Ericaceae

[nicheplanthead]

John,

   I found some sphaghum moss the term for formerly live moss which I have used in the past and planted my seed in a 288 plug tray under lights 72F and now 95% humidity with the top on about 8 inches from the lights.

I was going to try half using decomposed sphagnum peat moss, it is dark brown,  but when I measured two packages I bought they both were ph6, with each of my meters and when I went to the store the horticulturalist also measured ph6 and just shrugged. I was expecting ph3.5-4.5.  I have now contacted both companies to see if they are neutralized as someone in my alpine club said they do that but it is not marked on the packaging!
They do not sell coarse composted peat as it is not marked on the package and this would have to be amended as you suggest.

[nicheplanthead]

After about 13 days now I am getting seed germination on dried and re-wetted living sphagham as you can see the white spidery web growth but the seedlings are still emerging and looking good so far.
What I have done is raise the dome a inch to increase circulation. Humidity was about 70% at 72F.

[Maggi Young]

Keep 'em going, Stuart!!

[johnw]

A little rhododendron fix for Maggi et al.

The vireya Rhododendron Tropic Glow x saxifragoides in bloom today.  The photos are slightly out of focus but I am not going out to the greenhouse again in the bitter cold to re-shoot.  I got two clones of this from a friend in California. After more than 10 years both are only 4 inches tall and wide, the flowers as you can see are quite large.  We were surprised to see the same cross at the RBGE in the Vireya House.

I wonder who grows the delectable species R. saxifragoides - a wonderful mat with campylogynum type flowers.

johnw.   

[Maggi Young]

Ah, John, you've made this woman very happy Thank you! What a little cutie.... so compact, but biggish flowers, and bright enough that you could see from a mile away.....perfect!

[johnw]

Maggi - The colour is a tad strident but strident / fluorescent is fine at this time of year. 

This one is the better of the two for habit.  I can send you a cutting in the summer. They root easily in a plastic bag.

They usually bloom twice a year.

johnw

[Maggi Young]

The colour is a tad strident but strident / fluorescent is fine at this time of year.

Yes, but in something that size, even in summer I could take it!
 Actually, if you saw my wardrobe...... well, let's just say you're having a lucky escape! 

A cutting would be VERY gratefully received, thank you.... I will try to remind you!
 M

[johnw]

The colour is a tad strident but strident / fluorescent is fine at this time of year.

Yes, but in something that size, even in summer I could take it!
 Actually, if you saw my wardrobe...... well, let's just say you're having a lucky escape! 

A cutting would be VERY gratefully received, thank you.... I will try to remind you!
 M

Duly noted for early June.

johnw

[johnw]

One of my favourites Menzesia ciliicalyx v. purpurea dwarf form from Barry Starling. The colour seems darker this year.

Just a half hour ago the house was as dark as at midnight, a good thunderstorm and now the sun is was is shining. Cannot seem to write fast enough on sunshine here.

johnw

[Lesley Cox]

That's a lovely form John. I'm looking forward to it.

[johnw]

Vaccinium vitis-idaea var. minor 'Betsy Sinclair' is colouring her berries already, usually a late August event.  This selection from Newfoundland - a neighboring province I should note- has the potential when well grown to set massive amounts of berries.

johnw

[Carlo]

John,

Just been backtracking through the thread. Great plants you're playing with out there. 'Betsy Sinclair' looks terrific!

[johnw]

One of my favourites Leucothoe keiskei.  This we grew from SRGC96-2455 seed and ken has used them in gardens about town.

johnw - +23c and feeling like Savannah.

[Hoy]

johnw, that's a nice one! I have another (fontanesiana) which is good too, but not like that.

[johnw]

Hoy - This one promises to stay rather small I think. We have some older ones and they are no more than 75cm across.

The first time I saw L. fontanesiana was in the garden at Woodland Nurseries in Mississauga, Ontario.  It was maybe 3m tall and 5m across!

Beauitful bureavii by the way.

johnw