Plant Propagation: The Basics January 2016

Jen I am going after the kittens in a half hour or so tonight ,

Ibarden , Kilimanjaro , Mingles and Kid , are their names ,,
I know Coneflowers need stratified ,, seeds
I am into things , be back

You got a break having one less female kitty Ju, and am really glad you got the wayward female in your grasp before the appointment.I'm waiting to hear they're all good and all went well with their procedures.

Deb what a bummer, I can't believe your foundation problems have anything to do with planting. Grading away from the foundation is important but billions of homes withstood a century or even two of plantings around the foundation without caving it in. Your foundation wasn't built structurally sound in the first place and that's just what Jen said, 'criminal'. I can't even believe it was built to code (whatever the code was then) when it was built. It might be worth looking in to.

I am about to catch sleep for while
Robin they seem okay ,, Te little calico the techs said to watch is doing better than the males ,
They gray and white male quit hallucinating about half an hour ago , He was graphically trying to climb the door frames and drywall
Mingles the one Jen Adopted is doing just fine ,
I was reading their sign at the clinic ,, Since opening 2007 We Have Serviced 97,365 cats and dogs ,,
That was Hamilton county , they closed ours again , Vets office across the street from where it was ,
Rabie shots
Spay neuter
3 Kittens
4.4pounds
4.7 pounds
4.6 pounds
161 ,28
Here it was over 300.00
The calico is playing with my feet , trying to jump on the computer now as I type this ,,

Rusty, I think your question is one for either JU, or Debra. Both of them are good with this. I think. I know I'm not and don't know about the rest. Are you sure it doesn't have spider mites? That is what my Fiddleleaf Fig did. Had Spider Mites. They both seem to have that same textured leaf. I was using Neem Oil on them, but didn't seem to help so I ended up giving them a systemic. So far they have stopped losing leaves. jen

If you wash your cuttings in soapy warm water, and rinse, leav at least 5 nodes on them, then use clean rooting medium.. ( I use vermiculite) Kay Jones uses sand, I stick my cuttings deep down and cover them with plastic bags coming up from the BOTTOM to hold humidity.. some times i just use a water bottle filed with vermiculite, and leave the cap off after sticking the cuttings in. I know they need humidity, not wetness, or u will get rot. I do not use root hormones, but I do nick the bottom of the stems a bit to stimulate. Vents with heat blowing will dry a leaf off of any plant, so steer away from heater vents. most prennials in your zone will need to be stratified, so plant them now or store in fridge. That is what I do, most of the time I go ahead and build my areas in fall with the seeds, and they come up fine in spring, but others I hold over in the garage in a suitcase, where it freezes and warms like outside. I go out and get them when sending out or planting..
Need KayJones !
And, we had to do the east wall and south wall 6 months after we moved in, so we thought we were good, but hey everything ages with time I guess.. just look at me LOL
I did try to get a lawsuit after the seller, as he totally covered up the walls and we didn't know they were challenged until the first thaw of a three ft snow, and that is how we found out, and there were no disclosure laws at that time, and couldn't get anyone to take my case..

I plant coneflower seed now and just rake it in - you mean echinacea, right? But I am in Texas and so are you. never tried the croton

From Top Tropicals:
It is time to start from seed. If you want to feel happier, get into gardening. If you want to feel God, start plants from seeds and watch New Life grow from a tiny grain.
Traditionally, people prefer sowing seeds in Spring, especially temperate species for vegetable garden: tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers... My grandmother up North started them in early Spring in small pots on a windowsill, then once the temperatures raised just above freezing, she planted them out in garden beds, and that early start always helped her to have the best early harvest in the neighborhood.
When we deal with tropical plants, "just above freezing" is not warm enough. Which means, you have to grow small babies indoors for quite a while, providing additional heating when needed. Heating pads always work best... When we had large size monitors and TV's, I always put couple trays on top of hot monitors, and even on warm top of a refrigerator, if space by the radiator was all taken. But that was in very cold apartment...
If you keep your living space around 75F (ideal for many species), this is a perfect temperature to get your seeds started. Tropical plants are not like annual tomatoes that try to grow through the season as fast as possible. They may take time. So the sooner you start, the more chances to get small seedlings just in time when Spring air outside is warm enough - at least in 70's.
A great advantage of starting tropical seeds indoors is controlled temperature and moisture. In the plant world, environment extremes are not good for germination process. Mild conditions of your home or a greenhouse create better chances for successful growth. Seeds won't get overheated in hot Summer sun, and won't get rotten because of a sudden heavy rain. Just keep in mind that some species require light for good germination.
Conditions for the best seed germination:
- Well-drained mix of peat moss and sand. Put seeds not too deep (1/2 inch deep or less) to allow air circulation
- Keep warm (75-85F) and in bright light
- Keep soil slightly moist but not soggy.
even tho this is for tropical seeds, you could treat all seeds that are stratified in the same manner..

I am starting four small rectangular trays of cat grass for my grandcats..

Calico cats are almost always female, as this umusual coat color is the result of genes on the two X chromosomes (which is also why a male calico cat is not only very rare but also sterile: he is a genetic abnormality, with three sex chromosomes - XXY - instead of the normal two - XY).

I should have known this are was in for some serious weather when they NAMED the coming winter storm! It snowed for 3 days, blew like the devil was chasing it for a day . . the 4th day (a bit before 5m) the Maintenance team finally dug me out so I could get to my truck, only to find they hadn't dug out my truck AND had even added some from clearing the street! It took me almost 2 hours to dig my truck out enough to think I might be able to get out. . so I put my truck in low gear, silently said "Look out! Here I come!", revved it and WHOOSH!! I fish-tailed a bit, didn't hit anything. . . and I was OUT! I made it to my pharmacy (half hour before they closed) to pick up my meds (that I had run out the day before).

I've been OUT every day since, while my Granny has become a Timid Tilly and has refused to even venture out (I eveb offered to pick her up). . until she saw this morning that her car is the only vehicle she could see that still had snow on its' roof! She says she'll go out......tomorrow!!

Meanwhile, the snow's melted off most of my gardens; the plants are surprising happy (one of my hellebore is STILL in bloom!).

Good to find y'all

Good to hear from you Bet, even better hearing about your successful break out of the snow barrier. Good job!

Thanks for the interesting info about Calico's, I didn't know that and it's always such a pleasure to learn something. I'm going to go out and check my Hellebore tomorrow, even though it's highly unlikely I'll be as lucky as you. I need a good pick of it.

I found the calico info interesting also ,
Hopefully I will feel well enough to do some things . wintersow ,

Me too on the calico info. Very interesting. Think I have heard it before but hadn't remembered it. You know, it takes the 3rd time. Haven't heard from you in a while Bet. Sometimes I think we are on a route when you and the raccoons find us every once in a while. A lot to learn on the propagation. You know Deb, the first year we were here, I planted my tomatoes outside in a Wall o Water in April. My Son in law picked the first one in July when they were here on vacation. Any more I put them out in June and they don't do near as well. Maybe I need to put them out early, but I don't think they do much until the ground is at least 50 degrees. They just sit there and pull their little feet up waiting for it to get warmer. What do you think? jen

Hi Bett, nice to meet you. I also did not know about Calico cats.. interesting!
Ju, just take it easy, you know there are going to be lots of things show up for you when you aren't looking.
Robin, I don't grow Hellebores, I never even have tried.
Jen, what is a wall o water? I start my tomatoes inside, they usually don't get into the ground until May here.. the plants down stairs are going great guns, I have sprayed them with Epsom salts to get them to start blooming again.
the best propagation success story on tomatoes I have ever experienced was when I planted some seeds from a dollar tree packet of patio tomatoes in my Mom in laws whiskey barrel outside in June and she picked tomatoes from August until end of September. That was fast and fun, they hung down over the sides of her barrell and we had it set up to catch the run off condensation from her a/c unit. no watering no care, just poked those seeds around her barrel and boom, she had maters.

Well Debra, for heaven's sake. I have never heard of spraying with ES to make them bloom!! I put ES on my Tomatoes and roses. Scratch in about half a up of them around the plant, or mix it in when I plant them. See, learned something right there. What kind of plants are you spraying it on?

Interesting about the A/C condensation dripping on the tomatoes. Sure make sense. I always say regular watering makes all the difference in the world to plants. I am going to have to check my Helebores. I haven't been able to see if mine are blooming the last couple of years. I just love them. I have them planted with my rhododendrons and they all do well unless the snow has turned to ice and they can't get the blossoms thru the snow.

Debra. You need to try some Helebores. If I send you some in the spring will you plant them and take care of them? They take no care what so ever. I don't do anything with mine other than cut the old leaves off from the year before. That's it, and they drop their seeds and start new plants. I imagine if I send you some small plants they probably will not bloom for a year or two. I can see in a month or two if I have some plants seeded from last year and that would give you a year's start on them. Only if you want to tho. I don't want to push anything on you if you don't want to bother with them. I only have 2 different kinds. A white with green tinge to the blossom and a purple. I don't bother with names, I am sure I could find them if I wanted. I just enjoy them. Let me know. Jen

Wonder if JU would like some too. JU, if you are on here and read this, let me know if you would like some. They bloom in January if they can get thru the snow. When the snow turns to ice and then snows again and that turns to ice, etc. like we have had a couple years lately, it is hard for them to bloom thru that kind of stuff. Can't get thru the ice. jen

Jen, I would love to try some, but lets do wait until Spring, since I really don not know what I am going to do with everything that is where it is at and needs to be taken out. There might be some things you will want. I already have the rose of sharon, and I know you wanted something else, I have but I can't remember so refresh my memory for me? I also Have a plant for Gypsy, and for Katgroves, some seeds and plants, but I'd rather send all these things out in Spring. Ju might also be interested in what I am pulling out of the flower beds across the back of the house.

great story Debra!

Last year, I did annuals from seed (zinnias, marigolds, chinese asters and tomatoes). All but the asters were a 200% success! I found out later that the asters did NOT like to be started indoors: 2 seeds out of 144 actually sprouted. My tomatoes were transplanted outside May 1 into containers on my back patio (affectionally dubbed My Tomato Jungle) and I started picking the last week of June. . . until all my tomatoe plants succumbed to the late blight in mid September. So THIS year, I'm growing late blight resistant hybrids!!!

I have about 10 hellebores, of differing ages and colors and bloom times. One blooms in mid October, 2 around Christmas, 1 started before the snow (its the one still blooming), 4 are expected about mid March and 3 (the babies) will bloom NEXT winter!! They're easy care evergreens, drought tolerant, deer resistant. . . they just do their thing and I enjoy then!!

My Tomato Jungle (2015) and mentioned hellebores (this winter)

As far as plants I cannot get up with all these photo's ,, Nice and really great this time of year to look at all that ,,
Like Debra , we talk more about trade a sow in the spring ,

These are from Kansas ,, 1950's ,, A while back ,,(yes ,, lived there )

What a nice collection of Hellebore Bet, I have a baby that's a few years old if anyone is interested in it. I took photo's of mine last Spring but somehow took them out of focus. I only have one and have marveled how tropical the leaves look...large and leathery. The blooms on mine are a sweet nodding surprise as the first blooms of the season graces my garden.

Great Tomato and whiskey how-to Debra...brilliantly choreographed!

New note from Internet Brands at top of page, guys. We get notices now!

Yes I saw that ,,Kitt ,, How about that ,, notes from Management ...

Jen what would you like ,, For Hellebore , and what color are yours again , I could grow you small vegie starts or something ,

NOTHING!! LOL, can you hear me now JU? Mine are white with a green tinge and purple flowers. As either Robin or Bet said, these are really great perennial plants. They are not tall, but what I think you would call "understory" plants JU. Only about 18" tall, and as Robin said, nice tropical looking foliage, thick and leathery leaves. I discovered if I put those little Organza bags they use for gifts or whatever at things like wedding receptions, if you put those with their drawstrings on their flowers after they open up, when the flowers age, they will drop their seeds in the bags. And you have a more controlled placement of the new plants. Or, if you just let them start new plants on their own, you can move them to wherever you want them. I have given those little guys to 2 of my sisters and they really like them. They are good plants if you have a garden of small woodland plants, like some smaller ferns, just lost my train of thought, but anything like those. Maybe even some hostas. They all take about that same requirement. I cut off the old leaves from the previous year and that is all you need to do. Kind of like peonies. I have a peony in with mine. Peony was there first, about 20 years ago and I haven't divided it yet. Sure does need it. My Helebores come up thru the snow to bloom in January usually, if there is no layer of ice in there. OH, and the blossoms are there all summer. Just the seeds have dropped. They are a wonderful plant to have in a special garden. Will tell you the other plants I have with mine when I think of it. I remembered one is a Rhodendendron. Also have a Daylilly closeby. jen

Lol Jen, I heard you in Michigan ;)

LOL, Robin, I love to embarrass JU. He is so sweet. He is really great to those kits. I always assume, which you know makes an ass out of you and me. Have you heard that? I always assume JU takes it as I mean it. FUN, JU!! LOL

Oh well, I might have said that wrong JU, one plant is white with a green tinge, blossoms, and the other is purple flowers. Like I said, the blossoms stay on all summer. They are papery like, and the leaves are thick and leathery like Robin said. I love them. No work at all. Hmmmm, wonder what they would do if I put in a little effort on them. Anyone know the answer to that?

Yeah Jen it is the Kit thing ,,

These Garden Kits are interesting , Better at digging ,, bug chasing and spraying , and small rodent destroying ,, Only Garden kits I know of that do that , A unique feature for a garden Kit ,Another is they might be able to learn and adapt ,???
This one has only been on the market for five months ,
2 was the first attempt at pruning ,, That's why their back at digging ,,,

JU, are you saying you advertised them in the paper or something? How did you do it? I hope you didn't say the "free" word. People don't want things they get for free. They don't think they are good if they don't have to pay for them. Especially now that you have so much invested in them. If you are going to advertise them, find out how much the local humane society, or rescue, or whatever you have in the area are charging and just go under that. And say what they have had done including shots, neutering etc. How old etc. I learned that a long time ago. I had pups, said free, and not a call. So, I put an add in for $50 pups. Could have sold them all day. They were gone so fast. So, that was what I did after that if I had them. $50, and people just grabbed them up. I did no shots, spaying, neutering etc. nothing. Many years ago.

At least if you don't sell them, you have that all done and yes, they are great mousers, voles, do you have voles? etc. And you will have a peaceful mind that you are going to have some nice cats and aren't going to have more litters. Jen

Just be sure to keep them socialized so they don't become Ferrels Take them in to see granny often. Are the teens still there. They would be good for them. jen

Feral, chuckl, I was seeing a whole different ferrel of a different design...50* ground temp for maters, buckets stay chillier- maybe a wall of water for the buckets to protect from cold. Wall of water were like Ju's soda bottles, filled with water in a circle around a plant to protect from cold and wind in early spring. Our fenceposts were always decorated with old fashioned gal sized coffee cans never thrown away - banked by earth, opened in daylite, closed against frost at night. Back when Ju was raising those gorgeous toms...helping my grandmother.
Ju has a brat pack, definitely a plant challenge. It is time to push those seedlings- or has the moon gone dark again? Full of the moon, above ground fruit, dark of the moon, below ground fruits. Hey Jen? Baby chicks also use 50* as warm enough to not need heat lamps 24/7. Majic temp there, just protect from wind! I do need to get my buckets ready....

I am not advertising them or anything Jen , Just playing along ,
Slow morning with craziness ..
A sunny morning
You all stay well and stay at it.
Luck with the planning to Nancy ,

Hopes to Sharon with looking after all of everyone

Kitt Hope your bucket stays comfortable , lol
Evelyn Still trying to move ?
Jen ,, Oh , well , fans are fans ,, better luck another season ,
Where is Rusty ,, Just type in a hello , either of you , and any of you

net hellebores are called "easy care" plants 'cause there's not much you can do (or NOT do) that affects them!! They DO like they're old fronds/leaves pruned off each year (the betgter to see all those gorgeous blooms). . .but they're ok if you don't! They DO like slightly alkaline soil (sprinkle a bit of lime chips, dolomite / agricultural / garden lime at their base - or use whatever you use around your hydrangea to get pink flowers). . . but again, they're ok just left alone. They DO like having a slow release fertiliaer applied at their base for their all winter growth /blooming (this intensifies the color of the blooms and encourages a bit more growth / blooms). . . but then again, they're fine without!!

They're slow growers anyways, so I just ENJOY!!

My bucket, musical chairs truck style. Never having gardened in a bucket before, I hate to cut holes in good buckets, but I may have to when my mater seeds arrive. Cant believe its just now finally february. Cant believe Dec dissappeared somewhere behind us.

I don't like cutting holes in perfectly good buckets either ,
Weather is diff ,,
Up later , drying my quilt after washing ,, cat barfed on my bed ,, good night ,,,
At least I was not in it ,,
Planted poppy , lupine , and lettuce today

Hi everybody. I'm here, been slipping in and reading a bit now & then, then slipping out again.
Wow, Ju! Kilimanjaro? Awfully big name for a little kitty. Definitely different! Mingles is a cute name. Glad they've all had everything they needed done. I trust they have all recuperated and are doing fine now.
Yes, Gypsi, I meant Echinacea. I'm a heck of a long way south of you, with much different weather. I guess I'll put that cone flower seed in the refrigerator for a few weeks. I doubt we have enough weather cold enough to do the job if I were to plant them outside now.
And I guess I'll get brave and whack that Croton up a little later, when it's more into spring. I'm curious as to whether or not the trunk left in the old pot will send out any new branches or not. No, Jen, it doesn't have spider mites, or any other bug, either, for that matter. My experience with Crotons has been that they are bad about losing lower leaves. Especially the plants that come from a florist. I guess they have some way of raising them to force produce all that lush foliage, & then when they get put into a normal home environment, they go into shock. There were 5 or 6 plants in that pot, way over planted I think. But they (the florists' suppliers) go for striking appearance, not longevity for the plants. I have a very dear friend that had a florist shop here for a number of years. I was constantly amazed at the things the suppliers do.
Time to watch the news. . . . . .

Rusty

oh it has been a long couple of days. I heard you Jen! hmmmm I am rounding up free tidy cat buckets via freecycle and my beg-borrow-trade group to plant my tomatoes in. Lost them to lack of water last year (competing elm roots and inadequate sprinkler) and lost to spider mites on the pond tray where there was plenty of water. With buckets, drilled holes on side at bottom and a couple of inches gravel then landscape fabric topped with dirt, my daughter's tomatoes produced all year, while mine fried and died. I have a drip irrigation system to rig and I will just have to do better.

thought about hellebores, but poisonous to dogs and children so think I will pass for now. Sounds like my 4 Oclocks that just keep coming back on their own

Hi everyone.. I have lil baby seed heads popping up, YAY! will get pics to show u.
My maters are growing very tall, waiting for flower blooms now.
Wish I could have one of your female calicos, Ju
I need a mouser.
and some chics, and now I am thinking Hellebores.. :P
Sun was out all day, but I was trapped in a dr's office the first half and work the second half, and back to work tomorrow. ugh.
Now, who ever I am sending plants out to please shout at me, so I can get ready after this next storm, I want to get these plants along their way..

Spring winds are blowing way too early. Am being tossed like a supper salad, went from snow to 71* and think I am sunburning here. Just north of Christiansburg, Va, sunup is happening sooner even in these ridges, to Tn Volunteers' rock solid stands, we are naming our chocolate bars- is this to toughen up the vegans? Or just the chocoholics? I guess Ju, if I use cheap buckets it might not bug me so bad, I dont particularly like L**** so much anyway...

Debra , You Have Seedlings , All Right !!! You could have the Calico if I could get it there ,,lol

Kitt Buckets can be filled with paste (holes) ,, but I am using them for pots anyway ,
58 Degrees here is way to warm ,

Moss likes this cloudy wet weather

Does it ever! Noticed ferns wait for winter ices to grow and the mosses then turn green. Wondering how my eggshell slurry is coming at the house,sigh. Soon, Soon. Plans jinnin in my brain for stuff to do- as usual, guess I should make a list and cull out the most time consuming for this year. So many volunteer plants were coming up the last time I was home, my daughter was tickled. Not just the fern leaf dill and parsley, but the bronze mustard was in gorgeous color. I wasnt home to collect seeds last yr... got to remember to pu fertilizer so the zinnias Ju sent arent miniature enough for a fairy garden...her garlic chives are a thick tangle monster I have no clue how they keep thriving. They are the ones with white blooms. The ones with purple blooms she keeps planting in the wrong spots.... I am walking them into different spots :) teeheehee. Ready for more plant babies...

I might have a few to send for a fairy garden Kitt , if your looking for smaller flowers
Could grow you a few dwarf plants ? I am growing some anyway .

I have been having an interesting time sowing seeds for winter ,

I would like some tiny bright colored zinnias Ju. I ordered giant white seeds for my daughter's wedding in 2013 and they are big and boring.

Kitt, those pics are beautiful!
I have had a fun 24 hours, I came up from the basement garden last night to discover is was 5 am.. slept till 11, went back down to garden some more.. I use buckets for everything, I just set up another bubbler with a wire shelf to hold the sems of the cuttings I am rooting, potted up the cuttings that were rooted, planted a special canna to get a kick start, and well I have done a lot..
passion vine baby, baby datura, rooting tub from cuttings I sent to my self from Buffalo, my biggest tomato plant

more of my she cave.. the banana still has two leaves on...third pic is my newest bubbler shelf, some more babies, and last pic is my root tub and the roots and tubers are waking up..