The first was from campanula UK Cambridge about Young Lycidas. I was asking what to do with this rose that had brown and yellowed small crinkled leaves. Mr. C from Cambridge said that YL leaves were always small and crinkled. Well, the yellowed and brown part went away and the leaves are all green now, but guess what, campanula was CORRECT! The leaves are all small and crinkled....Not very attractive but at least they're green. Thanks campanula..

The second is in response to Roseseek about the attached photo of my bare root Munstead Wood.

This photo was taken on Feb 1 after I had added a collar and more potting soil tot protect the rose. Kim said that this would allow the roots to grow. And that when the canes started to sprout new leaves, I could take the collar off. There were many new shoots on the canes, but I didn't have a chance to ask if the plant was ready to have the collar removed, my 4 legged brat did it for me. He upended both pots and all the soil fell out! (anyone want a VERY cute little monster?) Anyway, he didn't chew or otherwise damage the plant, but the roots were exactly the same as when it arrived. No growth at all. Only the canes were sprouting. I repotted the plant, collar and all. I will leave it in it's collar till I see significant growth....(Is that correct, Kim?)

andreark

Let me try again, thank you caldonbeck for your most cogent advice.

And yes, it looks OK aside from wavy foliage. It IS very twiggy also. But it is sitting next to Eglantyne with her many large and shiny dark green leaves. Tough competition!

My DA babies are all looking great. Lady Emma has already had 3 blossoms, Falstaff 1, and Molineux is growing by leaps and bounds and has 6 buds ready to pop.
I think I will have only 2+ months that are too hot and sunny for them, but I have already learned how to use sun cloth.

Thanks again,

andreark (northern cal)

andreark

I'd collared quite a few of the longer cuttings I removed from the wraps for the same reason. They kept right on developing and new roots were evident at the cup and band bottoms, so I have removed the collars from those showing roots to let them harden off during this milder weather. They weren't pushing well during the hot, sunny, dry, windy period but are now they aren't stressed by the harsher weather they endured. Now, roots are pushing rather quickly. I actually lifted nearly fifty higher in their bands and cups this morning, providing them greater soil room under them to continue pushing roots in to.

So, if pots aren't drying out quickly in the conditions you're experiencing now, don't worry about it. Either way is probably fine. If it's hotter and sunnier, just keep it collared and watered then begin removing the soil an inch or two at a time once the plant is pushing new leaves and canes vigorously. I hope it helps! Thank you! Kim

The rest of my babies are doing so well I could just cry....well I tend to blubber easy anyway.

I have noticed that the plants that lost a noticeable number of leaves this winter(?), are generally producing more leaf sprouts than the ones (Pristine and Sterling Silver) that lost almost none. Each one seems to have it's own personality and growing habit. It's really interesting to watch.

Lady Emma has had 3 large blooms, Molineux has large buds ready to pop, and they are all just generally looking like SPRING HAS SPRUNG!!

I have already fertilized once, foliar sprayed 2 weeks later with Neptune's Harvest (Fish and Seaweed), and cleaned up the beds and put down a spring layer of compost this week end.

I'm just so happy to be out playing with the babies....

Hugs and Smooches,

andreark