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Post by tomc on Mar 19, 2007 23:08:33 GMT -5
One of my best hits last summer was Hydrangeas. They divide easily from air-layers and if fertilized with mildy alkaline amendments (in acidic New England) bloom pink instead of blue.
The short is a bit of oyster shell makes a pink hydrangea. Sold every one of 'em.
Or is your hydrangea's normally come pink, a dash of sulphur makes em blue.
I DID specifically tell each purchaer what I had done to evoke a 'new' color.
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Mar 25, 2007 21:19:18 GMT -5
Tom, One of the newer members here asked about rooting hydrangea branches on another site. Would you be kind enough to give a few details in layman's language so that she could attempt to root some at home?
TY
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Post by Alan on Mar 25, 2007 21:39:12 GMT -5
That's really neat that they change color like that. Thanks, you learn something new every day!
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Post by tomc on Mar 25, 2007 22:39:47 GMT -5
Hydrangia is a 3-4 foot tall spreading shrub. Bend five or six branches down to earth and lay some planks over them and work some bark mulch over those branches. Ya gotta let some leaves show and get sun. You have just started a primitive 'airlayer'. Come back in the fall and replace mulch. Spade free from the parent the following spring. Each branch should have roots. Pot and grow.
I have poor luck with cloches and other propagating methods for cuttings and rarely do that.
My neighbors Rhubarb sets seeds now and again, Every so often they settle at the back of my yard. They are worth repotting and bringing to market. I sold those out too.
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Post by tomc on Dec 4, 2007 18:58:03 GMT -5
I packed off some Alberta spruce today to a local cut Xmass tree lot. I'll let you know how that works out.
If they don't warm them up at their new homes over yule, or have cool space to keep them in after yule, they should be viable to plant to feild in the spring.
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Dec 4, 2007 22:09:22 GMT -5
What is the best way to overwinter small live Yule trees? I tried many years ago when the stores first had the 12" tabletop spruces, but I was new to Christmas tree farming, lol
But I'm thinking about this lovely little pine that's growing at the back of our farm on a hillside..I could live pot it for Christmas, then I would like to plant it up closer to the house. Can you give us some pointers on best way to do so??
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Dec 5, 2007 9:23:59 GMT -5
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Post by johno on Dec 5, 2007 22:56:58 GMT -5
I hate thieves...
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Post by tomc on Dec 5, 2007 22:58:29 GMT -5
I'd start to collect pine as early in the spring as you can get a shovel into dirt. For smaller trees I like larger paper white (dafodill) pans. Your soil should be etreemly fast draining that you set up newly collected trees in. Let them rest for 3-4 weeks under a bench in the cool, over water. Bring up into sunlight and prune growing tips as spring opens to just a few new needles.
The place where the rubber hits the road in live rooted trees as christmas specimens is maintaining the tree till sping just above freezing if it breaks dormancy Ie coold and water at need with some sunlight.
1. Don't bring it indoors for more than a couple days, and keep as cool as possible when you DO bring it in.
2. If it wakes up keep above freezing (just) and watered.
An example of fast draining soil: Cactus mix at the big box store
Another example of quick draing soil: 5 part Grani-Grit 5 part sifted bark mulch 1/2 part crushed oyster shell 1 part sifted compost
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Dec 6, 2007 11:00:28 GMT -5
Okay, so even if the ground wasn't frozen solid, it would be too late to dig the little tree for this Christmas. Rats. Thanks Tom...
But I just can't pass this up... Big Box Stores...Bah HumBug
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Post by flowerpower on Dec 6, 2007 23:20:58 GMT -5
I dug too late last yr. and I killed it. This yr I am cutting one. I will take one from where a clump of them are growing. Just to thin it out a bit. I dont care if it is a Charlie Brown Tree.
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Post by tomc on Dec 7, 2007 15:21:40 GMT -5
Flowerpower, And in the spring dig a couple for the next few years. If you have the stuff to make your own soil, and any place where you have overhead irrigation. You can do minimal care and still groom your tree(s).
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Post by hoosierheightsfarm on Dec 9, 2007 22:34:02 GMT -5
I dug too late last yr. and I killed it. This yr I am cutting one. I will take one from where a clump of them are growing. Just to thin it out a bit. I dont care if it is a Charlie Brown Tree. Cutting a tree will definitely kill it... ;D
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Post by flowerpower on Dec 10, 2007 7:19:39 GMT -5
Yeah, the tree dies. But I take one that will be crowded out eventually. And honestly, I thank & apologize to the tree, before I cut it.
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Post by doccat5 on Dec 20, 2007 11:51:39 GMT -5
I have a question about grani grit. That was a new one for me. Do you use that as a soil amendment? I googled it but am still a bit confused. Thanks
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