Seedfest winter 2012/2013

[canadianplant]

So, im sure the long winters in the north take its toll on us all. Usually I get an order of seeds to help he get through the winter blues. This year Ive ordered/started the following:

Rhapolidphyllum hystrix (already germinated)
Seabuckthorn
Acer Pennsylvanium
Hybrid Lupin (said to get 6 feet im prime conditions)
Magnolia Kobus var. Borealis (speculation on the name)
Arisaema consanguineum
Dypsis Albofarinosa
Canna jaegeriana
Philodendron ichthyoderma
Cerasus tomentosa (= Prunus t.) (Nanking cherry)
Theobroma cacao (Yellow) (Cocoa, as in chocolate!)
Rice paper plant (round 2)

[marceli]

What germination method do you use for R. hystrix?

[canadianplant]

"set it and forget it" lol.
I just used the regular baggie method. I put them outside in the spring and kept them outside for a frost (forgot them). I noticed roots in august and they were planted the previous december. No leaf emergance till a mont ago

[TimMAz6]

Nice list of seeds.........I had good success with needle palm seeds in moist peat moss (not soaking wet) placed in a plastic baggie and placed inside my heating cooler set at 90F. Germinated in 3 to 8 weeks.

[canadianplant]

Palm seedlings take longer for me, since indoors I dont give them supplemental heat. 2 out of 6 seeds so far, all had roots varying from a "nipple" on the seed, to an inch long. Ill have enough to experiment with for sure...... in 10 years....

Also, I never, ever thought of using a heating cooler as a germ. chamber.... Mind=blown.....

Im adding one to the christmas list.

[lucky1]

heating cooler as a germ. chamber

That, and also on top of your hot water tank Jesse.

Barb

[canadianplant]

The water heater is in the basement, which is always cool. The heater isnt as warm as you would think

[Cameron_z6a_N.S.]

Nice list! You will want to be extra careful with T. cacao; I've tried them twice and failed both times. I'll give the species one more attempt sometime. The seeds are very prone to mold, and it's hard to achieve the warm and humid conditions that they like without mold forming! Also, the seeds need to be as fresh as possible!

[canadianplant]

I read that ...... lol

Usually when I order seeds, I get something that is either really hard to grow/germinate, or something super exotic. I havent seen a decent supplier of the seeds until now.

[Cameron_z6a_N.S.]

Maybe what you could try is to germinate the seeds in a pot/container without a lid, and just spray/water them frequently. At least that way there's a bit of air circulation!

[canadianplant]

That would solve a few problems but create a few more. I can be forgetful, and albeit, lazy, so sometimes they just dont get watered. Ive read drying out of any sort is fatal.

Im just going to have to be extra careful with sterilizing the soil, pot and baggie, as well as misting with a super dilute mix of bleach.

[lucky1]

misting with a super dilute mix of bleach.

Huh?

[canadianplant]

There is usually water sitting in parts of spray bottles or pump sprayers. Im going to use a tiny amount of bleach, with a drop of dechlorinator (like the aquarium stuff). It will clean the sprayer, and disinfect the water, then ill add a small drop of the dechorinator to stop the bleach from harming the plants.

[TimMAz6]

place the baggie of seeds/peat moss on top of anything which gets warm......not hot. Perhaps TV, fridge,........anything higher in elevation in the house will help. Good luck.

[canadianplant]

The plant shelf is about 5 feet above the heat vent, so its pretty toasty.