Snapdragon and Garden Update

What a difference two months make! When I planted the snapdragon seeds in late January I found it hard to believe that they will take 120 to 140 days from seed to trailing stage. People at Johnny’s Selected Seeds know their stuff, I tell you that much. Their web site has the most detailed description of their seeds and growing instructions on the web and on top of it, their customer service is incredible. Every time I have sent a question by email I had answer within 24 hours. I will be their customer as long as I grow my flowers and veggies, for sure. Right now, I just wish that I could plant into the ground what I grew from seeds . What a weird spring. Anyway, here are some pictures of my winter and spring labor.

Trailing Snapdragon Lampion 2 months apart.

Tomato Mountain Magic in 2 Liter (2 quart) carton.

Petunia Beachcomber, Thunbergia, Nasturtium basket.

And, of course our Bougainvillea. Incredible plant.

Seedlings Update, April 6, 2011

What a crazy and weird spring, if you can call it that, we are having this year. I want some of that Global Warming back and pronto. Some of my seedling flowers are blooming (both Snapdragons and Zinnia), one variety of tomato (Mountain Magic from Johnny’s Seeds) is ready to be planted into a bigger pot or even ground and right now we are having small snow blizzard going on! Looks like I will have to bring another table into our sunroom because lot of the plants will have to be transferred into larger container.

Snapdragons only basket.

Check the 3 nipped tips of snapdragons (pointed long leaves)

I have already done two hanging baskets – one with Snapdragon Lampion seedlings only and one with 4 Lobelias and 3 Snapdragons. Snapdragons are actually cuttings as I saved the snipped tops, dipped them in growing hormone powder and chuck them in the basket. They are doing fantastic and look just like ordinary seedlings.

Nasturtium, Lobelia, Cosmos and Snapdragons.

Red Pearl Millet, Thunbergia, Cosmos, Petunia and Zinnia.

 Zinnia in bloom.

 Snapdragon in bloom.

 Nothing leggy about these tomato plants.

Eggplants on left and three variety of peppers.

I need a miracle in order not to lose any of my plants. On the bright side, I am learning!

And, how can I forget our beautiful Bougainvillea! Only 4 leaves and rest is flowers.

Bougainvillea is back to its old tricks.

After we have cut back the plant into bonsai shape and size and before we have repotted it, our Bougainvillea went through very predictable cycles beginning with having only leaves followed by losing some leaves and starting to flower. Then it would loose all the leaves, this scared us first time it happened, and open hundreds of pinkish red flowers. It would be in flower for a very long time. Gradually the plant will start loosing flowers and small pale green leaves start appearing. Eventually the leaves will displace all the flowers and Bougainvillea will become a regular tree. Shortly after the cycle starts all over again. After re-potting it has changed the usual cycle completely, it had a large leaves and flowers all at the same time and for a long period of time. Then about a week ago it started to revert back to regular cycles. Right now it has lost almost all the leaves and started to grow lots of flowers. The leaves fell very quickly, it took only 3 days. I have read somewhere that they are in full bloom around spring and fall Equinox, and this is our experience as well. However, I think that it will not be in full bloom for another 2 weeks or so.

It is a very interesting plant with unusual cycle. I will update every major change.

Right now, there are dozens of these small flower clusters.

Bougainvillea

My Bougainvillea bonsai started to flower again on October 17th. By Christmas it will be one big mass of red flowers with hardly any green leaves and will stay that way for 6 – 8 weeks. Marjo did a great job by transplanting it into a pot that I made and fired last year. It is a bit bigger then I would like so I guess I have a new winter project making a new one.



First flower is turning red. October 17, 2010

Three weeks later, November 6, 2010

Another 3 weeks have passed. November 27, 2010

December 8, 2010. Little change in last 12 days.

Same tree April 24, 2010.