| 8 months ago :: Aug 16, 2009 - 10:02AM #1 | |
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I just bought and planted a beautiful what I think is a mexican sunflower plant. It sounds like it from information on google. I would like to know since this is an annual plant, could I bring it in my basement in front of sliding glass door with afternoon sunshine for the winter and would it live to plant outside in spring? If not, can I get seeds from my plant to plant indoors in small pots? Or should I take cuttings and put in moist soil in pots to see if they take root indoors over the winter? Thanks for any help! |
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| 8 months ago :: Aug 16, 2009 - 4:22PM #2 | |
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Hello Kathy, Mexican sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia) is most commonly grown as an annual because it's frost tender and so easy to grow from seed, but it can survive as a short-lived perennial in frost-free zones. Still, this is not a plant that will reliably overwinter indoors. Your best bet is to collect seed from your plant or purchase new for some of the outstanding cultivars on the market, like the compact 'Fiesta Del Sol' (www.johnnyseeds.com/catalog/product.aspx...), or the golden 'Yellow Torch' (can be obtained from: www.southernexposure.com). Either way, the seed should be started indoors in early to mid-spring and plants planted outdoors after the threat of frost has past. If you decide to collect your own seed, wait until the seedheads are fully brown and dry before you harvest them. I usually clean and collect my seed over clean, white paper and place them small, carefully labeled, paper envelopes. Seed keeps best if stored in a cool, dry place. If you want to know what Tithonia seed looks like, there's a shot of it on this site: theseedsite.co.uk/seedsize12.html. I hope this helps. Happy gardening! Jessie
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| 7 months ago :: Sep 13, 2009 - 8:56PM #3 | |
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Hi Thanks so much for Tithonia information. I am going to try to get the seed from the brown dried up flower, place in envelope in my basement which is cool and dry. What month should I try to plant the seeds indoor in small pot? How many seeds should I put in one pot? How deep? Water once a week? Thanks much! |
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| 7 months ago :: Sep 13, 2009 - 9:03PM #4 | |
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I bought what I was told was a dwarf crepe myrtle. I am not very happy with it because it only bloomed the first year with the tiniest light pink blooms, this year no blooms. I have not fertilized it. It does not get all its leave until August 1st and is about 1 foot by 1.5 feet. This does not look anything like a dwarf crepe myrtle tree. It is an extremely small bush with extremely small tiny hardly noticeable flowers. It does look healthy and has dark green leaves on stems. Have you ever seen or heard of anything like this? I have looked on internet and called it dwarf crepe myrtle bush and only the tree like type come up. Thanks for any information. |
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| 7 months ago :: Sep 13, 2009 - 9:06PM #5 | |
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I wouldn't recommend planting annual plant seeds indoors in the winter, at least in the conditions you describe in your basement. Even though the seeds will likely sprout and grow (plant them about 1/4" deep, perhaps about 1 seed every few inches or so), the short winter days and weak sunshine will usually cause your seedlings to get scraggly. Plus, they'll be more likely to get a fungal problem usually called dampening off. I'd wait until mid-March until sowing those Tithonia in your basement. The longer spring days along with more intense sunlight will help them grow stronger. Or, count back about 6 weeks from your area's expected last frost date and sow them. You'll find once the young plants are placed outside in warm sun and soil they'll take off. In fact, I'd even wait placing young Tithonia plants outside until it's really warm--such as in May when overnight temps don't drop below the mid 50s. Tithonias are a WARM season grower!! |
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| 7 months ago :: Sep 13, 2009 - 9:44PM #6 | |
I find it strange it takes until late July for it to fully foliate, but since in some parts of the country its been a cooler-than-usual summer, I've noticed many regular crapemyrtle trees have delayed or simply lessened their flowering display by 3-4 weeks. Dwarf shrub crapemyrtles can be pruned back hard each spring (to 4-5") and allowed to rejuvenate each year--this may be one way to promote a nicer, fuller flower display next year. If nothing else, I hope it provides you a nice orange-red fall foliage display. |
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| 7 months ago :: Sep 14, 2009 - 7:26AM #7 | |
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Hi Kathy, Tithonia seed can be planted indoors or out. Indoor plants should be started six weeks before they are to be planted outside. I usually wait to plant mine at least two weeks after the threat of frost has passed, so where I live in the Mid-Atlantic I start mine in mid to late March. Some suggest cold stratifying Tithonia seed (subjecting them to cold, wet conditions before planting) but I have never found this necessary. Plant them in a moist seed starting medium and just cover the seeds. Keep the seeds lightly moist but not wet and be sure they are four to six inches away from the grow lights. The seedlings grow quickly after seedbreak, so they need strong grow lights to keep them from becoming leggy. As they grow, raise your grow lights, so their tender leaves don't burn. All seedlings grown indoors will be tender and should be hardened off, or slowly acclimated to the wind and high light of the outdoors, before they are planted in the ground. Space the plants approximately two feet apart when planting. Seeds planted outdoors have a poorer germination rate and bloom later, but this method still works and requires less work in the long run. Just work up the bed area where they are to be planted (I suggest adding some compost) and lightly cover the seeds. You can plant them 6" apart and thin out seedlings that you don't want. This will ensure you will get enough plants. Keep the seeds lightly moist and they should germinate as temperatures warm up. Jessie
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| 6 months ago :: Oct 08, 2009 - 9:34AM #8 | |
Just wanted to join in the conversation about Mexican Sunflowers, I live in zone 7, Oregon and I grow flowers and sell them for .10 on a card table in my city driveway. You can see pics in my pics if you like. Anyhow, these beautiful orange flowers are one of my customers favorite flowers AND I LOVE KIDS AND THE KIDS JUST LOVE THEM !!!!!!!!!! They do have very breakable stems as they are hollow, Mine are planted where it is the hotest in my yard, by my front entry way where almost nothing else can grow as the heat is trapped there and a lot of hot (100 degree in summer) sun. They LOVe it and grow profusely. and tall > I make a flower tunnel up to my front door with them and my grands love to walk into my house , coming up thru the flower tunnel :) Wendy |
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