Cardiocrinum Confined to Container?
Driftless Roots
18 years ago
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bluebonsai101
18 years agoDriftless Roots
18 years agoRelated Discussions
Sowing cardiocrinum
Comments (7)I have been trying to germinate fresh seed for many years. No luck until now. I harvested fresh seed from the pods just after the first snowfall in December of 2012. In January 2013 I created 8 experimental groups, some refrigerated, some not, some sowed directly, some floated in a baggie of vermiculite in a cooler filled with 82 degree water maintained by an aquarium heater, some put in the cold frame, some left outside in full exposure a harsh winter. I kept very thorough notes. The following method describes the method that easily proved its worth: three times the germination compared to all other methods. January 14, 2013---Soaked fresh seed overnight in a pint of water containing 1/2 teaspoon citric acid (or winemaker's acid blend). You could substitute 1 T. lemon juice. The acid soak variable proved to be the most important variable. January 15, 2013---Put soaked seeds in a baggie full of damp vermiculite and stratified (refrigerated 40 degrees) for 90 days. April 15, 2013---No germination. Placed seeds in 6" pots covered with vermiculite. Put pots in cold frame (along with half the other experimental groups). Inside temp of cold frame was 41 degrees at 8 AM. It froze previous night. Late spring, 2013---Opened cold frame but kept pots moist all summer and fall. No germination. February 23, 2014---Germination observed in all pots, but the acid soak/stratifed method had three times the amount. April 12, 2014---Fertilized with weak solution of Peters African Violet food (12-36-24) to encourage bulb growth. Put pots on the deck on the north side of the house, where they will get no direct sun. Kept very well watered. Tomorrow--July 7, 2014---Will pot up all plants in separate 4" pots. About 50 total from a beginning of perhaps 800 seeds. Good luck to all!! Remember: acid soak and stratify!...See MoreCan Miracle-Gro Shake 'n Feed Citrus be used in containers?
Comments (12)Thinking about the warning not to use Shake n' Feed in a container, it probably is because its rate of release is based on temperature rather than moisture. The theory was that plants would need more fertilizer as temperatures rose from spring into summer when they were in active growth. So, the fertilizer pellets would release more nutrients when plants need it during their most active growth period in summer. However, the "dumping" of the nutrients and consequent burning of the roots was a real problem when the slow release fertilizers were used in hot climates. I think I read that the newer formulas for use in warm climates release the nutients based on moisture and temperature to avoid the dumping and burning. I don't think the "dumping" was as much of a problem in colder climates using the temperature dependent formulas. But even in the cooler areas, dark containers can really heat up, especially when they are in direct sun. That heat can cause the nutrients to be released too rapidly and burn the roots in a container. The soil most likely doesn't heat up as rapidly around the roots of an in ground tree so the nutrients will not be released as rapidly as in a pot or where there is high heat. You can probably find a slow release formula for warm climates that work well in containers. They are probably formulas that are more based on moisture levels than temperature. Cory...See MoreButterfly plants - shallow rooted/ground cover/containers
Comments (48)Eep, you put me on the spot - it's starting to get that late-summer disheveled look. And yet I'm STILL waiting for some laggards to get blooming! Not a beauty shot, but I take pics like this (with camera held up over my head) so I can more or less get the whole bed in the frame and have a record of where everything is and what size it is. This pic is a little over a week old, taken shortly after the rain. It's hard to see my tiny Juneberry tree against the tall coreopsis behind it, but that's what's in the seemingly "empty" space to the left of the fern. The front of the bed is all shade/GC plants, because the building shades that area most of the year, but it looks a little crispy after high summer because the sun hits all of it for a while. I've started a good collection of violets here and also in the dirt alleyway that's behind the fence - it doesn't belong to me but it was totally neglected and full of trash and weeds when I moved in, so I've been gradually cleaning and clearing it and planting things to serve as ground cover. Immediately behind the birdbath are turtleheads, still not blooming. Along the white wall on the left, New England asters that I grew from seed this year. In the back left corner of the fence, Tall Coreopsis that I transplanted this year, so it's had a setback and is late in blooming and also not so very tall. In the middle back, Asclepias incarnata "Ice Ballet", not blooming. Back right, "Blue Fortune" agastache which is still going like a hero though the flower heads are now pointing every which way. There are a couple of very small Monarda "Pink Lace" to their right. Buddleia "Ice Chip" is on the right of the birdbath. It's looking nice these days, but still snubbed by the bees and wasps that are constantly on the Agastache - though I do see butterflies on it. The gigantic mound of vines on top of the fence is morning glory. I planted "Heavenly Blue" and it has yet to bloom despite being started indoors early under lights. As you can see, if I have a major gripe it is not enough blooms, in general! I still need to fine tune my bloom succession quite a bit, which is tricky in such a tight space. Turning to the right hand fence (east side of garden) I have a narrow bed with autumn ferns and some of the volunteer morning glories that grow wild in the neighborhood. That one, at least, has bloomed like crazy for weeks now. The vines on the fence are climbing up copper wires fastened to eye hooks at top and bottom. When this year's morning glories are over, I'm pondering using that space for some pipevines, or else some other vine that will have more pollinator value....See MoreDo you love your home more or less since the confinement?
Comments (53)We started the pandemic at our winter house and are currently at our summer house. I love our townhouse in California. It's the smallest house I've lived in, but I got to renovate and decorate to my current taste. We were very comfortable there, but really bored staying in. All the projects have been done, landscape maintained by HOA, only a small patio with a few potted plants. Really easy to house clean. I spent hours and hours reading. All my usual activities there are outside the home. We are back at our lake house in PA. Always house projects to do. Vegetable and flower gardens to tend. I tend to be much more of a homebody here. I'm happy to poke around in my gardens and kayak out on the lake. I don't love this house as much. It has a somewhat awkward layout(fixed as much as we could when we reno'd). More of a mishmash of furniture styles. If it was up to me, I'd live in CA year round. But my DH loves it here so this is my 6 month compromise....See Morebluebonsai101
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7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago
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