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I mentioned using rooting powder to a friend yesterday and was surprised when she asked what it was. Having grown up with my mother using it to start new plants, I assumed everyone knew about rooting powder, also referred to as rooting hormone or rooting compound. This amazing product makes rooting cuttings a breeze and is inexpensive to use. I recently used it to start cuttings from my scented geranium. I had tried starting them in water, but the stems always rotted. By using rooting powder and starting them in moist peat moss, I produced a dozen healthy scented geranium plants from the cuttings when I cut back the original plant. If you haven't tried rooting powder for starting cuttings, I highly recommend buying a bottle and keeping it on hand. One container will last for years without losing its effectiveness and is ideal for those hard-to-root plants. How to Use Rooting Powder to Root Cuttings
Cuttings typically form roots within a few weeks, but the amount of time depends on the type of plant you are rooting. Leaves should remain green and appear healthy. There are many brands of rooting powder available, but I have had good luck with the Schultz "Take Root". Until Next Time . . . HAPPY GARDENING!
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My morning started like every sunny summer morning, with a cup of coffee in my garden. But things soon took an unusual turn. I noticed a baby hummingbird struggling to stay in the air as his tried to drink from the flowers in my garden. It wasn't that he couldn't fly. He could, but he seemed exhausted.
I decided to observe for a while and only offer assistance if necessary. He buzzed to one of my planters and slipped between the plants and the side of the planter. Although he was giving it all he had, he couldn't quite make it back out. Just as I approached to offer a helping hand, he lifted above the edge and flew to my raised perennial bed. Concerned, I continued to watch. Eventually, it became apparent that he didn't have the strength to carry on. As he perched on a purple coneflower as wasps swarmed him and he couldn't chase them away. At this point, I decided to bring a feeder to him. When he tried to drink, I noticed a wobble and thought perhaps I would lose him. He lifted his head and chirped a tiny chirp that touched my heart. I reached out my hand and gently closed it around the tiny body. With my free hand, I brought the feeder to within reach and was amazed to see this tiny bird begin to drink. We stood for a while, my hummingbird and me. I loosened my hand and he made no attempt to escape. Slowly we made our way to the garden chair where we sat for close to 30 minutes as he alternated between drinking and resting. At one point, he even cleaned his beak on my finger. I can't say for certain, but when he cocked his head and looked me in the eye I think he spoke to me. Eventually, he lifted his little wings and buzzed away. He has been back once for another drink and I can hear him chirping in the brush. Unfortunately, I didn't get pictures, but the experience was amazing. Hopefully, he will return so that I can get some pictures later . . . but until then, I am content to have held this tiny jewel in my hand. Until Next Time . . . HAPPY GARDENING!  Photo by Metric x/Flickr
Last year, I grew a bumper crop of morning glories on my porch railing. They grew up the twine trellis and tried to escape to the roof, but the roof is metal and they couldn't get a foothold to climb it. The result? Lush green foliage twisted into a mass at the top of the porch with brilliant blue and scarlet morning glories all competing for attention.
This year, I decided to grow nasturtiums on the railing, because they don't grow as tall and prefer similar lighting. I planted my morning glories in window boxes and set them in front of the lattice work of the deck, thinking they would climb to the second story and create a dazzling display of color on the wall. I t was a great idea, but it failed. You see, the sunny wall I wanted to grow them on doesn't get any sun at the soil level where the seedlings are. I held out hope that once the seedlings grew a foot or so they would have all the sun they needed and quickly cover the wall. I was wrong. I've babied these seedlings for weeks and the tiny vines are so thin and weak that I finally gave in today and moved them. Which brings me to the purpose of this post. Once I accepted the fact that there would be no vine-covered wall in my garden this year, my decision was easy. Getting to that point was not. You see, I dreamed all winter of morning glories on that wall. It would have been a striking display of color and foliage. This morning, I noticed that the few morning glories I had tucked into my hay bales were thriving and decided to tuck my window boxes between the bales in the hopes that they will take off and cover the fence with blooms sometime soon. Sometimes, when plants fail to thrive in the location you have chosen, the kindest thing you can do - for both you and the plants - is to move them, even if that means transplanting them out of season. Gardening is not an exact science. Seasons vary. Plants are finicky and sometimes we simply overlook their needs when we make our plans. Moving them a better location gives them what they need to thrive and eliminates the frustration of trying to meet their needs when it simply can't be done where they are. Perhaps next year I'll attach boxes to the lattice and elevate them to the proper height for the seedlings to thrive . . . Until Next Time . . . HAPPY GARDENING! |
For more nature photography, check out my photography site.
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