Plant propagation... the basics

The bauhinia is usually done by seed like the cassia. I would think a hardwood cutting would be good over the winter. I do a lot of slow moving crops that take a long time to root. I have yew's (taxus) in cells waiting for spring. they tend to root over the winter months. Its been a slow process but I seem to be finding what works for me.
I hope to do the hard wood thing next week.
Dave

Are the evergreen hardwood cuttings left outside or brought into the greenhouse to propagate. I just don't have any more room in my small GH to put cuttings.

I have my green geranium cuttings in the house under a light for 16 or so hours a day.

evergreen hardwoods I believe are left outside. I will get the hardwoods done later this week. My dad had surgery monday afternoon so its going to be a day or 2 before I have the ability to think it all through and translate it for maximum understanding..
we had a massive thunder storm cell come through today. it was suposed to give us upto 4" over night. well about 9 pm we had another aftershock 4.7. it makes the 29th since it all started last week (I think it was last week)

We got our first snow last night. Not much,only about a half inch and it is almost gone this a.m.

How is your dad doing today Dave? Sure hope he is feeling ok. Know surgery is not a picnic. How long is he in the hospital for?

Jeanette

howdy:
My dad is home and doing well. he ended up with 10 staples. he will be off for 2 weeks so I am going to try to spend some time with him over the next 2 weeks.

Dave, those staples come out so easy. Don't even feel the pull. Really. They are better than stitches.

So glad your dad is coming home. I know for a fact that you heal better at home. Good for him.

Dave, I am happy your dad is doing ok. I have kept you all in my prayers.
You all can send your rain my way! No snow jnette! just rain. All of the plants need it desperately.

Oh come on Linda, be a good sport and take some snow. LOL

my son would love it and it would be funny to watch the dogs try to figure out what it is, but you can still have my share.

:0)

Here are some good cutting hints: http://www.charleysgreenhouse.com/pgs2/newsletters/110311-2_newsletter.htm

I like that page jnette, thanks.

I am looking for domlitic lime or gypsum, but haven't found a vendor yet. Any suggestions who may carry it?

Afternoon Everyone,

I found a seed pod on my old fuchsia Christmas Cactus. I took a picture of it and send it to my friend at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens whom I trade things with, and he sent me a link on how to grow Christmas Cactus by seed. If anyone is interested please let me know. I did put the info on the Mid Atlantic Forum thread on Christmas Cactus but some of you do not go there. I was not sure if anyone here wanted to file this away or not. JB

Peg did you google them? My daughter in Seattle bought some pelleted Dolomite at a local nursery. So some of them do carry that type of thing. Don't know if Lowes or HD do.

I did google dolomite lime and didn't have success. i wil try Dolomite only.

I will ask her what the brand is. Jen

Peg... I purchased gypsum at my local nursery... have you checked there? You may have already done so and that's why you're asking.... but I thought I'd mention it. They keep it by the lawn care products. Nancy

Thanks Nancy. I will check at my favorite nursery when I go to the big city. I live in a small town that doesn't carry much. I have been following along on one of the "Soil" threads and know my soil is to porous. Hopefully I can improve that.

Today is our son's birthday 11-11-11. Hope it is exceptionally lucky for him.

Peg - you could pose your question to Rick Corey or GymGirl in the self-contained garden forums. The ebuckets all require dolomitic lime when setting them up. I have never purchased it but sure anyone there in that forum could answer easily sources where you could find it.

A.

Well, this darned thing dropped my post again. I wrote that my daughter got the Dolomite at Lowes. She didn't remember the brand.

Please, please, don't drop me again. I am starting to get paranoid like JB.

Hi You all, Last summer I had sent you, Sharon, a start from a blue flowered plant but I don't think it made it. Then someone else sent you one that did make it. Do any of you remember the name of them or where I can find them in the plantfiles?

BTW, do you know that they have Scieviola (fan flowers) under Lobelia in the PF? Do you know if they are related? Where would I find seeds for them?

Jnette, Lee sent me one also and Evelyn sent me a different one and none of them made it. I guess they did not like our heat. I even had them in partial shade. I will go back and see if I can find the names. Later Sharon.

I had 2 of those several years ago. They were gorgeous, but the flowers only lasted a few weeks and then they never survived to bloom again.
There must be a trick to them.

Are we talking about the same plant? The ones I am talking about are tall, about 2 feet and they are very prolific here in our tough winter weather. Now, they may seed down rather than come back from roots. But, I think they do both. And they bloom for a month or more.

Jeanette:

I have had scaevola in white and blue both. It's a wonderful plant but were sold as annuals here in my zone.

A.

Mine was Lithodora "grace Ward". It was very short ( less than 6 ") with eye blinding blue flowers.

Amanda, you are right about the one you are talking about. Annuals here too. Do you get seeds for them? Or do you have to buy plants like I do? Jen

I see there's a big difference between the two. I'd have loved to see an "eye blinding blue" flower, Linda!!!

Jeanette - I didn't have any this season, but I purchased the plants that I've had in the past. I never tried to collect seed. I think the growth habit made me think it would be a hard thing to do.

I would too Amanda, unfortunately I cannot seem to keep them alive after they bloom. I will go search for a picture for you. I found one from monrovia gardens. I think this plant was 1 of the proven winners a few years back. Anyway, here it is:

I think that would be unbelievably gorgeous if it were blooming under some Tithonia ( mexican sunflowers). but then I tend to like odd combos.

Ah - they flowers are lovely, and I remember the plant. As with the scaevola, it's probably a plant I would try to overwinter indoors. I think the color combo would be great - eye popping and all, but would this small plant get lost with the giant?

Isn't that great color?

Speaking of Monrovia, I have a little story to tell you.

Several years ago we were out fishing and came home after dark. Well, it was a terrible dark rainy night and we had a flat tire on a narrow 2 lane state highway that of course had no shoulders to pull off. So, Bob was trying to change the tire and I had a very weak flashlight trying to keep people from hitting him. The only place he could put a jack was in the mud and it kept sinking. Wouldn't get the truck up high enough to even get the tire off let alone the other one on.

So, this truck, big truck, comes along going in the opposite direction. It slows down and stops several hundred feet past us and then starts backing up in our lane. He stops right behind us and the guy gets out, gets a board from his truck to put the jack on, and proceeds to help Bob change the tire. His headlights were in the oncoming lane. If it weren't for that guy Bob and I both would probably be gone.

So, guess who it was!! A driver for Monrovia, on his way back home to Oregon, from Canada, and he had an abscessed (sic) tooth!! Can you believe that??? I wanted to write to Monrovia and tell them what a great guy he was, but was afraid they might can him for doing that. A lot of companies would not allow their drivers to do something like that you know.

What would you have done?

Great story, Jen!

Howdy:
I had bought some of the Lithodora diffusa and it just fried in our weather. I dont know what it was but it did not like me.
Gypsum and dolimine should be available on line at the hydroponic stores or even AmLeo.com. You might look up lesco for a local sales rep as well. I will try to do some looking tomorrow for you.

Re: dolomite, lime....some stores only carry them in spring, especially the larger garden centers and big box stores. Your smaller nursery should have some on hand, and if not, they would most likely order some for you.

Jeanette... I work for a large corporation and I think I would agree with your instincts... the corporation might say that he violated some safety standard .... better to just thank him and let God bless him for his kindness. It was a WONDERFUL story... love to hear about people reaching out to one another... thank you for sharing it. So glad you are alive and well to share the story!

Just heard today that a colleague of mine is being moved from the local hospital to hospice... he has stage 4 melanoma and is dying. It happened very quicky... he went to the doctor to have a spot on his arm looked at....He had planned to retire in 6 months...I am naturally very saddened to hear of it. It is a reminder to me how important it is to be kind to people while you still have the time. Life is so fragile.

This is pretty... don't know the author...

'Do a deed of simple kindness though it's end you may not see, it may reach, like widening ripples down a long eternity'...

Happy Wednesday everyone... hope you're all having a great day!

I'm blessed to be part of such a nice group of people... :) Nancy

Thanks for that quote, Nancy.

Nice day here, if you like torrential downpour, thunderstorms and threat of tornadoes!

Have a good night. May the sun come out tomorrow. ;)

A.