Insomnia Thread...

[Willow87]

The snow looks so beautiful. Its going to be 92 here tomorrow. I cant believe it lol.

[Willow87]

I wanted to show everyone my epiphyllum cuttings from Dean

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Very nice, Cam!


: )

[tbaleno]

Cheer up Sherry. Things are going to be warm there soon.

[Willow87]

Thanks Sherry! I really like epiphyllums. He also sent me a large Orinoco corm

[The Hollyberry Lady]

I sure hope it does, Tom.


By the way...all the seeds are mailed! You guys should be pretty happy with what I've sent.


It's cold today but I went out anyway...in my wintercoat!


Hoping for warm weather soon...


: )

[Willow87]

Its amazing that its still snowing there, and here I'm nearly burning up lol.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

I wish I was, Cam. Alright, quit rubbing it in.


Be back a little later...


: )

[Willow87]

Be careful what you wish for. At least you are having some form of precip lol

[The Hollyberry Lady]

It seems that's all we've had is rain or snow. I want some sunshine and warmth.


So I went to the nursery today to pick up some plants that I ordered back in early winter. They came in finally!


I was so pleased to see how lovely they were. I had placed the order for Bob and I, so we could get a headstart on enjoying them since they're slower growing.


You and JaNan have seeds for it Cameron...Gaultheria Procumbens "Winterberry" dwarf evergreen shrublet. Here are a couple plants I picked up today...





I bought four total...two each. The cold is what makes the leaves turn red. If you were wondering whether to sow some seeds or not, I figured this would convince you.


It's a low growing ground cover shrublet.



: )

[Willow87]

Wow those are beautiful Sherry! I'm definitely going to sow the seeds lol

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Plus in June Cam, little white flowers develop which will be where the berries will form when the blossoms drop. It's a self-fertile little shrublet too, so no pollination is required to get berries!!! How cool is that?! It's like Holly, but only better...did I just say that?!


It actually looks like it's in the same family as Holly, but it isn't. Holly leaves don't turn red like winterberry leaves do. It lives throughout winter and the berries last and last.


Happy this morning because I just dicovered an Alpine strawberry sprout, which is going to be my new little aero-garden plant, to replace the one I gave my girlfriend. I've been waiting and waiting but strawberry seeds can take 20-30 days to pop, but finally one has appeared!


So it's overcast, cold, and drizzly here. Not nice weather at all. I don't want to hear about how warm and sunny it is there Cam!


Hope you guys have a great Tuesday.


: )

[Willow87]

That is so neat Sherry. I cant wait to grow it. I really want to plant the strawberry seeds you gave me, but I need to leave them in the fridge longer.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Strawberry seeds really don't need any fridge time Cam...just sow them in a cooler area of your home and they'll sprout within a few weeks. Keep in mind that I keep my seeds in the fridge already so that's where yours were before I sent them.


I just got back from another fast run to the greenhouse and picked up two more Gaultheria plants!!!


They ordered the four I got in yesteday especially for me, but they got in a few extras in case I wanted more or someone else wanted some too. I got another one for Bob so he could have three for his new shade garden and I picked one up for you JaNan, so I could keep the two I have for me.


One plant even has a berry on it already!


Here's your new little Winterberry guy, JaNan...





Here's the one with the berry...





Too cool, eh?!


The greenhouse was looking great this morning...





Cam, you're going to really enjoy the Gaultheria Winterberry when it sprouts for you. Just remember it likes acidic soil and it will thrive in it. Let me know when your seeds pop...


Any castor bean or sunflowers up yet, Cam? You can sow your strawberry seeds today.


: )

[Willow87]

Hi Sherry, I really dont have cool areas in my house, though the ac has been on, its still stays above 70, so I dont know if I would be successful. I'll have to save up coffee grounds to keep the soil acidic. None of the seeds have come up yet. I have them outside in the sunlight so hopefully they will come up soon. I love the lilies in the greenhouse, I want to get some easter lilies this year and plant them in the ground

[Willow87]

I just looked outside and several of the sunflowers are sprouting. This morning I didnt even see anything. I cant wait to plant them now lol

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Cam, you have no worries...the strawberry seeds will sprout for you. Just sow the seeds by covering them ever so lightly and then use a mist bottle daily to keep the top moist until sprouts appear. Place the little pot near your air conditioner and this will do the trick, you'll see.


Tom, was it you that said you had some kind of seedlings that came up for you but then they died suddenly and you didn't know why?


They were likely killed by damping-off bacteria, which takes seedlings down in one quick hurry.


This is why it's so important to use a good sterile mix when sprouting your seeds, so you can avoid these bacterias and bugs too.


Great that your sunflowers are coming up, Cameron! Tose are going to be gorgeous for you. I look forward to seeing them as they grow and develop quickly. Too cool that you're growing some of my stuff.


: )

[Willow87]

Ok I'll sow the strawberries today. Some little animal or bird dug up one of the seeds, but luckily it wasnt eaten, so I replanted it. I have a grapefruit sprout also. I lost the lemons but this will make up for it lol.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

So you're sowing directly in the garden, Cam? WoW!


That's tough, even for experienced gardeners. I would start my seedlings in pots first, even if they're outdoors, and then transfer into the garden later. It will be easier for you this way, if you're having trouble doing it the other way.


Well I started that germination thread you suggested, JaNan. I accidently posted it twice though so there are two threads! I hope Jarred will delete it for me. Should I contact him and ask?


: )

[Willow87]

No I have them in pots outside. Once they get bigger I'll plant them in the ground. I dont know what animal did it, but it just left the seed on top of the soil LOL