posted
I have been trying to root some mums and asters from pieces that break off the plants at work. However, if put in water, they turn to mush! HELP! How does one start mums and asters???? And does any one have any ideals on how to keep chickens from digging in flower beds?
I know mums can just be stuck back into the ground, my neighbor does his in the spring, but you may have time now that they might root... But keep them covered with some pine boughs or something to cover them during the winter...
He comes home in the spring, and when they start growing, he takes the tops and pinches them, and just pokes them back into the ground....
I am not sure about the aster's rooting along the stems, I don't think I've heard of that or seen them sprout roots off the side, but I am not 100% sure on that one, maybe some one else can offer some more info into that!!!
quote: And does any one have any ideals on how to keep chickens from digging in flower beds?
GOOD LUCK!!! Just kidding with you~I would have to say, some chicken wire and some stakes... not too high if you want too still have a garden look!!!
And then plant them a garden they can get into and you don't really care too much about them getting into it... Their poop is really good!!! Wish I had some!!!
Weezie Weezie
* * * * Weezie
Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. - Bible - Hebrews 13:2
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Hi Weezie! I think you are correct on the chickens.. I put some poultry netting (fine mesh wire) on top today of my mulch around the roses.. Maybe it will prevent them scratching! They have been tossing that mulch all over the yard... I love my roses, but don't want to get rid of my 178 chickens either! (I sell the eggs) As far as the mums go... I will try what you suggested.. I believe that asters are closely related are they not? As I was working in the raised bed today, a piece of one of my roses had been broken off... I brought it in and put in water.. Do I just stick it in the ground as well?? Thanks for all your help... Any other advise would be helpful..
posted
Yep, I started a few extra mums by just putting them in a pot and they grew just fine.....which reminds me, I want to start a few more tomorrow.....
Seeded: 4.248.231.40
posted
Moonstar, Roses are usually at their optimal of rooting in the spring from what I understand... The new spring growth has vigor and time to set roots...and I think some kind of "hormone" for the lack of a better word, that roots better when the first buds are forming and you clip them off then down the stem and cut off the flower buds, and strip the first couple of leaves, dip it in some rooting hormone *root~tone* and poke in 4 sticks of some kind for support, and cover with a plastic bag like to keep the moisture in..
This is just food for thought, but if you gave your chickens' and extra special area, they may tend to stay that way, use a good amount of space, free of weeds, just plain dirt area and throw in some very fine~powdery dirt, and sand and maybe the chaf like stuff from hay (to attrack some bugs underneath) and mix that all in the area, maybe a little bit of cracked corn for some good "cluckin'~find's" and it'll be a good area for them to scratch in and dust them selves in, and plant around it some good hardy~native weeds in a big circle around that area, and you might have an area they go looking for...(Look for companion plants that attrack bugs) and they might like them there and leave your stuff alone....
Weezie
* * * * Weezie
Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. - Bible - Hebrews 13:2
posted
OH WEEZIE If it were only that easy... My chickens eat 100# of cracked corn a week plus fancy scratch grain I give them. I can fly over any thing I put out... they follow my buffalo around.. Need not to explain that one They have several dirt piles to play in out in the buffalo field.. But like the rose bed for bugs .... They have not bothered it much today since I put poultry wire on top of the mulch.. Only time will tell... But what you are sayin on the roses is that I need to do this in the spring...? and where do you get the root compound from??? Sorry I am so dence on this matter... Moon
posted
I'd like to see the buffalo too...and what ya do with um.I've ate beefalo b4.was yummy I root mums& asters.you root on woodygrowth.I use rooting hormone on my cuttings& root 2 times a year.woody growth...even some sideshoots,but they have lower success rate.Now if a stem gets broke in yard and I find it It usually ends up in the closest pot avalable& I don't use root tone.I make sure I cut 1/4 inch below where a leaf was growing cause thisis where roots will form.I water 1st week with liquid rooting hormone .then regular watering/fertling.And purchase......Walmart.i use scultz rooting powser is a small jar been on for about 2 years.about $4& I have 2 different jugs of rooting liquid.in shed.I think ones a rooting stimulator& the other a rooting booster.If i go out and look I'll be gone an housr cause will see this needs done& oh they look thirsty& oh need to trim this...now wheres tose cutters?and then will forget was on way to shed& my memory is shot cause don't grow no bolika stuff or take any.when mine are done blooming.i cut stems off to leaveing 4 inches stems.stems that are real thickI sometimes just cut completely out.it sends growth to younger shoots.8-10 weeks to root and root in shade,when buds start to form I move to sun& after they bloom I plant out.In may they bloom for me.mine are evergreen .they bloom spring& fall.after bloom I cut down into woody part and root those various lengths.move to shade pocket(these grow longer and get hight though cut shorter)In july I cut back to 4 inches on my yellow sunshines& burgandy helens...are tall mums.they will flop if I don't do this.they get rooted& yellows I have quiet a bit now...even though trade them.my buds are showing on the yellows and will open this weekend,helen is a lil behind hopefully next week.Have some serria that are those pin cushion ones.don't grow real tall at all barely 12 inches& I didn't cut them in july either.i have a orange pincushion type forget name & being hubby wacked her to ground level and shes only 2 inches now with a mound of rocks trying to protect her and a piece of wood.I DON'T think she will be blooming for us this year.I have a red that is leggy looking& no buds yet& gave me 3 whole flowers in may.am going to relocate her.i have just some kind of purple aster looks like a daisy.I took all my cutting grown to old lady met back here where got a 55 gallon trash bag of potting containers& a few other things.she metioned her 1st plant she grew was a aster,but didn't grow any cause don't sell around here(least our area). for over wintering..you probably got a barn don't you...you need to have them where don't get soggy in the winter,I don't know your zone or state...am guessing wy...cause is 1st thing came to mind when heard buffalo.If are in ground and soil freezes like a Z 4 your plants would heave out of soil when spring thaw arrived.I use to live Indpls Z 4b.I grew in pot and stored under porch covered with hay on side.
here is website ...was in last years farmers alamiac.I would just KILL for a spider mum,they look so awesome.& I emailed them.that arbor is a steel arbor with flower pot holes for 12 inch pots.
there's the different classes of mums...are 12.click varieties.
there are a few others the member's here use as well, and I am still trying to remember what they are, maybe some of them will also come thru and help you out!!!
Would love to see your pictures...
Weezie
* * * * Weezie
Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. - Bible - Hebrews 13:2
posted
are you all saying that with mums you can stick them in the ground, i mean just a broken branch,or clipping, and it will root???? i do that with my sedum, is it like that? also, if you can't get the potted mums in now...can they be stored in the pots over winter.... Linda
* * * * learn from others mistakes....you can't live long enough to make them all yourself Plants: 416 | From: midlothian, illinois | Registered: Oct 2004
| Seeded: 209.240.205.61
posted
linda your ILL.your prone to hard freezes.I use to live Indpls for 11 years.mulch them with about 9 inches or more of straw or better yet a cold frame.shoot once ya get snow the snow will insulate the cold frame.If need to know more..hollar.i'm in the garden..lol
* * * * I will age ungracefully until I become an old woman in a small garden..doing whatever the Hell I want!
posted
njoynit.....(cute nic)!! thanks for your response. ok....does this sound like it will work for me......i read this on a mum site, but expierence is what i'm lookin for!! anyway, it said i could put them in a cold frame, (i don't have), or a basement, (i do have), cut them back and they should be fine till next spring.......sounds to easy. do they get watered while their in the basement? i'd love to get them in the ground....but, i have a back injury that won't let me dig at this time. i also thought, maybe my garage. we keep it at 40 all winter. any help would be great, i have 9 potted mums i rescued and would hate it if they died!! thanks again, Linda
* * * * learn from others mistakes....you can't live long enough to make them all yourself Plants: 416 | From: midlothian, illinois | Registered: Oct 2004
| Seeded: 209.240.205.61
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Hi Weezie!![[dunno]](graemlins/dunno.gif)
Thanks for all your help... Any other advise would be helpful..![[thumb]](graemlins/thumb.gif)
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My chickens eat 100# of cracked corn a week plus fancy scratch grain I give them. I can fly over any thing I put out... they follow my buffalo around.. Need not to explain that one ![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
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