Propagation: Propagation part VI based on my own experience

Hi Lee,
Welcome to the bunch. Sorry you are having trouble with your cuttings. I would try some in water and some in your moist starting mix in a baggie. I had this very same thing happen with a mexican flame vine and as soon as I put it in the baggie it perked up and started putting out roots. Your cuttings may simply need a little more humidity. I hope this helps. If your cuttings don't perk up, let me know I will have some soon. My spring is already underway.


Jeanette, how is that confederate rose doing? Mine is beginning to come back to life so if yours doesn't come back out. Let me know.
Hope everyone has a good night. I will check in tomorrow.
Linda

Hey gals, can any of you give me some ideas on some kind of bulbs that will take heat well and in direct sunlight? I know some that I have will take direct sun light but don't know what will take heat too.

Thank you Linda for the kind offer. I put some in water, some in a baggie and left some in the flat with a dome on top and in a cooler room. Hopefully one or two will root out. I did use root-tone on all so we shall see. I am so glad for this thread, I have learned so much and everyone is so helpful. See you all tomorrow.

Good evening:
Welcome Lee: Linda is on the right track with more humidity. You may want to mist your cuttings a few times each day. What you are having is moisture loss.Without roots they loose moisture and no roots to rplace that moisture. Sweet potato vine is a tough little plant and should survive and root easily. Most of the pro outfits use an intermitten mist system that supplies a small spitz of moisture every so often. I have a little bottle that I spray my plants onece or twice a day.
Its funny but most of our snow is gone with the exception of one area I keep hostas. I peeled back the towels back in a way to peel off the snow onto the grass instead of the plants. We must have had 6" of snow.
I will roll around the delima some more and get bact to you on the wilty cuttings. Have a great evening
Dave

Lee, it is amazing that you can keep tropicals going in Montana!! That is wonderful.

And, Linda and Dave are right I am sure. your plants need humidity. Also good because those plants, the sweet potato vines are a real magnet for spider mites so watch that, but they (mites) do not like the moisture. So the water spritzing that Dave said, will be good. I would look real close every day for the mites tho.

Jeanette

Flower, are you looking for summer blooming bulbs then? Like Crocosmia or Gladiolus maybe? Seems like any of the S. African bulbs would work, but I don't think they could handle your cold, do you mind lifting them?

Weellll, Dave - being raised in a place where snow could last for months, I'd be celebrating!

PG, They aren't for my kind of weather. I am in a swap And the lady I am partenered with live in a very hot area and her garden is out in the sun.

The tropicals are all in pots, and they come indoors as soon as the weather threatens. Lots of work, but worth it. Thanks for all the advice on the sp's. All I can do now is hope for the best. I have been doing what all you have suggested and will keep you updated.

Lee, are any of them looking any better, worse, or?????

Jeanette

Jeanette, they are kinda looking at me with sad sad sad little wilty heads. I do see signs of moisture in the domes so I have been raising the dome about every hr, and spritzing with the H2O2 mixture. I put 1/2 cup in a gallon pump mister and mist, then put the dome back down. I feel like a mother hen watching chicks. Who knows, with all this help, we may pull it off yet. Thanks

Lee: SWPV's are very tough little critters. they should pull out of it soon. One thing I always see as a positive is if you start seeing new growth.

I kind of live in miked emotions with the snow. I went through 8th grade in columbus, OH then moved to south florida for 4 years and then out here and a couple of moves back and forth between florida and here. My family is here so here I stay. Being an only child it falls to me to take care of my parents as best I can. they are both in pretty good health ... they have had their issues in the past but seem to be doing well.
I like that most times the weather we have roll through lasts a few days and then its back to sunny weather. Oklahoma has one of the most sunny days per year in the usa. We ended up with 6.2 -9.9 inches of snow depending on where it fell in the city. and todays high is forcast to be 72... go figuire. It looks like everyone came through quite well but it sometimes takes a while to see cold damage. good thing springs perminant weather pattern is almost here.
Lee If I can ask how much was shipping from carolina cuttings??? I am tossing around the idea of buying from them in the near future.
Dave

This crazy weather is making me wild. The wind today, is just unbelievable. It is gusting at over 40 mph constantly. I am used to the sea breeze, but this is downright wind. We had a severe thunderstorm last night with hail and lightening and it was nasty. Tornadoes were flying around the tri state area (NJ, NY and PA). Fotunately they missed my son by a few miles, but that is too close for comfort. He had just returned from a week of fishing in Key West and they only had one day out because the wind was so bad there all week. Someone is sure blowing alot of hot air around here. UGH. Anyhow we all got off without any damage and today it is sunny and cool and windy. My poor daffodils are out there in the field just waiting to pop their pretty heads but it just has been so nasty they are not doing it. I was hoping to have some to sell this weekend. Have my doubts as of now. I need a few good sunny warm days to do it. Is Easter early this year? Or is the weather just off? Dave it is good to see you out of the snow. I hope your plants are o.k. The temp in the greenhouse just went up to 106 and I almost broke a leg getting out there to open the vents and doors. The sun is so warm and the temp is cold and I just can not keep it even in the GH. I am about to put the sun screen on but I really need some sun in there just now. Have a good day you lovely people.
Hey Dave, I am an only child too. That really makes a difference doesn't it????????????? One good thing today to cheer me up. My gardenia has another beautiful bloom on it and I just stand there and smell until I can't smell anymore. I just love it. JB

Jb: Yes its a different way of thinking we are used to alot of privacy and value our alone time. There are pluses and minuses to the single child famly. I am glad your gardenia is in bloom. they can about nock you over with the scent of the flower. You might like night blooming jasmine. it has a really heavy scent as well..
Dave

Dave, I went back and looked up the shipping, it was $43 for two flats of plugs, 1 bag (100)of purslane cuttings, and 1 bag (100) of sweet potato cuttings. I really didn't think that was too bad, considering it was 2 day, and they did include the cuttings in the pkg when they said they needed to be next day. I am very happy with everything except the spv, and I honestly think I did something wrong for them to wilt and look dead after one day. purslane is perky, and the plugs all look great. They said to let the plugs rest a few days before planting so thought I would start potting about Wed. Looking outside, the pots won't see real sun for a long time. Have about 1 foot of snow, and they are saying more is coming :( Roads have been closed since last night, em traffic only. streets are slushly right now, so will become really icy this evening. Looking at my seedlings, I am not so happy with the petunias, I have 1 flat that looks really good, but the other 8 are not growing, not dying, just sad. I am beginning to think this isn't my year for seeds. Do you think it is too late to replant petunia seeds. They seem to be the worst, at least the blue ones. Do you have a particular site to order seeds from? Since I bought these on eBay, maybe they are just old???? Thanks for the help BTW they shipped Fed Ex 2 day air.

This message was edited Mar 30, 2009 1:37 PM

Dave,, I had a beautiful big night blooming jasmine that I was taking cuttings from. Last year I had several DOZEN ROOTED CUTTINGS PLUS THE MOTHER PLANT and I put them outside on the shelves outside the greenhouse so they could enjoy the warm weather, etc. One morning I looked at them and they were white with mealybug. I never saw so many I swear. I moved them away from the GH and hosed them down and waited and sprayed and waited and waited and I just could not get rid of them, so I threw them all in the field and we plowed them under. DO NOT mention night blooming jasmine to me. I was so mad. All that time and money gone. Oh well. Now I have the brugs I am starting to fool with and I think they are just as bad. I was checking the plants in the GH today and darn if my red Mandevilla that is starting to bloom has mealy bug and it is next to the Kleims Hardy Gardenias and now they have it. I spent most of the afternoon washing and spraying ......why did those little buggers ever find me. I swear I never had them until I brought home a few half price orchids from Home Depot that had them and I did not know it. They were no doubt in the roots because they were not on tohe leaves. Sorry I am rambling. See you later. It is time to feed the dog.

Lee:
I use the big operations, harris, thompson & morgan, parks (not so much just because of $$). I have found most big companies want you happy with the seed they sell and I "think" (keyword here is think) they might even go so far as to reship some seeds out if they suspect a bad batch. I do go through harris's comercial side of things just because thats how I am geared. All comercial catalogs will have few pictures and everything in genus and species, of course this is done because professionals know what they want and can find it that way.
I wouldtry to restart some seeds. they may be late but the cost vs. plants is huge. Are you useing bottom heat? I vaguely remember you mentioned lights. Bottom heat can make the difference is plugs freshly seeded just sitting there and germinated seedlings.
The price of shipping sound pretty fair fo all you bought and of course flats don't fit in a flat rate box.
Dave

Sorry to step on your toes so to speak. the only way to get rid of mealy bugs for sure is a very harsh systemic. at least IMO . I swear by it but of course I have to be careful what I put it on. Sorry you had a bad experience. I know the feeling on finding them
I had a nice crop of crotons we had gotten in from south america, well they were loaded and to make matters worse the state inspector came through and spotted them and made us quaranteen them off. I would not have sold them untill the bugs were gone it just was kind of a bad experience all around. I treated them and had an nice crop with out the little visitors.
Dave

Yes, I have bottom heat with enough room for 6 flats at a time. The petunia's are weaned off the mats tho, maybe I should put them back on??? They have been this way for about a week. some of the tiny ones even have a 3 and 4 leaf on them, but you have to really look close to see. They are actually about the size of a germinated one of about 2 days old. Thank you I think I will order some more seeds, course by the time they get here I will be back another week or so, better than paying 2.50 for 6 plants, and more than that for the waves. They are the ones I am talking about. Thanks again

Lee:
It may be a dificult thing to do but maybe weening them off the bottom heat might also help. Just a thought. I know it would be like shuffeling every so often so I don't know if its a pracktical idea. I have had more misery with petunia's than any other plant.
Dave

Til now I thought they were pretty easy. I did wean them from the heat mat about a week ago Guess we all have a nemsis. Last year's were so great

Lee, how long have the petunias been planted? Are you concerned about ones that have not come up, or the ones you say are so small? My petunias that have 4 leaves are almost the size of a dime. That is the biggest ones. I have some that are quite small. If they have that many leaves, have you fertilized them at all? Try a weak solution on them. Maybe half strength of an all purpose. That would take about one or 2 days before you see some activity on them.

With the petunias Parks is ok and T&M are ok, but I would look for pelleted. I hate those tiny things they send out. If that is all you are ordering they should get them right out. However, the later you wait the more of a chance that they will be out of stock. And if your current ones come up in the mean time you can save these for next year.

What are the plugs you got?

Jeanette

Hi:
Harris has pelletized seeds of wave petunia. I have found them most of the time in the wholesale section. Here is the link for pelletized.

http://www.harrisseeds.com/storefront/s-705-easy-wave-series-f1.aspx

I hope this helps.
Dave

Plugs were full sun combo--Ipomoea, 2 colors petunia trailing, and 2 colors verbena and the hot weather combo--chenille, ipomoea petunia purslane and vinca. the cuttings were 100 ipomoea assorted and100 purslane big bloom assorted. All is fine, except 1 plug vinca (my fault, was dry, didn't notice right away) and the sp vine. I did tell them, and they said to let them know what losses and they would make it right.

Dave, I will go there and check it out for the seeds. I will also try the half strength fert. Cant get some of the ones you guys talk about, this town is so small, but I will look at Wally world again. Thanks loads.

Does fertilizer get old??? I have some rapid-grow from about 5 years ago and should I spritz it or bottom water.

Hi:
I do understand the small town delima. I've been there myself.
Fertilizer age depends on a nuber of variables. as long as it has been kept dry and not allowed to leach out it should be ok. I am not sure on a liquids shelf life. I would try both. I think its ment to be a foliar feed. One fertilizer I have grown to really apreciate is the fish emulsions and kelp fertilizers. They make a nice low strength feed. I have cut out my other 2 addatives and have been using strictly kelp for watering. The best part is its pretty cheap to buy.
I am planning to use the remaining addatives on newly stuck cuttings on their 1st watering after inital moisture is gone.
Lee please let us know how it goes with the bottom watering vs spritzing. Oh yea bottom watering does cut down on the fungus gnats, but I have yet to venture away from my old habbits of watering from the top. I guess its the old phrase old habits die hard.
Dave

Good news, I think. Looked at the sp this morning and looks like the centers are starting to branch a tiny bit, at least they aren't laying over in the starter mix. I will keep you posted on them and the petunias.

Jeanette, I started the seeds in question on March 3. Germination was not too bad, but the seedlings are what I am talking about not growing. I took Dave's advice and watered them with 1/2 fert via spritz this morning We shall see. Honest you guys, I have never had these problems before, Guess we all have some sometime:) Thanks for all the advice

Lee, I think you really got a ton of plants all at once. That might be pretty hard to deal with. Especially if you are having problems with any of them. I think you are on the right track tho. Be patient and hang in there.

Jeanette

Hi Lee:
I am so glad to hear you are seeing some improvement on your seedlings. One thing I thought of was that its not a bad idea to give seedlings a bit more time on the bottom heat. I have lots of seedlings that stay on heat mats for a long time.
I hope this helps
Dave

Hey: I just wanted to pop in a tell you of my neat find today. I took cuttings from my carolina yellow jessamine (Jasmine) why they spell it that way is way beyond me. Anyway I found a few seedpods in amongst my cutting stock. well I went out and collected about 100 seeds today. i am hopeing to sow some later this week. Its all I can do is to do a few little things and then its off my feet... oh well its all a forward momentum.
Anyone running low on supplies??? I am thinking about getting some trays and inserts. just thought I would through that out there to see if anyone else is running low like I am???

Dave

Thanks to all of you, I promise I won't bug you for a couple of days and then I will let you know how things are doing

Lee :
Please do not feel like you are bugging us. Some of us like to check in a few times a day or as able to. its kind of a fun exciteing thing .... I like to compare it to the excitement that started a long time ago when aol came into exsistence... the movie "you've got mail"
Really hits it on the head as to the excitement of a new challenge to solve. its all fun. at least it is to me.
Dave

Oh man - yeah, I just got 2 boxes of 606s (6 6paks per tray). The place I got it from is on the east end of the state, near Knoxville. UPS ground shipping was $23 - OUCH! At least the trays were $37 per box of 100, the best price I've found.... I'd give you a link, but they don't have a website (whodda thunk?).

Can you dmail me a contact??? please... I am looking at som 1801's and 1206's but not near the price you have found. Please.....

Hey, since this is April Fools Day, may an old fool ask a question?

What do you mean by 1801, 1206 and 606s? I do such a few seeds compared to you all that I must be missing something. Please enlighten me.

Dave, I loved that Movie. I must have seen it five times. I pop in here at least twice or more times a day just to see what is going on.

Have a great day. JB

Hi JB:
the numbers refer to sheet pots and propagation flats if you will. More acurately they are 6pks and a sheet of pots formed on one sheet. 1206 are 12 - 6 cell pkg per sheet. also 606 are 6 - 6 pks per sheet. The 1801's are 18 pots per tray, about 3" each cell and can be bought in cut sheets and uncut. the cut sheets are perferated to beable to seperate the pot orpack from the sheet.
Its kind of like when you go to home depot and buy a 6pk of plants. You know how you have to pull a little to break it free from te rest of the flat. those are cut sheets.
I really need to buy a case of 1801's as I am doing a lot of woody ornamentals. Mainly forsythia, dwarf crape myrtle, rose of sharon. I want to get some stock plants of butterfly bush anda few others.
Dave

Hi all:
I want to cover some basics on transplanting. for some its a refresher but I thought I should cover this as it does relate to propagation.
One you have your rooted cell or you plant is too big for its pot, its time to transplant. As a general rule I like to go about 2" bigger than the pot or cell the plant is coming out of. If you are having difficulty keeping your plants standing up in their pots, it may be time to transplant or split the plant, depending on what you are trying to do. Most of the larger cells from propagation trays can go straight into 1 gallon pots (6"). The larger cells are those from 40 cell flats and fewer per flat. Smaller transplants and slower growing plants need to go into a 3" - 4" pots. Its a judgement call.
Now is a good time to apply a slow release fertilizer like osmocote. Instructions for how much to apply should be on the container. You won't need to apply fertilizer if you are using a mix with fertilizer in the growing media.
You will need to water in the plants. I like to fill the pots with water let it empty completely and repete 2 - 3 times per pot. This way you insure the media is fully moist

I hope this helps
Dave

Thanks Dave.

Doin the happy dance:
Mailmn just delivered the 1st of my Daylilies I bought last fall on the daylily exchange. they are great looking. a bit of yellowing from beingin the box but they should jump back really fast.
Here is one of the flowers.

and the other one

The day lillies are beautiful.

If anyone wants those bead plant cuttings, please dmail me before Sunday. I want to have them ready to mail on Monday or Tuesday depending on the weather. I need mailing addresses. I have Kathy so far. I know there was someone else but I forget who it was. Just dmail me your mailing address please. No charge for anything. This is my treat.