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Post by Apoplast on Mar 6, 2016 20:26:10 GMT -5
Hi all - Well I guess today officially marks spring here; the Sarrs are back in the driveway.  Last summer was my first growing growing them. They made it through dormancy in my garage under lights on a 10 hr day, which was a bonus. But I was surprised tat they started growing. A couple have flower buds going like this one:  And this one is in full bloom!  My question for the experienced growers is, do Sarrs always break dormancy after a certain period of time? They were under short day cycle (10 hours light), cool temps in the garage (about 13-14C). And yet boom, early March and they are in bloom. Does this always happen? How do others deal with this in springs when it's too cold to put them out? Thanks for looking! |
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Post by lloyd on Mar 6, 2016 22:42:54 GMT -5
I think the lights may have allowed an early end to dormancy. Mine are in a very dim garage with only dim daylight.
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Post by stevebooth on Mar 8, 2016 8:18:04 GMT -5
I agree with lloyd - that coupled with temperatures above 10C will start them into growth, whilst my plants outside in the UK are getting over 10 hours of natural daylight, only a few have started any growth, the average temperature hasnt risen sufficiently for most of them yet, we are still getting frost at night.
The only way to not put them out so early is to increase their dormancy period by keeping cool/dark.
You may find that you will loose the flowers you have if they dont acclimate to the cooler weather quickly.
Cheers
Steve
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Post by Apoplast on Mar 8, 2016 9:46:39 GMT -5
Hi lloyd and stevebooth - Thanks for the replies! That's good to know, and exactly the key to the puzzle I needed. It was a very warm winter so my garage didn't get very cold. And I had plenty of light on them. Seems to me you both keyed in on the issues. The temperature issue in the garage should be self remedied in colder winters (we only got down to -25C this year!). And for next year, I'll just use far less light. As far as this year goes, our low last night was 11C and today's high is supposed to be 19 (it's warmer outside than in the garage), so as long as the weather holds (which the forecasts suggest should be true), I think they'll be okay outside, with occasional nighttime sheltering during the projected frosts. Fingers crossed. Thanks again, both! |
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Post by lloyd on Mar 8, 2016 9:57:02 GMT -5
I put a low-temp. space heater in the garage this winter, set to maintain a low of 32-31°F. They seem in much better shape than usual for late winter. Much less die-back or rhizome rot so far. I think that prolonged soil/air temps. below freezing are bad for the mid Southern. CP's.
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Post by Apoplast on Mar 8, 2016 18:41:08 GMT -5
Hi Lloyd - You are probable correct about the low temps. My issue will be keeping them cool enough. My garage is a tuck-under, so it stays fairly warm (making me think I'm losing too much heat from my house to it - perhaps inevitably). The lowest temps my plants experienced this winter were probably around 5C, when it was -25C outside. I kept the lights on (T5 shop lights) at night to help make sure they didn't get too cold, and my vent from my tuberous dew grow room goes right to that part of the garage (figured I'd use the waste heat to keep the garage warmer). Sounds like I may have a few things to rethink. Thanks!
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Post by Devon on Mar 8, 2016 19:00:19 GMT -5
Exciting to see posts about spring already! Hopefully it won't be too long until it arrives here.
You could use a few heat lamps or a space heater hooked up to a thermostat to keep them above freezing temps. It works well for me.
Is that aggregate you are using pumice? I've been looking around for some but can't find a source in Canada.
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Post by Apoplast on Mar 9, 2016 13:44:34 GMT -5
Hey Devon - I am sure spring will be migrating to your region soon enough my friend. Although the wait can seem interminable!
At least for me, keeping my plants Sarrs cool enough through dormancy seems like it will be the bigger challenge. That's what I'll need to figure out for next year.
It is not pumice I am using. It's a product called "Growstone". It is a manufactured pumice substitute, from recycled glass. Works great, environmentally friendly, but not cheap. Shogg has mentioned it is available in Canada. I can't get pumice here either (well, without buying in a palate worth), so I started using this stuff. The results on a wide range of plants have been impressive! I still miss the inexpensive, readily available, natural, environmentally destructive pumice from when I lived out west. But, I'm getting the same results with Growstone, so I'm poorer but happier for it.
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Post by Devon on Mar 9, 2016 23:01:59 GMT -5
It is not pumice I am using. It's a product called "Growstone". It is a manufactured pumice substitute, from recycled glass. Works great, environmentally friendly, but not cheap. Shogg has mentioned it is available in Canada. I can't get pumice here either (well, without buying in a palate worth), so I started using this stuff. The results on a wide range of plants have been impressive! I still miss the inexpensive, readily available, natural, environmentally destructive pumice from when I lived out west. But, I'm getting the same results with Growstone, so I'm poorer but happier for it. Nice! Will definitely give it a try. |
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Post by Apoplast on May 12, 2016 19:42:25 GMT -5
I can't believe this, I am going to have to pull in my Sarrs tomorrow night and Saturday night. Low temps frost, and a freeze warning. It's May! This climate change chaos is driving me nuts (and you know, jeopardizing millions of lives, billions of dollars, and threatening thousands of species existence - but mostly inconveniencing me). Anyone else still getting freezing temps?
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Post by shoggoths on May 12, 2016 19:52:17 GMT -5
Yep, same thing here.
There,s freezing chances until the first moon of June here.
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Post by lloyd on May 12, 2016 19:53:52 GMT -5
3C Sunday night in Toronto.
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Post by Apoplast on May 12, 2016 20:52:26 GMT -5
Glad to hear I am not suffering alone. This seals it, I am being super selective about what Sarr clones I grow. Because if they aren't worth hauling in and out for months on end - they are out! Too much work! Can't go out of town. Plus my neighbors already think I am crazy with the carnivorous plants in the driveway, the prairie restoration, and the edible landscaping. I don't need to give Mrs. Kravitz one more thing to wonder about. ;-)
Shogg - My sympathies to you! June is not acceptable for frost, unless you are in New Zealand or something. We are usually done with frost my now, but I guess here on the prairie you never know. I can't recall, do you grow Sarrs? If so, how do you get them a long enough season?
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Post by stevebooth on May 13, 2016 7:00:56 GMT -5
They have forecast frosts in the north of the UK too, winds are coming from the North, it will be a shock to plants taht have been bathing in 20C+ temperatures for days.
Cheers
Steve
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Post by sokkos on May 13, 2016 8:45:54 GMT -5
I had to pull my Sarrs in last night too. It snowed this morning on my way to school. We had a high of 35 (95F) last Thursday but had light frost the morning before; now snow a week after. Everyone at school is scrambling to check their field plots now since most of them were seeded last week.
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