MB>RP> After mixing put this in a plastic bag and allow it to sit for
MB>RP> about two weeks so the lime has a chance to work.  Notice - there
MB>RP> is absolutely no soil in this mixture.
MB>Thanks for the formula for a mix for cuttings. I was surprised at
MB>how much dolomite was in it. I wouldn't have thought it would
MB>need that much for that amount of mix.
   Play it by ear and pH test then.  I see that some stated it as 1 Tbs,
   while in another place it was 1 Tsp.  Quite a difference.  Of course,
   the peat moss can be extremely acid so the only way to be sure where
   things are at is to test the pH after the mix has "cured" for a
   couple of weeks - and even that may not be completely accurate.
   Remember though - that mix was also for plants that like a very
   slightly acid "soil".
MB>Finally
MB>decided to just buy new potting soil and use the old soil in the
MB>garden since it's a peat, perlite, and vermiculite mix it should
MB>be fine there.
   Not sure, but you might try adding a lot of garden lime to that soil
   as you recycle it.  If you have a compost, that might be the best
   place to put it instead of directly into the garden  The problem
   might be the soil is literally "toxic" with nitrites.  (Not
   nitrates).  Time and composting will change that back to normal
   though.
MB>I've never heard of the Texas-Style potting method.  You might
MB>need to tell me a little more about that.  Thanks for all your
MB>other tips.  Some of the cuttings I started in mid Oct. are
MB>actually showing some growth now, so maybe they're gonna make it.
    Can do.  A complete description will follow in a day or to.
MB>One more question, I noticed the impatiens I just started don't
MB>look happy and have droppy leaves now. Is this normal? Should I
MB>pick most of the leaves off?  Or should I start over with some
MB>new cuttings?
   No, it does not sound normal.  Now are these cuttings with developed
   roots?  Or are these cuttings you have just placed in water?  How
   long are these cuttings.  The times I did that particular plant, I
   only use the new growth on each stem - about the top three to four
   inches at most.  I never had any luck trying to root the longer,
   harder stems.  I would make the cut at just about the point in the
   stem where the new growth was still quite "soft", then strip off an
   inch or so of leaves just above the cut - then place the remaining
   stem in the water right away.
   If these wilting cuttings are already rooted - but just being
   transferred to the soil - thats one of the problems of doing rooting
   in water.  The roots that develop are not well adapted to work in
   soil so until the plant does develop "soil roots", there is a good
   chance of problems.  Actually - I had much better luck just leaving
   the cuttings in water and growing them hydroponically until the
   Spring - where they were then planted in the garden.
   If the wilting has not gone to far, you can try saving the top two
   inches of each by cutting again - and hope they pick up when placed
   in the water.  But impatiens are pretty fragile that way.
   Oh yes - when continuing to grow them hydroponically - I just used
   Hyponex - I forget the proportions - but I had blooms all winter.
 * SLMR 2.1a * I'm back Scarlet, and I still don't give a damn!
--- Maximus/2 3.01
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