After event questions and answers and chatting 2

Here's a place to continue!
We came from here. http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1313367/

This message was edited May 31, 2013 7:48 AM

well, they captured and moved Boo bear yesterday in Delran...caused quite a commotion and crowd!! glad he will be relocated back to a more wooded area for now anyway. Meanwhile, I sure learned a lot about the black bears in NJ. I had no idea we had so many. This particular bear is lucky to now be in South Jersey because there is a bear hunt every Dec in North Jersey.

Our Alpine Catchfly is blooming!! So is the Lupine from Pixie. I have to get them planted maybe later today. Our blue mouse ears hosta from HollyAnn is so cute and planted in front of the cows slip from Nutsfordaylily.

thanks again for all the great plants! I still have a lot to plant here...

hm where did my Alpine catchfly go??
Lovely lupine!

Ric, great thread thumbnail!

Yay for Boo bear!

critter, my fig tree cuttings are not looking too great :(

First, I tried wrapping them in damp newspaper and put them in a plastic bag like seen on this YouTube video, but the buds started to get moldy, so I scratched that. The cuttings in the video we totally dormant w/no visible growth. So then I put them back in water, but that is probably going to rot them to death I think. I don't see any sign of rooting yet... Is anyone having success rooting theirs? Any suggestions?

ric--

I rooted (??) and shared a lot of my neighbor's Fig Tree cuttings last year. The sure seemed
like they all 'took'....I did not, really, get much feedback from those that I gave the cuttings to.
I sure would appreciate hearing if they lasted and grew for you or not. SO? GIVE!!!

If mine were successful her is what i did,,,,

--I took 6"-7" tip cuttings in the spring, just as they were starting to grow. Best time to do this...
--I removed the bottom leaves and cut the remaining top leaves back to a smaller size.
--I "wounded a bit" the bark near the nodes, dipped them in Rooting Hormone and stuck them, deeply,
into narrow, deep pots in fresh Potting Mix.
--Kept them in part shade and just moist until I saw new leaves forming at the top.
That made me feel that they had taken. They all passed the "tug test".

PLEASE, post here if your Fig cuttings you got from me survived. How are they doing???

I gave up. long ago, trying to root any wooden cuttings in water--like Brugs. It never worked for me.
I tried the "Bubbler method"---I tried the water with H2O2 in it--I tried the soft tip cuttings---and gave up on all of that.

My wooden cuttings all go straight into fresh soil Mix, and they all seem to root in no time.
Mostly--my experience with this has been with brug cuttings...they ARE easy to root....

Ric---I wonder if you could try to re-cut the long fig cuttings you got from Jill to about 6" and start allover--
doing what I wrote above. What do you have to lose????

Input welcome on the Figs you got from me last year! I WILL NOT take it personally if they died. Honest!

Gita

Gita,

None of mine survived.

thanks Gita, maybe I'll try that. I have rooting hormone around here somewhere

also, I just read that Lupine won't grow in clay soil... ummm our soil is very much full of clay...

I just planted Donner's alpine catchfly's, thanks Sally! it is quite hot out.

Thanks, Paul.....it's good to get feedback....
Do you have any ideas why it did not make it? Might be valuable info.

My neighbor, Olga, leaves for Spain (for three months) on June 12th.
Her garden will, partially, become MY garden during all that time. I will look after it...

I will try to get some more Fig cuttings to root...Of course--the BIG tree is the only one left....
as she had the "Bush" one, which turned out to be the "Turkey" one totally cut down.

Now would be a good time to take them--but i don't want to upset her...she had the tree,
massively, cut back 2 years ago--and is now sorry she did it. She tends to act too swiftly
without thinking things through. Always has....
She may not like any further cuttings taken at this time. BUT--I can sneak a few when she is gone....

G.

I don't know why they didn't take. Perhaps some woody's require perfect timing? For instance I believe if you don't take cuttings from deciduous azaleas at just the right time then they are near impossible. On the opposite end of the spectrum is evergreen azaleas where almost any new growth will work.

You're guess is as good as mine, I would surmise.

Gita: The one you gave me didn't survive either. Looked fine -- and then they didn't. I blamed myself.

Wind: I just checked mine and they look at tad moldy but don't seem to be rotting -- I think I need to reduce the moisture. They are in a very warm location, under some lights that are on all the time -- I'm concerned they may not like all that light.

Did the video say how long it would take for them to root? I can't find the video someone had linked to originally.

hi Happy, well, I gave up on the video technique. If you want the link to the video I used, I posted the link on my blog: http://GardenCuizine.com. I just now used the rooting hormone, we'll see how that goes. It really didn't cover much of the stem, but I read the label and that stuff is nasty scary!! I tried not to get it anywhere but on the cutting stems. The bottle is not very deep and the cuttings are huge, so I'm not sure how that is going to work. I just dipped what I could and stuck them all in potting soil. It would have been nice to dip 4 inches instead of a measly inch or two. We'll see what happens now. Maybe I'll get lucky like Gita ^_^

I planted another few of Karen's daylilies too - Seattle Slew. Thank you Karen!!!

Thanks for the link to your blog, Wind, I hadn't seen it before -- I only breezed over it just now, but I'll definitely go back to it. You have a lot of interesting tidbits there!

I second that Happy! Very nice blog.

The fig cuttings I had in water got soft at the bottom, and I had to trim them back. I'm trying sticking them in moist potting mix now, as Gita did with hers. I shoved a couple of bigger cuttigns into lotus pots, just for kicks.

Gita, one of the cuttings you gave me had started rooting but didn't make it through the winter, not sure why (yes, I did bring it inside). The other didn't ever strike roots.

You can poke a hole with the cutting and sprinkle a little rooting hormone down into the hole... also, remember as you're shoving the cutting down into 4 inches of soil, you're probably spreading the rooting hormone along the length that's stuck down.

You can water your cuttings with willow water, too, if you have a willow... just chop up a branch with pruners and put it into your watering can, fill, and let it sit for a day or two before using. If you're making it in a big bucket, remember to toss in a few anti-mosquito bits

Happy--

This time of year--it is NOT necessary to keep your fig cuttings inside and under lights...
We have the temps and the light right outside....Just keep them in a bit of shade till they root.
I always figure that--anything that grows outdoors all their life does not need to be brought in
for the warmer season.
I never did figure out what is best for them during the winter...My guess would be--keep it indoors
for the first year--but don't baby it too much... cool and bright...???

Jill--
Cuttings getting soft in water is an issue with a fungus. Mostly--water needs to be changed every 2 days or so--
and that is also why it is recommended that a bit of H2O2 be added to the water.
There is so much bacteria on a cutting--and also in the container and the water...Impossible to be pristine...
As I said--i tried all that in my early days of rooting Brugs--and I was not all that diligent about changing the water--
and then "THE SLIME" came....Gone! No coming back once that starts...

Re. Rooting Hormone--you can use an old paint brush to apply the powder to the cutting.
You can also put a bit of the powder in a small baggie--and then just roll the cutting around in it.

Also--make the hole first--and just set the cutting into it without brushing off the powder.
Give the pot a "thump" to settle the soil and you are done....water--of course....

Good luck you all. As I said--I have NOT rooted any Figs to the very end myself...I do not grow them.
My neighbor's husband used to cut off fig branches in the spring and just stick it in the dirt--and they rooted.
Go figure!
Gita

The great thing about having had so many cuttings to pass around this spring is that I figure we're all trying slightly (or very) different things with them, so hopefully *somebody* will be successful! It'll probably be a couple of years before it needs quite such a chop again, but we'll have another shot at it if it comes to that.

thanks for all the helpful tips. next time I'll either put the dirt in the pot first and push in the cutting to push up the rooting hormone along the stem OR I'll try using a small paint brush to brush on the rooting hormone. I didn't even think of that. And, you can see in the second pic that so far there are no roots.

the fourth pic is a few of Gita's four o'clocks on the right front. And on the left front are Critter's iris

the fifth pic is one of the lisianthus from Roses

thanks again everyone. I'm loving all these great plants!!!

Wind--

You can, easily, cut those long Fig stems in half and root both pieces. I think they are a bit long....
The top piece, about 6"-7" long, will be best for rooting..as that is where the growing tip is.
The bottom piece, if it makes it, will give you some side-shoots.

Wind--each 4 o'Clock will grow to cover about an area close to 3'.
You may want to move them apart now, and put each in a separate location.

see here:

1--This is two plants--if I remember--from 2009,
2--You can dig up the roots and carry them over the winter--dormant--like dahlias or any other.
This clump of roots is from the first year of growth--from seed!. The spots will disappear.
3&4--Here are some of the roots in April of the next year. I had thrown some soil over the roots
to facilitate sending out new growth. That year--is when the massive "bushes" grew...
Left in the ground, in our zone, (depending on the winter weather) the 4's roots can become unrealistically
large and difficult to dig up. In the South--it is very likely to do so.

it has been a while that i read about all this. I am sure you could find some better info somewhere...

So--as you can see--these plants need space......Gita

I'm trying to root some even longer ones, just because IF they take, they'll have a head start, size wise. I think the "fig man" said he used 16-18" pieces with his bag method. But yes, you could cut those in half and hopefully double your chances of getting one to take! The top-most shoot on your bottom piece will be your main "trunk" and might need a little encouragement (stick & string!) to grow upward.

thanks for the comments on the figs, but I'm not going to cut them at this point; just going to leave them and hope for the best. I did notice in the video that the guys cuttings were shorter. It's still fun.

As for the 4 o'clocks, Gita, do you dig up the roots for yours? I wasn't planning on digging up roots. I didn't know about that with them. That's a lovely photo of your 4's. I remember seeing it on one of the other threads when you posted it. I grew them years ago and used to just collect seeds for the following year, plus they used to always come back until they got squeezed out by variegated vinca vines!! I'll probably move them to our backyard then. They will look nice with fuschia phlox we have back there.

got a nice batch of compost this year, plus Harry bought a bunch of bags of manure from H.D. that we added to our veggie raised beds last week

wind--

I have not grown 4's in the last 3 years--as they DO take up a lot of room--and i don't have room for them.
I only dug up the roots that one year.
Same goes for my Daturas---I had one purple one no one claimed--so I planted it in a big pot and will let it grow there.

Same for one of my Pink--NOID Brugs. I put it in a pot and will let it grow there....
I already grow 3 Brugs--so now I will have 4. maybe---i can give it away to someone....

Overkill gets me----it "kills me"......Gita

Gita: I'm working on my awful front hill today (and isn't it hot???). Would 4'o'clocks work there? I can't plant anything that likes a lot of moisture (I'm trying to do minimal watering) and nothing deer will eat....

I think 4's are very tolerant of many conditions....
of course--untill they are fully established--they need to be watered now and them.

They WILL add a lot of color to your hill....and all the seeds will go rolling down.....
Hope for rain--and you will not have to fret....

Here.s a picture of what the seed looks like. It is the size of a pea--and when dries--like a Peppercorn.
G.

Maybe I'll try them -- there are a bunch of spots on the hill where plants didn't make it.... Thanks, Gita.

To all the folks who received a Saxifraga virginiana from me in little 2 inch pots. Your plants are going/have gone dormant, not died. Plant the contents, insert the marker, and forget until early spring when a much larger plant will emerge and give you an early show of white flowers. Skeptical? Ask SallyG about hers.

Thanks for the heads up! Mine is planted near some Bloodroot, so the whole mess should go dormant soon....

Karen (Nutsfordaylily), toward the end of the swap you had some hostas laid out on the table in bare roots. I took a small division from you. Here it is, recovered and looking happy. It is a pretty small hosta. The leaves are about 6" - 8" long, and light green. Can you tell me what variety it is?

Another plant from you was labeled as "yellow cowslip primrose". It looks more like a variegated 'mini loriope' if there is such a plant ;-). Can you please ID the plant for me?

Thank you.

The running tiarella (Tiarella ECO Running Tapestry) really will run, so rein it in before it goes to far, unless you don't care. It blooms very nicely, and I like the leaf patterning.

As to the hardy begonia (Begonia Grandis), I put at least 3 visible plants in each pot, with I think more yet to emerge, but I think it is a little finicky about being transplanted. Once you have it in your yard, you will always have it -- but it can be tough to get started. I have been trying forever to get mine to move to a spot in my yard (in front of some azaleas) that it refused to move to.

It likes it partly shady (but not absolutely full shade). My sense is that it prefers moist, organic soil in damp conditions to get established -- woodland. Mine often emerges under other plants, like hostas.

It is very late to emerge. It was barely showing for me at the time of the swap, and you are a bit north of me. Mine are still small even now.

If yours doesn't make it, I'll bring more to the next swap, and the next, and the next. Here's a bit more information: http://carolynsshadegardens.com/2012/10/08/hardy-begonias-for-fall-color/ and http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Begonia+grandis+evansiana and http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant-details/kc/c843/begonia-grandis.aspx .

Hardy Begonias! I love them for lots of reasons

Onewish...first pic below is the 'root system' on a four inch plant that has recently emerged. If it is a second year plant or older, more leaves will come, but not a lot more root!

Second pic is self sown three year plants emerging from a thick ground cover of winter creeper.

Third pic is how I grow my Hardy Begonias,(no surprize) in containers! Each plant emerges at a slightly different pace.

As to transplanting, I originally got mine from a friend in full bloom in late August. The full grown plants did not miss a beat.. Consequently, I'm wondering Happy, if you would have more success establishing these in other areas of your gardens by transplanting a larger or more mature plant.

Me, I just move a container or two to an area and let them do their thing ie winter creeper area. I pot up the new little babies and grow them on for a year or two before I set them out. (pic 4)

Rick and Holly, what should I do with the hellebore seedings?

Should I keep them in their pots? Try to separate them? Plant them in the ground?

All of the coleus are now planted in the ground. I can't wait for them to start getting bushy! When do you all start pinching them?

Coleup -- I'll try that (transplanted full-sized blooming plants). I've tried pretty-much everything -- but the ground is better amended now --- that could help. I like the idea of potting them up and putting the pots where I want them to naturalize, so they'll seed into the ground surrounding the containers ....

I have Begonia Grandis in 2 locations....they are really sprouting and growing at this time..

The odd thing is--they completely disappear in the winter. NO trace of them! Mark the spot!
Try not to dig around a lot in that area, even though, they will still come up...wherever.

A few years ago--I went to "Valley View Farms" here--a BIG-, $$$ Nursery ...and bought a gal. pot-full
of Begonia Grandis. It was FULL to the rims solid--with this plant.
Took it hone--and tried to divide it up....which did NOT go all that well. I think I lost a lot
of the plants in the process. Some made it, though...

The first 2 pictures are from the bed where the Dr. Seuss Brug overgrew everything. never got to, really,
enjoy this Begonia in bloom (early fall). Now--the whole bed is open--and I have planted all kinds of things in it,
including 2 of my newly acquired Oriental Lily bulbs--as well as some caladiums.
Can't wait to see what it all looks like...With the big ferns as a backdrop--it should be very pretty...

1--here is the East-side bed. I just finished planting it all. Should look nice...
2--A closer look at the Begonias
3--Second location is in the bed by my shed--where it exists under my Nandina--and among my Spearmint.
I have both pink and white in here...

Planted this beautiful Coleus next t it. I think Coleuslover gave it to me???
There is nothing "amended" here--the soil is OK--but pretty hard and un-dug.
Doesn't seem to deter the begonia from multiplying. There should be some white among these.

A lovely plant to have--always a surprise how big it can grow! G.

Gita, I like the fern to the left of your begonia

I planted SallyG's mock orange from last year yesterday lol. Also planted a bunch of my scrawny little salvias that are happy to finally hit real soil and NisiNJ's and Critter's tomatoes too.

Next in, Chantell's PB shrub!

Gita: I like that fern as well - is that the Autumn fern?

wind and happy---

I have NO idea! I just have plants--and names are not important to me.
Maybe someone will ID it....

That fern has not yet, fully, changed to green. When it came out--it was almost a rust color.
Still changing.....it will be all green soon.

Have had it for years--both of them. G.



.

SSG, I would divide them into larger pots. You could put as many as you want into each pot maybe 5 in a 4inch pot to start. If you can keep them potted till fall and then plant them in the garden. If you think you will have trouble keeping the pots going all summer you can try planting them in the garden now after all that is where I dug them up from.

So cute...i can pretty much read the posts without checking names and recognize the 'voices'
Yup greenthumb as you say and i never doubted it will return and delight me.

Gita, I think your fern is Autumn Fern - Dryopteris erythrosora http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1812/ . Its common name reflects its autumnal coloration of new growth. A good reason for knowing the names of your plants is that it helps to find out what their needs are.

Ooh, that autumn fern is really pretty.

Holly, I'll pot up the hellebore seedlings for now, and get them in the ground in the fall when I get the urge to move around all the hostas. :)