I knew I was going to be home for 2 weeks around the holidays, and I knew I was going to want to tend to something, so I started a few seeds early. On Nov. 11th, I put in some White Texas Star Hibiscus, Texas Rock Rose and Blue Butterfly Bush (none of which have sprouted. The Easter Egg Plant and Ballerina Angel Trumpets sprouted rather quickly. I up-potted them the other day. ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) On the same day, I started some Hibiscus from Hubby's Mom's old plant. Some of them sprouted quick while there's been no sign of life from the others. On Dec. 5th I started some Pink Dinner Plate Hibiscus which also sprouted quickly; and some Lemon Yellow Rosemallow (no sign of life yet). Here are the Hibiscus which may need to be up-potted soon. ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) At least I have been able to play in some potting soil.
I think you've done really well Cheryl. I'm sure more of the seeds will germinate in the next couple of weeks for you. The ones that already have look strong and healthy. :-D
You have done quite well, haven't you Cheryl. Those little green plantlets look like they're doing very well. When will you be able to plant them out there?
Sjoerd... Hubby's Mom's Hibiscus will go in the ground, probably late April or Early May. I want to experiment with putting at least one of the Ballerina and Easter Egg in the ground, but they are mostly a container plant. The Pink Dinner Plate Hisbiscus will also be in a container. I forgot to post the Coneflowers... only 3 sprouts out of another three containers like these. ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) They will go in the ground probably a little later because I want them to be pretty good sized first. Last year they were just slightly larger than this when I planted them, and even though they grew, they were very late trying to bloom. I really really really want more of these and they seem to be hard to find in the nurseries for some reason. So... if more don't sprout in a couple of weeks, I'll toss 'em out and try again. Thanks everyone!
Cheryl,I can see you have been having fun. It is a bit early here to sow seeds at least any seeds I have.Do you do any of the traditional "winter sowing"? I'm in the choosing which seeds to order stage. I can tell the sun is getting stronger even at this date.The greenhouse can zoom up to 100 in the noon day sun. sNs
SnS.... this is my extent of winter sowing. I collected some seeds from plants that I'm not sure will return and would really like to have again. So... I figured that if I tried some early, I'd know whether or not I needed to shop for new plants or not.
Looking quite good, Cheryl. Those cone plants: I discovered that seedling cone plants be better for me (in this climatic situation) if I prevent them from blooming at all the first year. I have let them bloom that first year only to discover that they had died over the winter, and when I dug up the remains, I noticed that the root development was scant. They may do totally different where you live. I see that you put your flowering plants in the ground earlier than we do here.
Thanks for the info on the coneflowers, Sjoerd. I'll keep that in mind. Although it wasn't a problem for me last year since they didn't try blooming until early November. :-D I did let the ones that bloomed go to seed in the hopes they could reproduce themselves better and I could. I'll keep adding and adding until I have them everywhere! Usually, our last frost is early March, so I TRY to refrain from planting until the end of the month.
Now I know what happened to some of my cone flowers. I will do a 'Queen of hearts.' the first season- "Off with their heads!!" :-( Jerry
I just want to say another word about the "deadheading". You know Cheryl, my info may or may not help you with your cone plants. Your climate is greatly different than ours...take for instance, the time of the last frost. You said that there it is the end of March, here it is the third week of May (and it can still come after that, though that is not common). The deadheading the first year I have known about for some time, but I have also heard it from others...like garden centre employees and nursery owners. I have also had it suggested that even if you buy a cone plant from a garden centre (which could be more than one year old) that it is advisable to decapitate it that first year anyway, just to be sure that the most "energy" goes into the root development and thus the focus being on the plant establishing itself in its new milieu. Once it is established with a hardy root ball, then it can stay and produce flowers abundantly for year after year. This particular treatment is specifically for the cone plant, but I believe that a few others may be sensitive to this as well. I am not 100% sure about it, I will have to look that up sometime. A further note that here I have to "treat" the ground in which I plant them, due to the structure. I need to make it dryish, a bit "poor" and well drained. Good luck, guys.
I'll try anything to get these flowers established. The butterflies just love them! And I'll definitely keep in mind that they like it a bit dry (which shouldn't be a problem around here).
Oh your pics make me anxious for spring! Too many house plants inside to do seeds... Great job on these!!
