Propagation: Propagation part VII based on my own experience

Dave, I can not get the co op link to open. HELP>

HI Everyone, I thought I would check in. I am planting daylilies today. I have been working in the yard most of the week and it is really beginning to look like someone really does live here. I told DH that if he saw me collecting that many plants in pots again to hit me, but then I said no, don't do it. LOL

JB your description of that hosta is tantalizing! I will have to find one. I love orchid cactus and so anything that has that type of bloom is a must have.
I grew lots of hosta from seed last year that I will be planting out soon, so maybe we could find seeds for it.

Andrea welcome to our group. We don't always stay on topic, but it is always fun. I am sure you will fit right in.

I am going to check into the supply co-op, I will soon need more pots. it is a shame that yard space can't be bought like pots. LOL
Gotta run. I will check in later.
Linda

Linda, that hosta is in the Wayside Gardens Spring 2009 catalog on page 3. They also have the Gardenia Jasmiiiiinoides 'frost proof' but I just can not buy anymore plants until I get my seedlings in the ground and my cuttings repotted.
Today started out beautiful, sunny, brisk but nice, then it happened.....the winds picked up again and started to blow making the temp feel like freezing or below. It has to be 40 to 50 mph gusts and when I was cutting daffodils to bunch, I actually got cold. No sense I keep dwelling on this, it only makes me feel worse.
Think Spring. Here is another one of my daffys I am cutting just now. Called Sorbet

This one is being cut now too, called Flower Drift. It is a double with an orge-redcenter against a white background. They are long lasting too. The bad weather did not seem to bother them at all.

Good morning to all. I have another question, don't know where to post it, so thought you might have some suggestions. My neighbor has an apple tree that has excellent fruit, but, most are infested with a maggot type worm. Is there a systemic that would take care of this problem, or is a malithon spray the only way to get rid of them? Thanks, Lee

Good morning lee, the only systemics I have ever been involved with you wouldn't want to put on edibles. Maybe google systemics. There might be something. But, I would think you would want to kill the maggot before it got into the fruit. Isn't that where the problem is?

Is it a moth that is laying the eggs that hatch into worms that get into the fruit? Maybe a BT would be what you want. That is an organic that gets catapellers, worms etc. It is not a systemic and I would think that is more what you would want.

I just don't have any experience with fruit trees.

Sorry I couldn't be more help.

Jeanette

Haven't actually seen anything laying eggs or such, doesn't mean much, my eyesight isn't what it used to be, but you are right, duh dumb me, systemic would render the fruit usless to human consumption. What is BT? Thanks for the thoughts
Lee

Lee, David can tell you the botanical name for BT. It is a very organic worm getter. LOL, my terminology isn't real scientific.

Jeanette

In fact, several years ago they air sprayed an entire suburban area with the BT for Gypsy Moth 'cause it was killing the native trees in the Seattle area. The only complaint they had was from a few people that said it did something to the paint on their cars. Yeah.

This message was edited Apr 23, 2009 9:45 AM

Bacillus thuringensis, bT. It's a naturally occurring bacteria that can work as a larvacide. It's what they put in 'Mosquito Dunks' and stuff.... in fact, your friend could probably get some dunks, crumble up a couple, put them in a sprayer with water (shake well!) and spray the tree - I would recommend spraying it at least a few times and then again in a couple of weeks, depending on the life cycle of the worm.

If that's not gonna work, I'd look at the Bayer line of products - I know they have a couple of highly recommended systemic sprays - if it says that it is safe for fruit trees, of course.

Thank you Sheryl:
I had read where there are many different strains and depending on what you are trying to kill would be on the label. Of course it got me scratching my head and thinking...yea I know we hate it when you think... why not just a combination of strains for the shot gun approach to bug controll? I like the shotgun approach
Dave

Here is a picture of the roots in my EZ Cloner. I definitely need to do some potting!

Here are the roots 1 month ago.

Thank you for the warm welcome! I've meant to reply sooner but the pollen got to me this week and I just got a little bit of voice back today. sniff. I just can't help but meander outdoors and check on all my babies. lol! By the time night rolls around again, I'm trying to sleep over the vaporizer to get the thickness out of my throat.

I got your d-mail JB and I haven't gotten a chance to write you back either. But I did take a look at your site :-)

Andrea

LynnWeidman, that's a mighty fine looking cloner, where did you purchase it? Jim

I found the EZ Cloner on Craigs List. It has been so much fun to play with. Hardwoods have been a challenge though. It's a learning process for me. This cloner has spaces for 120 cuttings, so there is usually room to pop something in it.

I do not know anything about the EZ cloners..can someone explain them to me? What makes it so easy to work with. Sorry to be such a dumb dumb, but I can't help it., I am a country girl. LOL JB

I haven't ever used an "EZ cloner", but I made a homemade type and so far I am loving it.
JB it is an aeroponic rooting chamber. You slip the cuttings in about 1/2 inch above the level of the water and the bubbles bursting on the surface of the water mist the cuttings. Things are supposed to root incredibly fast in one, but mine haven't been real fast. I will find a link for you...

http://seventhstreetcottage.blogspot.com/search/label/aero%20chamber

He has a great blog. I really enjoy his posts. I built my aero chamber using his plans, so I am really excited about the things rooting in it. Even if it isn't as fast as I thought it would be.

This morning we decided to forego yard sales, ( we have enough stuff of our own. LOL) and stay home and plant.
We have built 4 new flower beds in the front yard and filled them with seedlings that I started last year. We planted brugs, iris, daylilies, and hibiscus. I need to make another bed for my hosta seedlings. I cannot wait to see everything bloom. I know it will probably be next year before all of the iris's are rooted in and maybe some of the daylilies, but some are blooming size now.

I just ordered a bunch of plumeria seed and I think I will use the seedlings I have to fill in another sunny spot. It is amazing what you can plant when you give up a circle driveway. LOL I would love to have all of my planting finished before school gets out for the summer. That way, I will be able to just play and only have to worry about feeding and watering everything.

Gotta run, now I need to work inside for a while.
Linda

Thanks Linda. I really enjoyed his site. I doubt that I would use it. I do not have the space for it either. My goodness, what wont they think of next. Thanks for the information.

I had a circile driveway at my birdfarm and the center of it was filled with daffodil bulbs and other shrubs...very little grew because the shade and the sand were not good for most plants. The daffys did fine and I had a few shrubs that did well too. Can not remember what the heck they were. They smelled great. LOL. Anyhow, I loved that circle driveway except when it snowed. The bird room was facing it and the birds would leet me know when someone drove in. I made an old porch into a glass room for the birds and moved the entrance of the house to the side. It was really neat considering I had an exotic bird breeding business. We called my one conure the Farm Alarm because she was so funny when people drove in. She would scream her head off until the dog started to bark, then I would answer the door and all got quiet. LOL Sorry, I am rambling. Good Night all. Hugs. JB

Ok, you all with your birds, tell me about Henry.

Henry is an Amazon Parrot my sister has had for 17 years. All of a sudden this year Henry laid 2 eggs. The last couple of years Henry has torn up the paper in his cage and my sister thought he was wanting to breed. Little did she know that Henry was probably a Henrietta.

So, now what does she do?

Jeanette

Jnette, I had a quaker like that. I just let her sit on the eggs for a little while. It didn't take her long to figure out they wouldn't hatch. I will let Jberger fill in the rest. Amazons are really out of my area.
Linda

Jeanette, that would be a surprise. If she bought a male and got a female, she should tell the breeder whoever sexed the bird should get a new job. LOL

Anyhow, since you now have a female, she will continue to lay eggs once or twice a year until her egg supply is deminished. That could go on for years. I just take the eggs after the first day and pitch them. If she wanted to breed and had access to a male, she could do that and raise a few babies. That would be an experience she would not forget. LOL
Tell her not to trust Henrietta during her days of playing Mommie, she could really bite anyone and hurt kids especially if they messed with her during that time. Kids sometimes do not understand how territorial these birds can get when they are hormonal. I had an amazon, my very sweetest bird so I thought, it was a male and I did not know he was hormonal. He looked like he wanted to kiss me so I puckered up and he bit the heck out of my lip. I was furious and did not react the way the book says you are to. I was lucky I got him off me before he bit a hole in my lip. So, be careful when she is laying and playing with her eggs. Male amazons are a bit different when it comes to them going thru their sexy period. They cackle like a chicken at times and make all sorts of funny sounds. I just love birds as you can tell. JB

Hi Everyone:
I've opened the order thread for supplies. I am hopeing to run the thread for a couple of weeks and wrap it up quickly as I realize this is high growing time for most of us and we want our supplies now.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/980906/

If you want something not on the list of interest pleas let me know. Also suggustions are deeply apreciated as this is my 1st co-op
Dave

I received word today that NCF is replacing my dead SP vine babies. Will get them on the 30th. I thought that was very good news, and now I know for sure I will be ordering from them again next year.
Now, since I don't know what I did wrong, I need to know how you all would start the cuttings. I used root-tone--the dry kind--and put into sterile seed starter, and kept damp. That is what didn't work. In the past I have started a few things by putting in water. has anyone tried the water crystals that retain water and release as they dry? I have 90 or so coming so need to know how to proceed. Any and all ideas are welcomed.

It sounds to me like you did the right thing - these really are not tough-to-start plants, I believe there was a problem with them long before they reached you.

Others may feel differently, but that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

Hi: I agree with sheryl. I am not shure how much stem they give you but the "text book aproach is to trim the ends and stick them with fresh cut tips. Now personally I would just stick them after a dusting and they should be fine. Bottom heat and increased humidity would be benificial as well. I am shure you did every thing correctly the first time around.
I am glad they are replaceing the cuttings. It costs less to send out new cuttings than to loose a customer over it. My dad used to tell me that when you buy something you might tell one maybe two people about your purchase, but have it go wrong and company not make it right...you will tell everyone you see.
Dave

You folks are incredible. I'm so looking forward to participating in this area.

This spring is going to be my first attempts at taking some cuttings and seeing what will make it through this north pole weather here just south of Cleveland.

I'm a southern gal that is being forced to live here at least anyway till my sweet DH says enough is enough and we head back south.LOL

I've been doing some research and just really want to take on the challenge of cuttings that are left outside all year round.

So thanks to everyone here who I have been reading about your adventures for taking the time to share with the rest of us.

Just incredible reading here. Needs to be put in a book and sold.

Janet

Hi Janet
You couldn't put this in a book, because these folks are so knowledgeable that it would take too many trees to furnish the paper. I only wish I had some knowledge to add, but I enjoy each and every one. They are so willing to help all of us and each other. I know you will love this site as much as I do, and probably learn more than you ever thought possible.
When you have questions you will, I promise, find the answers some where here.
Lee

Lee, I am not sure what else you could do. What was the mix you put them in? I hope they give you bigger cuttings this time. Maybe just nip the end with a fresh cut and dip it in the hormone. Remember you have to have a couple of nodes. It didn't sound like they gave you much lea way. I think maybe once you get them you might want to call them and ask THEM how to do it. They may send you information with them anyway.

Jeanette

I put them in sterile seed starter. I also told them exactly what I did to try to start them and they had no answer back to me. I also have thought a small trim cut to open the stem may help, at least that is what I will try on some of them. You may be right that they were just too small of cuttings. The purslane cuttings were a little larger, and I don't think I lost any of them. And they were done exactly the same way. Wish I had some of Dave's dip and grow or what ever he calls it, it is a liquid rather than a powder. Believe me, I will have some of it for the next round of rooting. All I can say is I will plant and hope for the best. Thanks all, Lee

Lee, I sure hope these cuttings work better for you.
Jnette, I will mail you about your confederate rose. Sorry I got sidetracked.

I planted 2 yards yesterday. Mine and Mom's. In Mom's I planted white brugmansia surrounded by cigar plants, red and purple verbena and red & white million bells. It turned out really pretty. I have bought her a weeping cherry for Mother's day so that will go in the center of one of the beds. Next year I told her it would have to be pink with some other colors. LOL

In my yard, I planted daylilies and hibiscus, iris and brugmansia, red new guinea impatiens with persian shield and some hostas. I am taking today off ( kind of) just going to buy bird seed and clean the aviary.LOL

Does anyone know if azaleas and camellias will root in a aeroponic chamber?
Thanks, Linda

Hi Linda:
i would think they would. I managed to get azaleas to root out from october to march in just the ole non heard GH.

I am thinking it might be best to shut down the supplies co-op as I am not able to get an acurate cost on shipping for all the different sized items. I will give it 10 days and then will order from what I have recieved in payments for the co-op. The main issue that is causing me to shut it down is the cost for shipping from me to you. I don't think using the shipping cost from the wholesaler as a guide would be accurate because I am shure they get a discount as they ship so many cases every week. here is the link to the spread sheet.

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=rDn-4FOE1Qw1a7DB-nC6nGw

I know lee and I are splitting a case of 1801's and a case of 50 cell propagation trays. I am also ordering a case of web trays for myself. I f you need more time please let me know as I am thinking we can extend it a little while on closeing.
Dave

Howdy everyone:
I just recieved my last batch of hostas. I am so excited. They are cherry tart and dancing queen. I was told it would be august or september before they would arrive.
Anyone who wants in on the growing supplies please chime in. I am wrapping it up in may. Lee is looking for anyone who might be interested with the solid ncr tray. it has no holes and is used for seedlings. Its best because watering from the bottom reduces the fungus gnat issue in most soils. Its my understanding that the fungus gnat's life cycle starts as an egg then turns into a larve that eats organic matter in the growing media. once the larve transforms into the gnat they lay more eggs as well as being a pest. Its my understanding that watering from above provides the perfect envirornment for the larvae.
I am shure I butchered some of the life cycle of the fungus gnat but it gives you an idea on how it happens.
The NCR germination trays are 100 per case and cost $90.00 per case. or $0.90@
Humidity domes for the trays are 50 per case for $90.00 or $1.80 each
We are buying a case of 1801's, a case of 50 cell propagation trays and a case of 1020 web trays. If we buy 3 cases of web trays the tray price comes down to $0.33@. we will get a discount on the other trays if we buy 4 - 5 cases. Please let me know if you are interested in anything.
Dave

Update on the SP cuttings. They arrived today and guess what, they didn't send cuttings to replace the ones I lost, they sent starts/plugs. What a surprise!!! I did email them back tho, Figured someone made a mistake, and it is only right to offer to pay the difference. Sure saved my sanity tho, not having to start them. WooHoo I be a happy camper.
Lee

Geez, I bet - that's great!!! Hopefully it's not a mistake.

BTW, when I've rooted them, I haven't used hormone powder. As a matter of fact, I have yet to use the one bottle of Dip 'n Grow I have. I know some folks swear by it and maybe the few failures I've had have been because of it, but .... ?

That is really great Lee. Do you know how to give them feedback? If this turns out that they are replacing the ones you lost, it would maybe be nice to give them a pat on the back.

Jeanette

I went to the garden watchdog and put a short note that I was impressed and that I will definately order from them again. Is that where you mean, or is there another place to go also????? I B smilin......... Lee

That'll do. Good for you. Jeanette

Great news lee:
I am guessing they will say forget about the diff.. Its a way to make a long time customer. I know I am hopeing to order from them in the near future. Anyone getting the rain we are? Its been every other day and boy that make me a Happy Camper.... NOT!!! oh well its going to be better
Dave

Anyone of this list into peace lillies?

Yes, Dave, it is raining again.

Hi JBerger, I love peace lilies. They are tender perennials here. I like the giant ones the most, but the small ones are pretty too. I love to plant them in the shade under some of my oaks.

It isn't raining yet, but we are supposed to get rain all week.
We took off and went to charleston yesterday and stopped in as many nurseries as we could find. There is one on the outskirts of charleston that is like heaven! I could spend days there. They were very proud of their plants though so all I got was some ideas for containers and hanging baskets. LOL We stopped at another one on the way to the beach and they had some really gorgeous plants too. They were growing lots of standards. I was surprised by plumbago, lantana, bouganvillea, and others all trained as standards. They had even trained a gardenia jasminoids into a standard and the blooms looked like beautiful waxed roses. It was awesome.

There are 2 new gaillardia hybrids that really caught my eye. one is called Tizzy and the other is called Frenzy. If you get a chance, check them out.

Gotta run, Linda