Propagation now in Pots

I thought I would give an update on my Propagation Post from November.

As you can see it has been going very well.  I have a big table set up in front of the sliding glass door in my basement and they really seem to like it there.
The Bat Wing Begonia's and the Wax Begonias were my most successful.  Between the two the Bat wings won by a small margin.  And this is very nice because as most of you know the new specialty begonias are very expensive.  The mother plant is doing well and seemed to have enjoy the trim.

As you can see she is putting out new leaves and enjoying the bright light in the school room...we gave her a heart to show how much we love her.  She was purchased from Kroger at the end of the year for $3.00 and worth every penny!

The Coleus and Inpatients rooted in the water, but each and everyone one died after the transplant to the bean cans I saved.  This year I may try rooting hormone on cuttings and then putting them in soil. 

I also rooted, in water Variegated Ivy it got transplanted to some hanging baskets that I had ferns in...I wanted it to trail down the side and look and pretty.  It is doing very well. Several types of succulents (that you can see in the photo) were just stuck in some soil I had about an 80% success rate with these.  I found that the trailing sedum type didn't do as well as the others. 

Also I must say in Georgia we will have several days, weeks even.  Where we have nice weather, during these times the kids were recruited to help me carry my transplants and all the ferns I divided outside.  I made sure they got the best organic soil, have been misted and watered on a regular basis...The plants not the kids.

Once they have been in the ground or at there outdoor destination I will post how my propagation experiment is progressing.  Hopefully this will help everyone who wants to increase plants without decreasing wallets.

What is Going On

Though it is winter I do have a few days to enjoy working out in the yard.  With plenty of sticks to pick up  and an unbelievable amount of acorns rake up I have more than enough to do.  But on a few nice days I turn the garden and compost.  The parsley is still nice and bushy and I have even seen a few Swallow Tail larva.  In the fall their caterpillar form was munching out...one of their favorite foods and I have plenty to share.  Especially since I will enjoy the winged beauties in the spring.

I planted Sweet Peas (flowering variety)

 and Bachelor Buttons in the early fall last year.

 They have gotten nice and full but alas no flora.  I have added Phosphorus and Potassium on three separate occasion.  Maybe In the Spring I will see some action...if not, they've got to go!

Hosta Find

LOOKY What I found while checking out at Low's.

Wide Brim Hostas still in very good shape for this time of year
But that's not the best of it....

I don't know if you can make that out but the sticker says $.87! So what did I do...

I bought all that they had...4 hosta plants with tax $3.72...less than a cup of coffee.

YEAH! BABY! I just love a great buy. I know this is a shameless bragging blog...but since I am gardening on the cheap I just had to tell everyone all about it.

These will get added to my pots that I have perennials in, my brunnera didn't make it last year and these will fill in quite nicely.

Propigation

Over the Past few weeks the Kids and I have been taking cuttings and collecting seeds.

Trinity got me started on the cuttings, she likes to make flower arrangements and place them around the house. She is actually really good at it, putting together things I would have never done.

Bat Wing Begonia

As her creations fade I'd go around and collect them, I noticed after awhile that one arrangement didn't fade, on further investigation it had rooted. My little girl is a smart little flower fairy.

Coleus

That was all it took, I was out cutting everything in sight and putting it in water. I thought I would share with everyone my findings on what took root.

Wax Begonia

I have not tried to root the Bat Wing Begonia yet, but I'm betting it will since the Wax Begonia did.

Impatient

Also I am not sure since they are annuals how they will survive. Once rooted I am planning on potting them and putting them back in the window. I will let you know how it go's, if I succeed I have saved a bunch of money and I will have more annuals than I could have bought.

How to make a pot tower

 

What you will need

1 - 12 or 14 inch clay pot
3 - 10 inch clay pots
1 - 6 foot re-bar
1- Hammer
Potting soil
12 plants (Sun or Shade depending on location
Newspaper

Instructions
1) Place your newspaper on the ground in your chosen location...this will keep the weeds from growing up.

2) Set your largest pot on top of newspaper.

3) Take the re-bar and put it in the center of the drainage hole and hammer it in 12 inches.

4) Fill your pot with soil.

5) Thread your first 10" pot by putting the re-bar thru the drainage hole and rest it on the soil in a tilted manner.

6) Finish threading the rest of the pots.

Note: If your re-bar is sticking out the top too far you can hammer it down further.

7) Fill the pots with soil and plant.

Water well, be sure to gently water your plants as the dirt wants to run over the lip. Once your plants grow up they will fill in and hold the dirt better.

Wagon Garden Camping

I wanted to share how well our wagon garden is doing...Yes, it came with me camping...I have to have something to fuss over.

The Making of a Wagon Garden

A fellow gardener and online friend inspired this project. She had made an inspiring wagon garden and after Trinity and I stopped drooling we got to work.

Can you see Trinity in the back Swinging?

First we chanced by a sale at Hobby Lobby and got all the neat little miniatures...of course we were just there for the wooden sticks for the fence along with some white paint...and get this the paint was called "Garden Gate."

Trinity was awesome with the moss. She made it all fit together and patted it with her sweet little hands.

Trinity's hands...pat...pat...

She and I had been needing a good Girly project that didn't include glittery nail polish. It took us two days to apply several coats of paint. She was an expert at placement, I kept my know it all adult opinions to myself and let her guide the project...as you can see it is lovely...I guess we adults don't know everything after all.

Found a new use for my bird house barn

To visit Sue and her unbelievable garden...yes I am still drooling...and you will too...visit her here http://suesgardenjournal.blogspot.com/ be sure to take a napkin to wipe your chin.




With all That I Am
Carrie "Forrest-Dweller" Duvall