bjf, did you use 35% H2O2 or was it 3.5% that you can buy at any store? Just wondering because there is a big difference, lol. I'd really like to try your technique but use the sphagnum moss I have on hand and see if I get the same results. I've had some Brug cuttings in a bubbler w/ just water for a few weeks...some have great roots, others are still just sitting there. I may have access to 50% H2O2, so I'm wondering if you just missed putting the dot in there. :) Thanks.
Heather
Rooting Experiment Results
Wow, Delisa, you're getting about as cold as we are.
Hahahaha, of course kell's moss is 'blond', wouldn't you know it, lol, no surprise to me, here in Arky, whew!!!
LOL Sherry! Too funny!! I am going to go look at Lowes but I really think they are orchid moss-less.
Delisa, I can't wait to hear if your magic ingredient from Daisy Mae is the plant elixir we all have been searching for. Can't wait to hear how it does.
I tried the coco grow stuff and had good results. The trouble with it is I am not sure what to do with it now. But I can't peel it off without hurting the roots and it is weird stuff. It dries out so fast. I guess I will have to plant the whole thing in dirt, I hope that is OK.
Kewl, kell! That's what I did.. plant the whole mass in the pot. I would never have been able to get the roots separated from the moss without tearing them up.
Delisa, Nadine was talking about piggy poop, too. I don't have a
pb piggy around, so I had to do without. Maybe you can bring a bag to the FL/AL roundup for me? K??
Heather, yes it is 35% (thirty-five percent) food grade hydrogen peroxide. I got mine here: http://www.dfwx.com/h2o2.htm
It is shipped under hazmat guidelines, so the shipping costs are nearly as much as the product, but you use such a little amount of it compared to OTC H2O2 that it is really cost effective.
Barb
If you have a hydroponics store in your area, they may carry it. Mine does!
Maybe Nadine will bring Daisy Mae and you can get her magical elixir up close and personal. I hear if you feed Daisy Mae, Nadine will let you take your food back home with you from the end of its road so to speak.
LOL @ the piggy poo talk!
Thanks Barb. I'll have to look into getting the 35%. I do wonder what the difference would be if I used 50% tho...may not be a good idea. I'll have to look around and see about diluting it...or how long it takes to "air off" when mixed with water. Hmmm....
Has anyone tried to start seeds in the orchid moss? If it works that good on cuttings maybe the seeds would like it too.
Good information Barb, wish I knew about this in November. I lost a few 'choice' cuttings.
My larger ones in the bubbler are doing well, and it won't be long before I need to pot them up. We're having our lowest winter temps the last few days (20s), so I'm trying not to rush things.
Barb my piggy poo was shipped straight from Nadine. Nadine grows seed from orchid moss soaked in a weak poo solution with great results.
Sunkeeper, YES! I put some of the seeds in perlite and some in the moss. The perlite is showing zip.. nada. But with the moss, I peeked this morning and I have ONE sneaking through and can see one more getting ready to pop its cute little head up. WOO HOOOOOO....
I have seeds germinating folks!! And Brug seeds, at that! Doing the Happy Dance.. doing the Happy Dance!!!!
Thanks Linda. It was a bear here, too.. 18 degrees when I left for work this morning and there's ice everywhere. Come ON, Spring!! When it warms up here and there, you'll have another box coming your way.
Kell, I'd love to meet Daisy Mae. Nadine, what's her favorite treat? If I share with her, will she share with me?? Is that kewl, or what?! :)
Barb
Shipping piggy poo? ROTFLMBO Is it that stuff really that good? Wonder what the mailman thought of the scent?
Congrats Barb on the seeds!! How long does it usually take for Brug seeds to germinate anyway, I've never tried the seeds, but you're making me want to get them out. ;~)
Heather, I put the seeds in the perlite and moss on Jan 23. Here's my very first ones, as of today! Oh.. nothing with the perlite ones. I'm tempted to dig them out of there and transfer them to more moss trays!
Barb
Are these the ones you were worried about because of the bleach you soaked them in that you mentioned somewhere earlier? I believe it was bleach. ?????
Yes, I soaked all the Brug seeds I got from the bank in a 10% bleach solution for 10 min or so. It was prolly too long, because I've only had two come up out of four envelopes of seeds. Lesson learned, but OUCH is it a painful one.
:~(
That's so cool! I never would have thought of moss, especially for the seeds. Go figure. I also gotta wonder how the moss would work for Datura seeds. I'll have to try it eventually. Too much winter sowing right now tho.
I did dump a little H2O2 into my bubblers today. Just the OTC stuff. I figured it would dilute and air off quickly, but it doesn't seem to have. Instead it seems to have formed tiny little O bubbles all around the stems of the cuttings! I was really surprised. We'll see how long they last and what difference, if any, it makes. Some of the cuttings have been rooting like crazy, others have just been sitting there doing nothing. Next I'll be getting out the Spahg Moss.
What won't we try? And who comes up with these things anyway? So glad they do!!! :)
Kell, they do have the Orchid Moss at the Lowe's here, but I really had to look for it, pushed back on a high shelf.
26, I love the Orchid Moss prospects and will try it, when I finish fighting the freezing temps. It's not that we have all that much freezing weather, it's just that we have so little that we don't really prepare. I'm enjoying rooting in plain water this winter too and I'm using rockwool for cuttings that looks about like yours in the Orchid Moss, except for the ones that got waterlogged from a gh leak.
As for the bubbler, my fav reasons for using it are 1) I never have trouble with the bubbler cuttings (even without heat) freezing and 2) I can grow lots of cuttings in very little space and, most important, 3), they require less care and don't grow so fast/big that I have to pot them up.
I'm skipping all that potting up this year, the cuttings are going straight into the ground and the seedlings are too. Those extra steps took the fun out of it for me, but I had to go through it to find that out, and I'm glad it's behind me, whew!!
Maybe I will get to Lowes tomorrow. I broke a piece off my seedling double apricot by mistake, so I will try my moss tonight just for fun!!
Barb, do you bag yor cuttings and seeds?
Sherry, I am all for easy! I think sometimes we make it harder than we really have too!
I've been lurking and reading and I have very much enjoyed all the information in this thread. I love to experiment, and all the methods here for rooting cuttings and starting seeds with orchid moss, coco mats, H2O2, bubblers, heat pads and gibberellic acid, are new to me and have all the makings for a Dr. Frankenstein lab for generating new life from discarded limbs! I will try your methods and shout with insane glee, "It's alive!!" at the first sign of roots or sprouts.
I'm wondering if slightly chopped up Spanish Moss (Tillandsia usneoides) would work about the same as orchid moss? The Spanish Moss is available in abundant supply here in NE Florida, so I may give it a try as a rooting medium using some of the methods described above.
Thanks for all the new information!
Jeremy
Kell, the further we go, the easier I get, all this babying plants doesn't make me a better person - I'm ready for the plants to work for me, they owe me, lol. OTOH, I think I've overdone almost everything. We will find out this growing season. Lowe's had lots of new stuff yesterday, look at the NEW Miracle Gro garden soil or potting soil, the bags were covered except for the one that was open, and I loved the looks, feel of the beautiful product, just not sure, yet, where to use it...
Hey Jeremy! Quit being a lurker and c'mon down!! Welcome to the La-BOR-a-tory, Igor.... bwahaahaahaa..... ve vill now begin.... ;~)
If you do any experiments, you are honor bound to show us what worked.. or what didn't work.. ya know.
Sherry, if it weren't for you I would never have begun using the hydrogen peroxide.. and the bubbler, so I owe you a huge debt of gratitude. And with regard to using the moss, I hope it works for you. If not, you have such good luck with the other methods that I say, "If it ain't broke, don't tinker with it!!".
Kell, I've bagged two Hoya cuttings in moss cups only because they refused to root in the bubbler. I'm hoping they do in the moss, I also filled one of those little ten-pellet greenhouse type trays with moss and laid a few Hoya cuttings in that, anchored them with old fashioned hair pins and put the top on. I've been really good about not peeking - especially since I taped the top down 'cause it kept popping off. Did these on the 23rd, too, so we'll see.
Okay I just got home from a long, long day at work and I need to go check on my new additions.
Later gang...
We are holding our breaths!!
I have Red Cups and orchid moss at the top of my shopping list!! You guys will have me in pro status before spring has started!
Rj
OMG, Randy, me too, except I already have my red cups and orchid moss!!! Thanks, 26, I'm always game for the new stuff - where there is a will, there is always a new way, and I'm open to all the options and I cannot wait to get yours going!!! The orchid moss reminds me lots of rockwool, except I hope I like the orchid moss better because I can get the moss locally, yeah!!
Yes, I just checked my stock room (greenhouse) and I have orchid moss - and some red cups.. I have to complete my round of seeds I have now- but I want to put your cuttings in the moss - then pot.. I should pot them now - but I am procrastinating- As usual I/ve gone overboard-
I checked Home Depot yesterday for orchid moss . All they had was coco hair - something like that in a bay - say coconut something . Will try to get to Lowes tomorrow .
SherryLike - look at the Miracle Grow close - 2 years ago I bought 2 bags that had white grub eggs cases in it . The wife had bought 6 packs of plants for front walkway from 3 different places . She wanted all 4 colors , anyway they all fell over after about a month - the grubs hatched and ate the roots . I keep the potting soil I don't use in 5 gallon paint buckets with a lid on them because cats in my area think the dirt is thier outhouse . When I opened the top there were bugs running around inside .
OMG, tonyjr!!! That is awful, what a mess, I surely don't want grubs, I have entirely too many without buying more from Miracle Gro. However, I used a Miracle Gro product with that stuff that retains moisture last year, and it really did the job. I will use it again this growing season and will try to stay away from products with grubs and other bad stuff. I do think I got some fungus gnats from a purchased product, but I'm not sure which one, except it was not a major brand...
Hey y'all,
Yes, I'm blonde...if you couldn't tell by the comment above about diluting the H2O2. Sheesh. Well, it looks like I may be getting some 50%. I sure hope I'll get it. I'm going to try the sphag moss and I'll let you know how it works. I would think it'd be the same, but ya just never know. Also working on getting some heating mats.
You guys are such a bad influence. LOL. Monkey see, monkey do. Tony, if you find that orchid moss please let me know where.
In the end wouldn't it be funny if we all arrive at Daisymae's poo as the best thing to use for all?
If Lowe's or HD carry it, but just don't have it at your store, shouldn't they be able to order it in for you at no extra charge? Or even get some from another store shipped to your store with no charge to you.
Let me tell you about Lowes, to save a trip, assuming it's a pain getting there. Go to Lowes,.com and check and see what they have. You have to put your zip code in first. I waited from the first time i heard that Lowe's had Orchid Moss, until Monday to go to Lowes, as Monday was the first day they showed that they had it (at my store). I wish they would put up a 'new products' or 'just arrived' section, which would help too...
Oh wow Sherry, I had no clue you could do that. Too cool. I will try it now.
Sherry, which window on their site does the search? I can't find where they do store searches for specific items.
This message was edited Feb 15, 2006 8:55 AM
Kell, unfortunately, they don't tell you that they've added 'new' products or additional products. I have to look every day or so, sometimes weekly, to see if they have anything new, and to see if that have what I want. The Orchid Moss is a Better Gro product, I think, but I'm not certain (if it's not I will post back the brand) and you can search by brand. I have to buy large quantities of stuff, like mulch or Black Kow, etc. So, now I order online, go to pickup, give them the receipt I print out and they load me up. It is really a great service. I found out when I broke my ankle. We were in the middle of upgrading the barn, where we live. I ordered every single plumbing supply online and drove over and they loaded it and that was that, and no errors. However, I checked as the loaded the stuff into my car...
Of course you must also do a walk around in their nursery Sherry! I love doing that even if I always get in trouble there.
Oh, me too kell, I take every opportunity, even when I broke my ankle. You will not believe this, it is Better-Gro Orchid Moss - I bought 3 bales, they are small, on Monday. Guess what?? My store, Greenville MS, is already out, I thought I was looking for the wrong brand, but not so, they were fully stocked and they are out today, Wed am, whew. So I called my pal and he said there are more orchid growers in Greenville than you would ever believe. Now, this being out of something so fully stocked, is another good reason for checking online, especially for me since it's 40 minutes away. That is the first time I've seen them sell that much of a garden product in such a short time. You think everyone in Greenville is reading this thread, lol!!! Kell, you will have to key in your zip code, or the particular store you want to check, before you will be able to search. Let us know what you find out...I bet your store is NOT out...
Here is the link to lowes in N. roseville CA. Not sure where you are Kell. But they carry it there. Hope this helps.
Edited to say WHOOPS I forgot the link.
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=brandPageProcessor&brandpage=begr
This message was edited Feb 15, 2006 4:19 PM
The monkeys must be learning very quick!! and spreading the word too!
Well THIS monkey stopped by the Lowe's on the way home and found a brand new shipment of it.. 35 bricks/bales/pkg thingies. I thought with word getting out that I'd better stock up, so I did. :-)
Kell this stuff weighs absolutely zilch.. nothing! If you can't find it, I'd be glad to send you some. Shoot, it'd take a whole carload to weigh even a pound, so postage shouldn't be much at all. You want - I send. LMK
Progress Note: Just checked on my seedlings and I have TWO more peeking through the moss.. nada in the perlite. (happy dance!!)
Barb
Thanks for the update-
incidentally - I have an experiment with polymers and H202/ST - There is some activity - but it/s much slower- presuming that it/s taking the seeds longer to absorb H20- I can tell everyone now - I will be scratching polymers off the list for hard seed cases- I will try soft sided seeds for the next experiment.
Rj
Rj
What is Polymers?
Have any of you tried some of that other orchid stuff, for growing seedlings?? I don't know the names of the other orchid products...