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Germination
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Topic starter
I'm now starting to prepare for (hopefully) germinating quite a variety of seeds. I have somewhere around 100 different species of seed that I'll try to germinate, but I'm going to start with the seeds which I have the most of. Later on, I'll try to germinate the rest.
I'll try to document the process as best as I can (ex. numbers of seed, days to first signs of germination, temp/soil, etc) throughout the coming months (or years 😆 ), and hopefully this post can serve as a reference for anyone else trying to germinate the same species! I'll take some pics with my BB.
I've began converting my computer room into a bit of a "germination room". Many of the seeds require heat in order to grow (sabals, etc). I looked into germination mats, but it would cost hundreds of dollars to cover a 6' x 6' area. I've ordered 24' of Flexwatt heat tape (the 11" width), as well as some dimmer switches to attach to the tape. The dimmer switches control the amount of power that goes into the heat tape, therefore controlling the temps. I'm going to cut the tape to size, lay it on the floor, and use it as a germination area.
I'm also going to be trying out a product called Nitrozyme, which has been recommended by many palm websites for increased germination. To try to get a comparison of the product vs. nothing, I'll have a seperate space where I'll apply Nitrozyme to some seeds, and nothing to others. I'll check which ones germinate first, and if there seems to be any increased growth due to the product. I only have a 100 ml bottle, so I'll have to make it last! 😆
In the next post, I'll list which seeds I'll be trying first. Hopefully I'll start sowing them sometime next week!
Cameron.
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/weathersticker/big2_both_cond/language/www/global/stations/71601.gif" alt="Click for Shearwater, Nova Scotia Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />
Posted : 28/01/2011 11:49 pm
Keep us posted Cameron.
I purchased a seed germination 'thesis' prepared by a student at Penn State University. It's like 3/4" thick and describes how to germinate all the different species of plants (not all but lots). If you want me to look any up for you let me know.
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Posted : 28/01/2011 11:57 pm
Topic starter
Cacti/Succulents/etc:
Agave havardiana - approx. 500 seeds
Agave montana - approx. 500 seeds
Agave ovatifolia - approx. 100 seeds
Agave parryi ssp. parryi - approx. 500 seeds
Aloe ecklonis - approx. 500 seeds
Aloe polyphylla - approx. 100 seeds
Aloe reitzii - approx. 100 seeds
Maihuenia poeppigii - approx. 500 seeds
Opuntia humifusa - approx. 100 seeds
Yucca rostrata - approx. 500 seeds
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/weathersticker/big2_both_cond/language/www/global/stations/71601.gif" alt="Click for Shearwater, Nova Scotia Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />
Posted : 29/01/2011 12:12 am
Cameron, you'll soon have to enter your computer room with a sky-hook, and post hanging upside down.
And then all the live plants from the group order will arrive too!
(I say "live" to distinguish from "seed", versus "live" to distinguish from "dead").
You're quite right about the germinating mats, they're expensive for the square inches you get.
Frankly not impressed with the temperature, certainly not warm enough for palms except for maybe Trachies and Chamaerops.
Maybe the wattage dims with age (like people 😆 )
Nice desert selection!
Keep the camera batteries charged, please.
Tim, does that book have any tips for Pritchardia hillebrandii palm seed? do seeds go dormant if they dry out?
Barb
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If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
Posted : 29/01/2011 12:24 am
Topic starter
Misc:
Albizia julibrissin - approx. 500 seeds
Berberis montana - approx. 250 seeds
Bletilla striata - approx. 1000 seeds
Callistemon pityoides - approx. 2000 seeds
Cordyline australis - approx. 100 seeds
Eucalyptus archerii - approx. 1500 seeds
Eucalyptus crenulata - approx. 12 500 seeds
Eucalyptus neglecta - approx. 650 seeds
Eucalyptus pauciflora ssp. debeuzevillei - approx. 1500 seeds
Eucalyptus pauciflora ssp. niphophila - approx. 500 seeds
Eucalyptus perriniana - approx. 2500 seeds
Embothrium coccineum - approx. 250 seeds
Fuchsia magellanica - approx. 250 seeds
Gaultheria phillyreifolia - approx. 250 seeds
Paulownia tormentosa - approx. 500 seeds
Phyllostachys pubescens - approx. 1000 seeds
Protea subvestita - approx. 500 seeds
Puya berteroniana - approx. 500 seeds
Puya chilensis - approx. 250 seeds
Puya coerulea var. monteroana - approx. 250 seeds
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/weathersticker/big2_both_cond/language/www/global/stations/71601.gif" alt="Click for Shearwater, Nova Scotia Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />
Posted : 29/01/2011 12:30 am
Topic starter
Palms/Cycads/Bananas:
Butia eriospatha - approx. 500 seeds
Chamaerops humilis var. cerifera - approx. 100 seeds
Dioon edule - approx. 100 seeds
Hyophorbe lagenicaulis - approx. 100 seeds
Jubaea chilensis - approx. 500 seeds
Musa sikkimensis - approx. 500 seeds
Nannorrhops ritchiana var. Kashmir - approx. 500 seeds
Phoenix loureiroi var. humilis - approx. 100 seeds
Phoenix theophrastii - approx. 100 seeds
Rhapidophyllum hystrix - approx. 100 seeds
Sabal minor - approx. 1000 seeds
Sabal minor "Cape Hatteras" - approx. 1000 seeds
Sabal minor "McCurtain" - approx. 100 seeds
Sabal minor var. Louisiana - approx. 1500 seeds
Trachycarpus fortunei (normal, Nova, Hayes Stiffie, Tesan, etc) - approx. 2500 seeds
Trithrinax campestris - approx. 100 seeds
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/weathersticker/big2_both_cond/language/www/global/stations/71601.gif" alt="Click for Shearwater, Nova Scotia Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />
Posted : 29/01/2011 12:37 am
Topic starter
Thanks Tim and Barb!
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/weathersticker/big2_both_cond/language/www/global/stations/71601.gif" alt="Click for Shearwater, Nova Scotia Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />
Posted : 29/01/2011 12:41 am
Surprised you selected Dioon edule over Dioon Spinulosum, unless you've had orders for it.
I've got both and IMO the spinulosum wins hands down, does great indoors too (probably all year long, though mine's outdoors all summer in shade).
Great long 3-foot waxy bluish fronds (albeit with sharp points...ouch).
My D. edule is 1/20th the size of the other one, and they're the same age!
Barb
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/weathersticker/cgi-bin/banner/ban/wxBanner?bannertype=wu_bluestripes_both&airportcode=CWJV&ForcedCity=Vernon&ForcedState=Canada&wmo=71115&language=EN" alt="Find more about Weather in Vernon, CA" width="160" />
If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
Posted : 29/01/2011 1:58 am
Topic starter
Surprised you selected Dioon edule over Dioon Spinulosum
The seeds were cheaper 😆
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/weathersticker/big2_both_cond/language/www/global/stations/71601.gif" alt="Click for Shearwater, Nova Scotia Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />
Posted : 29/01/2011 3:59 pm
Is that all? 😉
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Posted : 29/01/2011 6:08 pm
😯
I thought I was going to be busy..........
I got 200 Paulownia seeds to sprout too (Tormentosa??? Probably what the Americans call it when it shows up enmasse on their barren feilds :D) How are you going about it? Most of the sites ive seen said to germinate them in their permanent position.
Keep us posted dude
"The definition of insanity, is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results" - einstien
Check out my new Blog! http://canadianplant.wordpress.com/
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Posted : 30/01/2011 8:08 am
Topic starter
I've been wondering about the Paulownia too lol. I think I will germinate them in a group pot, and then once they're around 3" tall, either plant or sell them right away 😆 They grow so quickly, so I don't want to keep them pot-bound any longer then I have to !
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Posted : 30/01/2011 4:53 pm
Sounds similar to what ive read up on eucalyptus germination......
The main way ive found, is to mix the seeds with dehydrated potato, and distribute that on the soil. My thinking, is that the potato flakes will rehydrate, and rot. Im assuming the method to the madness, is to include filler to distribute the seeds more evenly. Other then that, im playing it by ear......
"The definition of insanity, is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results" - einstien
Check out my new Blog! http://canadianplant.wordpress.com/
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Posted : 30/01/2011 5:15 pm
Topic starter
Yeah, with eucs especially if you don't plant them out quickly, their roots won't develop properly, and the trees will grow to be stunted!
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Posted : 30/01/2011 5:47 pm
Topic starter
Here are some plants that I've germinated within the past month or so:
Unknown plumeria on the left and in the middle, plumeria "Rubra" on the right:
Closer shot of an unknown plumeria:
Unknown canna:
T. fortunei "Chusan" from Jim:
Macadamia:
Hylocereus undatus (these need to be divided!):
Araucaria araucana:
Not pictured (but recently germinated):
Canna "Red Stripe"
Avacado
T. fortunei "Tesan"
Eucs
Callistemon pityoides
Phoenix dactylifera
Opuntia ficus-indica
Poncirus trifoliata "Flying Dragon"
Thomasville citrangequat
Changshu kumquat
Yuzange
and a few types of tree fern
Cameron
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Posted : 30/01/2011 7:17 pm
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