Propagation

Description

share knowledge about cuttings, divisions, and seedlings

Secret to growing on Cyclamen coum?

Submitted by Broekhuis on Sun, 05/05/2013 - 06:18

I must have grown C. coum at least a half dozen times over the past ten years. They always make cute little cormlets, with a few promising leaves. Then I stick them in the ground in my nursery area, in a nicely protected spot - never to be seen again. Do I need to keep these in pots for a year? Any other secrets to growing these to maturity?

Need pictures for seed starting workshop

Submitted by Jeddeloh on Wed, 03/20/2013 - 23:11

Our local Hardy Plant Society has asked me to do a workshop on seed starting this August. Apparently word has gotten around that I'm a something of a seedaholic. I guess my overstuffed greenhouse is evidence of that. This of course, is an excellent opportunity to sell NARGS (want seed of all kinds of weird and unusual plants? Join NARGS!). I intend to pitch NARGS to the max from my bully pulpit.

Salvia brevilabra

Submitted by BennettNS on Mon, 03/18/2013 - 13:01

Has anyone successfully germinated this? If so, can you share your process and experience? I have had seed sitting in pots in warm conditions (pots in baggies) for about a month and a half now with no signs of life. Thanks for your help.

Anthyllis montana germination

Submitted by Gene Mirro on Thu, 01/24/2013 - 22:43

This isn't a tall tale, I swear. I scarified the seed on 1/19 between two sheets of sandpaper, taking care not to damage the inside of the seeds. I then soaked them in warm water for 24 hours, and sowed 1/8th inch deep on 1/20, in gritty mix at around 55 - 60F, in ordinary indoor light. They are nearly all up tonight, 1/24.

I've sown these several times before without scarifying, and gotten almost no germination, even after several months.

Scabiosa seeds

Submitted by Hendrix on Wed, 01/23/2013 - 08:53

I think everyone is familiar with the shuttlecock look of Scabiosa seeds. Indeed, it's that structure that makes this genus so attractive in the garden after the blossoms fade and in dried flower arrangements. But are those shuttlecocks the actual seeds or just an ornamental "sleeve" for disbursing the true seed?

Seed starting chronicles 2013

Submitted by Toole on Sat, 01/19/2013 - 15:40

I find the seed raising discussions on this Forum of Gene, Rick and others absolutely fascinating.

I have no experience in the use of fluorescent lights ,baggies, etc as living in a somewhat 'soft' climate i just sow seed and place it outside as soon as i receive it,regardless of the time of the year.

If i consider the pots are getting too wet i place a poly sheet over the pots .It's not a fail safe method - Sure :) in an individual pot i lose a few to rot but not all however ,as a number do come up.

Prunella laciniata germination

Submitted by Hendrix on Thu, 01/17/2013 - 10:14

I bought one Prunella laciniata plant from a garden center in 1997. It is an attractive, low-growing, conservatively-spreading xeric species in my experimental garden at 10,000 feet (see photo). Its foliage is deeply incised and an attractive gray-green in color. The plant is very floriferous, displaying somewhat reddish-violet-hued blossoms set off against dark-red bracts.

Seeding Advice for Penstemons

Submitted by Tingley on Mon, 01/14/2013 - 10:49

Just received some seeds from Jelitto (Penstemon cyananthus, mensarum and pinifolius). Does anyone have advice on sowing/germination techniques? Jelitto's guide suggests all benefit from sowing at no more than 5 C, with germination taking place irregularly over a long period. I also picked up Gentiana sino-ornata and "Viola coreana Syletta", which are both listed as rapid germinators, without stratification needs. If anyone has experience germinating the Penstemons and Gentian, I'd be in your debt.

Roscoea Germination techniques?

Submitted by Tingley on Wed, 01/09/2013 - 10:53

I am new to the group, and am slowly trying to build a collection of Roscoea species and hybrids. R. purpurea grows well for me here in southern Nova Scotia, but there are very few Roscoeas available in the local nursery trade. I now have seedlings of Roscoea alpina, but am wondering if the other two species (R cautleyoides and R. humeana) ought to be exposed to moist chilling prior to germination. The alpina seedlings were planted kept in darkness, at no greater than 70F. The other two species were given the same treatment, but there is no sign yet of any growth.