My new neighbor this week dug up her gardenias and a knock-out rose. The gardenias were over 20 yrs old - and were too big for her taste.
She doesn't like mowing around things so out came the rose. I had to take a few cuttings from both plants - we'll see if they take.

I picked up some Holiday Cactus, Bonsai Shefflera, Jade Plant from relatives during our recent travels/visits that I am going to start. Also have some Giant Sun Flower seeds to get started. I just have to find a suitable place in the yard with full sun and where I won't mind reseeding. My Orange brugmanis Angel's Trumpet seeds from another trip are about 7" tall. They have been growing in the greenhouse all winter. I think it is time for new pots. in fact I think I will be doing a lot of repotting this spring. Everything grew in the greenhouse.

Cheryl, for that greenhouse!

Good vibes to your cuttings! What happened to the main Gardenia/Rose plants?

We dug (OK, I just watched) up an old azalea somebody planted way too close to the house decades ago. I took it over to my Mom's yard where it's welcome to spread its' wings, assuming it survives the experience.

I have a Gardenia in my yard that is over 50 years old that I might try to take cuttings from. I definitely want to do cutting for all my native Hibiscus, I have Hibiscus grandiflorus, H. aculeatus, H. laevis, H. moscheutos susp. moscheutos, H. moscheutos subsp. lasiocarpos, H. dasycalyx, H. coccineus, H. cocineus 'alba', H. striatus. I also want to propagate my Button Bush, Cephalanthus occidentalis and my Texas Lantana, Lantana horrida.

I cut back the Winter Jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) and tried to root some cuttings; very successful.

So far this year I've rooted cuttings of fig trees, pomegranates, blueberries, thornless blackberries, hardy kiwi, mulberry, and different mint. I've also grafted pawpaws, persimmons, grapes, and plums. and sown seed for future rootstocks of jujube, persimmon, pawpaw, and hazelnuts. I'm also layering and air layering a few plants to be removed this winter.

I started six dozen "Blackberry Lily" aka "Leopard Lily" (Belamcanda chinensis) plants from seeds and rooted a couple of dozen cuttings of Euonymus 'Manhattan', a wonderful, perennial landscape plant. I have perhaps 100 plumeria seeds that I need to germinate while they are at there freshest.

Blackberry Lily



Euonymus 'Manhattan'

Good luck with your Plumerias, Ken. They are said to boom somewhere between 9 and 12 years later when grown from seeds. I was given a one year old plant (is 5 years old now) that shows no intention of impressing me with flowers

Shoot, Ursula. I may not even bother. I might not live to see a single bloom. I have several dozen seedlings from last year's germination, so that may be all I'll every have.

The seeds are fun to watch germinate and its exciting to see those seedlings become large plants. But flowers is what its all about.

Ken, I am really sorry for having brought these bad news to you. I was given a one year old Plumeria (grown from seeds) 4 years ago, and no matter how much I pamper the plant, no signs of blooms

I understand nurseries grow their Plumerias either from cuttings or from layering. The resulting plants bloom within a few years.

Don't give up on the seedlings you are already growing.

No problem, Ursula. I have already been told (by Hetty) not to expect blooms for at least 4-5 years. I am forever hopeful but no longer confident. Two of my seedlings, the first two I ever germinated (late Dec., 2013), were 6' plants and I chopped them in half ten days ago. I am in the process of trying to root those two cuttings and want to see what happens with the two rooted "stubs". So far, no one has said they "know" what to expect from my cutting two young seedlings.

Ken, I am sooooo very ashamed!


I was thinking of Wisterias!!!!!!!
Here, the popular name for Wisterias is Flor de la Pluma - guess I transformed Pluma (feather) into Plumeria

I apologyze for the confusion I caused!

No problem, Ursula. I don't have enough fingers and toes to count the times I have posted a mistake on ATP over the last four years.

Thank you, Ken.

PLEASE, sow all your plumeria seeds and grow them into wonderful shrubs with lovely scented flowers.

Can't do that, Ursula. See, that's my problem. We get lots of heavy freezes fall/winter and every single plant I have (tropical plants) has to be brought in from mid-October to early November. That's 1000+ plants as of now. I long ago ran out of storage room and energy to move all these plants. I am not young.

Ken you sure do love your tropicals, by chance do you grow pornicus trifoliata snow dragon? It's not a true tropical plant but tropical looking and a hard plant to find none the less.

Nope. Check out my website and you'll see what I grow. My passion is orchids.

I hope your find good homes for your seed surplus, Ken.

Wow Ken your site looks so professional. There are so many lovely photos my eyes kept wondering as I tried to read the descriptions. Mystic Lady 'Lime Morning' is a jaw dropper. Congratulations on your successful breeding work.