Your Neck of the Woods Chat Fall 2012

Gita, Most commercial Lantana are raised from cutting, we used to stick cuttings in sand beds that were misted regularly. I try to include a leaf node and use root-tone. I'm trying them in Oasis under a dome with my Persian Shield. I may try some more in peat/sand mix if I have time, using a seed starter heat mat. That should produce a sturdy 2" that can be upsized to 4" before last frost (Mother's Day). Sorry for rambling. Ric

Holly--

My Persian Shield cuttings rooted just as fast as the Coleus. I was amazed! I have 2 six-packs of them.
I do not think you need a dome for them. No harm--just that they will root fine just under some lights.

Oasis may be a good idea for the Lantana. Still not sure I have room to try more rooting things.
Both shelves in my small light set-up are now taken. I put my baby AV's under there too.
Donner has given me quite a few--and they were just languishing on my dim LR windowsill.

Also several pots of Blushing Suzy bunches--the leaf-bunches that grow along the vines-like every 6"-8".
This is an experiment. Just cutious if they will root. So far--they look good.

I am also almost done with collecting all the seeds that there are. Still a few straggler Zinnias,
but the seeds don't seem to be setting a well in this colder weather.

Now to sort them all out and organize them in the little baggies.

Holly, Did you see these pictures I posted on another Thread here? I am at a loss what kind of a Lily they came from
I saw the pods growing on this clump all summer--but I did not see any blooms.
However--it is behind my bird bath and a short stump in the back of my :YUK" bed corner. I may have missed it.
The leaves are shorter and more upright than the day Lilies right next to them.

I have a long ago memory that I planted these there. I thought they were Tiger Lilies growing from seed.
I remember how long it took--so when they got a semi-presentable size--I planted them in this tight spot.

Any guesses what kind of a "Lily" it may be??? They are NOT Tiger Lilies!!

Here are a few pictures:
1--Here is a pod and all the seeds. They are the size of a med. sized pea.
2-Here is the pod close-up. There were about 6 pods.
3--Here is the clump. You can see how tight they are--and also the leaves--thinner and upright.

Any guesses????

That's awesome gita! Nice work with the shield.

Gita that is surely some kind of Lily but does NOT look quite like Belamcanda /Candy lily that I have. I think John was offering some sort of blackberry lily/ Belamcanda...I wonder .. Blackberry lily seeds turn black, I don't think they would stay red...but I could be mistaken of course.

Not sure about your seeds Gita. You are right about seeds not quite getting finished. I have tons of seeds on the Hyacinth Bean Vine and they sure don't look ready. I wonder if I take them now if they will mature.
Have to check the Castor Bean and see how those seeds look. Very frustrating to see so many seeds but not be able to harvest them for next year.
Sally, Funny story for you. A few weeks ago I found a loose bulb laying in a corner. I'm pretty sure it is one of the Gloriosa bulbs you gave me that I must have knocked down and it didn't get planted. So I potted it up and they are just starting to grow, I wonder if I will have Gloriosa Lilies growing in the GH this winter. Wouldn't that be fun?

Sally--

Planting these "lilies" back in that corner pre-dates me knowing Ruby and John.
It really has been a long time ago. Do not know exactly when.

I know one thing! I will be keeping an eye on this little clump next year.
Better throw a handful of Bulb Food on it. it is in such a deprived, crowded in spot.

There are a few black Seed-balls on the plate. Look again. And--many of the red seeds are starting to shrivel up.
I am wondering what the seed inside there looks like....May have to peel one....The red is just a cover..I think.
I may also have to plant a couple of them and see what grows out of it. Yes! I shall do that....

Cold again! Supposed to be more cold nights coming up--I think Friday....42*.
May just have to turn on the heat....hate to--but there DOES come a time...

Gita

Lantana are easy to root. In fact, some of the spreaders will begin to root where they touch the ground, or can be bent down and covered with soil to create more. We always had one or two nodes for sticking cuttings. Best done before temps fall below 60, but, Ric, that bottom heat should help. "Confetti" was always easy, but I liked 'Tangerine' alot fragrance wise. Again, we grew them in a cool greenhouse over winter rather than keep them in active growth.

Gita, don't you overwinter your mandaville? Cut back to 12 inches and then put with brugs in basement?
Or are you over that? Sounds like you would enjoy an expanded lighting et up for your indoor winter gardening!

As I recall, Donner's AVs are gorgeous!

Holly and Ric I love your pics and how thoughtful of you to take your tropicals on a tour before reaching their winter digs! Remember many of us want to see before and after pics as the (heated!) greenhouse fills up. Would also be interested to hear of any plants you decide not to overwinter!

coleup---

My Mandevilla is in a huge pot--maybe 18 diam. I have heard that they can be overwintered--
but it just seems too big an effort.
Here is one time "el cheapo me" will spend the 420 to get a good-sized, already growing plant.

About 3 or 4 years ago, I tried to overwinter it outside. It grows on the east side of my house.
So--NO blustery NW winds will get to it. I cut it back and wrapped burlap all around it and filled all
the space with dried leaves. Nothing came of it the next year.

Sadly--I ONLY have room for the 3' light set-up. It is in front of my BR window which also gets full sun.
Wish I had room for a 4-footer set-up...That would have also cost me a fraction of the 3-footer cost me.
I like it where it is--as i can always keep an eye on it, water when needed, turn thje trays around, etc....

Again--just to remind you all what it looks like.....As you can see--there is no more room on either side.
This was taken a few years ago......

Gita those lily seeds might then be something like blackberry lily. My blackberry lily have their fans of leaves up on about five inches of stem. The flowers are much smaller than reg lily - like only two inches across, and so could be missed in bloom. Did you say you did not see or recall them in bloom?

I tried to overwinter a mandevilla with poor results- but mine probably not as hearty going in as gita's

Sally--

I guess i will have to wait until next year...

This clump does not have any "fans". The leaves radiate out from the base.

Just went out again to see. The leaves are fairly stiff and and a bit sharp along the edges.
Like--I would not want to run my fingers up the edges too fast--might get a cut.
There are NO teeth or serration--they just feel a bit sharp.

I parted the clump a bit and took a picture of the base. Seems the leaves all radiate
from a central base. Seemed that this clump may be quite old---as I thought, since
I said I remember planting it a long time ago.

And--the mystery continues....but we shall see next year....

Here is the picture...plus one seed that has fallen down.

Good description. I am stumped!

Hello all. I'm enjoying all the discussion on plant id's and cuttings - both are areas that I know absolutely nothing about. I don't think I'll ever have the knowledge that you guys have on plant id, but I actually tried taking cuttings from two scented geraniums (organge and rose). I picked them up in Berkley Springs, WV on a spring iris adventure with critter and my neighbor friend Cheryl. One of the things that I love when working with plants is that usually they are associated with good friends and good times, brings to mind many fond memories in the process. Well anyway, it was one of the easier chores that I tackled last weekend. If they take off, I'll be pretty excited. Nothing like hands on trial and error to start feeling comfortable with things that you don't have any experience with.

Heads up!!!!

Tonight--37 degrees predicted here in East Baltimore County.
Get those plants in! Highs today--in the lower 60's. Another beautiful day, but the evenings
and mornings are pretty chilly. May just have to turn on the heat tonight.....
I just got up--it is 55* in my house. BRRRRRRRRRRR......Hot coffee tastes good!
This is good weather to make a big pot of soup....

I suppose i will have to bring in my Spider plants HB's and some other stuff.
The brugs will have to wait. The Dr. is full of buds---again.

Will leave the CC's out for a bit yet. Saw a small flower bud forming on one of my babies
by the front door. Must be time.....
Where, oh where, will I put all the25 pots of my baby CC's??? They are in 4" pots now
and will no longer fit on my window sashes....:o( Anxious to see some of the different colors...
Pinks and whites--as I gathered a lot of broken off sections last winter from the racks of CC's at Lowes.

The birds are so ravenous! Been feeding them for over a month already.
Been seeing a new one (to me)--a White Breasted Nuthatch. They are SO fast!

On that matter----Costco has a 40lb. bag of Audubon Bird seed for $19.99.
Full of both kinds of Sunflower seeds and hearts, Millet and Safflower seed. No Milo...
Compared to other places--I think this is an amazing deal. I have 2 bags waiting....
Have not opened them yet.

Gita

Freeze warning tonight!

Sally---

Here they only said that actual freezing temps may be in the Northern and western Counties.
As I said--they have called for 37* here. Then tomorrow--we may have 70* again during the day.
I sure don't trust Mother Nature all the time....

As far as your Brugs--they will probably not be too affected, but i would throw and old sheet over them.
Use cloth pins to hold it on--clamp them on to a few branches.

I am not sure if I want to bring my 3 pots of Epis in yet. I believe they can take a snap.
They are SOOOO heavy. If I bring them in now--I do not want to take them outside again.
I shudder every time I hang those heavy pots on the ceiling hook. I can just see it come crashing down.
Then I will cuss a bit--but root up a bunch of new cuttings.....:o)

Question, Sally----or anyone else.....

If I sprinkle some leaves over some of my beds, could I dig off the top layer of my raised bed and
put that soil on top--keeping in mind that this layer has all the spores of the early blight from my tomatoes in it????
Would these affect other plants? Like DL's, Asters, Lenten Roses, Columbines, etc...

Carolyn said I should, deeply, dig up my raised bed and turn the top layer over to the bottom
so the Blight spores are down below. That will be a very hard chore!
My raised bed is already full of feeder roots from my Maple--in just 2 years. I cannot even dig
my trowel in there without a bit of a struggle. I am SOOOOO upset!!!
My neighbor has offered me his Mantis tiller. I may just use it--the heck with the spores...
Not everything can be done as directed by someone else, at least not by a more elderly person.

I knew this would happen! How I hate the thought of this nice raised bed becoming my "YUK" bed #2.

Well--gonna go outside and start assessing the situation....
G.

This message was edited Oct 12, 2012 5:24 PM

At this point, I would think its impossible to accurately say what disease, if any, that the tomatoes had. Verticillium for example can only really be confirmed with lab testing. No home gardener wants to go to that expense, and besides the sick plants are long gone.

My current philosophy is to be as healthy as possible for the plants and let them ward off what they can. Healthy fertile soil, good water, good practices (yeah me too don't often practice what I preach)

Columbines, Daylilies have never had a disease that I see, except Columbines getting their own leaf miners. My personal philosophy is that putting leaves in the bed and topping with any soil will help you cultivate a really nice crop of good soil fungus and that net effect is good. I think all the baddies and all the goodies are always there and our care helps determine what predominates. But- as part of CARE I include NOT replanting similar plants, where one got sick.

I love coming on here and pretending I am smart and pretending I know just what to do... Now back to real life...

Well--I exhausted myself today again--as always....hauling inside and out.
Then came in and made 3 jars of pickles....At least that was partially a sit-down job.

I am exhausted because, first of all--I had to make space in my Shop for the plants coming in.
A lot of re-arranging of pots and "junk"....That took many seguays--not planned....

Brought into the Shop all my Clivias and 5 Amaryllis. Also my 2 pots of Pineapple Lily. 1st go at these---
any advice is welcome..please! The print out I Googled said they need a dormancy period. They will get that--
on the floor in my Shop. As will my one Calla Lily--also a first for me. They need to be inside--right?

Golly! The Clivias have grown taller again. Now they are touching the Shop Light sitting on the small tables.
I have 6 now--and still will sell any of them--now for $30 as they have grown so much. Also--all have bloomed.
D-mail me if you are interested. They bloom in early spring. VERY carefree plants!

Then--I brought in all my other plants into the LR and DR--all except the CC's. They are still outside.
Did put them all on my picnic table in a close bunch. Will throw a towel over my Babies by the front door...

The Epis are now hanging in their usual spots by my LR window and the Spider Plant HB's by my DR window.
Actually--feels like I have a few less plants that usual. probably due to Plant Swaps....YES!!!

Whatever is in my beds or containers (annuals) are now at the mercy of the weather.
Do not care! I have taken the cuttings that I wanted. Seeds collected--Coleus still looking nice outside.
Tempted to take more...NOPE!!!!

Will see how well the Dr. Seuss does--as it is full of buds again....

Clivias

March 2012..

If you have room why not? I think next year im going to try more coleus and caladiums instead of inpatiens. I took as many coleus cuttings as I could last night and put them in old Welch jelly jam jars we use as glassware.

Welch's jars!! We used to have some!! THere's a blast from the past!

Paul, because of all the problems with the virus desimating impatiens, I only used "Sunpatiens"

http://www.sakata.com/product_flower.aspx?CategoryId=1&SpeciesId=32105&VarietyId=

in my garden this year. They did well for me even though I have little sun. Mostly, I like how well they tolerated the heat! They are not wimpy plants by and means and they get huge! The two colors I chose 'Compact coral' and 'Compact blush' went very well with my many coleus, elephant ears and bananas.

I have some coleus rooting in my (Welch's?) glass, with blue tulips on it. It was my orange juice glass as a kid.

Judy--

What does the virus do to Impatiens? Can you share a picture?

This fall--more than ever before, my Imps. all lost their leaves and there were just bare stems sticking up.
This happened in all my plantings of impatiens.
I know others had the same thing happen. WHY does this happen?

Are "Sunpatiens" sold in 6-packs like regular ones?
If not--are they in the "premium Annuals" category?

I love Impatiens--but they sure lost their pizzaz early this year. Heat?

Gita

My nursery said they had the virus and they don't know what to do next year. That is one of the reasons I'm cutting back on them

I will repeat my question---

What does this virus look like and what does it do to the plants?????

Gita basically what you described...that is my understanding. Sticks.

Gita, Holly has all the cameras @ the beach, so I can't send a pic. The leaves turn yellow and drop. the flowers persist, then the plant just looks naked, bare stems. Take no cuttings! I replaced all ours with begonias before our garden tour for our greenhouse group. At Holly's mom's house they did fine, this year but next year I'm moving to begonias and vinca till they (the growers) release a virus-free variety. According to Judy the Sunpatiens are alright, but I'll wait a season or so, besides, I love begonias!
RIC

We had a hard freeze last night that devastated anything left out. I wish I had a camera to show y'all, but alas Holly has them at the beach. Looking out the window it appears the Grim Reaper passed this way. Just to start, the Alacasias look like they melted and the gazebo looks naked Ric

Wow Ric, a naked gazeebo. Yikes! Pretty abrubt change. Hopefully you can locate all those alocasia tubers underneathe the melted mush. And with some warmer weather there is the issue of them really trying to re-grow rather than accept early dormancy. Hope it isn't too hard to dry them out a bit and keep them cool enough....Sorry those mounds of mush are so hard to transfer to compost pile, too.

Have you gotten the greenhouse heater installed yet? Am assuming that you and Holly already brought in any of the really tenders that you'll do as houseplants.

Here, the temps got down to 47 and windy, but well above frost and freeze. Usually I end up triming my Elephant ears, etc instead of letting the frost take them. This week, my multiple containers of tropicals are dry enough to bring in, but the forecast is mid to upper 50's nite and 70 day. so I feel I have time for the big move to my unheated enclosed porch. (Wanted to paint the porch before the bring in but that can wait.

Maybe Onewish and Flowajen can loan you some Halloween decor so things don't look so bare!

Enjoy you several days of baching it!

Paul and Ric---
Thanks for the info. Sure sound like mine. I have seen this in other years--but not to this extent.
Will mention it to Bell Nursery--wonder if they know--or care?

Ric---Sorry you lost whatever was still in your garden. That sucks! Did the brugs make it through?
Or--had you, already. brought them in?

We did not get a freeze last night--as my Coleus and Wandering Jew all look OK.
They would be the first to go if we had had a frost. There was a dusting of frost on my lawn this morning though.

Just sent a good sized package of W.J. cuttings to someone in Ohio.
She was desperately pleading for some--so I jumped in and sent her a bunch. Why not? They will die soon anyway.

The better part of today will be spend chopping and dicing. My favorite pastime--while I watch TV.
Making my HUGE pot of Chili on Monday. It is that time of year--Soup or Chili.
My Chili rocks!!! And NOT because it will burn your mouth. I do not do that! It is moderately
spicy, but full of meat and beans and a lot of tomato products. Awesome!!!!

I can say that EVERY person that ever tasted it loved it. Including Moi.... Gita

Gita could your unidentified plant be Agapanthus and there is another I am thinking of only it only grows as far as your zone ,so it has been a time since I have seen it. I look around awhile anyway, it is kinda fun to look up plants.

The availability of impatiens (biggest selling annual in US) for home garden and landscape use has been sverely affected by the two diseases listed below.


1) Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus (INSV) Is one disease that is very wide spread,



2) Impatiens Downy Mildew
http://walnutsnpears.com/2012/04/10/i-is-for-impatiens-downy-mildew-is-this-the-end-of-impatiens

Pic is of Downy Mildew

Wellllllll.... Number 10 is HERE! Got a call about 2pm. DIL having some contractions. Son is at a weekend class north of Philly. Told her I'd be right over. Only 2 blocks away. Thought about washing my hair before I went. LOL. She called back within 2 min. Her water broke. Needless to say hair didn't get washed. Got on my bike cuz DIL had my car told hubby to follow me so he could get the kids. Felt like the witch in Wizard of Oz peddling as fast as my legs could go. Got her in the car, kids with pop pop, drove her to the hospital in Delaware praying she hung on especially on the bridge, went a little fast especially when she was in midst contraction, got there, dropped her off, parked the car, ran inside, my son made it from north of Philly in Langhorne down to Newark, De in record time. Once he arrived I came on home to take care of the kiddos. C section a little after 4. Grandson ? Name not decided yet. 7# 5oz. Don't know any other details yet. I'll be taking the kids home soon for bed. Will get to see him tomorrow. Very excited. He arrived a little early. She has been early with all the others, too. Due date Nov 8. Scheduled c section was going to be Nov.1. God had other plans. Whew! I'm exhausted and thankful I'm not the one giving birth today. Heehee

Congrats! Can just picture you pedaling away on the bike, lol. Easy to believe you are exhausted, I got tired just reading this. We do expect to see at least one picture tomorrow.

Wow!! Jan, I think you win the prize for the most exciting Saturday. Congratuations on the new arrival and on your excellent pedal work. Glad all involved are doing well and that your son got there in time. This will make for a wonderful family story to tell when baby is older.

The impatiens I got from HD turned yellow and died in the heat. Not sure if that was the virus or just from neglect. I hardly ever watered it. But the white and red impatiens I got at the swap are blooming their heads off! Definitely looking much better now than they did during the summer heat.

I don't think I got frost last night, either. The tender succulents, coleus, and others left out by mistake are all doing very well. Right now, my container plants look better than they did all summer, except for the caladiums which need to be dug up pretty soon.

Btw, I think I know the identity of the mystery animal that I saw a few weeks ago. I'm 90% sure that it was a mole. I saw a video of a mole recently, and that's exactly how it looked. It was just so odd to see it moving above ground in the middle of a sunny day. I heard that a neighbor two doors down found two snakes in his yard, and this mole was running in the opposite directions. I wonder if he was running away? I heard the neighbor relocated the snakes to a nearby park. I wish he'd give them to me instead! I'd love a couple of (non-venomous) snakes in my yard!

Jan--congratulations to your daughter--and you too. #!0 ???????? Wow!
She could just sneeze and have a baby!

Went looking today if I had any more naked impatiens anywhere in the yard , but the only
one I found was in a HB by my front door---just as naked as all the rest were.

1--Is this what you are all describing???

2--And right next to it is this amazing Ivy HB. It started years ago as a small, starter plant in a
2 1/2" pot. I got it to put in my container. Of course--it grew, and every year, I would dig it out
and pot it up and bring it in the house. Then pull it apart and put it in my containers..etc...etc...every year.
Now it is so big an beautiful! What a nice hanging basket!!! It hangs about 3' down.
It is like the Iceberg Ivies--small, variegated leaves. VERY hardy!

Judy--
Could you do anything to make the pictures you post a bit bigger?
When one is opened in a Post--they are the same size as the thumbnail.
Hard to see anything....

Try out some of your settings??? Thanks, Gita

Hope you don't mind me noting this to you......:o)

Heehee! That is grandybaby #10 from 4 sons and their wives. This baby is #4 for this son. Apparently he is adorable. As for pics, I don't do them with a camera and am not able to do it anymore with the iPad. Icabmobile changed something, so sorry about lack of pics.

I had started to dig up an area late this morning to dig out some awful bittersweet and then put in some shrubberies when I got the call. So things got put on the back burner. I am eager to know this baby's name. I know Jeff is rooting for a Jeffrey. We shall see. He told the siblings it should be Clem Cadiddlehopper. They thought that was hysterical!