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Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Geranium Blog Set For Wild Gardening Frenzy
A is for Apple Scented Geranium
I'm completely manic with new geranium projects this spring:
- Set up fluorescent light for rooting and seed growing
- Super tough scented geraniums - I'm developing a list of scented geraniums that gardeners in desert cities can count on. Stay tuned for these sizzling recommendations.
- My little online store is now operational. Drop by Sunshine Hill Gardens for scented geranium seeds and cuttings. I've got canna rhizomes, too!
- Scented geranium leaf gallery - 'nuff said.
- In the name of better organization, some of the articles on Scented Geraniums will be moving to the Geranium Blog over the next few days.
- And how about an update on Gracie the Grackle?
- Plus more, more, MORE preying mantids, deformed vegetables, desert tortoise antics, new scented geraniums and lovely pictures.
Pelargonium odoratissimum (apple) is one of the first to bloom each spring.
Posted by Dawn Hill at 1:41 AM
Categories: Cuttings, Desert Tortoise, Foliage, Garden Fun, Grackle, Hot Weather, New Plants, P. odoratissimum, Praying Mantis, Propagation, Seeds
Categories: Cuttings, Desert Tortoise, Foliage, Garden Fun, Grackle, Hot Weather, New Plants, P. odoratissimum, Praying Mantis, Propagation, Seeds
Monday, April 10, 2006
Nursery Report
Fuzzy babies of Pelargonium 'Chocolate Mint' celebrate
spring with new growth and even some buds.
It has been 2 months since I started rooting some cuttings from my scented geranium plants. I started out with 12 starts each of Lime, Citrosa, Chocolate Mint, Dr. Livingstone, Brilliant, Ginger, and Nutmeg. I also had 4 volunteer seedlings of Coconut and took 8 cuttings from a Coconut runner.
So how are they doing?
Mostly - very well! I still have 12 babies each of Lime, Citrosa, Chocolate Mint, Dr. Livingstone, and Ginger. Also 11 Brilliant, 6 Coconut, and 3 Nutmeg.
Of the Coconut, the four seedlings are healthy and strong, but the cuttings from the runner never really seemed to get going. Only 2 remain. Nutmeg also was difficult. These cuttings took cold spells harder than the others. I expect that when I try to root some new cuttings in warmer temperatures, they will do fine.
Posted by Dawn Hill at 10:27 PM
Categories: Cuttings, P. 'Chocolate Mint', P. grossularioides, Propagation, Seedlings
Categories: Cuttings, P. 'Chocolate Mint', P. grossularioides, Propagation, Seedlings
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Rooting Plantlets from a Runner
A Coconut geranium runner
I have been wondering if the plantlets growing along Coconut geranium runners could be rooted. Today I cut apart a runner and gave it a try. I stuck part of the runner stem in the ground, and made sure that the axiol where the leaves are coming out is in contact with the soil.
Coconut geranium plantlets now on their own
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
More Cuttings Rooting
Cuttings of Brilliant (foreground)
and Nutmeg geraniums
Started 36 new geranium cuttings this week - 12 each of Brilliant, Ginger, and Nutmeg. So far everything looks great! No sign of wilt or rot. I am keeping the cuttings lined up against a west-facing wall. They are receiving about 2-3 hours of morning sun.
Flats of scented pelargonium cuttings 2/14/06
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
New Starts
The weather in southern Nevada this week could be called "spring-like", although technically it is still winter. It is close enough to spring to start some new scented geraniums. This is how I do it:
- Using a sharp knife or scissors, choose a healthy looking branch tip and cut off about five inches.
- Strip the leaves from the bottom half of the cutting.
- Dip the bare end in Rootone + fungicide and shake off excess.
- Plant the cutting in its own little pot with a good potting soil.
- Water in and wait!
Lime geranium cutting ready for rooting
Results of my afternoon fun: I started 12 cuttings each of 4 different geraniums - lime, citrosa, chocolate mint, and Dr. Livingstone.
Ready, set, root!
