How about a gardening thread?

[smoky]

	Quote:	Tom1234
	Normally when you baby-sit, you give the thing back to it's owners.

I was just perusing the thread about forum members being rude to newbies, and now realise why I asked my stupid question, and hence got your obvious reply

"Baby-sitting" for 3 years could go either way .... you took over the snake for the entire 3 years, the owners never returned, so you got rid of it (actually an open ended ending) (was my impression).

You were the designated sporadic "snake-baby-sitter" - and obviously gave it back.

I was unaware of the specifics. Which I usually am anyway and that`s why I spend my life giving long waffling explanations.

I once knew a family who gave their child into the care of a baby-sitter for a long weekend, and never saw her again for 43 years. See why I asked my question?

[sups]

Ok guys getting the train back in its tracks...Does anyone know where i could buy some rooting hormone in CH, and what would it be called?
I would like to root some perfume rose cuttings. Any advices? i know tons of youtube videos etc but all of them mention the rooting hormone...hence....

[lucy_who]

I need some help with my rosemary. The two cuttings I brought with me have both shrivelled up and died, so I bought a plant at coop (not the best idea, I know, but I've had good results with supermarket herbs in the past, so long as I give them a bit of tlc).

Anyway, I hadn't realised that the pot the new plant was in was non-draining until I came to plant it out in a big pot. It's gone very droopy, as though it's short of water but I suspect it's actually been waterlogged. Any advice on reviving it, or should I just go and buy a new one?

[Tom1234]

	Quote:	sups
	Ok guys getting the train back in its tracks...Does anyone know where i could buy some rooting hormone in CH, and what would it be called?

I think it has been banned.

For the roses, don't you just cut out a healthy stem about 20cm long and stick it in the ground (the right way up)?

[Belgianmum]

	Quote:	Tom1234
	I think it has been banned. For the roses, don't you just cut out a healthy stem about 20cm long and stick it in the ground (the right way up)?

Yes. Roses are extremely easy to propagate this way.

I don't think rooting hormones are allowed anymore ( not sure if they ever were in Switzerland) so I don't think you'll have any luck finding any in any case.

[Belgianmum]

	Quote:	lucy_who
	Anyway, I hadn't realised that the pot the new plant was in was non-draining until I came to plant it out in a big pot. It's gone very droopy, as though it's short of water but I suspect it's actually been waterlogged. Any advice on reviving it, or should I just go and buy a new one?

Rosemary is generally pretty hardy so I would give it a little time to dry out and see if it recovers before going out and buying a new plant.

[amogles]

	Quote:	lucy_who
	I need some help with my rosemary. The two cuttings I brought with me have both shrivelled up and died, so I bought a plant at coop (not the best idea, I know, but I've had good results with supermarket herbs in the past, so long as I give them a bit of tlc). Anyway, I hadn't realised that the pot the new plant was in was non-draining until I came to plant it out in a big pot. It's gone very droopy, as though it's short of water but I suspect it's actually been waterlogged. Any advice on reviving it, or should I just go and buy a new one?

Rosemary cuttings will normally take root with an acceptable success rate without any help from rooting hormones. It helps if the soil is not too aggressive (use that very soft seedling soil for example), you make sure it is kept sufficiently moist and that the cuttings you use as base material are strong and healthy (donor plant was in good condition and don't use cuttings with flowers). If you weren't succesful, just try again.

On the other hand, rosemary plants are so cheap that if you want to save time you can just go out and buy one.

[lucy_who]

I think you might have mixed my post up with sups' there, amogles - I'm not trying to propagate it, just keep it alive!

Belgianmum - cheers. I've always tried to give rosemary as much sun as possible, but obviously full sun here is a bit harsher than full sun in the UK. Should I be keeping it in part-shade or leaving it out to fry?

[Belgianmum]

	Quote:	lucy_who
	Belgianmum - cheers. I've always tried to give rosemary as much sun as possible, but obviously full sun here is a bit harsher than full sun in the UK. Should I be keeping it in part-shade or leaving it out to fry?

Mine is out in full sun on a south facing patio and seems to be doing fine so I guess they don't mind a bit of frying from time to time.

[sups]

	Quote:	Tom1234
	I think it has been banned. For the roses, don't you just cut out a healthy stem about 20cm long and stick it in the ground (the right way up)?

Wow I wouldn't have guessed that it was banned for whatever reason(banned only in Europe or even in the USA now?)
thanks for the the tip i will try it as soon as the weather is a bit less harsh.

[sups]

	Quote:	lucy_who
	I need some help with my rosemary. The two cuttings I brought with me have both shrivelled up and died, so I bought a plant at coop (not the best idea, I know, but I've had good results with supermarket herbs in the past, so long as I give them a bit of tlc). Anyway, I hadn't realised that the pot the new plant was in was non-draining until I came to plant it out in a big pot. It's gone very droopy, as though it's short of water but I suspect it's actually been waterlogged. Any advice on reviving it, or should I just go and buy a new one?

I guess the rosemary has not been hardend off so the harsh sun mist be frying it. If you have already planted it out, i would rather not redisturb the roots anymore instead would try placing an object to block out any sun at least till the plant revives. All the best

	Quote:	sups
	Wow I wouldn't have guessed that it was banned for whatever reason(banned only in Europe or even in the USA now?) thanks for the the tip i will try it as soon as the weather is a bit less harsh.

I found this article, using honey as a root hormone substitute. I might try it.
http://rsandss.blogspot.ch/2014_01_01_archive.html?m=1

[greenmount]

A question to all gardeners:
Which flowers or plants would you choose to have on a sunny balcony, so that they don't get completely dry during a hot summer? I have some window boxes on my balcony railing (very secure, before anyone asks) and I was quite upset when I saw what happened there this morning. All my flowers were almost completely dry. Any idea about what should I choose so that I have at least something green in there, and that last this way?
Now, my dream was always something like this, but it seems I'm doing something wrong.



Have plenty of (mostly terracotta) pots with different plants that are doing fine, it is only the window boxes I am a complete failure at.

[JanerMacP]

I would plant geraniums, they are super easy to care for (just pick off the dead flowers as needed) and require minimal maintenance.

[Belgianmum]

	Quote:	JanerMacP
	I would plant geraniums, they are super easy to care for (just pick off the dead flowers as needed) and require minimal maintenance.

I second that. They are the easiest and most drought tolerant of the balcony plants IMO.

Has anyone found those granules in Switzerland- that you soak in water so they go all jelly like and you mix with compost to keep baskets and countainers from drying out? They are great.

How is the agapanthus doing BM?


Yesterday, 2 of my foxgloves flowered... and they are white. Again- it shows you have to be patient with seeds- often you think nothing has happened and 2 years later- here they pop. I always give plants 3 chances to recover- always, and most of the time, they come up trumps. I have 2 rugosa roses I rescued from Aldi in Pontarlier- half dead and reduced to 2 Euros- they are quite large now, 3 years later, and covered with flowers.

	Quote:	JanerMacP
	I would plant geraniums, they are super easy to care for (just pick off the dead flowers as needed) and require minimal maintenance.

And scented (duft) geraniums keep the mosquitos away. Lavender, thyme, rosemary, mint seem to be fine. I planted some oregano last year and totally ignored it, and it's ok too in the hot sun.

I did buy some terra cotta watering spikes last week, you stick them in an empty liter bottle full of water and stick in the ground. Seems to work quite well.

[Medea Fleecestealer]

	Quote:	greenmount
	A question to all gardeners: Which flowers or plants would you choose to have on a sunny balcony, so that they don't get completely dry during a hot summer? I have some window boxes on my balcony railing (very secure, before anyone asks) and I was quite upset when I saw what happened there this morning. All my flowers were almost completely dry. Any idea about what should I choose so that I have at least something green in there, and that last this way? Now, my dream was always something like this, but it seems I'm doing something wrong. Have plenty of (mostly terracotta) pots with different plants that are doing fine, it is only the window boxes I am a complete failure at.

Geraniums do seem to be the favourite here for window boxes. But give your current flowers a good watering anyway. You'd be amazed at how quickly they'll revive sometimes once they've had a good drink.

That reminds me, I must check my flowerbed and see if the fushias (dying) and pansies (thriving) need a top up. They were looking very parched the other day when it was very hot. We've had a bit of rain since, but probably not enough to keep them happy. Will add a bit of feed too.

This is the stuff I mean. Used to use it in the UK for container and hanging basket planting- must say never seen it used on a lawn as in the vid. Anyone seen anything like that sold here in CH and where? Or must ask a friend who is coming over later from UK to bring me some.

http://youtu.be/tMJ9gNmeAlA

[Belgianmum]

	Quote:
	Has anyone found those granules in Switzerland- that you soak in water so they go all jelly like and you mix with compost to keep baskets and countainers from drying out? They are great.

They had them in our local garden centre a couple of years ago with a man doing a demonstration and everything but I haven't seen them again since so I guess they weren't too popular.

	Quote:
	How is the agapanthus doing BM?

They are still alive with lots of leaves but no flowers yet.
One if them had a little 'accident' so I had to repot it ( dropped the pot when I was moving it) so that pot has now become two new pots and an 'artistic' arrangement in the garden.