Plant Propagation: The Basics January 2016

I am the different mama, my old birds are not going broody anymore and probably would harm the chicks. When I let birds raise chicks the chicks never get used to me and it makes it hard to catch them if they are injured or to get them in a pen, a lot of predators around here. I am not going to be able to put them in with the older chicks but the older ones are almost large enough to move to the greenhouse cage and then these can have the in the house brooder. When they all move to one of the bigger chicken pens they will be too busy exploring to fight

All good questions Jen, thanks for asking them. For pictures that aren't oriented right, it seems for some reason sending straight from a phone is the culprit.
To view them correctly, right click on the image and select 'View Image', that function rotates the image for me...and also presents you with the original uploaded size.

Gypsy, you're such a good Mommy, they all look so happy and healthy. Geesh, I sure wouldn't mind teleporting myself to visit (especially when my temps are in the low teens). I just watched the newest Star Trek Into Darkness, it was a good one.

I hope you're good Ju, haven't heard from you lately...

testing , testing , testing Geez ,, I'm in ,, Hi all Debra and all nice pic's , and great convo ,

some wintersow

Good grief, we're all ready to pounce on our threads. Problem is, I have to leave for a while. Glad to see we are up and running again.

WOW Were still here ,,, !!! Geeez Were still Here , Hi everyone ,,
Robin ,, yay ,, were back ,,
Patti ,,, round and round circles ,, run thru the forest ,, run Forest run ,,,

Even I am here and I am never here. I have missed all of you guys. I will return this evening.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder! Hellloo! From Florida- the rain hit, the sun followed just in time for weekends!

Golly Gee Ju, I thought that was run through the jungle. LOL

Hi all, it's so nice to have you all back. I know my heart is fonder, it's a lot like not appreciating as much as one should until it's gone.

Florida sounds cozy for the weekend, maybe you should park your truck on the beach and pull out a beach chair for some serious people watching Kitt.

Okay Sharon, it's evening...

Debra didn't make it back. I noticed on Kitts test on the back porch that, first it didn't kick the second copy of the post off, and then it rolled around to January 1. Watch that and see if it happens here. jen

Ju put your clothes back on. Can't run around in the forest nakid. lol jen

oh yay! I hope this post goes thru! I have missed you all so much! I had posted and posted but ended up in a place that led me in circles and I was so dizzy!!
(((HHHUUUGGSSS))) to all of you!

(((HUGS))) right back at ya Deb. They didn't tell you to follow the yellow brick road?

Hey Lady, that was a test. LOL. Now you have earned that certificate. Nice to see you. Get a good night's sleep and will see you all tomorrow. jen

On the road yesterday, about to take off again, stay warm

Gypsi, what are you doing on the road? What do you have going now? How do your chix do when you are gone all day/ How many have you got now?

Debra, what are you doing today? Taking a break and resting up? Or, now that you figured this out you won't be on here again for a bit and in the mean time they will probably do something else to confuse you.

Have a good day you all. ttyl, jen

I purchased a 100 large plastic beverage cups to pot up my seedlings in. They are much less expensive than regular pots. The cups are also deeper, allowing a longer time for the root system to fill them up.

I'm trying two methods to get drainage holes. The first method I tried was using a soldering iron and melting the holes...whew that was stinky. That's an outside job on a warm and slightly breezy day. I got 3 whole cups done.

Drilling holes is the next method I'm trying and will see if that works any better.

Robin, if you have a drill, which I am assuming you do from your last statement, why not try doing several together. Just kind of a stack of 4 or 7, just to try. We did what you are and now neither of us can remember how we got the holes in them. I ended up buying a carton of the water bottles, cutting them off and drilling them. When they were ready to transplant I just took my kitchen scissors and cut from the top all the way down to the bottom and lifted them out. Tossed the bottles 'cause i have enough stuff without trying to keep them from year to year. OH, I used the water in them to water the plants with. My houseplants etc.

Good luck. Are you going to put them outside, or keep them in the house to germinate? When are you able to plant them outside in your area? I normally start my seeds that take the longest in late Feb. or March. Tomatoes etc. in April. However, it depends on the year too.

One year I bought a carton of 500 pots and I am still using those. I wash and reuse them. But those are not to start the seeds in. That is to transplant in. One thing about using the bottles like for Tomatoes, you can start them maybe a couple of inches of potting mix and as they grow you can add mix to get the long root. And with the bottles they get light. Also, easier to drill holes in. Let us know what you end up doing. jen

Jen

Jen, I am beginning to think you are a professional interrogator. LOL

hay I worked today and froze my taitai's off from the doors being opened so much and then now we are remodeling so the customer's cars are scattered out and about so trying to lead the guests to their car was heck on my knees and bones. oh well, we are going to the movies tonight in a bit. I have been using water bottles forever, but if I had those plastic cups, I'd do like I do all the plastic things that need holes and use my bic lighter ( long handle) to "burn" a soft spot and poke it on out with a hard wooden spoon handle. I usually have water bottles all over my window sills by now and jugs full of winter sown seeds outside but I am late to the party this year.
Kit, be careful on the road and watch your back.

Patti, you are sweet. Most people would have said I was nosy. Not really, I just like to know what people are doing and why.

Deb, what is that first plant you posted right there? Sorry Patti, how do you ever learn anything if you don't ask questions? LOL, oh well, I forgot to send you the email about the new system we have all been so aggravated about for the last several days. Give me your address and I will send it to you. jen

You can dmail me your email or dmail address. jen

I know I posted earlier- I think, unless I hit the wrong button and just didn't bother to rewrite it....spent the day in Fl, being lazy, taking trespassing walks and liberating me a 'trukplant?' :) collected 3 different kinds of hitchikers I have been pulling out of socks and shoes for my efforts. Chuckl. Then made lunch.

I'll try the softening and wooden spoon method Debra. Your bottles look great and I'm guessing your cup is that lightweight styrofoam. I'm going to try and reuse mine if they're dishwasher safe.

Lol Kitt, that's not a cup holder, it's a plant holder. I don't know what kind of plant that is but I like it. Some of those hitchhikers might be nice plants too.

Patti you're right, Jen would have made a great interrogator, she's quick and inquisitive. I'm so thankful her skills are put to good use here though, she's an even better conversation extender/carrier. The best part being; I can learn without even asking the pertinent questions. Lol, I wish the rest of life were that easy.

Not a whole lot to report from here. It's definitely a three dog night; I wish I had three dogs.

Jen, I was just joking with ya! You do ask the best questions.

Kitt, I have no idea where you are. Are you in Florida?

Ju, I woke up with the two cats snuggled as close to me as they can get. Tucker was in the pile too. When I opened the back door to let the dog out, I made the mistake of taking a breath. It was almost like having ice cream brain freeze.

Snowing here , 20 degrees ,, I can't do plants , in the combat action going on ,
Terrorist Gremlin Brigade ,.. Mewing and growling "" Death To All Plants " !!!
I am just about out of house plants ,,

Ju,I ended up putting all of my houseplants in the bedroom and I keep the door closed always. I go to bed late enough normally that the cats are ready for sleep. I also wake up before they do. When I get up, all the animals must leave the bedroom. So far, I have found no damage but I do keep a squirt bottle on the table next to the bed.

I tried locking the cats out of the bedroom for a couple nights. No one got any sleep. LOL

I do bring the house plants into the kitchen to water and I have to stand guard. If I didn't, they would all be in shreds. Surprisingly, Tess is the one that wants to chew on or spend time batting at the plants. Mynx is only interested if she sees Tess misbehaving first.

Patti Kitty see , Kitty do ,,, Here , multiply by three
I would put them in the tub , but I don't know ,, the gals would complain ,

My wintersow and snow this week

Daylily
Delphinium
Mustard
Sprouts
Sage
coneflowers
Lots in those jugs
When it gets back above 1 degree I will try more

Maybe I should of said the Plants ( Not the Kittens !!! lol ??? ,, you know , the Tub lol

I was wondering how you were going to keep those kittens in the tub. LOL Glad you clarified that.

Cant keep our cat out of the tub- tho not while its running- he wants fresh behaved running water. Warm enough he goes outside so plants are safe. Its the plants that wont survive indoors, yup still im Florida. This plant is a houseplant in other parts of the world than tje deep south. Syngonium podophyllum- Goosefoot plant. Or ivy....down here it just keeps multiplying. My 2 sprouts in native Fl dirt are recovering there stress from crawling thru the grass into the sun and being mowed. It has rained every single night and I set them out for a few since my cup has no drain holes. This one is the basic plant no frills, so the green is returning solid. I should have been outside catching rainwater last night and couldn't bring myself to watch my jug. Its been 73* every day, and cool with a breeze at night. Perfect winter Florida.

I love Florida in the winter, lucky you, Kit. I have lost the dog I was sitting, and it is too cold to go out to the fence to pet him, so I just sit here and gaze out the window.
Jen, that first plant is an I batata ( sweet potato plant) i started from a stem when digging them tubers up last fall. I bring home those cups from the trash at work and wash them in the sink. I am a big dumpster diver at work LOL
Patti, I hear ya on the cold air brain freeze, that is how I was yesterday at work, which is a horrible mess right now as they start their re-modeling, all the parking areas are now two blocks away. Spending the day in the basement so have a great day, ya all.

Well I drive to do aquarium and pond service and see grown kids and grandkids. Ended up staying home with 5 year old granddaughter yesterday, we planted 50 tulip bulbs in pots, bag had been in fridge for months. And we made soup and pumpkin pie. Going to change curtains and do laundry today. Want to germinate some eldarica pine - anyone know how?

Chicks be chicks, they eat drink sleep and poop. Entertainment will be mealyworms when they move to the brooder, when month old chicks move to greenhouse run next week

Not sure about the eldarica pines, but pines germinate after fires burn off the area, last year the pine babies were massive sprouts everywhere. Gutters, ditches, roofs, tree branches, flower beds... luck with that Gypsi.

It sounds miserable at work Deb and probably will be for a while. I sure hope the time flies by for you. Dress warm, I know it's tough to look cute and be warm too. You're probably going to be really busy cause those 2016 Civics look real sweet.

I also hope you find the dog...roh rouh.

Patti, sure wish we had a picture of you and your brood when you woke up, that sounds like an aww moment.

I;m like the Chicks , just following along , I will look and hear the plant talk , dream about the greenhouse and plants ,
Learning these things , but ,,,, I will pass on the mealy worms ..
Hi all

upstairs for a bit, Robin, and Oreo, ( dog I was sitting) is back home now, ( I lost him to his DAD) his daddy lives behind me, and if I want to see him now, I have to go outside. TOOO COLD
Wish you'd come here and make me a pond, Gypsy. LOL
also, love the fact that you are able to have chickens, again, wish we could have them here.
Patti, I still have your box, with a jar for a terrarium, and some other goodies, so we just need to meet up for lunch. Are you still sitting Nikki?

Debra, Nikki has been gone for a while. I only kept him two and one half days this time. He is so high maintenance and I am so low energy right now, I kind of hope my neighbor doesn't ask me again for at least a couple months. Gosh, oh gee, I thought we left it that you were coming over here. Can't meet for lunch this week but maybe next.

Ju, it looks like you've already gone to bed. I'm really tired tonight; I think the cold has sucked all the energy right out of me. I let Tucker out a few minutes ago and we have a very light dusting of snow on the rooftops. The sidewalks look dry. It's almost too cold to snow out there, IMHO.

Robin, they are really sweet and really cuddly and total bed hogs. LOL

Kitt, thank you for tell me where you are today. Congratulations on the new plant.

Gypsi, you have now made me want to bake a pumpkin pie. That and real lemon meringue pie are my two favorites. By real lemon meringue, I mean the kind with egg white meringue and cornstarch in the custard. There used to be a restaurant here in town that served it. The restaurant is long gone and I mourn the loss. Man they made good pies.

My two demon darlings have not had their 20 minutes of cat crazies yet so I'm going to get out the laser pointer and wear them out so I can go to bed. I watched " The Imitation Game" today. Benedict Cumberbatch is such an excellent actor. The movie was quite good but it left me a bit depressed. He should've been hailed as a hero. For those of you that don't know the story, it was about the development of the first machine (think primitive computer) that broke the code the Germans were using during World War II. Showtime was having a free preview weekend. Of all the shows listed over the weekend, that was the only one I was interested in. Now I remember why I gave up all the extra channels and went back to local programming. They just were not worth the money to me. LOL

Stay warm everyone!

You are right, Patti, I am supposed to come to you, I had forgotten, seems like time just fly's by. I loved that movie you mentioned, it was excellent. We don't subscribe to any thing extras either, but Cox regular channels just seem to wear Joe out. Or me, from him changing channels so much. I saw the snowflakes, right after I told Joe it looked like it was going to snow. So cold! We had to get out to go to wally world, I was good and didn't buy anything off my list, but sure wanted one of those 10.00 orchids.. I'd have killed it for sure, tho.
Kitt reminds me of me, driving around, getting snippings and cuttings of things in the wild.. miss those days, can't wait to get going when it warms up.
I cleaned, re-arranged, and played in the Basement Gardens this day off.
..

some propagation efforts have paid off