Plant propagation... the basics

Jnette, the rose of sharon is in the hibiscus family. It forms a tree as much as 15 feet tall. Here they bloom in july and there are many varieties. My grandma used to call them Althea. The botanical name tho is hibiscus syriacus. Let me know if you want 1, I have a single white, that I am about to cut and a few that I plan to start from seed.
I have had azaleas on 1 side of my yard for 20 years and now they are beginning to die a little at a time. I may re-design that side of the yard and put in more althea and different colors of other hibiscus too.

Here the Rose of Sharon looks like a weed. Hardy hibiscus is a show stopper. But in your moist climate, they are probably beautiful.

I am going to try cuttings of the dwarf oleander. If I get them to root, I will pass them on. I will take a bunch of cuttings of the Glowing Green coleus and I will look up the name.

We had beautiful cloudy weather this morning and sparse rain. I was sitting on the back patio and got cold. It was 76 degrees. I get cold under 80 degrees. I know, get a life.

See you later. Sharon

Sharon, we may seem like a moist climate to you, but not to us after having lived in Seattle. This is not moist. This is moist in the spring and fall. Dry in Summer and snow in Winter.

Linda, I thought Altheas were Holly hocks. What are those? Alceas or something like that? Can't remember. They all sound alike. Jen

Jnette, alcea is a hollyhock, but althea is the rose of sharon. Wouldn't it be easier if there were only 1 name for each plant.?

Sure would.

Did you all see this.

Dave, I know you will be interested.

By Larry Rettig (LarryR)
September 9, 2011

Thanks to world-renowned horticultural firm, GGG (Unternehmensgruppe Grünewald), based in Europe, an entirely new plant has made its gardening debut. An interspecific cross between annual verbena and creeping phlox, Velox promises to be one of the more exciting new plants available to gardeners in the coming years.

Gardening picture


Hybrids that result from crossing species within the same genus are called "interspecific." Such hybrids normally do not survive in nature because the resulting plants are sterile. Sterility results from the fact that the parent plants each have a different number of genes. With human intervention, however, these hybrids can be reproduced vegetatively via rooted cuttings or via tissue culture.

Naming interspecific hybrids generally follows the portmanteau method. Using this method, portiions of the names of the two parent species are combined. Generally, the male portion of the name comes first. Hence, verbena (pollen donor) plus phlox equals velox.

Velox has many traits to recommend it. As one might expect of most any hybrid, it has increased vigor and the flowers are of greater substance than those of either verbena or creeping phlox. It is very mildew resistant, drought and heat tolerant once established, and blooms from spring to frost. Velox inherits its annual nature from the verbena side of its heritage.

Even though it has just entered the gardening market, velox has already earned raves. Nursery Management named it one of the top 10 plants that have great potential to be used in landscapes in many different areas of the country. At a recent plant exhibition, Better Homes and Gardens magazine called velox a real "standout" plant for the garden.

I already have a spot picked for the velox plants I'll be trialing in our gardens next year. I'm anxious to see how they fare during our hot, humid--and sometimes dry--summers. Why not try a plant or two yourself? If you do, I'd love to hear how it did for you.

Velox at a Glance
Image
Foliage Color Green
Exposure Full sun/ Part sun
Habit Mounding/Mat forming
Soil Type Any fertile soil
Moisture Moist to dry
Height/Spread 6"-12" high/12"-16" wide
Uses Flower beds/Containers/ Baskets
Flowering Spring through fall/Pink, Soft pink
Propagation Via cuttings
Photos in this article are provided free of copyright limitations
by Penn State University.

Photo is with the article. It was posted under articles about 1 week ago. Sharon

Evelyn, you killed the hardy hibiscus because it was pink. I will send you a new pink one.

I am going to plant a bunch of cuttings of the coleus tomorrow. It only takes a short period of time for them to root.

I now one seed pod on a yellow rain lily. I found another cantaloupe. The vine has grownup into a neighbors olive tree and then started back down toward the garden. It is about 1/3 the way up the tree.

This is fun but it is stealing all the nutrients out of my compost pile. I did some digging Friday around the compost and there are large worms everywhere.

Evelyn, I have the pink and white verbena also. I am going to try to root some. I might just pull the pot into the garage for the winter and try layering.

Today was another sad day to remember 9/11. So mean spirited. Sharon

Ok, Nancy, here is the coleus we were talking about.

Rather than hold this one over, I will take each stalk off (just most of the top but not the woody part of the stem) and root them and then start a new plant. I just pick a large pot and plant all of them in the one pot.

Here is one more shot: Sorry for the lighting. This time of year the sun has moved so I don't get much on this deck. Jen

Jeanette... that is really a beautiful coleus! Thanks for the photo. You said you root a new plant rather than holding over... is that because the plant responds better that way or is it because of your winter climate? I love all these coleus photos.... they really are gorgeous plants.

Pink and white verbenas sounds so pretty also... I bet your landscape is beautiful Sharon. What exactly is 'layering'?
I had a volunteer cantalope from my compost also... I replanted it and it was going gangbusters... would you believe my dogs ate it? You'd think I never feed those two! I think they'e been taking notes from possums and rats!

I just purchased some salvia from a co-op on another website and one of the plants arrived broken...all the growth was on the broken stem... I have it in water right now waiting to see if it's going to root for me... hopefully the parent plant continues to grow as well. I'm excited to see if it roots and survives.. they seem pretty hardy to me. I think I should have good luck with this one. Nancy

I am trying my hand at overwintering coleus. Sharon love the glow coleus. I'll check out Rosy for next year's seeds or plants.

Jnette, love the blue tinge on your coleus. I had a nice blue pot but broke it into a million pieces. Oh well, back to the store.

Can't wait to see "Veltox".

Good afternoon all:
ok I know its from way back and I dont think I ever answered the question on what the baggie method is. When doing cuttings in small quantities you can take a clear bag and put it over the pot to increase humidity. you have to take care not to put it where the sun will directly hit it as it might cook the little fellows. also you will need to let the air out from time to time to help with air exchange of the foliage (my personal thought) about every 3 to 5 days. some may say its wrong but I feel its needed. The increased humidity helps the cuttings from wilting and withering away. those in high humidity area's may skip this as its not nedded for you. you be the judge.
Nancy try your salvia this way. salvia is pretty easy to root so it should do fine.

I managed to get some progress on my clean up in the nursery as well as planted some more cuttings.gold mound spiraea.

Air layering is where you take and root a cutting while still attached to the momma plant. There are several techniquies. the old brick on a lib technique. where you bend a limb down to where it touches the ground and you put a brick or rock or something heavy enough to hold the limb in contact with the soil where it will root. some plants spread this way naturally. mints & forsythia to name a couple.
another way to do it is to take a branch and scrape off some of the bark on one side of the limb. Apply rotting hormone. Pack with moist Long Spagnum Moss (not peat moss) and wrap it with clear plastic wrap from the kitchen. you need to hold it tight to the branch with either twist ties, rubber bands or mayby a zip tie from the hardware store.
there is a company that makes a neat little plastic cup with a lid that looks like it would work well. I have some but never tried them. one of those I will get to it but can never find my "round to it".
You will need to check the cutting from time to time to see how its doing and see how well its keep its moisture as it needs to be kept moist. once you see roots out to the sides of the plastic its ready to remove and plant.

The veltox looks neat and the person who did it hit a home run I am sure it will be a must have in the planting beds.

Did I miss any questions???
Dave

Dave... thanks for explaining the 'air layering'... it makes perfect sense... it's a good method. I love the Salvia Leucantha Ferpink.... does anyone know if it's available yet? I haven't seen it anywhere.... Nancy

Nancy it looks white, does it have a pink hue to it??? the pic is small and I seem to be a bit blind this am. I did a quick search and did not find it for sale. Hopefully it will make the markets this spring and every grow in the country will offer it.

NF, I have the purple tall salvia if you are interested.

Hi Dave.... yes, it's definately pink and the foliage is a bit velvety... sort of like lambs ears (texture-wise I mean). I'm getting the feeling it's not on the market, but I believe the patent was granted 3 maybe 4 years ago... seems like we should be seeing it by now. It's really lovely.

Peg...thanks so much for the offer. Right now I have 2 large blue salvias that are so pretty... I love the blues. I don't have room for another big one as my flowerbeds are jam packed. I've been utilizing pots for any additions so I have to plant smaller varieties. I sure do wish I had more room... every gardeners lament I am sure. But it was sweet of you to offer! Salvias are such great plants... so hardy to temperature changes and the hummers really love them... I really enjoy mine!

Speaking of layering earlier ... I went out last night in the cooler part of the evening and found out that my strawberries are running... it's been so hot here they haven't done anything... I imagine the few days of cooler (not really down to 95 from 107!!)...but cooler than it was... temps... caused the plant to send out runners. Maybe I have a chance at a few more strawberries before fall.

Have a good day everyone! Nancy

A friend gave me a bag of potassium or potash, and I am not sure what to do with it especially since it's mid Sept. 15. Any suggestions? I'll have to check the bag to see which one it is.

Nancy: I had one of the purple rain salvia's shown here. if it comes back I will get some cuttings off it and send you one as long as you don't have it. I am afraid its dead and gone as my niece pulled "weeds" in the area and I cant seem to see it. that along with my emphasis on gettings roots with the weed may mean its gone. time will tell.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/32271/

I have snow hill, may night, east friesland and caradonna as plugs. really not sure if I am going to continue growing them as they seem to get huge way too fast and then its a fight to keep them watered.
Dave

Peg: worst case is you hang on to it till next year. I would go ahead and use it as its good for root growth and cold tolerance. It would help your plants make it through the winter as I think its going to be a nasty one this year.

I hope this helps
Dave

That would be great. What is the difference between potash and potassium?

oh yea try looking this article over it looks like great info on sorting out the fertilizers uses. I like to fertilize in late october as it helps the plants go through winter better and gives a great spring push. I try ti fertilize my beds 3 times a year early spring, late spring/ early summer and late fall. I used to tell people to think of holidays to associate the act with. like valentines day or St patties day labor day and halloween.
Dave

oooops
http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/3193/

potash is just another name for pottasium

Thanks Pugh. This helps a lot. So it isn't too late for me in Z8b-9a to spread out.
I appreciate.

Anyone know anything about rooting clematis vines? I read an article about rooting them in water and it was all new to me. I have such sandy dry soil that layering hasn't worked. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I feel another experiment coming on. LOL
Thanks,
Linda

I would take a pot, medium size, and fill it with potting mix. Then set it next to the vine you want to propagate. I would use the layering method but do it in the pot. I have done this with wire vine and it works perfectly. You could do more than one at a time. You could also use a long low tray and it would probably work also and not show up as much.

good idea. have you tried to air layer?

I got the cutest little plant today at a local garden center. normally I am cheap but it was the last birthday gift cert. I had to finish off. Talinum calycinum - fame flower
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/44085/

Dave, that is a cute little plant. I have never seen one of those before.

Sharon, thanks for the hint. I will try that. Oh yeah, I know you grow lots of hardy hibiscus. How do you root those?


Dave, I tried air layering once, but I accidentally cut complete through the stem and ended up with cuttings that had no chance of survival.

I did find that epis root very easily in water! I had no idea.
Thanks
Hope everyone has a great day,
Linda

That is a cute plant Dave. But they sure didn't have much in PF about it did they? Don't know if it is an annual, perennial, or if so, the hardiness zones. Nothing. Just pictures.

I did that one time with the Pasque flower. Never had seen them before, and now I see you can buy seeds, and there are different colors.

It looks like a pretty cool day today and it is suppose to be getting hot again. I have 3 things I really need to get done outside before winter. One is the hosta bed, I want to redo it, and I have to get over to my sister's and dig up Lilacs, and also redo the garlic bed and get it planted. Other than that, I just am watching the tomatoes, picking them when they are ripe, and if I can't use them immediately they go into the freezer. As is. I don't peel them or anything. Just freeze them and will do whatever whenever I want to use them.

Also, have to clean the carpets while it is hot so we can put the furniture out on the deck.

Jeanette try this link. the link to info was tucked up in the title over the flower. I had to look to find it.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/899/

Found it Dave, thanks.

Dave, I want to cut the top off my brug and root it. I have a 2 or 3 gallon aluminum container I would like to put it in. Do you think the metal will inhibit the plant from rooting? What if I put some dip n gro in it too? Wadda ya think? Jeanette

Nett, I don't think we grown lilacs here either. Will have to check those out in the plant files. Something new to try next year.

Peg, you and I have the same problem with lilacs. Not enough cold and too much heat.

I wonder if thats why I don't see more around? we get the cold but we also get the high heat. I would think its just a matter of keeping it watered.
You would not believe the number of evergreens that are all brown and dead. its a sad thing when you see a boxwood hedge completely brown from the lack of water. My poor hostas up front took a beating. I hope I don't loose too many of them. we will be expanding the bed next spring so I am looking forward to that.

Now, we do have lilac trees or chase trees or vitex that do well in our area.

I am sure there are some varieties of lilac that do better in the higher heat. the chase tree is a huge monster that has great flowers when most other things dont. they just need space.

Dave, the chaste trees don't get that big here. Maybe the resorts keep them pruned to a good size. I love them tho. They are so pretty when they bloom.

Have any of you heard of alfalfa pellets being good for hostas?

I use alfalfa pellets in my entire garden. I use it to feed the worms. They make my soil wonderful.