Propagation: Propagation part VI based on my own experience

Hey guys I hope this comes thru especially for Dave as he wanted to see my GH when it was up. so here goes

Here is a side view

Here it is b4 the canopy was put on

It is full of plants now got them all in there yesterday. The wind is blowing like crazy here today and we did have to go out and anchor one side of it down b4 it got blown away LOL

Linda, are you ok??? Didn't break anything? That hurts. My sister did that, a long flight of stairs. She was really hurt even tho nothing broke. Took her months to get over it. You be careful.

FF, what kind of shelving are you using? How do you like it? I am not sure why the green other than shade so they don't burn? Is that the idea?

Did you fill it up? When do you get the second one? LOL

Jeanette

This message was edited Mar 24, 2009 11:15 AM

Flower, it is so nice. I bet you are thrilled to have it. How do you heat it? I bet you are thrilled. Have fun.

Well right now I am not having to heat it. Our temps at night have been in the upper 40s but will most likey have to heat it some after today though. I bought heat lamps to use for heat. I haven't put in shelves right now Jnette, I have got 2 work benches in there and a small 3 shelf things to set my plants on for the time being. When we get the other small Gh out and refinished that will be where I will be doing all my starting of plants. I have enough room in the big one to set up starting shelves with lights but it is getting warm now so I don't know whether or not I will be starting anything in it. Most of what I have right now will be put directly in the ground when it gets warm enough to actually plant.
Yes I am very proud of it and I have worked the last 4 days on getting it up, had to call my son to come help with the canopy though LOL I wasn't tall enough to help DH get it on there

Oh I forgot to answer the question you ask Jnette, Yes that is the idea. Plenty of light but no buring the plants.

FF : great green house. I am so proud you have it and are able to do what you want in them. It seems we never have enough room.

Here is the book I really want to get. Its similar to the one I donated. its like $45.00 +s/h
The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation: From Seed to Tissue Culture (Paperback)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0942375092/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&seller=

Another good looking book is
Practical Woody Plant Propagation for Nursery Growers [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)
by Bruce Macdonald

I think it would be a good wish list for my birthday in July. Just have to sell the idea to the family.... Well its nap time. Last night I managed to sleep an hour and a half. I decided to stay busy and awake so I would sleep soundly tonight. Have a great evening
Dave

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0881928402/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&seller=

I am very happy with it and I am able now to clear out my kitchen and move around in it.

What do you all know about Star Magnolias?
My reference book says cuttings will root in June-July, but the best cuttings are from young stock plants. My stock plant is very old, so I am wondering Has anyone had any experience with them? JB

HI Everyone, I thought I would let you know, yes I am ok. Yesterday was really painful, but today I am not so sore. I have had this same fall before and last time ( about 2 years ago) I broke my ankle. I am very thankful not to have broken anything this time. I must be going through a clumsy stage though. LOL

Jberger, I have always heard that with the star magnolias you simply take the cuttings in mid june- july scrape the bark off the bottom of the cuttings and set them in the shade where they will get water. I have never heard about the age of the cutting stock. What kind of birds did you raise? I am raising quaker parrots, conures, cockatiels and english budgies. I love it.

FlowerFantasy, I love your greenhouse. I wish I had a spot for one similar to it. I have used all the available space I can think of though. ( except maybe my neighbors yard hmm.. wonder if she would go for it..........))

My favorite reference book is Taylor's encyclopedia. I used to use one in the nursery and I was really lucky and found my own copy for .50 cents at a library book sale. I also use Landscape plants of the southeast, by gordon halfacre. I would be lost with out those books at times.

I need to get to work, I just wanted to check in with everyone.

Have a wonderful day, those of you who are expecting storms, stay safe.
Linda

OMG, Linda - I'm glad you're okay. Take it easy, honey!

Linda, you said sit the star cuttings in the shade where they get water. Do you mean cut them, put them in the medium in a pot and sit them in the shade? Or, put them in water to root in the shade? I need things to be explained because I am old, and slow. LOL.
Thanks.
As for my birds, I now have Amazons, Parrotlets, Conures and Lovebirds. I spent about 10 years breeding the above and I also bred senegals. I just love them. I had red bellied parrots also. I am down to six birds now. I had almost 100 a few years ago. Then I got involved in my flowers and sold the bird business. Kept a few of my babies for company.
JB

Linda, what is Taylor's encyclopedia?

Jeanette

Hi Everyone:
Linda you take it easy. don't worry about us we will be here when you are ready. I am sure many of us have added you to our prayer.
If its the same thing I am thinking of is taylor's has a group of books called guides. They are the best. I have a set of them somewhere in a box. They have great color pics and cover everything from annoual, shade lovers and so on. Here are 2 possabilities. I love the guide books withgreat photos. Nothing worst than getting a book and no pictures to see if its what you want.

http://www.amazon.com/Taylors-Encyclopedia-Garden-Plants-Authoritative/dp/0618226443/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238088628&sr=8-14

http://www.amazon.com/Taylors-Guide-Shade-Gardening-Illustrated/dp/0395651654/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238088628&sr=8-2

I hope everyone comes out ok after this weekends storms. Its thundering right now. We are suposed to get about 2" of snow... yep snow after all out 70's and 80's we have had. lickily its a fast mover and should be gone by monday.
TTYL
Dave

Thanks everyone, I do need prayers.

Jeanette. Taylors encyclopedia of Gardening is an incredibly old book. It reminds me of one that was published in the early 1900's, but it has info about plants I have never even dreamed of. When I cannot find something online, I can usually find it in taylors.

Dave, those are good links, but not the right one. This one is about 5 inches thick 9 inches tall and if you find pictures they are usually drawings. It has the best info on propagation.
Gordon Halfacres book is good, but it leaves propagation out.

it quit raining for a little while so I went to the beach to get my "salt fix". It is still supposed to rain more later, but it seems as though we have had a very dry winter and my plants need it. It also means I can update my trade lists which desperately needs to be done.

JBerger, stick the cuttings in a pot of sandy soil and put the pot where it will get shade and water. Sometimes I stick cuttings right in the sandy soil and they root just fine. I don't like having to disturb their little root systems to move them later though. Try both ways and see which works best if you have enough cuttings.
I too had about 120 birds, I sold some to shut the neighbors up but I cannot part with the 45 I have left. LOL DH wishes I would sell them all, but I love them too much. He would like to travel, but with 2 dogs, a cat, a teenager and various reptiles he holds captive (Snakes and lizards), we can't really take off and go anyway.

Anyone know how to root brunsfelsia?

Linda

Linda, Honey, who cleans all those cages? Or do you have them in a free flight. In SC I would think you could have them outside most of the year in a freeflight. I had my breeder cages in one big room and each one had to be cleaned etc. Not fun after I got older. Could not get help to do it that did it right, so I gave up and quit. I too love my birds.
Thanks for the info on the cuttings. I will give it a try. Logee's book on Brunfelsia says the B Nitida should be frown from seed rather than cuttings. Makes a stronger specimen with better form. according to them. Then it says you need to wait until you get woody.
Woody growth is a result of the specimen being grown in a tight pot, restriccting water and fertizlizing onl when actively growing. Once Mature they bloom and you can prune.
That isn't very helpful is it. Have you looked it up online? Now you have me curious. JB

Hello: I thought a before and after pic might brighten everyones day. This pic is of our azaleas in bloom 2 days ago.

A photo of the front a few hours ago... Its funny how we can go from 70's and 80's to the fluffy stuff.... I need a beach vacation...LOL

Yikes, I hate when that happens. Spring like that is no fun.

Oh Dave, I hope it didn't hurt all the little seedlings.

JB, I do all the bird stuff. I did move them into an aviary with flights last year, but they still keep me busy. I have about 5 cages on the porch that are either house babies or birds I rescued from the flights after losing battles.
I thought I had lost the brunsfelsia, but it is putting out all kinds of new growth. I think maybe it needs a better spot. I left it potted last year because I wasn't sure it would be hardy. I think this spring it will move to a permanent place in the garden.

Well, I need to get back outside. I am setting out some daylilies and it is supposed to start raining again later, so I had better do it now. I just wanted to check in.

See Ya,
Linda

Dave, would beach pictures help?

At least you know it will be gone right away. We still have about a foot of ice. Your after picture is very nice Dave. Very pretty.

Jeanette

I am new to DG and in the few days since I found you, I have spent most of the time reading this thread from beginning to end. I have learned so much, this ol'e Senior head is swimming. I have really enjoyed all the info and bantering. I have so many questions, but I will start with this one. I ordered some sweet Potato vine cuttings from an internet nursery, received them on Friday, spent the rest of Friday dunking them in root-tone, and placing them in moist seed starter. (I have about 12 flats of seeds started, but that is another question for later) This morning They are all wilted and dead looking. What did I do wrong? They are under a grow lite I bought several years ago from Charlies Greenhouse in Wa. They are in the same area my seed flats are in. I misted them in with a mixture of 1/2 cup peroxide in a one gallon mister. It is about 65-70 degrees, maybe a little warmer under the lights. Any thoughts anyone. Thanks for such a great thread. BTW I join you with the back trouble, have 2 surgerys under my belt, and hubby has had 1, so really do know what you all are going thru.

I am not stating this for a fact but there are some tender plants that will wilt for a day or two and them seem to revive. I would venture to say that this is what is happening. Give them a little while and they should be ok.

Thank you, hope is alive. To those of you who are gardening in Washington, we are retired in MT, from Maple Valley. Gardening is certainly different here. See you all in the morning.

Hi Lee, and welcome to DG. I am wondering if the sp vines aren't pulppy enough that they would maybe have done better in water than in the potting mix? Just a thought. Why don't you take 2 or 3 and cut them a new/fresh cut and place them in some water. Not in a cold window. Be sure they have a node or 2 in the water. And, I don't think I would put them under the lights. Maybe close, nearby but wait a bit before putting them under the lights.

Now, I am just suggesting for the ones I said to try in water. I don't know about them, just a trial. Do you have any Superthrive? If so, put a drop or 2 in the water.

Please let us know how it goes.

Jeanette

Morning Lee, I am the old lady of the group and am still learning from this wonderful gang. I know you will enjoy your time with DG and if willing, you will find it a world of knowledge for those of us who are obsessed with plants. Sometimes I wonder what we will not try and grow. LOL.
I had the same thing happen to me the other day and I think I even mentioned it on the list. I looked at my seedlings in the one flat and they were all wilted and I thought gone. I saw the medium on the top was moist but I decided to give them more water.What harm could it do to a dead seedling. I did that and left them go . When I returned a few hours later, they were perky again and have been ever since. They were thirsty. You just never know. Trial and error seem to work for me. Enjoy your day. JB

Ugh - that is just not right. Oh man! Hope you don't lose any plants.

We dropped about 30 degrees here, but nothing like you did. Stay warm!

Edited to say -

Okay, this is what happens when you respond to a post but never get around to sending it until the next day....!

Welcome, Lee - I've done cuttings of SP vine and have abused the heck out of them - they'll be fine. I wonder if your medium might be a little too coarse to hold enough moisture for them (I can't see your post to see what you used from here). I would recommend as Jeanette (I think it was) suggested and stick them in a cup of water if they haven't revived for you yet.

This message was edited Mar 29, 2009 8:49 AM

Good morning. No, they haven't revived yet, and boy, they sure dont look like they will. The cuttings are from a nursery, and I didn't think there was any large enough for water. Do you think I could just put into a baggy, the medium I put them in was sterile seed starter, which is what I used for starting my seeds. I honestly thought it would be safe. I will try to put the larger ones in water. I am so disappointed. Last year I cut back a straggley one I found at the store, just for kicks I took the left over sticks(no leaves) and stuck them in the ground next to a little fountain. They took off and I had vines 8 ft long. That is when I fell in love with them. Now--not so much :)

Lee, I thought you were talking about seedlings , sorry, If you are talking cuttings, I have had very little experience with them, but I just got about 24 scented geranium cuttings and some were tiny but the first thing I did was to put them in water over night. Then she said cut off about 1/4 inch of from the end at an angle, insert the stem into premoistened Jiffy Mix or good potting soil and gently water. Keep the soil wet, but not soggy. Too much dryness could be fatal. A North window is perfect for rooting. I did what she said and every one of them lived. She does say use roottone if you have it. Hope this helps.

If Dave ever gets dug out of the snow, he may have suggestions for you. He knows more than I do about cuttings for sure. Dave, Help here......JB

Lee, are we talking about ornamental sps or edibles? 2 different critters I believe.

I can't imagine a nursery sending out cuttings that are too small to put in water. What nursery did you get them from? That IS small.

I don't think I would treat geranium cuttings the same as sweet potato cuttings. Maybe - - - - -

Jeanette

This is the first time I have tried to root directly into a medium. I did use root-tone, but it is a couple of years old, maybe it is beyond its usefullness?? I usually start in water, but these were so small. I haven't ordered cuttings from a nursery before, so maybe they got cold in transport. Poor babies. Dave, I know how you feel, we are getting the snow here and they are predicting no let up for a couple of days, course the 80 degree wasn't an option before it hit, only in the 60's :) Guess we have to dig out together ;) I do have some seedlings that aren't doing so well. I used two of Charley's greenhouse starter dome systems, the ones with the styrofoam cells, wicking mat, and tall dome. Put them on a heating mat to germinate. Now one is doing fine and has secondary leaves, the other is teeny-tiny and just sitting there. I did each the same, only difference is the color of petunias. Have never had this happen before. Any suggestions?? When I say tiny I really mean tiny, about the size of the head of a stick pin (each leaf) and no secondary leaves at all, barely can see them. The lights are about 2" above them and the domes are completely off.

Wellllll maybe I exagerated a little, they were about 4-6 leaves I bought them from North Carolina Farms in Indian Trail NC. They are the ornamental ones they called Ipomoea. all in all maybe 1 1/2 " tall.

This message was edited Mar 29, 2009 1:54 PM

Lee, are they moist enough? Yes, there is as difference in growing habits with petunias. Yes, same kind, different color. My Parks dbl cascade blue petunias are up and looking good. the same petunia, burgundy, planted right alongside, same day, aren't up yet.

Oh, btw, I would not use the tall dome for starting petunias. They need the light right down on them. 1 to 2 inches.

I cannot believe a nursery sending cuttings that small and I think I would tell them so if I were you. How many of them did you say you got?

Jeanette

It is just the opposite with mine. The blue ones are tiny and the white are fine. I do believe you are right on the domes, but when you don't know what you are doing, it worked fine last year. They now are off the heating mat, without the domes and lights are about 2" above and have been for 3 days. BTW these are the wave petunias from Hirt's (seedman.com) good ol' Ebay. Hadn't found you guys yet :))) I bought 100 of them

This message was edited Mar 29, 2009 2:03 PM

Lee, you bought 100 of what? Petunias, or sweet potatoes?

Jeanette

Lee, Is the Hirt's in Ohio the one you are talking about? They really have a terrible rating. I hope it isn't the same. Watchdog has them almost 50/50 positive/negative. I think it was 62 vs 70 or there abouts.

The North Carolina Farms has only had 7 ratings since 2005. Even tho they are all positive, 7 in 4 years is not many.

Jeanette

Jeanette, I'm sorry,--- I bought 100 cuttings of Sweet Potatoe vine, 3 different kinds included. I noticed your post and edited my post without thinking. What can I say, confusion is part of my lifestyle. Like I said, I hadn't found Daves Garden yet and wanted to get seeds and etc started. So much for the early start. The bad part is that I am starting these for friends and family. I feel like I am letting them down. Usually I have no problem with seeds, and just thought this year I would try some cuttings. Live and learn. I suspected something with the seeds, but ignored it. Poor hubby, says just chalk it up to a learning experience. The rest of my order from NCF seems to be fine, cuttings of Purslane are all looking good, and the 2 flats of sun loving and full sun plants(plugs) are all looking perky. However, don't think I will order starts this way again. Maybe I can find some starts on DG's next year. May be too late for this year Wellllllll looking outside and seeing several inches of snow, maybe not. I don't have anything to trade tho, and I sent all my excess seeds from last year to Arejay a couple of days ago. Might be a slow year for me. Darn- - - last year was on the local garden tour, and yard of the week two years running. Live and learn the hard way BTW I also love the tropicals. Have a space between house and garage where I indulge these plants, bring in for the winter tho, the GH has no heat. I have two waterfalls that I design around. Has a gazebo from Costco at one end for the shaders and open on the other for the sunlovers. Is protected on E and W from wind (well sometimes). Even the local birds love it, sometimes landing in the Hibiscus tree or the Oleander tree.