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Plants as Christmas PresentsRead the article this discussion is about
This archived discussion is "read only".
» Marge_Talt - Michael, Interesting you advocate never watering cyclamen fro Michael,Interesting you advocate never watering cyclamen from the top! I've always done this and have kept corms going for several years before I do some dumb thing to them and they depart. But, I don't water until the soil has started to dry out and I agree, NEVER let them sit in water. Mine never seem to want to go totally dormant. Have you had this happen? I keep reading that they should, but guess my plants don't read the same books. Also agree about the cool temperatures for azaleas and cyclamens....an absolute must IMO. And poor poinsettas.....I really actually hate to receive them because they do not like the house conditions I have to offer. Excellent article, btw! Marge -- posted by Marge_Talt » Jojo - Hello there Michael Congratulations on managing to cover all the Hello there Michael Congratulations on managing to cover all the basic plant care for the most popular christmas plants.On my own page on Suite 101, I have a full article just on poinsettias, and here is a link to it. It is true that many of these plants last for only two weeks. It is such a shame that such beautiful plants make the way of the landfill. Josephine - the Secret Life of Plants -- posted by Jojo » Michael - Marge,watering from the top is only for people who know what the Marge,watering from the top is only for people who know what they are doing,which you obviously do,if you have a plant for some years. The new hybrids are inclined to grow all year round,and it is better to keep them going, as they are hard to start once dried out.They can sulk for a year or more before starting into growth again.Michael. -- posted by Michael » Michael - Josephine,I have just read your excellent article on Poinsettias Josephine,I have just read your excellent article on Poinsettias. We seem to share the same opinion on these plants.I have been writing to newspapers for years trying to educate the public about these plants.But unfortunately they still purchase plants from outside shop fronts,chilled and already dead,or dying-- posted by Michael » Marge_Talt - Michael, Thanks! You have set my miind at ease. I have worr Michael,Thanks! You have set my miind at ease. I have worried about their lack of dormancy for years, but had no idea that some weren't meant to go dormant. I lost the first one I had managed to keep for 4 or 5 years by taking someone's advice to force dormancy...it never recovered, so I've just kept them barely moist during the summer and let them do what they wanted to. Now, I can do this with peace of mind! Have another cyclamen question. Last year mine made some lovely seed pods and I planted the seeds immediately they were ripe, and had almost 100% germination. Now, I've got some tiny flats crowded with babies about and inch and a half high. Seems to me I ought to pot them on, but I wonder if this is right or should I just leave them. Since they are children of the plants who don't go dormant, maybe I should just go ahead and pot on. I'm in a dither about this and, consequently, doing nothing. Got any sage advice, here? Marge -- posted by Marge_Talt » Michael - Marge, I would wait until the Spring and then pot them on. Baby Marge, I would wait until the Spring and then pot them on. Baby Cyclamen do not go dormant in their first year,even the hardy one's grow for two years before going dormant. If you have a greenhouse and can control the temperature you could pot them now,but I would still wait till Spring.They should be flowering by next Autumn.Michael. -- posted by Michael » Marge_Talt - Thanks, Michael. I've got a pseudo greenhouse that never goes b Thanks, Michael. I've got a pseudo greenhouse that never goes below about 40F. Right now, they are in the bay window of our bedroom, which we keep pretty cool -- like from about 55F to 65F.If I potted them on, they would have to move to the pseudo greenhouse for lack of room - that bay is crammed with plants...well, to be honest, so is the poor pseudo greenhouse, so from a space point of view, it would be better if I could wait until spring without holding them back. Another question, should I be feeding these babies? Marge -- posted by Marge_Talt » Michael - Marge, yes you should be feeding them with a high potash feed.I Marge, yes you should be feeding them with a high potash feed.I use Phostrogene tomato feed.I am not sure if you can get that over there ,but any tomato feed will do.Phostrogene contains all the trace elements.Mix 1 teaspoon full with two imperial gals of water,and apply every two weeks. Make sure the leaves are dry before nightfall.Michael -- posted by Michael » Marge_Talt - Once again, Michael, many thanks. Will give those babies a feed Once again, Michael, many thanks. Will give those babies a feed tomorrow. I've never run into Phostrogene, so don't think it's available this side of the pond. Also, don't grow tomato anymore, but probably have something high in phosphorus around that will do until I can get tomato food.Marge -- posted by Marge_Talt
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