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Re: Good work! Started by FlowerPower at 11-10-2005 8:16 AM. Topic has 7 replies. WildflowerHaven... » Knowlege Base F... » Growing Wildflo... » Re: Good work! Hunting Texas Wildflowers - New Book!

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11-10-2005, 8:16 AM FlowerPower Joined on 03-08-2005 The Woodlands, Texas Posts 136 Wildflower seeds I got my seeds at the Wildflower Festival Saturday and took them home and sewed them that afternoon (Mixed in bowl with some sand and sprinkled the mixture evenly across the prepared area and then tamped lightly with a rake). I had cleaned up and raked the side-yard bed earlier in the week.  I've sprinkled them Lightly with water each day that it hasn't rained and believe it or not they have sprouted and I have a bed full of little wildflower plants already.  I guess they really liked the warm weather   So now I'll leave them on their own and should have a bed full of wild beauties come next spring. Murry Flowers will brighten your day whether mild or wild, Murry!    Report

11-12-2005, 10:20 AM RichO Joined on 02-15-2005 San Antonio, TX Posts 637 Re: Good work! Murry, They might need a bit of watering until the plants develop the second and third set of leaves.  Once they have their second growth of leaves they become fairly drought resistant by drawing water through their leaves when there is dew or even light rain. To develop really good roots the plants will need a few good rains during the winter months.  A few things I have learned: 1. Do not keep the area too wet or have it where it will be watered by lawn sprinklers or any ongoing seepage. - Bluebonnets and a few other annuals will develop root rot if the area is kept too wet. 2. Mix organic humus into the top layer of soil if the top layer of soil becomes crusty or hardened. - A hard top layer will keep water from draining through the soil and not let the soil breathe. 3. Once the plants get their third growth of leaves you might want to thin out the bed some if it looks like a chia pet. - annual wildflower plant seedlings will remain very small throughout the winter and then grow much much larger in the spring. If there are too many plants then they might be a bit thin and lanky. RichO Hunting Texas Wildflowers    Report

11-12-2005, 3:26 PM FlowerPower Joined on 03-08-2005 The Woodlands, Texas Posts 136 Thanks for the adive Rich! I just keep the bed damp when the rain doesn't help out.  Here is a photo one week later and you can see that some thining will be necessary: http://www.pbase.com/photomurage/image/52153755.jpg The fall leaves, pine needles and other junk keeps trying to cover up the seedlings but I thought the photo made an interesting image of the natural cycle.  I planted scarlet phlox, California poppies and corn flowers this time.  So my spring photos are in the ground Murry Flowers will brighten your day whether mild or wild, Murry!    Report

11-14-2005, 3:23 PM Bill Purcell Joined on 06-29-2005 Posts 45 Re: Good work! Rich/Murry, I finally got around to doing my own wildflower planting this fall, and completed it near the end of October.  I needed it to be contained, but wanted to have a fairly substantial area as well - so I finally compromised and decided on a 4x2x1-foot high galvanized stock tank, purchased at Tractor Supply Co. I drilled several 1/2" drain holes in the bottom, then filled it halfway with large limestone gravel.  I then made a soil mixture on top of that with topsoil, humus and crushed granite.  When I was done, I thought it nicely approximated the soil in the Highland Lakes area of the Hill Country - albeit a bit deeper, probably. I scattered a few packets of seeds in there, intentionally erring on the side of overkill.  I now have hundreds of seedlings, and it presently looks very similar to the image that Murry posted of his seedling patch.  I may need to thin them out eventually, but I might also adopt the philosophy of "may the strongest plants win"!  Regards, Bill.      Report

11-14-2005, 4:31 PM RichO Joined on 02-15-2005 San Antonio, TX Posts 637 Re: Good work! That's great Bill! Keep a photo record of your wildflower haven and keep us informed about your progress.  That was a very wise step drilling the holes to allow the water to drain!  When the plants get their 2nd and 3rd growth of leaves you can decide then about thinning the area.  Wildflower plants in good soil can grow tall and do well even if crowded, but it usually only takes one plant for every 4-6" to have a good bloom.   RichO Hunting Texas Wildflowers    Report

03-03-2006, 10:02 AM xseption Joined on 03-02-2006 Richardson, TX (DFW) Posts 202 Re: Good work! What size area is recommended for growing wildflowers? thanks! edd two cents and then some ...    Report

03-03-2006, 11:19 AM RichO Joined on 02-15-2005 San Antonio, TX Posts 637 Re: Good work! Most any size, but the soil depth should be at least 6" and it should drain well. If you put bluebonnets in a planter, make certain the planter has drain holes in the bottom. Bluebonnets like geraniums can suffer from root rot, if the soil does not drain well. Ethan from the Dallas area has bluebonnets in his backyard, and in planters.   RichO Hunting Texas Wildflowers    Report

03-03-2006, 12:46 PM xseption Joined on 03-02-2006 Richardson, TX (DFW) Posts 202 Re: Good work! thanks for the info! edd two cents and then some ...    Report

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