I'm in San Antonio (8b) and fairly new to hosta keeping. I had looked at keeping hosta about 4 years ago, did some research and decided it was a waste of time to even try so I wrote it off. The next spring, which was a little over three years ago, I decided to go for it and picked up three at my local nursery. I had still not found this forum at that point but knew enough to understand that they needed to be potted because of the massive amount of pill bugs we have here. I didn't know about the chilling factor at that point, which we certainly don't get the proper recommended amount of, although we do get some cold weather, just not extended cold. I used straight Miracle Grow potting soil. They sort of hung in there the first year, keeping them in a heavily treed area with some dappled sunlight. They were slow to come out the next spring, but they did and looked better. So year one test was complete. I bought three or four more from my local nursery the next spring. They all came out much earlier this year, maybe because of the unusually cold winter, and my three oldest ones suddenly took a huge upturn for the better. I was shocked at how great they looked this spring. I then bought about seven or eight more online this spring from Hallson Nursery. They are all from the fragrant line, as recommended by Chris, and all are doing wonderfully. That was about the time I found this forum and began to learn that a few others in the south were having great luck with hosta. My learning curve went straight up after spending some time here. We'll see what happens this coming spring and I'll go from there on what does well, what doesn't, what I did right and what I did wrong. Then I'll figure out next year's buy. As far as the empty pot thing through the winter, that's an easy trade off to me for the challenge and the beauty of these plants from around March throughout the warm weather season. We are going to be colder here than you are in your zone so I don't pretend to know how you will do keeping hosta, but don't get run off like I did at first. I'm still a relative newbie at this but these folks giving you advice are super smart. Don't listen to your local nursery people unless they have grown them themselves. If not then trust me, they don't know squat about growing hosta. We have a nursery here that I rate an A++++ overall and they are clueless about them. Let the folks here advise you on the best choices for hosta for your area, and if you have the shade for them (I have a couple that have never seen any direct sun), order a few online next spring, pot them up and see what happens. I'm glad I gave them a chance.

Hi HighJumpGirl, I have the following tips: 1) If you buy ahead, make sure that you have a good place to store off site. Stuff left on a building site can get damaged and or stolen. 2) Make sure you inventory all that you buy ahead 3) A spreadsheet to keep track of all the logistics, prices etc. is good. Think organization, computers, filing cabinets offices. 4) For appliances your FAX machine is your best friend. I decided what I wanted for appliances. Compiled an exact list with part numbers. Then FAXed 10 companies / shops for quotes. The best two priced shops I visited and checked out on the BBB. Saves loads of haggle time. 5) Door handle hardware. Ordering via the web is possible. Again attention to detail is essential. Color, model, left hand, right hand, finish. For like 40 doors, you need a spreadsheet and EXACT model numbers. Compiling this list is a one day job at least. Once you get the parts, safe storage and inventory is important. Do not use the click and point Web site interface, simply fax your complete list to the company. Saves everyone loads of hassle and you get the right parts, in the right color. Think attention to detail and logistics. 6) Plumbing components. This is a more difficult one. My recommendation is to use a good shop. Why? Well consider a shower. You have a valve that installs behind sheet rock. That valve will only fit certain handles and will only work in a set of components. Any error, at a later stage will involve you ripping out sheet rock, and tile and redoing it. So an error here can really be expensive. A good pluming shop usually has computer systems that can track and ensure compatability via good experience and good sales people. As it was I spend 4 hours going through a 38 page list of over 100 items. Again, color, finish, component, order number... any error wrong part. Good luck. best, Mike.

At least you have snow! The little we had, was melted the moment it hit the ground. LOL I'm not even concerned about landscaping. If I can just get the cement poured and the brick steps and front complete, that will add so much to the house. Heck, I'm not above putting in some fakes temporarily. LOL

there is a plant propogation book i have wherein the author describes his own mist system. that author has a large black coil of hose in the roof of his greenhouse so that water can be heated before reaching the mist nozzles. that's at least one vote for using warm water and keeping the cuttings reasonably warm as they root. just thought i would toss that in! lol. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted by: mosaic z8 LA (My Page) on Sun, May 11, 03 at 11:59 With such a setup you could probably root roses under mist all winter here in Louisiana. And then as an added bonus, you could save on your power bills all summer by using it to steam your veggies :) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted by: tammyinwv z6/WV (My Page) on Sun, May 11, 03 at 16:05 i have been unable to find the mist heads even within an hr from my home.Someone mentioned here they found them for .50 each.would anyone be willing to get me a couple and mail them? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted by: wild_garden virginia z6b (My Page) on Sun, May 11, 03 at 16:32 at my lowes store the mist heads where in the indoor gardening area next to the register, i doubt the people at lowes would have even know what to look for. it was with the drip irrigation supplies, as i said in the indoor gardening area next to the big outdoor area where they sell trees and things. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mist heads supply source Posted by: RoseHawke 7b AL (My Page) on Mon, May 12, 03 at 10:37 For you folks that haven't been able to find the heads locally, try going to this site: Dripworks or here's a direct link to one of the pages with some heads:Misters . I just a couple of weeks ago ordered some irrigation supplies from them and received them quite quickly. About 4 days if I remember correctly. Haven't had a chance to put it together yet, which is probably just as well as the flood we had last week would've probably washed everything down the creek ;-). I also have the Melnor timer, and it does seem a bit confusing about its ability to do a mist cycle, but what you're doing is programing it to do one cycle (on in the am; off in the pm) and punching in a choice of watering pattern, in this case the off for 10" on for 2" pattern. I believe the idea behind the pattern was/is actually to help prevent water run-off when doing overhead watering by allowing the water to soak in between the on phases. I bought this particular timer though because when I looked at it my mind said "Ah! Mist!" (heh), even though the reason I bought it at the time was to keep a new patch of zoysia sod watered until it rooted in. My batteries did last all season last year, but it was only opening that valve 4x a day for 3 weeks, and then 1x every 4 days for a couple of months. I can see where a misting pattern of opening and closing that valve many times during the day may eat batteries, but as ShamanSherpa pointed out, it's still cheaper than a $100+ misting timer! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted by: patclem z7 (or 6) TN (My Page) on Fri, May 23, 03 at 8:32 Regardless of how much water it wastes, etc, I decided to experiment with misting. I am TERRIBLE at rooting cuttings. I've tried baggies. I've tried jars. I've tried special cutting trays with plastic domes. I've had one rooted cutting out of probably 50. I had the same problem finding true super-fine mist systems in the south. None at Lowe's, none at HD. They're not popular here because they don't have the same evaporating effect they have in less humid areas of the country - they make you wet here. Here's where I found mist heads. They didn't charge me anything for shipping. They were super-good to deal with online. Web Page - Phone/Fax 888-693-0578 Local/Fax (719) 495-2266 Qty: 4; Sku: 6W401; Product: Monarch Misting Nozzles M-1; Amount: $7.40 Qty: 4; Sku: 6W519; Product: Reducing Tee for Monarch Misting Nozzles; Amount: $4.40 You have to go to Lowe's or local hardware store and get a hose adapter, timers, 1/2" PVC, PVC caps, etc. I have mine set up with 2 mist heads, and about a 6' diameter section of my grass is soaked! I don't have mine on a timer yet. Results? I don't have any yet, except none of my cuttings have turned black yet. PS - I AM NOT AFFILIATED WITH THIS BUSINESS IN ANY WAY! Here is a link that might be useful: Mist Heads -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted by: fuselighter 7/WA (My Page) on Thu, May 29, 03 at 21:41 I am so excited about the misting bed. I went out and bought all the supplies today. Total cost was about $15 (my husband had PVC and elbows left over from installing the sprinkler system). I would like to go to an intermittent system eventually, but for now I am going with continuous. The water bill is not an issue because we have an irrigation system (there is an annual fee but it is not based on usage). I set the whole thing up in about an hour. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted by: debbinard Z4CO (My Page) on Sun, Jun 1, 03 at 10:54 Shamansherpa -- I could not open your picture! I live in Colorado, it gets very warm middle of June (up to upper 90's) and stays low humidity. We are on outsidewater restrictions 2xweek, so I'm not sure this method would fly. Am wondering how visible this is, or if inside is an option under lights. At any rate, I would like to propigate some rose cuttings now (is this a good time?) My daughter in law is moving and would love some plants from a rose with sentimental value. Is the rooting hormone used just the usual or special for roses? Thanks Deb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted by: mytrid Zone8b Florida (My Page) on Sun, Jun 1, 03 at 13:48 Deb, Maybe you could call your water extention office and see if you can get special permission, exsplain to them how little water it uses. Yes you use rooting hormone, there are many available. Dip and grow I here is supposed to be really good. I got some of the more exspensive stuff from a friend whom bought it threw rose imporium on line. But you can always use something like dip and grow. Deanna -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted by: rose_enthusiast z7 TX. (My Page) on Sun, Jun 1, 03 at 15:47 Hi there Deanna! It seems to me you've managed to help a lot of people with your invaluable info. And I would like to thank you for inspiring me to start a misting bed to root my cuttings. I have one question to add to the many others you've been getting though... What rose company is it that you get your rooting hormone from? Is it Rose Emporium or the Antique Rose Emporium? I would like to purchase this product as well, since you and this company are using this to successfully root your cuttings. Thanks Again, Carlos -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted by: mytrid Zone8b Florida (My Page) on Tue, Jun 3, 03 at 1:31 Carlos, Thank you but we should all thank AngieAnders, she is the one who did all the research and work to discover this method and then post it here for us last year! She truly diserves all the credit. I just wanted to keep any new people aware that have just started rooting this year. Best of luck all and don't forget to post your sucess! Deanna -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted by: epiphany z5b PA (My Page) on Tue, Jun 3, 03 at 9:28 I found the Arizona Mist system which is by Orbit as mentioned at Wal-Mart. It has 12' of tubing, end cap, six misting heads and hose adapter for $14.95. Of course, it is once again cold and wet here,......all of a balmy 56°. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted by: auntnana 6 TN (My Page) on Thu, Jun 5, 03 at 13:06 I ordered the misting heads mentioned above from Dripworks last year and they don't put out a fine mist as much as they do a fine spray/droplets. And even though I had a pressure regulator on there, I kept having a problem with the heads blowing off! (Their drippers work perfectly by the way so it's nothing against the company) I ordered foggers from Misty Mate this year and they put out a super fine fog. Perfect for propagation. They are a litte more expensive than the ones from Dripworks but worth it. And if you ask they will ship the misting heads for $1.50. I went to HD and bought a 10-24 tap and drill set (3.00) and drilled holes in my 1/2" cvpvc and the heads just screwed right in! I bought a Melnor timer at HD for $39 and it has 1 minute spray options so I've got it set for 1 minute every 10 minutes. Can't remember the model number but it's not the one on the HD website. I hope to finish my new propagation box soon. I built one on a stand this year so I can move it around easily. Wouldn't you know, HD has plastic sheeting made just for greenhouses that I used! It's not the real thick heavy stuff either. It's only 4mil and is crystal clear see-thru! Hopefully I'll be finished this week!