Comments on: Graduation Traditions

By: Melanie Contreras

Melanie Contreras — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 05:11:04 +0000

Hi Andrew –

Thank you for your quick reply! I will find my inner green thumb and take care of the plant per your suggestions. Wish me luck!

Happy thoughts –
Melanie

By: Andrew Bunting

Andrew Bunting — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 13:24:24 +0000

Melanie,

You could root the part that was broken off, but it would be best to put it in a separate pot with an equal mix of potting soil and perlite. You can re-cut the end of the cutting and add a rooting hormone such as Rootone, and then cover the pot with a clear plastic bag thus creating a greenhouse effect. The cutting should root in 3-4 weeks. The plant where the branch broke off should also re-sprout a new plant from the base.

Sincerely,

Andrew Bunting, Curator
Scott Arboretum

By: Melanie Contreras

Melanie Contreras — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 20:07:06 +0000

I was thrilled when my son’s “Henry’s Garnet”, painstakingly packed in my suitcase, safely made the trip post graduation back to Los Angeles. The plant had been thriving in a pot, growing quite a bit over the past few months. I was so sad when I noticed the pot had been knocked over yesterday and the main part of the plant had been broken, literally hanging on by one small root thread. There is still a bit of “stalk” firmly in the pot. I have put the broken piece securely back into the pot, next to the “stalk”, and am making sure the soil remains very wet. Is there a chance it could possibly re-root? Will the remaining stalk have a chance of growing as well? Please advise. Thanks so much.
Melanie

By: Claire Sawyers

Claire Sawyers — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 12:28:35 +0000

Dear Romilia,

I’m sorry it seems the instructions that were folded up and attached to gift plant got lost —

I suggest planting it directly in your garden in an area where it has room to grow; full sun is fine but it will also take part shade. Keep it well watered until it becomes established (general rule of thumb is “every day for a week, every week for a month, every month for a year”), but as needed. Ita is adaptalbe, growing in standing water is some parts of its range, so I don’t think you can overwater it. While it is small now, if you plant it in a pot, it runs a greater risk of drying out, unless you are a regular container grower and water daily, but you could do so to have it gain some size and then plant it out in the fall.

Ultimately it will get 4-5 feet tall and send up multiple stems. When it reaches that size, it can be divided and so your son can move a piece to his own garden and you can keep a piece.

If you search on line about Itea virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’ you will find a number of additional excellent photographs and additional cultural information. Good luck with it!

Glad to know you are keen to take good care of this symbolic plant thati s also a great landscape plant and congratulations on your son’s graduation!

By: romilia

romilia — Mon, 31 May 2010 22:13:50 +0000

Dear Ms. Sawyers,

I was delighted to receive Itea virginica as a living memento of the years my son Gabriel was in your beautiful campus. I carried the plant all the way to Texas.

We live in Cypress, Texas. I hope this plant thrive in this weather. I don’t know anything about plants and I don’t want to spoil this beautiful specimen. I need directions as to how to take care of this plant (it’s still in the container). My husband said, put it in a pot first, let it grow there and then plant it in our garden. Should I put it under the full sun in a small pot? or should I put in in partial shade? When should the plant be able to stand by itself in my garden? Thanks!
Romilia Ramirez