Some questions about cuttings.

Hi brioche and Jnette- several years ago in the fall, the afternoon before the first killing frost, I made a bouquet of every last flower from my garden, and put it in a glass with water on my south facing kitchen windowsill. I kept pulling the flowers out that were yucky, until there was only the 'Tidal Wave' petunia left. It made roots, and I left it there all winter, finally potting it up and then replanting it for another show that spring! So cuttings are easy in the fall. If I were you I would try now.

Wow, rooting petunias in water! Yeah! I think I will try it. We usually get some petunias that are expensive...just a few. I was hoping for a way to get some to live over winter.

I would love to have some double petunias. I haven't gotten out to really look at the plants. We went today for a few minutes, but Bob stayed with Candy in the car to make sure she didn't get too hot and I had to use my walker so it was pretty hard to get many plants. Somehow I planted all purple and violet petunias this spring. At least that is all that made it. So, I had to get some other colors. Also some dracena spikes and stock, geraniums, and Gazanias.

But, I definitely will try rooting some petunias. Also got a beautiful dahlia that is only about 7 inches or so tall. Very full blossoms, kind of a yellow white.

Meant to tell you I bought some dahlia tubers the other day on line so still have to get those planted when they get here.

Do you guys get the newsy thing "Learn to Grow"? They had a very good information article on container soil/mix. But, I would love to use Al Tapla's recipe if I could just get the ingredients jen.

Hey Jen ;Content
gilraen
Houston, TX
(Zone 9a)
May 3, 2010
8:02 AM
Post #7759869
Tapla, can you answer two fairly easy questions, please, OR point me to a thread where they're already answered?

On your gritty mix (where I saw it mentioned, it specified "equal parts Turface, crushed granite, and pine bark"):

1) How big should the pieces of crushed granite be?
2) Same question on the pine bark -- is it supposed to be "fines" like in the container mix? Or can you use the whole bag of regular bark?

Thank you!
tapla
tapla
Bay City, MI
(Zone 6a)
May 3, 2010
3:13 PM
Post #7761108
Size of the particles is very important. The crushed granite I use is chicken grit, packaged under the trade name 'Gran-I-Grit' (grower size) or #2 cherrystone packaged by New Ulm Quarries. Both are between 1/8-3/16" in size. I use fir bark by Shasta Forest Products. It comes in 3 cu ft bags and is pre-screened to 1/8-1/4". It costs about $17 per bag. You might find a similar product or pine bark you can screen to an appropriate size.

It's initially sometimes difficult to locate what you need to make the soil, but once you've located the ingredients and see how well it works, I'm pretty sure you'll be ok with the extra effort. ;o)

Al


Read more: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1093861/#ixzz33oYwXumU

That's the one I was talking about. He has 3 different recipes on the container thread. Thanks.

interesting ,, glad to help out ,,
and myself also lol ^_^

Hope you can get the ingredients he uses. I can't.

I screen my own bark, but I'm not aiming for anything quiet as fast-draining or permanent as he is.

If you try to buy "#2 chicken grit", make sure to specify "granite, NOT sea shells". And check when they put it in your trunk.

Twice I asked for granite and got calcium carbonate.

Very good advice Rick, thanks. I bet calcium carbonate is quite a bit lighter in weight than granite. I'm pretty sure Turface is Diatomaceous Earth and is also sold inexpensively as an oil absorbent at Lowes or Auto stores (check to make sure it's DE for sure as other things are also sold as oil absorbers).

Great thread Robertsonj88, I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Ok guys, I have a question. You know these wonderful smelling Stock plants? What do you do with them when the flower is spent? Can you cut it off and will it rebloom? Here it is, just early June, and they are almost gone already. They smell soosooo good. Help!!

yes , grown for cut flower , does not bloom in hot weather , member of the Brassica , Mustard family , it re-blooms in fall ,, likes cool weather .

Seriously JU? A member of the brassica family? I hate it when I buy a pack of them that are blooming and are about done. But, I will do as you say and maybe plant them in the back so they will come back in the fall. Interesting. jen

Remember their an annual , Don't let them go to seed ,, this time anyway ..

I might try a couple on seeds. Tempting. jen

If you do now , the plant might die , let them dry , and plant a few weeks before your cool weather starts ,
Just like mustard or greens , you can start them for fall bloom , otherwise , trim them) IF you let them go to seed , like other annuals of their family , they will hold their seed pods a long while as they die ,
My Mustards and Brassica that are annuals do exactly as said . I have heard stocks will selfsow many places though .
hoping luck to you ,, pretty little flowers

This message was edited Jun 8, 2014 12:48 AM

These are in 4 inch pots. Some are doing real good so far and others aren't. No, not 4 inch pots, pony packs. I will put them in planters with others.

JU, Kitt wants to know why you are not joining in on her thread she just started a new one. The other one was almost 250 replies. jen