![]() King Tut grass needs lots of water, so use a container without drainage and keep the roots wet at all times, and you will have a healthy, happy audacious King Tut. This grass-like plant is a fast grower and can reach heights of 42 to 72 inches tall, so it needs a big container. Cat whiskers cuttings will root in water in about seven days, and I have never lost a single plant during the winter.Īnother favorite for cloning is Egyptian Papyrus King Tut (Cyperus Papyrus), which also cannot survive our winters, but is one of the easiest plants to root. The long, elegant stamens look just like white cat whiskers, hence its name. Snowy white blooms grow prolifically atop shiny dark green leaves. Cat whiskers is a member of the mint family, and its showy white blossoms set it apart from the crowd. ![]() This column is focusing only on propagation of plants for your own enjoyment or to pass along to friends.Ĭat whiskers (Orthosiphon aristatus) is a plant that my garden must have each year and dozens have been passed along to friends, fellow gardeners and relatives (as far away as Louisiana). However, patented plants cannot be cloned without permission of the owner. Some plants have trademarks and can be propagated asexually by taking cuttings. If I had to pick one favorite hybrid annual, it would be Diamond Frost. It looks equally good in containers and in the landscape. It is tough - needing little to no supplemental water and standing up to our mid-90s heat. Although it looks delicate and frilly, nothing could be further from the truth. We gardeners who helped with the conference received a newly introduced Proven Winners cultivar of euphorbia called Diamond Frost. My Diamond Frost (Euphorbia) clones have been around since Arkansas hosted the International Master Gardener Conference in 2007. Plants I clone each year are cat whiskers, Diamond Frost and Egyptian Papyrus King Tut. Actually, I think, division is easier than rooting stems. So division is the only way these can be propagated. Among these are hostas, irises, daylilies, etc. While many plants can be rooted, there are some that do not produce above-ground stems that can be rooted. There are some excellent step-by-step instructions online - simply, Google “propagation of plants.” (If cuttings wither and turn brown, your project failed.) Finally, they add a little water daily until the cuttings root. Too much sun may stress the cuttings and kill them. Once this is completed, they cover the pots with a clear plastic bag or bottle and place in a warm area that has some sunlight. (Tip: coffee filters in the bottom of pots prevent soil from spilling through the drain hole.) Then they dip the stems in root hormone and stick them in pots of moistened potting soil. There were no disease issues with this plant.Most fellow gardeners, including sister Rosemary, propagate by taking softwood, hardwood and semi-hardwood cuttings (usually about the size of a pencil) with two or more nodes and removing the lower leaves. Pests/Diseases: Due to the water requirements of ‘Prince Tut,’ scout for fungus gnats. Planting/Scheduling: 4- to 5-inch quart pots (4 to 6 weeks), 6-inch and gallon pots (6 to 8 weeks) Plants can go down to the mid 50s for finishing. Temperatures: For growing on, temperatures should be mid 60s and warmer. Do not allow the plants to dry down past a 2. Water to 4 or 5 on the watering scale and allow to dry down to a 3. Any standard growing medium will work fine. Growing Media: ‘Prince Tut’ will grow in most soils and tolerate poor soil conditions (heavy, wet, pond edges, etc.). ![]() The plants do well with natural light from partial shade to full sun. Lighting: Artificial lighting is not needed. Plant Growth Regulators: These are generally not needed, but to control height or to “miniaturize” for smaller pots use a paclobutrazol drench at 1 ppm. Available as rooted liners via Proven Winners only. ‘Prince Tut’ tolerates a wide pH range of 6 to 6.5 and a soil EC of 0.6 to 0.9 (2:1 method). Goyette’s Recommendations For ‘Prince Tut’ Grass:įertilizer: Use any full package general use liquid fertilizer at 150 ppm nitrogen constant to match your operation’s water quality. Goyette says he has grown it under heavy shade, and it has performed well. It is a compact, sturdier version of ‘King Tut’ Cyperus grass that handles light frost in the fall and is super easy to produce from rooted liners. Goyette says ‘Prince Tut’ is an iconic plant with a tropical feel that stood out in trials. Greenhouse Grower magazine named Mike Goyette as a finalist for its 2016 Head Grower of the Year program and winner of its Excellence in Quality award. ![]() Growing Tips From Mike Goyette of Pleasant View Gardens ![]()
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