All the Dirt on Gardening

FREE ROSE SEMINAR – "Year in the Life of a Rose" presented by Mark Stelljes (consulting American Rose Society Rosarian and Board Member of Tulsa Rose Society) on Sunday, October 21, from 1 pm to 5 pm. Mark's specialty is taking the mystery and difficulty out of growing roses.There will be food and door prizes. RSVP to (918) 455-7673. The seminar is being held at Roses Inc. Tulsa , 12323 E. 132nd St. S. in Broken Arrow –For a map and more scoop go to http://www.rosesinctulsa.com . PLANTS THAT NETWORK Science Daily has a terrific story about plants having their own chat systems that they use to warn other plants connected by underground runners. "Many plants form internal communications networks and are able to exchange information efficiently," the scientists say. And, "Many herbal plants such as strawberry, clover, reed and ground elder naturally form networks. Individual plants remain connected with each other for a certain period of time by means of runn...

EUPHORBIAS Did you know? Euphorbias grow best in plastic pots with drainage holes but without saucers underneath them. And, i t's best to repot them in the winter when they are dormant. Click this link to a Euphorbia website with well-written, fascinating cultural information on all things euphorbia - the site is in German and English. Here's a tidbit "For every newly acquired plant, you should assume that the grower has used a soil that costs as little as possible, and is only intended to keep the plant alive and standing upright until it is sold. Such cheap composts are not suitable for cultivation over a long period. Therefore repot your plant as soon as possible." Photo: Propagation of succulents "Trying to imitate the soil at habitat is not a good idea and at best a lost labour of love. For example, if certain euphorbias in nature grow on limestone or gypsum, it makes little sense to add limestone or gypsum to the soil in cultivation. In habitat it is not ...