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Post by Tucson Grower on Feb 4, 2023 22:24:45 GMT -6
yaah, this evening as I was giving all the seeds and seedjings a drink for the night, I noticed that one had finally thrown up its seed leaves. Now that's a lot better.
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Post by FrostyTurnip on Feb 4, 2023 23:27:16 GMT -6
Do you plan on feeding them in a couple weeks? I started a bunch more today.
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Post by Tucson Grower on Feb 4, 2023 23:46:42 GMT -6
I feed them continuously. Sometimes mixed into their drinks.
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Post by FrostyTurnip on Feb 15, 2023 9:18:02 GMT -6
Another seedling has come up. And the first one has put on true leaves. I’m stoopid excited.
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Post by FrostyTurnip on May 23, 2023 23:17:44 GMT -6
My excitement has moved into contentment. I have three hollyhock plants growing well with one of these over 3 foot tall now. I wonder if this means it is going to bloom? We did have some light freezes during its infancy. Perhaps it has been coaxed into thinking it’s time to bloom.
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Post by FrostyTurnip on Jun 11, 2023 11:13:37 GMT -6
The larger of my hollyhock plants was tricked into second year growth and is blooming white flowers now. I’m disappointed in the color which is washed out by all the green in this bed, but happy to know there is sufficient nutrients for it to thrive. The other two are still small but the green leafs are enlarging. I will try to Save Hollyhock Seeds from this white one. The smaller ones were germinated some time later than this one.
Pretty cool that it bloomed the first year. Lesson for me.
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Post by chrysanthemum on Jun 11, 2023 15:44:25 GMT -6
Do those leaves look like hollyhock leaves to you, Tucson and Frosty? I transplanted some hollyhocks into this planter last fall, but they were all killed back in December when we went down below the teens. I wasn’t sure that they had had time to establish themselves enough to come back from roots or not, but this plant started growing earlier this spring, and I thought the leaves looked enough like hollyhock that it might be one. I’ve not seen large hollyhocks in person in a long time, though, and internet pictures seem to focus on the flowers, so I thought I’d ask you guys if you think I might actually have one growing here. I’d be delighted if that were the case. Please pardon the wilted appearance. It does have water by the roots, but we’re having our first major heat wave here, and the plants are having to adjust to full sunshine and high temperatures.
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Post by FrostyTurnip on Jun 11, 2023 19:29:50 GMT -6
It could be. Very similar. I was thrown off by the spindly growth, tho. Mind are stalky. I mean the first year growth, that is. I’ll try to get a photo tomorrow using Imgur for comparison.
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Post by chrysanthemum on Jun 12, 2023 5:46:51 GMT -6
Thanks, Frosty. I appreciate it.
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Post by FrostyTurnip on Jun 12, 2023 17:55:41 GMT -6
Thanks, Frosty. I appreciate it. Chrys, my apologies for the delay and missing pictures. It was overcast and cool today and little Miss and I absolutely did not miss a minute of it prepping beds, preening and weeding, seeding out, etc. and I am SO SORE while trying to come up with supper. Ha
I did take photos and got down to look at my hollyhocks at ground level. You certainly have a holly hock growing there. Growth pattern is the same. Congrats! If it froze back, it should bloom.
I’m getting a lot of love from passerby since the Holly hock bloomed. It’s nice to share.
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Post by chrysanthemum on Jun 12, 2023 18:46:39 GMT -6
No apologies needed whatsoever, Frosty. I’m sorry that you’re sore, but I’m thrilled that you had a cool and overcast day to get work done. I went out and watered this morning while there was still cloud cover. It all burned off later, and the temperature went up to ninety-four. That may be our cool day for the week.
Thanks so much for looking at the growth pattern at ground level. I’m excited to have it confirmed that it really is a hollyhock. Hurray.
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Post by heavyhitterokra on Jun 15, 2023 16:50:33 GMT -6
Those sure do look like Hollyhock leaves to me, but I've never paid any attention to them before they grew their stalks. I think it's possible what we are seeing there is the first year, rosette stage of growth, before the second year flowering stalks.
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Post by chrysanthemum on Jun 16, 2023 14:19:20 GMT -6
That makes a lot of sense, heavyhitterokra, first-year rosettes, as opposed to second-year stalks. Nobody on the internet pays much attention to this stage either, which was why I’ve not been able to find pictures of non-flowering hollyhocks. I’m excited to have one growing, though.
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Post by FrostyTurnip on Jun 24, 2023 6:49:49 GMT -6
Are Hollyhocks self pollinating?
Answer:
Hollyhocks (Alcea) are typically biennial plants that rely on pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, for cross-pollination. However, they can also undergo self-pollination in some cases. The stamens and pistils of hollyhock flowers are positioned in such a way that self-pollination can occur, but it is generally less common than cross-pollination. In nature, it is beneficial for hollyhocks to be cross-pollinated to maintain genetic diversity.
What do I do to avoid cross pollination in Hollyhocks? ? Can I use blossom bags on Hollyhocks? How do I hand pollinate Hollyhocks? Each hollyhock plant is a different color. Will using blossom bags and hand pollinating preserve each color?
To avoid cross-pollination and preserve each color of your hollyhock plants, you can use blossom bags and hand pollination techniques. Here's how you can do it:
1. Obtain blossom bags: Blossom bags are small, breathable bags made of lightweight fabric or mesh. They are used to cover the flowers and prevent unwanted pollination.
2. Bagging the flowers: When the hollyhock flowers are in bud stage but not yet open, carefully place a blossom bag over each flower and secure it gently around the stem, ensuring it is sealed properly to prevent insects from getting in.
3. Hand pollination: Once the flowers inside the bags have fully opened, you can manually transfer pollen from the stamens (male parts) to the pistils (female parts) of the same flower or between different flowers of the same color. You can use a small brush or cotton swab to collect the pollen from the stamens and gently apply it to the pistils.
4. Labeling and isolation: It's essential to label each bag with the specific color and mark the parent plant. Additionally, it's advisable to isolate the bagged flowers from other hollyhock plants or varieties to prevent accidental cross-pollination.
By following these steps, you can increase the likelihood of preserving the individual colors of your hollyhock plants through controlled hand pollination while using blossom bags to prevent unwanted cross-pollination.
In order to avoid cross pollination without using blossom bags, how far apart should the plants be from each other?
To minimize cross-pollination without relying on blossom bags, it is recommended to space hollyhock plants of different colors at least 100 feet (30 meters) apart. This distance helps reduce the chances of pollen from one plant reaching and fertilizing the flowers of another plant. However, keep in mind that certain factors such as wind, insects, and the layout of your garden or surroundings can still contribute to some level of cross-pollination even with this spacing. ______
ANSWERS ARE PROVIDED BY CHATGPT
A 2nd of my hollyhock plants is sending up a shoot that will bloom soon.
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Post by FrostyTurnip on Jun 24, 2023 6:59:10 GMT -6
If I plant multiple Hollyhock plants of different colors and grow them for two or three years and allow them to cross pollinate, what color are the flowers going to turn into over time?
If you allow different-colored hollyhock plants to cross-pollinate over multiple years, the resulting flowers can display a range of colors. Cross-pollination allows for genetic recombination, which can lead to new and unpredictable color variations. The specific outcome will depend on the genetic traits of the parent plants and the interactions between their genes. Over time, you may observe a mix of colors, variations, or even new color combinations in the offspring of these cross-pollinated hollyhocks. It can be an exciting process, as you might discover unique and unexpected flower colors among the descendants of your hollyhock plants.
Does your data allow you to determine how long it will take for the new colors to evolve?
As an AI language model, I don't have access to real-time data or the ability to predict specific timelines for the evolution of new colors in hollyhock plants. The process of color evolution through cross-pollination can vary greatly and is influenced by various factors, including the genetic diversity of the parent plants, the frequency of cross-pollination, and the stability of certain color traits. It is a gradual and unpredictable process that can take several generations of cross-pollination before new color variations become prominent. Patience and observation over an extended period are key when it comes to witnessing and understanding the evolution of colors in plants.
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