask and I will try to straighten the confusion out. after all we don't need to reinvent the wheel.
well its time to get moving. i got in my flats of plug trays yesterday so now to get a few filled and hopefully sell a few.
Have a great day today i am still recovering from yesterdays storms. strong winds snaped electric poles in OKC so all we got was a good soaking rain and we did need it.
TTYL
Dave
Dave

Where do you guys have these Norfolks? In the north they are normally seen in hotel or building lobbies. Or very small ones sitting on a table with marble size Christmas ornaments on it. And like Dave says, usually end up getting thrown out. If in the south, are they outside? Ohio, Celene, where do you have it?

That probably makes a difference Dave whether or not they air layer them or go for side shoots or- - - - - I would think they would look funny with more than one main shoot. Guess you had to be there.

My NIP was an after-Christmas 90% markdown several years ago, it was about four inches tall, in a teeny ugly pot and looking puny, my husband wanted to grow it into a Christmas tree, so we invested the fifty cents and bought it. It's now about 2.5 feet tall, and thus far doing well in Al's gritty mix soil, I only started using that two years ago, but a spectacular difference in the health of the tree.

Tropical hibiscus? Gah. Spider-mite-having, scale-attracting, leaf-dropping prima donnas. I can't get one to live. I want to; I try. I have the special hibiscus soil and hibiscus fertilizer and researched carefully how to care for them and did every single thing. I treat them with marathon and avid, and they flip me a middle finger and die slowly no matter what I do. So...the heck with them, I'll grow a plant that likes me. Like episcias or plectranthus or spiderworts or euphorbias, who share my surly gardening vibe.

Hmmm, 2 1/2 feet huh Celene? Then what are you going to do with it? I still say, what do you do with them in OH?

You are so right about your deduction of men vs women Celene.

What will I do with it? I probably have 5-10 years before it outgrows my living room. I'll make DH build a conservatory for it? I've always wanted one.... He does love that tree.

it will be a huge one as they go like 40 to 50 ft tall

I'll have to figure out air layering or dwarfing by then. I do okay with Ficus benghalensis, F. religiosa, and some willows in containers.

Try the air layering on the ficus. its kind of fun. so what part of columbus are you in? I spent a bunch of years in grove city and then a few years just south of westerville.
Dave

Well Celene, I love the conservatory idea, however, you could keep it any size you want by the size of the pot.

My husband quips that he doesn't want it to get taller than him, so he doesn't have to crawl up a ladder to decorate it. LOL

My ficus at this point haven't needed air layering, though I did buy a Ficus allii at bLowe's on the distressed plant rack, and we'll just say I failed to air layer it successfully. I'm more skilled at that sort of thing now, so I'm pretty sure I could kill one more skillfully if I found one today.

I live in happy hippie central, Clintonville.

I am not sure where that is as I was young when we lived there. moved to florida when I was 13.

Jeanette ~ Do you have any rhodies, ferns, hostas or any shade plants for your climate? Do you like to eat any of the cool-season veggies? (Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, carrots, celery, radishes...) It seems as though the tomatoes for you are more than a challenge for you. (But then, we all seem to like a challenge, huh?)

Right now our temps are finally into the 80's so summer is here and will be for 4 or 5 months, then winter. If we are lucky, we will get a few weeks of fall-like weather, before it is cold. So I have finally planted a few tomatoes, peppers and eggplant. Next on the list is beans and I might try corn this year, now that the pine tree blocking the sunlight to the veggie garden has been felled. Before all I could do was grow aphids and corn smut...not very pretty! I would like to try again. I know it is late to plant these but before it was too wet to get into the gardens, and now I have a lot of weeds - again! Even the mulched gardens were full, except the new one in which I applied the corn gluten pre-emergent. Only a very few amount of weeds in there. At least I can see the plants. So if anyone wants to know where I am, just tell them I am weeding!

Lee ~ Glad you are finally out of the water!

Sharon ~ What happend to the "blue garden" idea? The pink rain lily bloomed yesterday.

Celene ~ That conservatory idea is a great one. I wish I could figure out how to convince my hubby to build one too! I would love to have some citrus and avocado trees in there. Let us know if you are successful in your plan.

JB ~ You run circles around all of us, not just Jeanette. I cannot keep up with you! Whew!

So I will just go outside now...

This message was edited Jun 15, 2011 3:21 PM

Clintonville is northeast of OSU campus, an older neighborhood. East North Broadway, Weber, Calumet, etc.

LOL Amanda no problem we tend to key in on one thing and run it into the ground. ok not always but we do try to help each other.

Amanda, I have several of these nfp bought also after Xmas over several years. I have tried to top them, to no avail, but if you notice, there are always several trees in each pot, so what I did, was add several smaller trees, and repotted in a larger pot. They have filled in where the taller ones lost limbs and look great. I have two that are about 5ft tall, and a couple of smaller ones., I know it doesn't answer your question, but it does give you an option to make them look nicer. Hope it helps a little.
By the way I have put up the canoe for now, and am ready to take the hair dryer out to the babies. Give me a couple of weeks and I will be crying about it being too darn dry>>>>>>Go figure. Sounds like Jen is sending more rain tho, so don't anticipate much drying anytime soon
Later all, Lee

>> It's funny, no matter how they look, men think they're fantastic.

The best example of that is the extra-selfish male lawyer "Fish" in Ally McBeal.
He told someone that he was an EXCELLENT lover.

"How do you know that?"

"Because I'm always satisfied!"

Corey

Corey, go back to sleep. LOL That is funny.

Lee you are so smart. What a cool idea for the NIPs.

Evelyn, you are not going to believe this, but my tomatoes look the best this year than they have in many years in this the wettest, coldest, June ever.

I have fed them Dave's magic elixer and covered the hoophouse with visqueen so they get the reflection light from the CLOUDS AND, I also have a half a dozen 5 gallon carboys full of water that heat up during the day so I water them with that warm water every other day. THEY LOVE THAT WARM WATER ON THEIR TOOTSIES.

Remember I have these in alfalfa bales.

Yes Lee, more rain is on the way. It, and the snow from your mountains, has filled up the river. I am sending you a picture of the resort a few miles down the highway from me.
I

Well Lee, that is a wonderful idea with NIPs.

We hit 105 degrees today. It was probably higher but the Chamber of Commerce probably will not let them make that public knowledge. I had PT nd my shoulder is 95% better. Housekeepers were here esrly so did not get much done except PT and taking the dogs for a walk.

I am gardening all day tomorrow and Friday. Gardeners will be here later in the afternoon so I will go out early and trim everything. That way, they pick it up.

Evelyn, all the bulbs for my blue garden are still in the fridge. I will have to plant them in November. Just did not have enough time because of all my plant obsessions.

My hardy hibiscus are getting ready to put on buds. The black bamboo is still in the holding garden and not looking very good. My neighbor said I could get some more and if it does not perk up, I will do so.

Celene, what spiderworts do you have. I have a total white, a white with blue stripe, a blue, a variegated leaved blue and a deep purple. They, along with oxalis, are one of my new obsessions. And cannot forget double bloom oleanders.

I again want to state that I have never seen so much water as the amount I saw in Washington state. I am from the desert and do not travel much but that is a bunch of water.

Lee I saw on the map where the Missouri River goes across half of your state. We need to determine how to get it goes West just a little bit and thrn it csn flow into the Colorado River.

Last, Jnette, I did not even want to bring up the low life women that responded to the tweets. Of course, there is always one in Las Vegas. Looks like she is going to get fired.
NHL was on NBC tonight so hubby was watching Entertainment Tonight. They had the 10 most handsome men bodies. OMG, now I really do want a poster.

Rick, I love your sense of humor. Later friends. Sharon.

Sharon, quit collecting plants until you take care of the ones you have!!! Don't listen to her about the spiderworts Celene. She doesn't need any more plants. She will just put them in the refrigerator and let them die.

A poster!! Good grief. Sounds like something JB would do.

You just leave that Missouri river alone Sharon. You people from that area try to take other people's water and cause all kinds of problems. It would end up in the Columbia and we sure don't need any more water here. Guess Arnold told you to keep your hands off of it didn't he. He wants it for So. Cal.

Jnette, my landscape is a traffic stopper. I have Blue berries that probably cost me $64 for about 12 Blue Berries. I have tomatoes that probably cost at least $50 a pound.

Celene, do not listen to that old hag. She has mold on her brain.

Jnette if it was done right it would not hit anywhere near the Columbia. But we need the unit from the US Troops that put the air port back in order after the earthquake in Japan. Actually we should just appoint all those young men to Congress and kick out everyone currently there..

Good Heavens, Sharon finally woke up! You better watch out Sharon, JB is going to come on here in the mornin' and start yellin' that we said too much for her to comprehend.

So if your plants are so gorgeous Sharon, how come they don't produce anything? Don't you have any bees down there? You probably stomp every one of them you see. Ya gotta have bees!! It is probably too hot down there for them to come out. Here it is too cold for them to come out. Go figure. Bet they are all over there in Stockton where my sister lives? She is in the produce belt of the nation. Things produce almost year 'round there. I said almost.

Well Jnette, we have bees. We have birds. We have hookers. We have police. We have plenty of Sun. We have no Rain. We have enough Bees to pollinate but no enough water to grow vegetables. You need to watch the PBS White Cadillac. Old special showing how California stole the water from the rest of the Western states. Now Las Vegas is trying to steal it from the "cow counties".

I love bees, birds, worms, everything but Democrats. LOL. ROTFLMAO (Everyone else, this is an inside joke) (Please do not be offended if you are a Democrat) Sharon.

She's just trying to cover her butt so nobody sneaks up behind her. You know Sharon I was not the only one to vote and voted millions of times. I am not that old to have time enough to vote that many times. So you better watch out what you are saying.

Well then Sharon, you cannot complain about paying $64 for a lb of Blueberries and $50 a lb for tomatoes. Not only that you probably have never tasted a decent tomato. To tell you the truth it has been a long time since I have had a good tomato. But I sure do plan on having some decent ones this year and if I could figure out how to do it I would even send you some good tomatoes 'cause I swear if nothing else, unless I find a house to buy and move, I am going to have good ones this year.

Well, I can hear JB hollarin' at us now so I am going to bed and put cotton in my ears. nite.

Every time I open this thread, I laugh out loud.

Moldy brain? No problem, it's rained a lot here, mine probably is, too. Good thing I look stunning in blue-green. It goes with my purple hair.

Spiderworts...I have more tropical/wandering jew types. The hardy ones are sooo floppy, and I bought a variegated one--something Bride, blushing? It actually stays variegated for fifteen minutes in May each year, then reverts. For the tropicals, I have a couple of Dichorisandras, many tradescantias (my favorite is Purple Plush, which I almost lost last winter), Callisia fragrans, Callisa fragrans variegated, Gibasis, Tinantia, and I'm trying not to kill another Campelia.

well aint that a surprise. I beat JB to the mornig post lol

I got a disterbing email yesterday from a seller friend on the other site. she has a bunch of plants she wants to move. she is threatening to compost them after monday so i thought I would post the site and let you see if there is anything you might want from her list. If you send me your email address I will forward the email. basically its as follows

10 plants 16.00 and 27 plants 33.75 here is the spreadsheet to see the list of the plants
https://spreadsheets0.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?hl=en_US&key=trpG0-kkEGoTn5kCjVaw2ug&hl=en_US#gid=0

Here is the link to all the info http://cubits.org/flowersnursery/thread/view/58907/

as some of you know I do share specials i run across from time to time.

Jeanette: sharon is having trouble with tomatoes because the pollen becomes unviable at 90 degrees so I am guessing she has a narrow window of prime time to get flowers polinated.

well I will be a busy bee today as we got a frog strangler early this morning. sounded like someone opened the flood gates. we had 40 mph winds which wiped out my shade house. luckily its just snap together so nothing is damaged.
Stay cool
Dave

Morning All,
You are all too funny. Corey, I too love your sense of humor. It seems to match mine.
I am working a little bit this morning, but then I am off to spend the afternoon with Mom. I am cutting hydrangea, gardenia, camellia, azalea and akebia today. hopefully I can get some started soon.
I looked at the list for flowers nursery. It looks as though she has some great plants. I have my hands full right now, but if you get another of those notices, please let me know.

hope everyone has a wonderful day.
Linda

I still am confused about what you can and cannot do with patents. I have my Nine Bark that is getting new growth and needs pruning. But no point in making new plants and giving them away if I will be breaking the law. JB? Dave?

Sharon, I have two blueberry plants $18.00. I have no berries this year. No bees I guess.
Last year they had a bout 8 berries. I think I will just buy fruits it seems easier than this waiting for it to happen crap.

Waiting for the bird groomer to come.

I put the Chevie truck up on eBay Classified. On the local listing and since it is a Classic I kept the price at $2750 , but I will take less if someone is a serious buyer. Several people looked at it but so far no one has come up with the $2500 I am asking. Maybe I will put it up on the MarketPlace if they have a place for trucks.

I have three Kalanchoe Blossfeldiana, yellow and orange or red, can not remember. How do you propagate them. I will look it up on DG and see what they say. They seem to be really happy houseplants and grow like weeds. I got these for Mothers Day from one of the NJ grandkids and forgot about them, transplanted them and wow, they grew like crazy. One is blooming again. So, like I told you, I will sell anything that is not nailed down, do what can I say?

My leg is almost back to normal. No more cane and I took a long walk this morning
and got tired but it did not hurt. I must watch when I am sitting at the puter. I always put my feet back under me and that is what causes my problem.
Here is a picture of my baby blue.

Have a good day. Will talk later. JB

Jen, I think we can give them to each other but I am not sure. I do know we can not sell them. If you want to get technical, I would think we should not even propagate them period. Really pisses me off because I bought those Easter Cactus and they are not patented in the USA but they are still patented. I think I will ask the Dept. of AG for their thoughts.

Who polices that. I would think if you trade or share who would know? My luck they would pick me up and deport me.

That does it. THEY ARE ALL PATENTED. Mine have no name other than Kalanchoe Blosssfeldiana and instructions to grow...............GROWN IN CANADA.

JB did you try Craig's list? Don't send any money to anyone in Nigeria. LOL

You drive it out here and I will give you the full price $2750 for it. You can hitchhike back.

What year is the truck? Is it as old as you? If so it must still be running good. Isn't that the one you had painted not long ago? LOL, I know it isn't, that was the jeep.

Did I get your BP up yet?

What about your Aimees?

Thanks Dave.

Well I was in the landscape at 7am and caved at noon. Just to hot. But I did get a lot done. I am going to plant later this evening.

Jnette, those millions of votes all came from Chicago's cemeteries. Actually, I voted for him because I thought McCain was to old and Palin drives me crazy. But I am disappointed. You see, I am a Republican but the Republicans in congress and state governments are not even close to being a Republican. They are all lying. But we are not suppose to discuss politics. That will have to wait until we all have tea together.

Celene, were you up early or late. I know nothing about tropical spiderwort. I will have to look it up. My spider wort is beautiful and when it is through blooming, I cut it back and it comes up again and bloom heavily again.

I was cleaning the Louisiana Iris bed today before I got to hot. Had 6 stems that have very large seed pods. I am going to dig them and separate probably later in the month. Anyone want a seed pod when they are ripe. I think there are 6 and I will keep one pod.. .

Linda, got your seeds. Thanks so much. Do the Lantanas need to be soaked? They seem to be big seeds with a shell aren't they? Seems like I soaked them before and they didn't come up. Maybe that is why?

Anyway, thank you for both those and the Queens Tears. Oh, Do those need light also? Jeanette

Sharon I would like a seed pod. Might be fun to try it. What time of the year would I plant them?

Oh, BTW, my whole family is Reps but got it form my parents. But you are right, Bob and I have been saying for the last several years that the current ones are not true. Too bad it was a GOP at one time.

I know, I know, no politics. Just had to get that in.