Tuesday, June 25, 2024

Miniature Roses Update. 25 Jun 24.

 These are the grocery store roses that I bought, after Valentines Day, on sale, and gave lots of TLC.

The yellow one, I think is "¿SunMaid?", doesn't seem "miniature" now.  More like "small".  Beautiful rose with beautiful flowers.

Planted singly, one in a container -


The other four from the container, planted together in a much larger container -


It's a very nice rose, and seems ideal for a medium - size container situation.  

All I do now is prune back a bit after blooms are spent, and give a dilute bloom fertilizer.

Here is second red rose, I think is "Daniela".  This is its first re bloom after repotting and adapting to home life.  This is one plant in a pot by itself.  It grew two vigorous new stems.  This one remains much smaller than "SunMaid" but is a bit larger than the other red rose, "¿Danika?.  The flowers are like miniature versions of classic, deep red, hybrid tea roses.  Beautiful clusters of buds surrounding the first open flower.  The foliage is a rich, deep green.  The thorns are red, very attractive on green stems.  This mini rose bush responded very well to potting into good potting soil, and ongoing TLC.  Mostly I keep it outdoors in a sunny place, but now aiming for a bit less sun in blistering hot weather.   The other plants from the same original pot, are in a group container and a bit behind the single plant.





The first red rose, "¿Daniella?", is also nice, more delicate looking, and has rebloomed twice so far.  It can't handle heat or bright sun, which chars the flower edges.  Still, in some shade, it can be quite pretty.  So far, this rose remains the most compact of the grocery store miniature roses that I have bought.   Post bloom, mostly, I've pruned it back,  set it in a less sunny location and treating like other smaller potted plants, keeping it watered, and giving low doses of general balanced plant food.


Finally, the pink miniature grocery store rose (¿"Light Pink Felicitas Kordana?") that I bought on sale after Mother's day.  It did suffer a bit off a set back after I repotted it.  I think the weather was too hot and roots not established enough.  After removing the flowers, pruning back a bit, and fertilizing with a balanced general houseplant food, it's begun to make a come back.   Lots of new leaves are growing now.  These little rose bushes seem much healthier after they shed their original, plant-factory leaves, and grow new home - outdoor leaves as well as growing thick new roots in their new potting soil.

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I think the new growth is an encouraging sign and shows promise for nice flowers in a month or two.

Monday, June 24, 2024

Day Lilies. 24 Jun 24.

 The day lilies are beginning to bloom.

I don't have a name for this one.  I moved it to Battle Ground, years ago.  It was dug out when the sidewalk went in, and wound up drying out in a pile of dirt.

I potted it up and gave TLC.  Now it's started to bloom.  Very nice flower.


I think this is Stella De Oro, old classic everywhere.  I had it last year in a different container.  Lots of buds!



Also the Betty Len daylily.  It doesn't look much like the web photos and package, maybe once it establishes? Also, the color doesn't show correctly in digital photos.  It's more lavender.  It got a difficult start, but is beginning to show some life.




Moving Container Garden To Less Intense Sun. 24 Jun 24.

 With mire intense summer heat and sun coming, the container garden will suffer. I've had them on tbe South / East deck.  Things dry out too fast, wilt, and leaves sunburn.

Now is time to move them to the East side of the house.  There is some southern exposure but not as much.






It's also a shorter distance to carry water.  Less effort.  Plants do well here.

The annual seedlings in large containers remain in full sun.  They aren't big enough to dry out as fast i  large containers. 

Geranium Cutting Update. 24 Jun 24.

This is the geranium that I rooted in water as a cutting, this Spring.  I think it's doing very well.  Lots of roots.  So I up-potted it.



I cut off two flower buds to let it grow more before blooming.

Cosmos Seedlings 24 Jun 24.

 The cosmos seedlings are taking off now.


I have some cilantro in there too.

I have been giving these some growth fertilizer (higher nitrogen).  Maybe it's time to hold off and see how they do.