October Blooms

[LJG]

Hey, how did I become a Lisa? I am Len.

Sorry for two conversations going on but fertilizing is a great topic and one many do not due right. I have seen gardens where people used too much synthetics, especially N, and the plants are great but very weak from to fast of growth.

I have used Green Ganic (www.greenganic.com) with great success. Plus it is a great foliar feed as well as drench. I believe it is a 7-6-7, which is high for organics.

Chris, great job bringing up mycorhizae. That is the secret sauce to a strong, healthy garden! Top dressed synthetics do kill mycorhizae - as does high chlorine levels in city water. I have found water soluble synthetics at low PPM do not kill them. You can tell you have a great mycorhizae count when you see a lot of small mushroom heads popping up as that is the fruiting body. You also mention Fox Farms. I use their potted soil mix only. I mix 2-Light Warrior to 1-Ocean Forest. Plants explode in the mix and within days roots crowd the bottom of pots. No joke. It is loaded with mycorhizae, worm casting, etc. Great stuff. But of course mycorhizae applications and Fox Farms potting mixes are not cheap. Neither are most Organic fertilizers.

[farmer d]

Len thanks for pointing out the small mushroom heads as a good thing.  I sometimes got worried when I saw those near my newly planted hibiscus thinking there might be fungus issues going on under the soil.  I'll keep an open mind and I am also very interested in having organics as a large part of my hibiscus regimen.

Here are a couple of interesting pics today...I focused on third day blooms since I have 5 different plants with them.  Several were to ratty looking but these two still look fabulous.  Helps that those past few days were cooler and cloudy.  Not today as you can see by some nice sidewalk shots of the front garden.







Farmer D

[Denise]

Helix- Thanks for the info on Pinot Noir and Vin Extraordinaire. Very helpful!

Doll & Farmer D- awesome pics!

[davidwood]

Fabulous pictures Darren, its 5am enjoying my coffee and your pics are helping me with the shock that Lisa is not Lisa but Len, and Doll is a man not a woman, haha maybe later I will need something stronger than coffee if I find out Mother of Four is a Supermodel who struts the catwalks of Milan and Paris.

Nearly forgot, my first picture of Peppermint Drop.

[Louis]

Absolutely great photos everyone. Lots of green envy here. How i would love to be in a sunny place like you Darren, and BTW outstanding garden

Doll, I get my Epsom plus from the local pharmacy, really cheap and great stuff, not only for plants, but you can soak your feet, take a bath in it, dress a wound, poison Ivy, burns and is a powerful laxative. Not that you wanted to know that.

louis

[motherof4]

David dream on....I wish...simply a mother of 4 haha....luv your peppermint drop.....lynette

[davidwood]

Lynett we can all dream, yesterday my stands came so I have completed this section of my garden, with the stands I have raised four Hibs at the back for better viewing, it will be nice the day they all bloom at the same time. Today just Bridal Path Samba Dancer and Saffron.

[Denise]

David, you made me LOL

[roadrunner]

Len, sorry I thought your were Lisa. Don't know where I got that from. Maybe I had another senior moment. Thank you and Chris for the organic tips.

I've tried some of the Fox Farm's fertilizers on my daylilies and potted roses.  I had to stop doing that. Every time I turned my back my dogs were into it.  I think I'll try it on some of the hibs in the greenhouse that they can't get to. I'll need to check out some of the other products you and Chris mentioned. Probably only source here available will be online, not locally.

Darren, Doll, Denise, and David. Great photos as always. Darren I'm envious of your garden. Wish I could plant some of my hibs in the ground here. The whole 90+ collection is in containers. David love your Peppermint Drop. Mine has dropped the few buds it had so far, still waiting for that first bloom.

dave

[davidwood]

[ David love your Peppermint Drop. Mine has dropped the few buds it had so far, still waiting for that first bloom.

dave


[/quote]
 Dave its strange how some Hibs do that, although Peppermint Drop hasn't done it for me Electric Orange did and dropped every bud for months, but once that first one bloomed it was fine after that.

[Charlie]

David, Lisa Grove posts here sometimes and has similar initials to Len.

Those pots you have are very attractive. Are they local made?

Charlie

[Doll]

David, hope I didn't cause you too much stress.

Cinnamon Splendor

[davidwood]

Haha no stress John, very nice Cinnamon Splendor, I wish I had bought that one now.

[Nievesgirl]

Here is a shot of my hibiscus at bfs house. They are starting to bud since its been getting cooler in the valley. The temperature really makes a difference from where I live. Not to mention bf wont fertilize them so I had to buy time release fertilizer for them lol . Their leaves are finally turning a nice dark green.

The cvs that don't mind that intense heat are Wild Dream , Black dream , P's Purple , and Cranberry muffin. ( there are probably a few more from HVH but Bf never remembers what blooms when I ask him.

I also have like 90% of Chris's collection mixed in there. I am babysitting while he is away in WA.  Anyways here is a picture this is what you call obsession  





They are doing construction atm so once the cement is laid I will buy a green house and they will have some where to go.

[davidwood]

Those pots you have are very attractive. Are they local made?

Charlie
[/quote]
Yes Charlie they are made here in Nha Trang, cost 8 usd, I also bought a load of the same in a light brown color [first photo]. The second photo shows my new pots, these where more expensive at 12usd but double the weight so I think worth it. I also hand paint my normal pots and stands, I just think it makes them look more attractive and protects them better from the weather.