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Oct 6, 2015 11:13 AM CST
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
Mary, my fixtures are all 6-tube, 4', T-5HO and are extremely intense. I only use those lights when I bring my plants into the greenhouses during the fall/winter months, and the lighting is only supplemental. My timers are set to turn the lights on around 3 PM and off around 9 PM. Thus I am not growing "under-lights" inside a house. I would guess that lights in that situation would burn 10-12 hrs. a day, but I will let others who grow that way give you better guidance.
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
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Oct 6, 2015 9:19 PM CST
Name: David Laderoute
Zone 5B/6 - NW MO (Zone 5b)
Ignoring Zones altogether
Seed Starter Avid Green Pages Reviewer Garden Ideas: Level 1
In my basement growing area I have one small window that provides very little light. I run my lights 12 on/12 off. My wife always kids me when I turn them on that the cops will pay a visit - dope growing is illegal here. And no - I don't grow it.
Seeking Feng Shui with my plants since 1976
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Oct 6, 2015 9:57 PM CST
Name: David Laderoute
Zone 5B/6 - NW MO (Zone 5b)
Ignoring Zones altogether
Seed Starter Avid Green Pages Reviewer Garden Ideas: Level 1
[quote="Azgarden"

@DavidLMO...I have to ask...that list of items sounds like an interesting recipe Confused Is this your potting mix or a part of it? I think I can kind of understand all of the components usefulness except the kitty litter. Of course, I am thinking of clumping litter that our cat uses. Does not seem as tho that kind would be helpful if you wanted drainage. So, I know I'm not thinking right here.[/quote]

Oops. Those are just the amendments. I forgot the soil. nodding I don't always use all of those all the time, but I do use at least some of them all the time. For the basic soil that I use, I have recently become fond of a product by the Hyponex company. It is called Earthgrow potting soil. It has good constituents, is cheap (always a plus) and I have had very good luck with it. I would never ever again use any Miracle Grow products. I have had good luck with Shultz, but hard to find here. Again - I reiterate do not use anything that is water retentive.

I also often use very coarse sand - not the fine stuff. I do not use much peat moss.

For cat litter - do NOT use clumping types. Special Kitty from Walmart is one of the few I have found and others use it as well. It is made from calcined clay and helps with moisture and nutrient retention. Check some of these links:

https://www.google.com/search?...

NAPA product:

https://www.google.com/search?...

If you use this, you don't need Special Kitty and vice versa as they both essentially do the same thing.

Some folks use Turface, but it is not readily available here and is very expensive.

Al Tapla has some good mixes as well. His 5-1-1 is famous.

I am getting carried away - sorry nodding At least you have a leg up when you get to ?s on potting mixes.
Seeking Feng Shui with my plants since 1976
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Dec 1, 2015 10:50 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Mary
Glendale, Arizona (Zone 9b)
Region: Arizona Enjoys or suffers hot summers Seed Starter Roses Plumerias Morning Glories
Hummingbirder Composter Cat Lover Vegetable Grower
Ok..so I have the lights and heat mat and started just a few plumeria seeds to start with as Gigi suggested. Decided to try paper towels so I could watch the sprouting. A few seeds have the beginnings of roots but a couple appear to be pushing leaves first Confused
Is this normal? These were labeled noid seeds. Got some seeds from Brad's, but have not started them yet. Thanks for your thoughts.
Avatar for Dutchlady1
Dec 1, 2015 10:56 AM CST

Plumerias Photo Contest Winner: 2015 Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Forum moderator
Region: Florida Cat Lover Garden Sages Cactus and Succulents Tropicals Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
Very odd to have leaves before roots.... Confused
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Dec 1, 2015 11:08 AM CST
Name: Willeke
Netherlands (Zone 8b)
Cactus and Succulents Houseplants
Good luck @Azgarden. Keep us posted. I hope they Will get roots soon.
Love all plants
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Dec 1, 2015 11:12 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Mary
Glendale, Arizona (Zone 9b)
Region: Arizona Enjoys or suffers hot summers Seed Starter Roses Plumerias Morning Glories
Hummingbirder Composter Cat Lover Vegetable Grower
@Dutchlady here is a pic.


Thumb of 2015-12-01/Azgarden/bdbe9e
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Dec 1, 2015 11:23 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Mary
Glendale, Arizona (Zone 9b)
Region: Arizona Enjoys or suffers hot summers Seed Starter Roses Plumerias Morning Glories
Hummingbirder Composter Cat Lover Vegetable Grower
@Dutchlady1 did the name wrong AGAIN. Sorry. Here is the pic again.
Thumb of 2015-12-01/Azgarden/421b0b
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Dec 1, 2015 11:28 AM CST
Name: Willeke
Netherlands (Zone 8b)
Cactus and Succulents Houseplants
That really does look odd. Hopefully they Will also get some roots.
Love all plants
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Dec 1, 2015 11:35 AM CST
Name: Gigi AdeniumPlumeria
Florida (Zone 9b)
Adeniums Roses Plumerias Orchids Miniature Gardening Hibiscus
Region: Florida Container Gardener Garden Photography Cactus and Succulents Butterflies Garden Ideas: Level 1
I agree it seems unusual and I do hope they develop roots.

I never really had my seeds out in the open like yours Mary, they are usual submerged in dirt but maybe they do the same thing I just never noticed it? keep us posted!
©by Gigi Adenium Plumeria "Gardening is my favorite pastime. I grow whatever plant that catches my attention. I also enjoy hand pollinating desert roses.”
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Dec 1, 2015 2:24 PM CST
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
Mary, though the pictures are a bit blurry, the root may be there, simply still encased in the seed "shell". Confused
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
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Dec 1, 2015 5:35 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Mary
Glendale, Arizona (Zone 9b)
Region: Arizona Enjoys or suffers hot summers Seed Starter Roses Plumerias Morning Glories
Hummingbirder Composter Cat Lover Vegetable Grower
Ken, I sure hope that root is there somewhere! Gigi, they are being sprouted on paper towels and I just removed them to take the picture and then returned them. Hope it did not harm them.
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Dec 1, 2015 11:52 PM CST
Name: Gigi AdeniumPlumeria
Florida (Zone 9b)
Adeniums Roses Plumerias Orchids Miniature Gardening Hibiscus
Region: Florida Container Gardener Garden Photography Cactus and Succulents Butterflies Garden Ideas: Level 1
I see, well, I heard that method is successful in germinating seeds faster but I think you still have to put them in dirt soon.
©by Gigi Adenium Plumeria "Gardening is my favorite pastime. I grow whatever plant that catches my attention. I also enjoy hand pollinating desert roses.”
Last edited by GigiPlumeria Dec 2, 2015 5:30 AM Icon for preview
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Dec 2, 2015 12:19 AM CST
Name: David Laderoute
Zone 5B/6 - NW MO (Zone 5b)
Ignoring Zones altogether
Seed Starter Avid Green Pages Reviewer Garden Ideas: Level 1
Agree. Those on the paper towels should be put in soil. I am not very fond of germinating on paper towels, coffee filters, etc.

Kinda neat to see it happen once or to check for germination, but most seeds need media. Therefore, I never do it anymore.
Seeking Feng Shui with my plants since 1976
Avatar for Dutchlady1
Dec 2, 2015 3:57 AM CST

Plumerias Photo Contest Winner: 2015 Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Forum moderator
Region: Florida Cat Lover Garden Sages Cactus and Succulents Tropicals Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
I agree, interesting.
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Dec 2, 2015 1:07 PM CST
Name: David Laderoute
Zone 5B/6 - NW MO (Zone 5b)
Ignoring Zones altogether
Seed Starter Avid Green Pages Reviewer Garden Ideas: Level 1
Just a FYI. Some seeds throw up leaves first, some roots first, some both at the same time. There is a lot of variation across species and sometimes per seed within species.

Since my first time growing Plumeria from seed will be this winter, I cannot speak for it.
Seeking Feng Shui with my plants since 1976
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Dec 3, 2015 11:27 AM CST
Name: Gigi AdeniumPlumeria
Florida (Zone 9b)
Adeniums Roses Plumerias Orchids Miniature Gardening Hibiscus
Region: Florida Container Gardener Garden Photography Cactus and Succulents Butterflies Garden Ideas: Level 1
Might be like bean sprouts, some grow leaves first and some roots. I see this done when growing beans for their edible sprouts but not really for planting Smiling
©by Gigi Adenium Plumeria "Gardening is my favorite pastime. I grow whatever plant that catches my attention. I also enjoy hand pollinating desert roses.”
Image
Dec 3, 2015 3:06 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Mary
Glendale, Arizona (Zone 9b)
Region: Arizona Enjoys or suffers hot summers Seed Starter Roses Plumerias Morning Glories
Hummingbirder Composter Cat Lover Vegetable Grower
Sighing! No roots yet today Glare but still green! Guessing still green is good. Gigi, had not thought of how beans sprout, but that is what they look like.
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Dec 3, 2015 3:11 PM CST
Name: Willeke
Netherlands (Zone 8b)
Cactus and Succulents Houseplants
Still no roots. To bad. Hope they do soon. Mine new seeds are rapidly growing.
Love all plants
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Dec 3, 2015 4:41 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Mary
Glendale, Arizona (Zone 9b)
Region: Arizona Enjoys or suffers hot summers Seed Starter Roses Plumerias Morning Glories
Hummingbirder Composter Cat Lover Vegetable Grower
@Adeniumgirl Hurray! that is wonderful! Keep us updated.

The more I think of my seeds the more I think they may not have been the greatest AND am going to try a different method of germinating.

So impressed by your seeds Smiling

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