I swear by the crystals in all our containers, I usually try to water in 2 passes to allow them to absorb the most they can. Light watering with the crystals can actually pull H2O from the soil, using 2 passes will water the plants and allow the crystals to do their job, store extra moisture to be absorbed after the soil drys.
After event questions and answers and chatting 2
I always flood twice on the big ones too.. some of the smaller ones... but not every time
I was away for the past 3 hot days and the crystals at the base of my pots did their job very well. The top of the potting soil was as hard as a brick, but some of the plants were only slightly droopy!
This message was edited Jun 26, 2013 5:46 AM
Happy Birthday Pixie!
Very Happy Birthday to you, Pixie.
Me too--Pixie! Wishing you a wonderful day.....today and always.
Gita
Judy--
The "Fishnet Stockings" Coleus cutting is growing well, BUT--the striation seems to be fading.
It had such a strong dark pattern on it--and now it is getting greener.
I have it in bright, partial sun. Should I put it somewhere in a more shady area?
Thanks--Gita
couldn't hurt.. I never had luck with that one
Happy BD!
Thanks you all for the B-Day wishes, it was a steamy one but a good one!!
My imagination of a steamy Maine birthday only picks up lobsters....
Happy birthday Pixie!!
...our Japanese Primrose and Alpine Catchfly are going to seed. Do they self-sow? or should I collect the seeds? We had another doozy storm night last night w/ thunder, lightening and pouring rain here in Jersey. Needless to say mosquitoes (our state bird) are out in force!
Alpine Catchfly will self-sow abundantly. Don't know about Japanese Primrose.
JP will self seed also. Thank you for the birthday wish Wind. :)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PIXIE! (belated, but loud)
Alpine Catchfly does self-sow readily, but it's not thuggish about it... doesn't root deeply, so it's easy to remove, and the leaves are easy to recognize even on new seedlings, so you don't have that "is this a weed or a pretty flower?" issue. It'll also give you a zillion seeds by just tipping the seed pods upside down over a container (similar to columbine).
oh Holly I saw your purple perilla in front of my neighbors house.. between the road & the curb.. spreading the love.. LOL
thanks for the AC and JP info =)
the swap caladiums are starting to leaf out!
LOL, They do spread so beautifully.
I am overloaded with them this year.. they do smell nice
wind--
The Inky Fingers Coleus is doing so well. Thank you again.
--Put one on either side of a NG Impatience.
--Pentas--one of my favorite flowers.
--My Kitchen side bed--it is so jammed full of flowers--can't wait.
BUT--on the left--is where I planted the other two Red Phlox I got.
They just "belong" there, Already have a bunch or Phlox on the right side...
--The first two I planted on either side of my climbing Rose on the other side of the house.
--The Black and Blue Salvia from 2 years ago. it made it through the winter
and has now grown huge--about 3' tall and bushy. I did not expect that!
OK! Thassss all, Folks. G.
ooh oooh I just passed up on Black and Blues on clearance at Lowes last week....
yes I have a first leaf or two on a huge caladiums somebody gifted me from the swap.
Our NoID Caladium from the swap is leafing out nicely, as is our 'Miss Muffet' which I'll get a photo of in the morning.
I passed out some huge caladiums that Bill (Caladiumbulbs4less) sent up. I think Critter had some that she put on the gift table as well.
Sallyg, your caladium came from Holly via me. I didn't know caladium bulbs came that big!
yeah the ones you buy anywhere else are tiny compared to Bills
I didn't take any of Bill's Caladiums from the swap since I had ordered from him on my own. I selected some individually and then also ordered his "combination package" which turned out to be much less attractive than all the others that I had chosen. They do fill in an empty spot which is a work in progress for now.
I got a total of 6 caladiums from the group Buy and one of the big ones that were passed around.
I think all of them are leafed out by now.....will get pictures later...
They are later in leafing out than I would have liked. But--we got them later....
Hopefully, I will be able to keep these bulbs over winter and have them again n next year.
I sure have all kinds of new Coleus to keep...some were cuttings from HD as they were
going down the chute. Some dark, dark reds and one yellow one. Never seen a yellow....
Gita
My begonias that I got (I think from coleup) are doing great. Here are some pics.
Karen
Oops! I hit send before I included the pics. Here they are.
Karen
Hey everyone, round up, potluck luncheon and plant swap at my place July 13th, 2013, from 11 a.m. till whenever. I know its short notice, but I've been pretty busy. I hope some of you can make it. Here's a link to the sign up to thread.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1321867/
Karen
Oh, Karen, we will be in Texas then. I would lve to be there and see your lovely lilies and other purties!!!
Karen, July is just crazy month for us this year, back to back company visits and "camp" weeks for 2 of Joyanna's cousins... but how I'd love to see your DLs in bloom! Hope you'll put up a photo thread so we can all visit vicariously...
'Miss Muffet' in a railing planter. I planted caladiums in half a dozen little hanging baskets this year, too, and hung them in the crepe myrtle that overhangs the deck. They're going to look really cool when they finish leafing out!
whups, here's Miss M, together with my beautiful C. 'Fishnet Stockings'!
Sorry you guys can't make it. I will definitely post pictures. I'll be thinking of you.
Karen
Jill--
The cutting of "Fishnet Stockings Coleus" I got from coleup is growing well--
but it is losing those nice, black striations. I put it in a bit more shade to see
if these will come back. I see that yours is also green.
That Miss Muffet is cute! Do you know the name of this one I picked up from
Holly's XL bulb box from Bill?
Thanks--Gita
Gita Maybe Grey Ghost, take a look and see if you think this looks right?
http://www.caladiumbulbs4less.com/servlet/the-370/10-Colossal-Grey-Ghost/Detail
Not sure, Holly----mine has all those speckles on it--the Gray Ghost has the same coloration-
but just the white, radiating veins...no spots...
G.
Gita, that white caladium might also be Aaron, which I think has grown with some splotching for me. Bill's mixes might also be just that -- mixes of different colors, not necessarily named.
Yes, my 'Fishnet Stockings' has gone more green... I was thinking it was the heat, but LMK what yours does in deeper shade!
BTW, Lee Valley is having a free shipping offer through July 8... LOVE their stainless steel shovels & pruners!
Jill-
I put my FNS Coleus on my picnic table out of any sun--and the new sprouting
leaves sure are darker...might just be the trick!
Will let them grow out a bit more and them post a picture.
Gita
Thanks, Gita... I may take cuttings and try them in a shadier spot, although right under the overhanging crepe myrtle by the deck might be as shady as my yard gets!