PLANT PROPAGATION - THE BASICS - MARCH 2013

Jen, I always use peroxide when I water in the house. Sometimes I use it outside, but not always, I have found I do not have so many gnats in the house, but then havent tried the cinnamon yet,. That is the next experiment. Huggs, Lee

Thank you Lee and Evelyn.

Evelyn, is that the thread Pam from CT has?

This message was edited Mar 9, 2013 2:05 PM

JB ~ There is another thread which specifically addresses houseplants, soil and watering issues. Tapla is very thorough. I hope that this helps.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1226030/

I have the seeds of different Datura that I have had since 2001 and wanted to check to see if they are viable. Instead of using the Deno method, (didn't work last time) I just sowed them in Jiffy seeding mix. They sprouted irregulartly.

I noticed that the leaves of D. inoxia are heart shaped, the other varieties are not. Also, the stems are ligt green, the other varieties are maroon or partly so.

1] D. metel "Yellow Ballerina. It is 6" tall in 3" pot. Sowed in February 6, and germinated Febrauary 15 this year. Noticed shape of leaves.
2] D. inoxia with heart shaped leaves. Still in 6-pack.
3] D. inoxia and D. metel
4] D. metel " Yellow Ballerina" and D. metel "Purple Ballerina"Notice the maroon stems.

In conclusion, seeds don't have to be fresh to germinate. D. inoxia seed are from 2001. They are also the original seeds from when I lived in Nebraska and the only variety around. I sowed some from 2005 for my daughter and her inoxia are not as nice as the original since I grew others at the same time so cross pollinated.

Those I sowed this year I will grow one of each just to see what I will get in flowers. I will let the bees do the crossing. .

Very healthy looking seedlings Blooma. Please post when they are plants.

If I may jump in. I have just last week placed Datura seeds in the Deno method. So far nothing has happened. If you don't mind blomma would you mind giving me instructions on how you started yours. They look so nice. Thanks

Hi Txtea,
Usually I use the Deno method for seeds. I have had no luck doing it with Daturas. They seemed to rot and not sprout. So, this time I just sowed them in Jiffy seeding mix in Feb 6, and they germinated irradically starting Feb 16. I didn't soak the seeds just planted them not quite 1/4" deep.

I started them in 6-packs, 3 seeds to a square. If all sprouted I allowed them to grow then snipped off the weaker ones instead of dividing. Daturas can sometime resent having their roots disturbed, which would ocurr if divided.

Sometimes Datura seeds can take up to 1 month to sprout. I wonder if, perhaps, older seeds are more apt to sprout earlies than new seeds.

If you started your seeds with Deno last week, give them a bit more time. Just because it didnl't work for me does not mean it doesn't work for everyone. If you have extra seed, do them as I did.

Below is D. inoxia as sowed last year for my daughter.

blomma, thank you for answering. Yes I have a few more seeds and will try them with your advice. Did you use any bottom heat or a dome? I sure would like to get some of these to grow. Well wishes to all.

Txtea,
No I didn't use any bottom heat since I keep my house over 70 degrees, but you cvan place them top of fridge where it is warmer. I never use a dome over seeds. Jiffy mix has peatmoss and very fine vermiculite so keeps the mix evenly moist and don't dry out quick. I will add that I always pre-wet any mix I use before seeding.

Good luck. Hope you get lots of seedlings.

This message was edited Mar 10, 2013 10:21 AM

Thanks for your kindness

Love Daturas
I found 2 old seeds of triple purple Metel, hoping they grow, because so far none of them has. I have double yellow and the old standards that grow wild here.

I just got my self watering stuff in the mail. I hope I can get the new seeds planted and more than that, I hope they sprout.
Must go....new Popel JB

Oh, that is so exciting...you know JB, there are plenty people here to encourage you to get your seed-starting venture. It really is fun. Sometimes, if you know in advance, how long it takes for a certain seed to sprout, on average, then you don't have to look every single day wondering if anything will happen. Then it is a pleasant surprise. If you know what they require, pre-chilling, knicking or any of that, then you will be truly successful, as long as the seeds are good. Some things are just more stubborn than others....

I just had a seed from Burgundy Hibiscus sprout today! My first Peace lily from seed went over ,as it was hit by a draft , I had the soil mounded over the top edge of the container GooF!! They need protected from such things for a while . I dislike losing any as it takes a time to get good viable seeds,
Planted more to try again ,it ha been a day or two since I have started any from seeds..
Still waiting on the Tropical Hibiscus .( Hawaiin )

Yeah well, I have 18 tomato plants to tend too , later sometime ..

I bought the whole kit (just like a real beginner) and it included everything....medium, fertilizer, everything including a few things I need to read what they are for (Ha) but most of all, the seeds I got are:

AGAPANTHUS AFRICANUS ALBA - 10 SEEDS
DATURA INOXIA MOONFLOWER 15 SEEDS

I got them from GeorgiaVines.com with INSTRUCTIONS.

Never to old to learn, so tomorrow I will attack the project after I have my other work finished.
Keep watching this thread because if I get stuck I will give you all a yell.

Must go now....doing several things at one time here just now. LOL Hugs. JB

JB, I went to the site where you purchased your Datura seeds. They have it listed as an annual. It is NOT an annual. It is a perennial in warm climates so can be held over. Often treated as an annual in northern climates.

My daughter always digs one up, cuts it down and sticks it in a large pot for her heated porch. It won't bloom and often goes dormant but it lives.

I have overwintered it in my fridge one year. Here is a link to what I wrote in a forum on how I did it.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1051779/

Blomma, how cool... Thanks, I'll try that this year, always assuming that mine germinate, of course!

I have a question about hydrangeas. When they are transplanted, can the roots be disturbed? Some plants are fussy about this and some require it.

We used to raise them, Evelyn but I do not remember. Why not google it? I think it is Spring and Fall, but God forbid, don't take my word for it.

Have been busy this week unpacking orders of new stock plants I bought. Some to propagate and some just for my deck this summer. The Logee order just came and the first plant I took out was a $17.98 new mandevilla laxa "Chilean Jasmine"........it was loaded with black mites of some sort. It was a piece of wood stem with some tiny leaves just coming out and on all the new growth (which was two places only) it was black with them. Of course I quickly washed them off so they would not get on my other plants, sprayed it and threw it away. Of course they credited my account but what a miserable experience especially since I did so want that plant. She did not even suggest a replacement which tells me they are having a problem with that plant. They need a better inspector.

The other plants that were in the box with this one are o.k. but I sprayed them all and will keep them away from the other plants until I am sure the are not infested where I can not see them. They are two jasmine and an Angel's Trumpet.

That was my excitement for the day and I did manage to get some cuttings in soil and other work done today. I am tired and hungry. Talk tomorrow when I have time.

JB
Actually the bug is easy to get rid of. Soapy water does it. Likewise a dab of alcohol. It is a sucking insect and is a hard one to keep from the annual Nasturtium (Tropaeolum). It is the bean aphid,whuich is black in color. The bug does not fly. Too bad you got rid of the plant before you tried to get rid of the bugs.

It is in the same family as green aphids found on outdoor plants, especially roses. I get them sometimes in the spring and use Malathion spray to kill them. Aphids secrete honeydew from the anus. which is rich in sugars, attracting ants.

Blom, I had it in the greenhouse two years ago, got it on all the gardenias and it was not easy to get rid of when it was as infested as it was. The State closed me down for two months and I will never put another plant in the greenhouse with anything on it I can see ever again. I did manage to get rid of it but as I did with the scale I got this year on another mandevilla from same place, I had to put all the infested plants outside in order to be sure it had not spread to the jasmine. I lost hundreds of dollars worth of plants again this year because you do not see the scale until it gets older and by that time it is overwhelming if you are not looking for it. I trust everyone who is in the business to be alert and not to send any bugs. If I think any of my plants may have even a tiny bit of mealy bug on them I will warn the buyer and tell them I will replace it if they do happen to have it. With my one eye I can miss those little suckers. I would think the larger sellers would inspect their plants before packing. I know I do. I would rather be safe than sorry. These tropicals are loved by the buggers. LOL Have a great day. Jb

JB,
Didn't realize you had experience with that bug in your greenhouse. I too had a commercial greenhouse when married in Nebraska during the 80's. Sold out when I divorced.

I sprayed all new plants before they entered the greenhouse. The only bug I had was spider mite. Hard to see but I began to recognize symptoms while still an early infestation. I sprayed regularly with Malathion so that probably prevented many bugs from thriving. Unfortunately, a greenhouse is an ideal enviroment for bugs. My business was walk-in, not mail order in those days.

Sorry that you lost all those plants. A bummer.

This message was edited Mar 15, 2013 6:04 PM

Yea, Blommer, I just have a small one but it is big enough for my hobby. Those spider mites are nasty and they are one of the reasons none of my new plants ever get to the greenhouse before I am sure they are clean. It will be weeks if ever before these plants to there. I have the perfect house (built it to acomodate both my birds and my plants) to keep my stock plants. My greenhouse has only a few of the bigger ones like the bougainnvillea, and one patented mandevilla I just love and keep as a "pet". Of course there are a few others but only the ones that will take basically the same care as the Christmas Cactus and Jasmine. They also go outside in the summer and the GH gets opened completely in the summer. I spray before I close it up and once every three months the exterminator sprays the outside and the floor to keep the critters down. I am too old to play with those sprays and my SIL is so busy I hate to ask him. It is easier for me just to have it done during his regular visit to the farm.

It looks big enough to me! I'd love to have something like that... Sigh...

I guess the grass is always greener, right? Lol...

I bought it instead of taking vacations. I am sick of traveling especially now when you have no idea how safe things are, it was a kit from Rion. My SIL put it together and I love it. Well worth the money and when a part goes which happens in the storms, they replace it very fast.

Just cut some baby spider plants. I would love to have a pure green one. I have the variegated and the reverse variegated but I have no pure green. Anyone know where I can get a baby?

JBerger,
That looks like a nice greenhouse. Mine my husband (Now ex) built for me. He was a carpenter by trade. I designed it after lots of research. Was made out of all wood and fiberglass, no glass. Two heaters and 2 fans since I was open for business all seasons. It was 24 ft long. Can't remember the width. Wish I had taken photos of it.

Grew many Epis (Jungle cactus) Hoyas, African Violets, and other succulent houseplants in the greenhouse.

My daughter bought a kit 10 x 10 ft last summer but only use it to extend the veggies season, which she did for tomatoes and lettuce. She lives out of town so heating would cost too much.

One thing I realized in a hurry was that even though a house is never sunny enough for some houseplants, in a greenhouse you tend to defeat the purpose by using shading material, to help cool it.

You are exactly right. I have the shade cloth on all year round. Stupid no????? I do find it fine for the plants I propagate. I got some new cutting from a friend who works at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens and when I get them organized I will share the names with you. I am really excited because I find I did not have any of them he sent. Yahoo.

Jeanette that Brug you sent me, I wintered inside, it's blooming. I was not sure if it lived but it has 4 big bells on it right now and they smell so good. It is in the same family as the Datura so I know they would do well inside in the winter. A step ahead of everyone elses.

Hello everyone, I am checking in because a few of us heard from Dave, the young man who started this thread years ago. He has had some serious problems and has had surgery and during his recovery there were complications, he also lost many of his email addresses and if you think he is ignoring you, please do not, he is just having a difficult time remembering. The medication he is on is not helping the memory either. He is doing very well and hopefully he will be as well as can be expected soon. He misses his gardening but he has been "grounded" for the time being and that to him is the pits, big time. Please send your prayers and good thoughts to him and understand if he does not respond immediately.

We planted 371 Norway spruce and concolor firs yesterday and laid the irrigation pipe. It is that time of year here on the Christmas Tree Farm and all we do now is pray and water. There is nothing else to do except the regular fertilizer, etc. The greenhouse is full of Christmas and Holiday Cactus cuttings, begonias, jasmine and orchid cactus. Just waiting for them to grow before I put them up on eBay or Etsy. This is my slow time for sales because people are more into their outside gardens than they are in houseplants, so I am getting some welcome rest and enjoying what little Spring we had. I think it is winter again today. It was really cold cutting daffodils for the stand this morningl. The wind is so strong and very cold off the ocean. Our temps are usually cooler because of that. I had a heavy coat on. Water temp is in the 40s. Brrrrrr.

That is about all for here. It is busy and I must go for supplies. Keep this thread going please, I know Dave will eventually be strong enough to read it again soon. Thanks, JB Happy Spring.

I'm sorry to hear that Dave has been having such a tough time. I know he's been in a lot of pain for years, I hope that he recovers well from these trials and that he makes it back onto this forum. Thanks for the update.

I am sorry I did not reply sooner pfg, I was glued to CNN watching all the horrible activities going on at Boston. My God, that was just terrible and why??????????????

Dave had more surgery and is still recovering from that but it should help the pain he has had in the past. He is such a sweet person I hate to see him suffering. He sounded really much better and I will certainly pass on anything I hear in the future.

I am trying to stay sane with this weather we are having. One day it is 70 and next day we have frost. Our bodies can not physically make those changes as fast as we should to stay well. I am just so frustrated since I have outside work to do and it is just too cold to do it. I put in some new day lily bulbs a few days ago and then the rains came and the temperature dropped to below freezing and I hope they did not freeze. I can only hope.

Well JB is still having frost and we will be in the 90s next week. My tomatoes are two feet tall and already have set on tomatoes. A few hours apart by air but so different in climate.

Another heavy frost today. The trees are all planted and we fertilized and mowed the field yesterday. It was in the 50s but it had to be done. Today is just to cold to weed, so looks like I will begin the transplanting of the Christmas Cactus babies from last year from the 3 inch pots to the 6 inch pots. Some are just top heavy. Greenhouse is warmer too.

It was interesting this year with the bulb plants. They were late coming, at least here in South Central NJ, and they did not last long. The daffodil field came up in the snow, grew slowly and then we had a week of 70 deg. and they all bloomed. I actually had less than a month of sales which is amazing. All the species came up and bloomed at the same time because of the wild weather. There is still some and I am selling some but only to people who come back to the house and ask for them. You need to look for the good ones now and that is not worth the $2 a bunch I sell them for. Yesterday I had people being referred here by the Farmers Market since they had none this year. Everyone is having a problem.

Can anyone tell me why a farmer would plant forsythia plants in acres of good ground? Is forsythia a good plant to replace what the ground needs? This man grows flowers professionally for shipment to NY, Philly, etc. and I have noticed his fields here near us are all in forsythia. Beautiful sight, but I am so curious and I have not seen him to ask. Anyone know the benefits of that plant?

Our hosta is just beginning to come up and the black eyed susans are also beginning to show green.

I grew forsythia plants when I lived in Massachusetts. They announce the coming of Spring. Maybe that is why he grows them.

Hey Blomma, You can be sure if this guy is growing them it has to do with $$$$$$$, not to announce the coming of Spring. That is was makes me so curious. He sells mostly to florists brokers and I just can not see Forsythia being a real good thing to put into floral displays since it does not last that long. I guess I will have to track him down an ask him.

JBerger,
ok. If you cut a branch before the flowers open up and place it in a vase indoors, they will bloom beautifully. Maybe that is his reason. Or maybe he just loves yellow, like me. LOL!

Yes, ask him. Now I am curious.

This winter in the city I actually bought bundles of budded forsythia to force in the apartment. So yes, there's $$$$$ in it!

Blomma, Pfg, I always force it in the Spring and it stays fine in a vase alone if you keep the water fresh, but, usually they cut, bale and ship so much that it just made me wonder how the buds hold up. And, If you could see the amount of acres this guy has planted in just forsythia it would boggle your mind. He usually has all sorts of flowers he cuts and you plow them over and plants new each year. He has a crew of at least 50 or more Hispanics working for him and last year he had tomato plants, pumpkins, as well as the flowers, but we noticed he converted much of his flower fields into just forsythia. He also has curley willow, pussy willows and you name it, he has it. But, much of the one farm is all forsythia. I must track him down and ask. LOL Nosey neighbor that is me. I have one bush.....yes I brought some in this year too. I have a feeling it is because of the immigration changes that will affect his crew of illegals and he has to cut back in the work. Could be. I will let you know.

I have been propagating black pussy willows for years and still say they are underrated as a landscape plant by many people. They provide a full year of beauty in any landscape. Here are shots of my stock plants in Winter, Spring and Summer. They are just beautiful all year round and the little birds just love to hide in them.
Just wanted to share this with anyone who needs something new to spruce up a space in your garden. I highly recommend them and you can find a place to buy them on DG I am sure.