Beginning the germination process!

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 4:26 pm

Barb, they get a fair amount of sunlight during the day, and I have 2 fluorescent lights on them from around 5 - 10 pm

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 8:14 pm

The more light and warmth, the more they'll think they should grow.

Just like in the desert.

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Tue Mar 01, 2011 7:41 am

Awsome Cameron, I cant wait till mine to pop!

One of my Canna finally poked out of the soil today. A week after scarifying and planting. I never knew they were this easy!

And once again, my amarylis has 3 HUGE seed pods for the second year in a row. Last year I had almsot ALL of the seeds germinate and grow, just sitting in water. Anyone want any seed? Nothing special, just the common red/orange type.

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Tue Mar 01, 2011 10:30 am

Canadianplant, that's good to hear!

There are more agaves coming up, and the Callistemon pityoides have started to germinate now too, along with 2 more Dioon edule. It looks like the Phyllostachys pubescens is starting to send down some roots, I'll know for sure in a few days.

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Tue Mar 01, 2011 11:08 am

Did you do the salt soak for the bamboo seed?

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Tue Mar 01, 2011 4:10 pm

I just left them in water overnight, no salt.

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Tue Mar 01, 2011 4:18 pm

Here's one of the D. edules that have popped so far:

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Mar 01, 2011 4:24 pm

Wonderful! looks cool, Cameron.

My Dioon edule loves the hottest spot on the patio, full sun morning to night, all summer long.

Good to get it into full spectrum light from the start.
Barb

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Tue Mar 01, 2011 8:26 pm

Along with the rest, Aloe ecklonis has now started to germinate. I can't wait to try this (hardy) one outdoors !

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Mar 01, 2011 9:32 pm

Looked it up, hadn't seen one before:

http://www.theamateursdigest.com/40472.htm

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Tue Mar 01, 2011 9:51 pm

The best part is that it's supposed to be hardy to zone 7a !!

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 5:55 am

i cant wait to hear how hardy those Aloe are. Cant wait to see some pop!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 7:11 am

Zone 7A eliminates my place.

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 7:12 am

Not with some protection

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 7:18 am

At the rate we're all planning--and planting--we'll soon use more wattage outside than indoors.

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 7:23 am

isnt zone denial great

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 10:02 am

Princeps seeds germinating Mar.2 (in community pot since Feb.18), following a 3-day soak in warm water and "sandpapering".
Fresh seed from Garry! received approx. early February/11???? (can't remember the date).

<img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5171/549 ... e6ff_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="DSC04522" />

And they didn't pop exactly where I sandpapered

so the sandpapering method is beneficial to allow water to enter, rather than where the embryo will emerge.

Barb

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 2:09 pm

Good work, Barb! Yeah, I knew that even if I couldn't find the location of the embryo on some seeds, using sandpaper on them would at least allow water to get in more easily, and probably prompt a faster germination.

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 2:18 pm

Here are some Callistemon pityoides seedlings. They're very small and hard to see, because their leaves are probably less than 1 mm from end to end:

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 2:24 pm

Holy hell.... Thats what im expecting to see with the paulownia.

And, my Trachys finaly poped out of the soil. Im going to have to move them into some light!! 3 of one type of fortunei, and 2 of another ( got mixed up

)

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 4:00 pm

canadianplant wrote: And, my Trachys finaly poped out of the soil. Im going to have to move them into some light!! 3 of one type of fortunei, and 2 of another ( got mixed up )

Don't worry, you'll be able to tell them apart in a few years!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 5:17 pm

Excellent, both of you!

Cameron, it's easy to see them if you squint a bit while looking at the pic ... they all show that way.

Jesse, what two Trachy types are you starting?

Barb

damir · Post by **damir** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 5:38 pm

cameron, any news with your needle palm seeds? did they germinate? some of mine look like they are ready to.

i removed the outer shell, soak it in water for few days and put it in soil on the window bench above radiator. some broke the skin on seed and ready to come out. yeah! but some small bugs came up. tomorrow i'll boil the soil in water to kill all those small beasts

.

i've bought some yucca and agave seeds from mesa garden, all seeds germinated in less than 5 days. i have some pics that i will post.
fresh seeds=fast germination

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 6:02 pm

Barb, one is Naini Tal, the other is regular Fortunei. I wont really know untill they get the adult leaves, unless i can tell by growth rate. I got some other kinds, but i was smart enough to duct tape the labels to the soaking containers this time.

My other canna seed sprouted too, same with my cobea, and I think my cyperus glabor did too.

Does anyone here know if most Cyperus Papayrus cultivers are sterile? My Papayrus "King Tut" has been setting seeds all year. ANd id be quite mad if I found out that i could have been collecting them..... LOL

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 6:34 pm

Damir, I've been checking my needle palm seeds but haven't seen any roots emerging yet, hopefully they'll germinate soon!

I hear that mesa garden has excellent quality seeds. I was thinking of ordering a few types in bulk from them, but there's just not enough room. Maybe next year

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 5:13 pm

I've now noticed that 1 Puya chilensis has germinated, along with some Phoenix loureiroi. Here's what P. chilensis looks like when mature: http://www.flickr.com/photos/roger/2616960150/

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 2:12 pm

Maihuenia poeppigii and Welwitschia mirabilis have now started to germinate as well

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 3:00 pm

Good germination conditions are producing fast results.
Well done, Cameron.

You'll be busy...

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Sat Mar 05, 2011 5:42 pm

I took a few new pics today.

Welwitschia mirabilis:

Aloe ecklonis:

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Sat Mar 05, 2011 5:58 pm

DUDE

Grats! I cant wait to see some green inside the ALoe baggie! ( Im using the baggie method for room reasons) They seem to have a fairly even germination eh?

WHich var. loureiri are you growing? Their really nice palms, great for pots!! Phoenix are some of my favorite palms. Dont know why. Theyre liek the ACDC of palms, can take the same 3 chords and make thousands of songs (the palms take the same basic characteristics but in lots of variation!). I have to pot up one of my Dactylifera seeds, its in a baggie and the poor taproot is circling the bag, with no leaf yet

BTW you were dead on about how fast canna grow after sprouting. Cant wait to see what it ends up as

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Sat Mar 05, 2011 6:17 pm

Thanks! Yeah the germinating aloes look a lot different than the agaves. The aloes are basically one short fat leaf, where the agaves are 2 taller and thinner leaves. Phoenix are also some of my favourite palms too. Since there aren't too many species in the genus, I've kind of made it my goal to grow some of each

With the different species that I have right now, I think I'm like halfway there!

I know what you mean about the dactylifera roots, they're way longer than the plant! Good luck with the cannas.

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 6:38 am

Hi Cameron,

those are some cool plants. That W. mirabelis lives in an area with almost no rain.......update us how they fair.

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 10:08 am

Tim, both Les Stroud from "Survivorman" and Bear Grylls from "Man vs. Wild" have done episodes in that area!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 12:26 pm

Looks like mostly peat moss for the Aloe?
Nice germination rate!

For anyone sand-papering Copernicia palms:
<img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5139/550 ... 6cebd6.jpg" width="500" height="392" alt="copernicia alba embryo" />

Barb

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 4:14 pm

The first Chamaerops humilis is up!

3 weeks from sand-papering, it's a remote (versus adjacent) germinator:

<img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5100/550 ... 89ba_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="DSC04530" />

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 4:15 pm

Awsome Barb!!!

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 4:23 pm

nice section through the Copernicia. I'll be starting seeds soon......typically in mid/late April........not far away now!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 4:50 pm

Thanks!
Fun time of year (finally) when things pop.

Tim, that cross-section isn't mine...forgot the source, sorry.

And (drumroll) a Princeps:
Sand-papered mid-Feb, three day soak, into community pot Feb. 18.
16 days later, it's standing up!

<img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5053/550 ... f19d98.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSC04532" />

Germination Rule:
1. Fresh Seed
2. Fresh Seed
3. Fresh Seed

oh, and did I mention seed should be fresh?

Barb

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 5:17 pm

congrats, Barb!!

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 7:20 pm

I'm finally starting to see signs of germination in A. ovatifolia. Hopefully they'll be big enough to take a pic of tomorrow