Propagation Database ideas-Bring 'em ON!!

Please put your ideas for the new database here :o)
Bring ideas-the more we get the better the database is.
Thanks, Robbi!

Name of seed-common & Latin names:
Hardiness Zone:
Annual or Perennial:
Height:
Color if known:
When planted and Length of time to germination:
Method of propagation used:
DG's name:

I'd like to be able to use the final formula in a spreadsheet for my notes, if possible

Maybe place for seed and seedling pics, but have it so that the Dg copyright logo is put somehow so that it doesn't cover up the pic. Nothign worse than tryign to se e details of a pic and tryign to look under and aroudn the dg stamp.

GREAT IDEA, starlight. I like the way you think, evil smile.

Seed propagation, I would like to see
Macro picture of seed as well as an actual size photo

Stratification required Yes=how long 0r No

Scarification recommended? (photo if available)

planting medium= soil less mix, sown in ground, standard potting soil

Planting depth

temperature requirements for germination (both centigrade and fahrenheit)

days to germinate

other: link to other types of propagation for this plant with instructions

Number of seeds planted/Number of seeds germinated

Well, with number of seeds........some of them I can barely see, but I'd be willing to give it a shot....LOL

How about information regarding the source of the seeds (ie. commercial, self-collected, etc.?) - like we have for the Winter Sowing database.

Joanne Ü

Oh, you guys are good!

How about if bottom heat is required?

Stratification at what temp
wet/damp
dry
length of time

some way of showing that floating some seeds in water is the best way o start them at what temp

Water needs peroxide added to some, javex (chlorox) added to others

Pre treatment
Scarification (lupins & LA iris) La iris -remove all cork
soaking -you do this for 3+ weeks for bearded and beardless iris, changing water regularly. temp.

Am sure there are many other seeds that require specialized treatment.
inanda

Maybe it goes without saying, but knowing when people have successfully rooted cuttings is good to know; softwood, semi-hardwood, hardwood, etc., like it is now in plantfiles.

Clay,
My thoughts exactly.

What was the cutting
Where it was taken (tip, mid, etc)
When was it taken (season, month)
type of wood, semi, soft, hard,
what method used
how long to root
any special instructions (scrape or scar, rooting hormone, etc)

I just got some cups that clip onto a branch - guess it's a modified layering approach. So can we have a way to handle "propagation systems" or what would you call such items?

BTW, I haven't tried them yet, so any info would be appreciated.

Layering would be another method, if that hasn't been mentioned yet.

Kathleen

I'd like pictures of seedlings at different stages. Sometimes seeds are mislabeled (by me :) and it would be nice to know after a few weeks that I was growing cosmos and not marigolds.

Hyblaean, I know the feeling............LOL I thought I had peppers...but had broccoli..........LOL

This is a great idea. I would be using it a lot. Would there be a link to this database from PlantFiles like there is for trades, so that if someone is interested in the plant they can click and see how to grow it?

Laugh, Doccat5- don't ya hate that? I can't even blame it on the cats, now that it's in a closed off room.

I just blame it on the Moon........LOL

What about grafting? Could that be included?

In addition to your original list (at the top of the post) regarding height, etc.; how about:
width of mature plant,
special care requirements (pruning, pinching, etc.),
light requirements for propagation and subsequent growth

I would like to see a form area where an unusual germination method could be described in actual words instead of germination methods being limited to a certain selection with radio buttons or a pull-down menu. I have been using cold water soaking for a while and also Norm Deno's Outdoor Treatment, and I never usually see either of them described as germination methods.

For me it would be nice to separate my seeds into catagories using the seed propagation guidelines posted here on DG.

I would love to pick up a package and look the name up here and file it by best method and best time to plant.

I know how to collect seeds on some plants, but on others, it is a mystery to me, so I would love that information included on the site. I would love that part to include photos.

I hesitated to try to get some seeds to trade for fear of just sending spent flower parts instead of seeds.

If I had my seeds set up by months it would be so easy to see what I should be doing each month as far as planting. For instance: XYZ plant should be planted in the following zones in XyZ month. It will/will not do well being winter sown. The seeds look like (photo). The seedlings look like (photo).

I am guilty of re-using soil and sometimes I am not sure if there is a weed coming up with my planted item or if it could be a seedling of something wonderful. I hesitate to pull the little darlings unless I am sure of what they are.

I am sure you can tell I am not experienced at seed planting. I have done vegetables by seed and the very simple things like marigolds, zinnias, etc.

Charlenesplants,
I am hearin' you girl!

Thanks Gymgirl. I have gotten fairly decent at rooting cuttings, but I am just now getting into flower seeds.
Give, me a squash seed and I can make so many squash I have to give'em away. Same on a lot of my veggies. Flowers seem to take a bit more than a poke in the dirt though and that is what I am best at. LOL

Medium really shouldn't be re-used other than to give it a second life in a composter or a flower bed. It's not so much the weed I'd be concerned about coming up in re-used medium so much as bacteria, fungus, and salts. In nature, rains flush the soil and take care of these build ups but when you're gardening in a container it's a whole different ball game.

I agree with paracelsus. Radio buttons and drop down menus are far too restrictive. I use smoke treatment to germinate some types of seeds.

It's mostly about the cuttings for me right now. I am really starting to get into that and would be particularly tickled to have other gardner's experiences readily at my fingertips.

Regarding used potting medium I found it worked perfectly for wintersowing. I have a dozen very large pots full of left-over soil from summer plantings. I will use that medium to fill my jugs for WSing and buy fresh again for planting out next spring. While the freeze and thaw cycle will not take care of any stray weeds, it does seem to destroy the nasties that could be harboring there from the previous season.

(Waiver of Responsibility: This is only my 2nd year winter-sowing so I could be all wet regarding the soil). :-P

I use my old potting soil to repot in around spring and I have a lot of seedlings come up in it from where I emptied WS jugs in that didn't germinate lol There is a chance of getting a virus/disease /salts in reused potting soil but I take my chances and so far, knock on wood I have been lucky. It will hit me one day hard I'm afraid when I least expect it! I use fresh pro mix in my WS jugs and seed trays downstairs :)

I think we need two databases one for germination and one for propagation, don't hit me Dave lol I know you have enough work to do without adding another database but there is so much information on both, some people on here could write a book on propagation alone I'm sure :) Maybe a tab for germination and a tab for propagation?Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't they a seperate issue anyway?

I don't view them as a separate issue but then again I view winter sowing as but one form of propagation and to be quite blunt, I'd lump them all together under one tab at the top under guides and information with links to propagation techniques being available from the specific PlantFiles entries. Would keep everything neat and orderly and at my fingertips.

Yes that sounds good :) I'm not very good with words lol I'm going to try my hand at propagation this year and would love to have all of this at my fingertips!

All right now.....this is going to be great! We gardeners need winter projects that enable us to keep gardening (in some form or another) until the ground thaws in the Spring.

Equil, there you go again with your common sense - I agree.

Common sense? Could you come and tell my husband you think I have common sense? He just intercepted a box of live plants I ordered that were delivered yesterday when the temps were in the upper teens and shook his head. Told him that's why heat packs were invented!

Common sense is a very uncommon phenomenon and should be treated with great awe and respect when found... Tell your DH that we recognize this wondrous asset in you and hope that he will bow humbly down in it's /your presence as is befitting...

Oh, I can't wait for him to come inside to let him read this. He's out in our front lawn right now braving frozen dog poop piles and some very bad words are coming out of his mouth as he anchors and plugs in those big reindeer thingies. Seems as if every time he gets a strand of white lights going inside the house, the strand he just got working stops working the minute the deer is anchored in the ground outside. He's in a particularly foul mood currently since I've acquired an entire herd of these deer over the years. I'm sure it will cheer him up to no end to read that he should be bowing down humbly in awe and respect to the person who bought 9 lightable reindeer that were all different brands all with different sockets to the light bulbs.

Ahhh! your common sense also displays as sheer brilliance and wisdom! For you understood that all the same would not have the character of many variations... AND you, being the ever inspirational, realized also that a man needs to be challanged in order to allow him to show off his remarkable skills! He is so lucky to have you to bow before!

Charlenesplants, I would contact for catagorizing seeds. weezingreens She does hers by month and day of starting seeds, but you should connect with her on different catagorizing plans, I think she does an all encompassing one and subdivides into trading, storing, planting for that year..... She's your expert. edited because I forgot to include who was the expert...!
Carol

Equil, I also collect reindeer, never had an xmas display to get them all out, but I also have some sleighs, too. All indoor and miniature.
Carol

This message was edited Dec 9, 2007 5:45 PM

Hey Carol, we don't have any display either. All we have are these reindeer. He just places them out on the front lawn and makes them look as if they are grazing or laying down with one really big one that has antlers looking over the herd. They are anchored though. They are our only holiday decorations outside and when they are all lit, they do look nice through the trees.

Zany, my husband read it all. He laughed and walked off with no comment other than to state he was booking something for us online and didn't want to time out. That was rather anti climatic. Was sort of hoping he'd have some sort of a witty retort.

Booking something? Hmmm a pilgramage to your favorite resort no doubt so he can make it up to you for doubting your greatness ;~)

When he finished what he was doing he came back and shut the door so the kids couldn't hear what he had to say. It wasn't exactly "G" rated. It did make me crack up laughing though. Normally he's pretty good at off the cuff sparring. He didn't fail me this time... his reaction was just delayed. Naturally I had a reply which also wasn't exactly "G" rated. We both laughed.

Hey Carol! I caught that edit! No sleighs and no minis and not indoors only. Ours are the life size ones that you buy at hardware stores or places like Home Depot. I've been picking them up all over the place when I see them on sale. I'm done buying them now as we have enough. The kids sort of begged us to do something since all the neighbors go all out and that's what I came up with. I really didn't realize that buying them piecemeal was going to mean that every Chinese manufacturer and their brother was going to be using different sockets to the bulbs. They're out there right now but only halves of them are lit. Doesn't exactly create that "look" we wanted but he is going to work on getting them all lit next weekend.

Yes, weeze does a good job organizing her seeds. Why isn't she posting in this thread with ideas?

Equil, good spotting on the edit. I left Weez a message to come here.
Carol