We're still in the throws of winter here, with a cold snap that included
lows of -5 and 50 mile per hour winds. As a result, I've had to confine
my
gardening to my indoor roses.
My baby Bucks are doing OK for the most part, although I've had quite a
tussle with spotted spider mites. (My brother gave me a microscope for
Christmas, so now I can really see the little devils.) I started with
insecticidal soap, but I felt it was a bit hard on the tender foliage. So
I've
turned to just water sprays. I use a 1 gallon pressure sprayer and hit
the
leaves, top and bottom, with a coarse spray of warm water. Dry with a fan
and repeat.
I'm quite impressed with the results. The mite population is way down and
the plants look much happier. It's not a totally happy ending however.
I've
lost one of my Bucks, from a starting count of 35. I've also lost 2 of my
70 other cuttings, so the attrition rate is about the same.
We've had more snow this year, so I'm hoping the outside plants will fair
well, being more protected from the wind. Last year it was very warm
until
January, then it was cold, cold, cold, with no snow, so it was a tuff
January and February for the roses.
I replaced my garage door to my attached garage this year and have noted
an
additional benefit above not having snow blow under the door. The 20 or
so
potted roses that I winter over in the garage have been throwing new
shoots
and are holding their green very nicely. If all goes well, I should have
some blooms on my potted roses in early May! That's about month before
most
of the Hybrid Teas come in.
Jeff, Southeast Michigan, Zone 5
"Martin H. Eastburn" <lionslair@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:1202097389_1355@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Well we are digging holes and planting for next year. With the
> temperature
> like it is - high 60's some of our old ones are putting out growth.
> It was 19 the other day but now it is February - what next.
>
> Martin
> --
> Martin H. Eastburn
> @[EMAIL PROTECTED]
home at Lions' Lair with our computer lionslair at consolidated dot
net
> TSRA, Endowed; NRA LOH & Patron Member, Golden Eagle, Patriot's Medal.
> NRA Second Amendment Task Force Charter Founder
> IHMSA and NRA Metallic Silhouette maker & member.
> http://lufkinced.com/
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