OK!!! Tell me more!!!! How much ice and for how long!!! It's Feb. 22 and already 70 degrees here. I got a box of 4 peonies at Sam's and was gonna put them in 3 gal. pots on back patio. Any help is appreciated!!!!
Jeri
CLOSED: Camellia
You use about 3" of ice around their base and keep it coming steady for about 6-8 weeks. They think they've been thru winter and will bloom. They need a chill factor the same as fruit trees and other types of plants. That's why they normally don't do so well in temperate climes.
Are you saying keep it on 24/7 or just put 3" on each day and let that melt?
Sorry, put on 3" per day. One of my fellow MG's raises peonies and she's the one who told me about this method. I think it's so cool.
Should I put the box in the refigerator now?
I'm gonna try this on my apple tree.
I think I missed something what's in the box you're putting in the fridge? Some of the newer varieties of apples are cultured to work better in your more southern climes. Check out Stark Bros and Gurneys. They deal in high quality plants and answer any questions you may have. I've dealt with both of them and they are pros!
Sorry Kathy!!! A box of peonies
Yep, they'll think it's winter..you probably don't need to use the ice this year, since they're already chilled.......hmm, that sounds like a great name for a drink.....Peony Chill? LOL
LOL!!!!
Peony Chills. Hmmm....
Some Curacao, cream, some rum or another sweet liqueur of your choice? Perhaps blended in crushed ice and garnish with a Sarah Bernhardt peony.
I'll make lots of Peony Chills for you gladly Cathy if this works! Only have to make sure the preacher doesn't visit us on that day!! Lolol..
I don't know how humid and hot it gets in NC and VA, but our summer days are at least in the 80s and about the same percentage of humidity. We've got a VERY wide temperature range (as I'm typing this now its a -37 degree windchill! How I wish I could be out planting things like all of you guys! Instead I have to be walking to class everyday, hoping my limbs don't fall off!)
I lived in MN for five years while going to college. I can sooooooooooo relate!!! Limbs aren't the only parts that are likely to freeze, LOL
oh, ya'll just had to talk about peonys! I am so zone envious when it comes to peonys and tulips... oh to have tulips just pop up in the yard along with peonys. I just can't see growing stuff that will go into the compost pile once it is done.
I can grow all the tropicals that everybody wants yet I long for the cold weather prettys I always see in catalogs. The problem with our trying to push zones is you can't take way the humidity.
A friend just told me how to do it. You put 3" of ice on the base of the plant daily in the spring. I got 4 at Sam's in a box. I'm gonna try it on them and my apple tree. It's worth a try!!!
Then I'll wait and see your results. I've also read to plant them high in the ground in the south. Someone in the Misplaced Southerner thread in the mid-south forum said it.
You do need to barely cover the "eyes" with soil, where you're at, jeri. I take a tape measure out and measure the hole when I'm doing peonies rhizomes. The darned things are little touchie.
If you think they are touchie up there you oughta try growing them down here!!!! LOL!!!! The directions on the box said the eyes only need to be a inch or 2 under the soil.
Hi Fellow Camilla lovers!!! I went to the Camilla seminar this morning at Burden and got some helpful info on propagating these lovelies!!! For our area from around 2/15 to 3/15 is the time to do grafting. June is the best time to try cuttings. They had all the charts to back these results. I didn't think to ask if that was for all areas. Maybe someone will have that info. If not I will give them a call if anyone is interested.
Jeri
jajtii: You mentioned having "one of those watering systems you get from Lowes that comes on every other day and mists the whole lot." I don't recall seeing anything like that, but I'd like to buy one. Can you give me more information about it? Will this mist on a small scale? Is it only for outdoor use?
It's called 'Mister Landscaper' and I think it was designed to be used outside. I found out about it from a gardening friend that uses it to keep all of his pots watered. Here is a link at Lowes :
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=191775-1029-MLK-PWK&lpage=none
It's a great system and works like a charm. Depending on how nice a timer you get, you can have it do all of the watering you need. I use it primarily in the greenhouse or for my rooting projects.
good luck!
Thanks! Do you think it might instead be this? http://www.mrlandscaper.com/misters.html
The one you directed me to is this: http://www.mrlandscaper.com/ml20greencon.html. This appears to be drip irrigation (no misting component). I'd love to have a small misting system! On the other hand, this system is cheaper than the first one I linked to, so I'd be delighted if this turns out to mist.
For me, both of the links you sent me go to the same place (or I am definitely losing my mind!)
Sorry. Well, they have 2 products that look helpful. Once is less expensive ($29ish), and is designed for drip irrigation on patios. http://www.mrlandscaper.com/mlpatandpotp1.html The other is $50ish, and claims to mist, but looks like overkill for what I need. http://www.mrlandscaper.com/ml20greencon.html. (The prices are less expensive at other vendors.)
The dripper kit (the one you linked me to originally) they describe as follows: Now, watering potted plants, trees, herbs, flower boxes, and hanging baskets is easier than ever! This special Drip Irrigation Kit contains everything you need to water up to eight potted plants and installs in three easy steps! This Kit contains 8 Dripper Stakes that adjust from a drip to a small spray, 30 feet of 1/4" Vinyl Tubing, and all the accessories needed to attatch this efficient watering system to your outdoor faucet. This Drip Irrigation kit is a great alternative to hand watering your potted plants. And don't forget to get one of our new Timers for automatic watering! (Each Kit Sold Individually)
The mister kit they describe as follows: The Mister Landscaper 50 Ft. Micro Sprinkler Starter Kit - Everything you need to water up to 275 square feet of landscape, gardens, shrubs, trees, vegetables, and more is found in this all in one Kit. This Kit contains a 50 ft. Roll of 1/2"Poly Tubing, six Stake Assemblies (NEW! Additional Stake)(All come with 320º Fan, 165º Half, and 180º True Half Circle Pattern Misters), three Stake Extensions (NEW!), three Support Stakes (NEW!), six bonus Misters, and all the accessories needed to attach your new system to an outdoor water faucet. Your landscape will love you for it! With 40 PSI you can attach up to 5 Add On Kits (MLK-LADD) to this one Starter kit. Use our Water Timer (MLWT-DIAL) to water automatically. (Each Kit Sold Individually)
I gotcha. I did not get either of the kits, but I remember seeing them. Lowes (last year, anyway) had a whole wall of all the little pieces and (of course) the big 'all in one' packs. I picked up two hose sizes several stakes and various heads, of which some were misters.
Basically, you can get either of the packs you mention above and then spend 1.50 or so to get a mister head.
It's basically a plastic hose that you punch holes in where you insert side feeder hoses. At the end of each feeder hose is a small plastic head. These heads can drip, sprinkle (you can get 180 degrees, 90 degrees or whatever), mist and several others.
I see. I didn't want to get too elaborate. I'll look into it! And thanks!
jajtiii,
I like the sound of either system... as I have different types of areas to cover. I definitely will be looking into them. My husband seems to like the idea as it will save a lot on water he says. We have an automated sprinkler system set up to cover the front lawn and gardens... but I still have to do the back manually... so he's thinking of putting them in my gardens in the back.
Donna
It definitely saves time, but for me the main benefit was that I didn't risk stressing the plant (anything in a pot around my house, if it is outside, is at risk!) It's hard to remember to water the daggone things when I have a million other garden chores...