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Table of Contents

1. Editor's Comments
2. Burro's Tail - Donkey's Tail (Sedum morganianum)
3. Humor for Today
4. Another Flower Arranging Tip
5. Soil Structure
6. Quote for Today
7. Reader Mailbag: Round-up
8. Wood Storage
9. Subscribe/Unsubscribe

1) Editor's Comments:

This week we're running a little late. Unfortunately, it has been a long week, too much to do with too little time. We give you a look at an interesting plant called the Burro's Tail, give you a quick flower arranging tip, look at soil, our reader mailbag, and more.

Thanks to your kind comments, we've added a Daily Country Shortcut to our website. As the title tells you, every day a new tip will be presented. Hope you enjoy.

As always, if you do have questions, suggestions or ideas, do not hesitate to drop us a note.

Tom Krueger
tomkrueger@rexseedco.com

Rex Gregor
rexgregor@comcast.net

"Exotic & Unusual Seeds from Around the World"

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2) Burro's Tail - Donkey's Tail (Sedum morganianum)

Have you heard of the Burro's Tail, or Donkey's Tail? It makes a great houseplant.

The Burro's Tail is a trailing succulent plant, supposedly native to Mexico. However, many horticulturists claim they have never found a wild "Burro's Tail" in Mexico. This leads us to believe the original cultivation of this plant is a mystery.

You can easily grow one from "cuttings." The plant creates long drooping tendrils several feet long. It has fat blue-green leaves growing on stems. This succulent will give you wonderful pink blooms in the spring.

Burro's Tail makes an excellent indoor plant, particularly well- suited to growing in a hanging basket. You do want to grow it where it can get some direct sunlight which promotes the blue- green color in the leaves.

Even though it is a rugged plant and withstands extreme temperature changes, it must not be allowed to get too cold or close freezing. It likes an area with low humidity, and grows best when kept around 68 degrees F (20 degrees C).

Like all succulents, this plant is susceptible to over watering. During the active growing season, you want to keep the top 1-1/2" of the soil moist - do not over water!

The "Burro's Tail" is not a hungry plant, thus you only need to feed it occasionally with a low nitrogen fertilizer - maybe only once or twice a year.

As we said, it can be propagated very easily from stem or leaf cuttings. Take your stem cutting and simply remove the lower leaves, then allow the cut surface to dry for 24 hours before planting it in a moistened cactus mix. Rooting will occur within a matter of a few days.

For a maximum effect, plant several rooted cuttings in your container. Why? Because young plants are generally more attractive than older plants. When the Burro's Tail gets to about 8 or 10-years-old, it begins to loose its distinctive blue- green color.

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3) Humor for Today:

Our first day at a resort, my wife and I decided to hit the beach. When I went back to our room to get something to drink, one of the hotel maids was making our bed. I grabbed my cooler, but not being sure of the hotel rules I stopped at the door and asked the maid, "Can we drink beer on the beach?"

"Sure," the maid replied, "but I have to finish the rest of the rooms first."

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4) Another Flower Arranging Tip:

Not sure which issue it was, but we mentioned about using a potato to anchor your cut flowers. Thought we'd share another cheap alternative.

Well, what if you don't have a "frog" for the base of your vase. A "frog?" That's a device for holding the stems in place.

Here's what you do, save those plastic baskets that berries come in. Simply squeeze a basket upside down into the bottom of the vase. You can then place each stem in its own little opening to hold it in place.

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5) Soil Structure:

Every gardener tends to pay attention to the soil structure at the surface. But what about the soil structure deeper down? The deeper down area we'll call the subsoil. This is an area you can't have a lot of influence over. Although, knowing the structure might help you know what things to consider for that upper surface.

If you dig a deep hole in the garden, take a look at the structure of the deepest part you can see. Look at the soil you place at the side of the hole. Even break off a hand-sized chunk. If you have loose structured subsoil, it may allow water and nutrients to flow away too quickly. If you have a tight, compact structure, waterlogging might be a problem because water just can't drain away.

Use this information for planning on who to amend the topsoil. With a loose subsoil you may want to add more material to retain water in the topsoil. Conversely for compact subsoil, you certainly don't want to do things which would encourage even more water retention.

Another structure perspective you have totally no control over was how the actual soil was "created." In an area you haven't cultivated deeply, you might see the soil is laid out in layers or plates. This is soil usually formed by lakes and rivers or which formed in glacial areas. In dry regions you might see vertical columns. The vertical column structure will encourage deeper roots.

Gardening isn't all about the plants. It involves much more.

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Cold Climate Gardeners are passing up an excellent resource if they don't take a look into the Minnesota State Horticultural Society. Visit them today. We recommend them highly.

6) Quote for Today:

"The secret of joy in work is contained in one word - excellence. To know how to do something well is to enjoy it."

-- Pearl Buck

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7) Reader Mailbag: Round-up

Be aware that some states do not allow certain herbicides. We strongly recommend you visit with your local county agricultural agent, or possibly your local college or university if they teach agriculture. We've always found these folks to be very knowledgeable and helpful.

Some nursery or greenhouse growers are also up-to-date with information, and they are another good source. They generally know which products will work best in your area. You might want to also use your computer to search for herbicides or possibly round-up. Again, some States do not allow the use of 2-4-D products.

You may want to visit (IPI) Interstate Products, Inc. by Clicking Here. You can click on "Contact us" link on their page. They are generally very good at answering questions with up-to-date information. Drop them an email.

Hope this information is helpful.

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8) Wood Storage:

In many places, the seasons are about to change from warm to cool -- in some places it already has! Here in Minnesota we had our first hard freeze last night. What a change in the garden.

Days like that get you to thinking about spending time around a cozy fireplace. Well, if you're putting aside wood for the winter, store it away from the house (or any structure). Termites love woodpiles and it's a short hop from the pile to the house if they're next to each other. Of course if the wood pile sits a real long time, rodents may also become an issue.

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9) Subscribe/Unsubscribe

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Tom Krueger, Editor and Publisher
tomkrueger@rexseedco.com

Rex Gregor, Contributing Editor
rexgregor@comcast.net

Please feel free to forward The Green Thumb Times to a friend.

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Rex’s Seedco has searched the world for quality growers of garden seeds. Many of these farmers bring together ancient wisdom and modern science so people everywhere may have good health and enjoyment in life. We are dedicated to providing the best wherever they are found.

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