Are these suckers? If yes, do I do out-of-pot surgery?
Begonia2005
11 years ago
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bspofford
11 years agoBegonia2005
11 years agoRelated Discussions
Do you thin out plants that are 3 to pot
Comments (17)I sow my seeds into heated germination flats and transplant, when ready, into cell packs. This was how I was taught to do it in college, how I did it when working for a commercial business, how I taught hundreds of students to do it, and how I did it myself when I was growing thousands of bedding and vegetable plants. I still do it this way, now that I'm only growing a few hundred plants. It's efficient, convenient, and beneficial for the plants. I can sow 100-200 seeds into one plastic flat. I heat mine with heating cables buried into the germination mix. My successful transplant rate from the crowded germination flat is exceedingly high, probably 98%. Young seedlings don't falter for one millisecond due to this second step...rather, they burst into rapid development. I use a much coarser potting mix for the cell packs, to be sure. The cells I use are either 36 or 48 to the sheet, plenty big enough for a hefty, sturdy plant ready for the 'real world'. They can stay in a cell that size for several weeks, waiting for conditions to be right. I feel no need for a larger finished plant. The smaller ones catch up to the larger in no time, anyway. Why do I propagate this way? The germination medium is, by necessity, fairly fine textured (ProMix) and I absolutely do NOT want to grow any plants in that stuff for more than a few days after germination. The few flats that I heat take up very little space and once transplanted, I'll only use 9 or 10 liners filled with the cells. That makes it easy enough for me to take them outside during the day and bring them back in at night, if the temperatures are too low. Seedlings are much tougher than people realize. When grown properly, their stems are sturdy and springy. Though I sow them VERY close together in the flat, they prise apart very readily and without detectible damage. The filled cell packs will be pre-drilled with little holes so that the seedlings plop right in. I do one flat at a time, watering them in thoroughly with my misting nozzle when done. One thing to remember is that root systems will regenerate and regrow rapidly. This is true for all kinds of plants. As a matter of fact, root pruning is how we encourage a flush of new root growth in woody plants and houseplants. The fibrous roots of young bedding plants are not likely to cause the seedlings any problems at all during a proper transplant process. Here is a link that might be useful: flats and cell packs...See MoreYes, believe it or not, I do have ordinary houseplants! lol
Comments (30)Larry! Well I'll be! I remember that now. It was a seed and I had no idea what it was then. I actually thought it was a freak of nature, pinched it off and tossed it! That year I did see one humming bird, and never gave it a thought. You should see that same plant now. I kept in in very bright light and kept it small. Now it's about to bloom again. I'll post a recent picture for you:-) Jodik..You are way too kind. Just remember that I do owe some of my success to you, reiterating over and over again about how important it is to use good mixes, and to others. You have some beauties too and I would love to help you grow more orchids. Some actually do very well in cool dry conditions in the winter. Some need cool to induce flowering while others need cold to rest. I am still finding out about these, Cymbidiums being a species which I just ordered. Fragrant as heck too! Thank you for visiting my threads since you know how much it means to me and of that of everyone ele's. It take ALL teh fun out of growing plants if we can not share them with like minded friends here! Purple, I have yet to take a picture, I was so busy this a.m. I was looking at it and thought I should take a pic tomorrow. Planto, thank goodness is right! I accidently left my cat down in teh basement where I have dozens of expensive plants under lights, and thank goodness he did not knock one over after being stuck in there for hours! I would of killed the one who let him in there and the cat.lol Thanks again everyone, and Purple, please watch for my pic, ok? Mike...See MoreHow do I best handle these huge suckers I dug up today?
Comments (2)Thank you so much. I was afraid nobody would help in time. I'll get to it right away. They are already showing a little wilt on the bottommost leaves. I searched and searched for root propagation methods, read one where you cut two slits, read how growers use rhizopon AA for more blooms when transplanting, was going to run to the nursery, they may not have it, and we want bushes and worry about the blooms later. So I'll just do as you suggest and hope for the best. I'll try to bury them about the same level they grew. I don't think you want to put them way deep in the pot, nor too shallow either. I did a lot of reading and searching last night, and it seems fall is the best time for transplanting roses/suckers, but I think early spring should be ok, too. I would, in time like to find out the best way to do root propagation like the old rose searchers I've read about did. It sounds easier than cuttings if it works except I fear most property owners would be more reluctant to let you dig around a rose rather than just take some cuttings....See MoreHow do I encourage Lilacs and Hedge roses to sucker?
Comments (3)Both have to be a suckering type. Many lilacs are now sold that do not sucker and there is not much you can do to make them do so. The common lilac types will sucker with impunity and there would be no need to remove the grass/sod. Do you know what kind of roses and lilacs you have? I would not use a vegetation killer so close to the shrubs. Too much chance of injury to the 'good guys'. Could try digging out the sod around them, replacing the sod with a good soil and then mulch lightly with grass clippings or whatever you happen to have. If the lilacs are not the suckering kind, try to propogate them by bending a lower branch down and anchoring it firmly in the soil. Water it occasionally. It will root and next year you can separate it from the main plant. Jan...See Moreaegis1000
11 years agoBegonia2005
11 years agoBegonia2005
11 years agobunnycat
11 years ago
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