Propagation part V based on my own experience

Forgot the pic.

Tilly, if you could make a frame out of some pvc pipe, you could then just cover it with plastic. If you don't glue the joints, you could take it apart and only set it up when you needed it. I only need a greenhouse in January and February, ( sometimes March) but that is when I start the most of my plants from seed.
Linda

Now in the window

I don't think that looks dumb at all. If you cover it with some clear plastic and keep it somewhere warm it should be great. Linda

This is a wire rolling cart for narrow spaces, and I will cover it with clear plastic. and on good days put it outside.

Great minds think alike LOL

tilly, not to change the subject but in your 2nd pic,looking out the window to the left you have a pine or cedar there. I don't know which it is but would like to know what it is (Kind). I see these so often and I really like them but as I said I don't know what they are and I know that when young they aren't going to have that weeping look to them.

Hi: I would use the plastic. There are some plastic clips that holp poly onto 1/2" pvc It would work well. I thik we all go through the dollar stores version of a GH and find out real soon that bigger is good and a must. I have one I use it for shelves in the GH.
I found a great deal today. a $75 wheelbarrow for 29.99.
I will try to find the site for the clips and post them tomorrow.
Dave

Thanks Dave, Nice fine to cool of a price. LOL
Flower, that is a Western Cedar in front and a weeping Deodara behind it. I have a Wisteria that has grown to the top of the cedar.

Well guys I went to Costco today and bought one of the shelving units. Love them. Chrome, 6 shelves 48 " wide, on big castors. Each shelf can hold 600 lbs. I have one but I used it for my wintering over plants so now I had to get another one for my seedlings. I put 2 florescent lights (2 bulbs each) on each shelf. I use an end of one of the shelves for plants that need a heat mat. I have one that heats 2 trays.

If you ever get a chance to get in on an end of the season sale (I did a couple of years ago at Parks) get some of those heavy green trays. They really are worth their weight in gold. However, now the cheapest I see are $10 each with shipping. Pretty expensive. I think I have a dozen now and I really use them. They hold the black trays and are great for watering. At the Parks EOS sale I got them for $3.32 each. A real steal.

Tilly, I was lurking on the Pac NW Gardening forum and you all were talking about a garden book A - Z? What is it? I went to Amazon and couldn't find it. 'course I didn't know what I was looking for either. LOL, thanks,

Jeanette

Jeanette, where do you see the trays for $10? I usually see them over $20!

I need to go looking for those shelves! I sure need more space. It seems like everything I start needs to be kept warm, What did I do with all my winter sowing type perennials?

What are the green trays? Do you put them under the black cell trays?
Thanks, Linda

Hi: Thea green trays are also in tan. I have them on my propagation cart. and yes they are worth their weight in gold. The trays sit on top of the mats. my cart is made so they nest in and are held in place by the frame work on the tray. They included a lattice like plastic sheet to lay on top of the edging and suport the mats and heating pad.
I plan to next time do the crome bakers rack with florescents. best thing since sliced bread.
Here is a link to them.
http://www.harrisseeds.com/storefront/p-4965-permanest-22-x-11-tray-green.aspx
I love the trays. Hope this helps
How about some pics of your home made propagation stands? I will try to get one later tonight.
Dave

Good Dave. Yes, that is probably the best price right now. Linda, I use mine for watering. I put my black trays with the plants in them for watering in them, and also moving any trays. They are thick enough that they are very solid for just putting plants and other things in to carry.

I have used the computer to research the stores in the area and Costco was the only one with the shelves. Whatever you do, wherever you buy them, be sure you don't walk out with anything less than 48 inches wide unless you intend to. It is easy to look at something and think you got a good buy only to find out when you get it together that you only have 36 inches wide.

And, if you get the right ones, you will get the casters on them. I love them for that reason too. Easy to move. They roll so smooth.
I priced them at a restaurant supply and the casters alone are $40.

Dave, what do you mean: " They included a lattice like plastic sheet to lay on top of the edging and suport the mats and heating pad."? What is that? Mine didn't include anything like that. Maybe that is why I got them for less. Altho, the Harris item didn't say anything about that either.

Jeanette

Jenette. Its a book
I copied this from the tread
From Redchic.
{Definitely a reference book. American Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. It's a Big Book!!! But, well worth it i think. Sally and Portland just got theirs. They can tell us what they think so far. }

Hi: FF the cedar is Cedarus deodora 'glaca pendulata' or something close to that. the weeping deodora will be expensive for a decent size. We are either putting in one of those or a weeping blue atlas cedar. Believe it or not their are only 3 true cedar's. what a lot of folks call a cedar is actually a juniper.
Jeanette: I bought my rack and the upraded version from harris. to uvercome the nesting trays nature on a shelf less cart they added a grided pannel to lay across the shelf so the heat mat can sit below the trays.
http://www.harrisseeds.com/storefront/p-9845-light-stand-16-tray-combo.aspx
to me it looks like a plastic grate for lights on a drop ceiling with the foam sheets... they use them in a lot of offices. Anyone here who wants to do the rack method- I will try to help you as best I can, so that you can save some money. If I knew what I know now I would do my cart this way. the 48" shelves fits the bigger heat mat so it would be the best choice. I hope this helps
Dave

I bought the A-Z book at the Tacoma Home and Garden Show. They were on sale for $65.00

Wow Dave, that is a nice setup. Not at all what I was talking about. I just bought shelving. I then add the lights myself and a heat mat. Yours and mine do the same things but for the heat mats. Yours has 2 doubles and I have one single. Also, yours is much neater. My wires for the lights are all exposed. But for the difference in price I think I can look at the wires. LOL

Looking at yours again, I see another difference. Yours appears to have rails that hold the trays where mine have the chrome shelves. But, it doesn't matter as long as we both are satisfied with what we have. Right?

Jeanette

Jeanette:
i agree completely. I plan to build more for my uses as time goes on. I am sure it will be fun. Can you give us some pics? please.... holding my breath and turning blue...

You are right about the trays being suspended bt the rails. The shelving grate looks a bit weak so I will most likely use the store bought one for non heatmat plants. Hardening off from the heat mats.
dave

Well, it is going to be a while before Bob even gets mine out of the Jeep. The snow and ice is right up almost to the sides of the vehicle so there isn't room to get the box by it. He is going to go out tomorrow and maybe chop some of the ice out. Don't know how successful he will be. Some of it is about 3 feet thick in front of the Jeep so he can't even pull far enough forward to get it out the door even if he could. It weighs a lot. I don't know if he can take them out a few pieces at a time. He might try that.

So, please don't hold your breath. Blue won't cut it. LOL

Jeanette

Wow, that is a nice set up. Thanks for the link. I may show it to DH and ask him to build one similar to it. There is no way I could pay 1000 bucks for it.

I started daylilies and fatsia and a few jasmine yesterday. I am definitely running out of space though so until I get something potted up, I can't start any more.I have plenty to do today though, maybe I can put some things in the cold frame and clear out some space in the kitchen.........

Have a good day everyone. Linda

Yeah . . . I loved that price tag! My DH bought some bakers shelving at Costco, and some workbench florescent light fixtures. He then bought one "cool" florescent light and one "warm florescent light for each fixture (much cheaper than buying "plant lights")

I think the whole set up was less than $140

Seandor, your set up is just like mine. $140 is about what I paid. I use all 5 racks. I have to stand on a stool on the top one. but i put the mature plants on the top. then I don't have to water as often. I have so many seedlings this year that I could use more than one rack. it's going to be close. I hope the greenhouse is warm enough when I start moving plants into it. Jim

Hi everyone:
I agree blue does not look good on me. LOL
The only reason I was able to get it is I had a big win fall so I bought it. Looking back on it, I would rather build one from a bakers rack
This one but 24" deep and 48" wide
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=71236-80752-184874W&lpage=none
I would also use 4 of these
http://www.growerssolution.com/page/GS/PROD/heatmats/MT10009
Also I would use a power strip pluged into a timer. You may want to use 2 power strips one for lights and one for the heating mats. I would also get this thermostat for the mats. I would also ground the shelves to some form of ground. Water and electricity do not mix well.
So lets see
$100.00 for the shelves
$288.00 for the heating mats
$45.00 for the thermostat
$150.00 for perma-nest trays
$260.00 for 4 - 4' florescent light fixtures (see link below)
$20.00 2 powerstrips with ground
-----------
$608.00
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100192555&N=10000003+90058

Boy don't I feel like I over spent. Oh well it was a good lesson. and yes I would have rather kept the $400.00 to spend on plants.
Dave
Dave

I can't add either..lol

My B-I-L gave me a timer for Christmas once, we had the powerstrip all ready. The light fixtures we bought at Walmart - I have 4. I think these were And the florescent lights were very inexpensive. so I really think it only cost about 140 bucks.

Later, I bought two 48" heat mats; you really only need those to germinate seeds - once the seedlings are potted up, they are removed from the heat mats. I got a sale on the heat mats - 2 for $90.

Well, I start my seedlings in the kitchen so the only thing I need a heat mat for is starting some of the seeds like tomatoes. They like their feet warm. So, I have one small heat mat and find that is plenty. I got my shop lights at HD and at the time they were $8 plus lights. As I replace the bulbs I am buying the daylights. So they are a dollar or 2 more I think.

I got a really good buy on the trays and have a dozen of them so I find that is enough. I can use saucers (or other items) once the plants are big enough.

Jim, mine came with 6 shelves but I only use 5. But, I use the top one for holding excess trays etc. If you put plants on the top shelf how do you get light to them? Or are they in a greenhouse? Must be huh?

I now have 2 of the shelving units but I am using one as 2 units, 3 shelves each for holding my wintering over plants in the basement. Those are looking pretty good. Fuchsias, brugs, some container roses, etc. Begonias and dahlia tubers are in buckets in the pantry.

LOL, guess we gardeners put everything to use, and use everything we can.

Jeanette

Hey Dave, Lorraine, and Everyone....I just spent some time reading and replying to the other part of this group and then I find no one is there anymore. WAAAA.,

Wanted to check in and see how everyone is surviving the winter. I do hope to be able to participate in your discussions again now that the Holidays are over. I have just ordered the seeds and bulbs for 2009 Spring and Fall. I can not believe time flies the way it does. In case you all forgot me, I am JB, the OLDEST of the Old on this list. I am now 80 and still kicking and growing plants, etc. See you soon. Have alot of reading to do to catch up. Hugs to all.

Hi JB: welcome back,
.I change threads because wen it gets up to about 250 posts it makes it tough for the dialup folks. It takes forever to load.
We will be moving again in a little while.
Dave

Jnette, I hang the lights from the ceiling, I buy long chains to attack to hooks screwed into the ceiling. it's an unfinished basement so I'm not worried about looks. I do all my potting and making hypertufa pots, and my garden spheres down there. when I get so I can't stand it I get out the vacuum and broom. Jim

Jim I down loaded the pic I took of yours, you want me to find it again???
And did you get my message for next Mon.
Where do you get your 2" plastic pots, can not find them online???

This message was edited Feb 11, 2009 5:54 PM

Hi Tilly:
I like to use the break apart tray insert for the small stuff. Here is a link.
http://www.growerssolution.com/page/GS/CTGY/inserts

Dave

http://www.greenhousemegastore.com/TLC-Black-Form-Pots/productinfo/CN-SQV/
another link for 2 1/2" pots

Jim, what kind of tufa pots do you make? There was one in a garden gate mag that I really like and would love to make. Maybe one of these days. jeanette

Howdy: seeds definately and maybe some unrooted cuttings

Jim: It was not my intent to down grade your growing mix. It works and I am glad. I am happy with the mix I am using and it seems to be working great for me. I would not have had the kelp/fuvic acid to add to my mix if you had not pointed me in the right direction. I am sorry i it sounded like I was coming across like your mix was not a good mix.
there are a lot of ways to get top quality plant. the trick is to find what works for you and stick to it. don't be afraid to try new things. I have learned a lot on this thread as I hope everyone has had the oprotuninty to also add to the bag of tricks for each of us.
Dave

Dave, HI, how are you?

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[HYPERLINK@shop.sunsethydro.com]

Jim, Dave, you guys were talking about the watering mixes you use. Are these what you meant?

I copied them out of Dave's post.

Jeanette

What are tufa pots and how would you make them?

Where do you all find liquid kelp? Or whatever you use.