Given Israel's Mediterranean Climate, would any of your indigenous Salvia species be adaptable to the southern plains? Been meaning to ask you that for awhile.
John
Some nice surprises on my walk today....
I bet they would do fine in the more temperate areas. Dunno about snow though as we just don't get snow here. For all I know, the ones in my area also grow in Jerusalem too where they do get snow. Problem is, no one has been very successful with trying to get them to grow artificially. We've got lovely native Salvias here but none are being offered in the nurseries because they "grow only in their native habitat" which I assume to mean that humans just can't make them grow either by collecting and sowing seeds or by cuttings. In any case, I've asked at my favorite nursery/garden center and they told me they just haven't been successful with them. Oh well. I keep taking cuttings, dipping in rooting hormone and trying to get them to grow for me. Maybe one day it will work LOL
-Julie
Many plants native to California's Med. climate do not do well in places that get rain between May and October. They like it dry during those months. Don't do well in gardens that are watered by the gardener for the same reason. Could that be the reason you are not having much luck with them?
John
Nah, I'm trying the cuttings during their growing season (wet winter months like now). Seeds (if any) won't be available til later. If I finally got one to root, I'd give it it's natural water schedule rather than having it hooked up to our drip system. I just can't get one to root. I've thought about digging one up, but I've yet to find a baby and all the smaller mature plants have root systems going down to the center of the earth. Nope, must get a cutting to root or eventually find a baby...and have a shovel along with me when I do! LOL.
-Julie
Have you tried varying the concentration? Comes in different strengths. If too strong root growth is inhibited. Have to find the optimum concentration
John
Hi John. It only comes in one form here as far as I know. Having said that, I do try to tap off any excess so there isn't too much. I've tried rooting in water, soil, water with rooting hormone and soil with rooting hormone. Nothing so far. Having said that though, I haven't gotten ANY of the gazillions of cuttings I've tried to root to do anything. ROTFLMAO. So I'm no litmus test. That's why I asked at the GC. Generally they are very good at giving something a go for me if I request it (like seeing if they can get plants for me that they don't normally carry). They said they just haven't had a good enough success rate for their efforts, so they gave up trying.
-Julie
Trying to be helpfull here so bear with me. Since you're not having much luck with anything consider retaking propagation 101. ;-) Also, make inquiries over in the Propagation Forum. There a lot of experienced propagators there. Work with some easy species just to prove to yourself that it can be done. Then try more difficult species. Check out this link:
http://www.rooting-hormones.com/
John
ROTFL John, I'm happy to receive any help so no need for the apologetic tone :-) Feel free to whap me upside the head too if I don't seem to be listening to helpful tips :-)
-Julie
Julie, .....;-D
Found some more flowering lovelies today:
Melilotus indicus Annual yellow sweetclover - has a lovely frangrance :-)
http://www.botanic.co.il/A/catalog.asp?qcat=MELIND
Calycotome villosa Thorny Broom - also smells lovely :-) Sure would look lovely in a large acreage, but it's too thorny for me to want it in my garden. When the camera is fixed (PLEASE let them say it's easily fixable tomorrow!), I'll get a pic of the field where I saw these. Absolutely STUNNING with all the other purple and yellow wild flowers and the wild anemones splashed all over the very rocky hillside. :-)
http://www.botanic.co.il/A/CATALOG.asp?qck=GENUS&qcatnr=C
Linum pubescens Hairy Pink Flax - the flowers look a lot like Oxalis adenophylla which we do not have here. A very very close inspection shows that the stamens of these are different, and of course the foliage is very different.
http://www.botanic.co.il/A/CATALOG.asp?qck=GENUS&qcatnr=L