Colchicum sp.

Forums:

I received see of Colchicum sp. from the surplus exchange.

Any recommendations on sowing instructions. Most information I've found refers to fresh seed. Since the seed isn't fresh, should I wait until fall and sow outdoors?

Thank you,
Julie

Comments

Richard T. Rodich

Re: Colchicum sp.

Tue, 03/20/2012 - 7:28am

I think I also have the same NARGS selection (#693). According to my internet search, I decide the best all-around germination practice for Colchicum spp. is warm-cold-warm. So I planted mine. In 1-1.5 months, I'll put them in the fridge for a month, then take them out and see what happens.

Love to hear others' suggestions, though...

Lockwood (not verified)

Re: Colchicum sp.

Tue, 03/20/2012 - 8:10am

Hi Rick,

Did you soak them or flush in the back of a toilet first?

If I do the toilet flush and any of my family sees it, they'll really think I've gone bonkers. But if it works, I'm willing to try.

Richard T. Rodich

Re: Colchicum sp.

Tue, 03/20/2012 - 6:21pm

Lockwood wrote:

Hi Rick,

Did you soak them or flush in the back of a toilet first?

No. I guess I didn't come across that advice. But it's a pretty good bet that you'd get away with it unbeknownst to you family members. ;D

Lockwood (not verified)

Re: Colchicum sp.

Tue, 03/20/2012 - 8:01pm

Well I have them in a nylon footie hanging in the toilet tank. They probably won't notice and I'm not going to say anything. ;D

Fermi de Sousa

Re: Colchicum sp.

Wed, 03/21/2012 - 7:53pm

Lockwood wrote:

Well I have them in a nylon footie hanging in the toilet tank. They probably won't notice and I'm not going to say anything. ;D

Hi Julie,
I've heard of that technique being used with seed of Iris missouriensis [to help remove germination-inhibitors] but I've never tried it myself.
I usually sow Colchicum seed in the autumn and let it go through that warm-cold-warm sequence naturally but I guess Rick's method would save some time.
cheers
fermi

Lockwood (not verified)

Re: Colchicum sp.

Wed, 03/21/2012 - 8:29pm

Hi Fermi,

I found the information on the Pacific Bulb Society page.

http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Colchicum

They will be removed from the toilet tank tomorrow and then I'll proceed with the warm-cold-warm sequence.

Diane Whitehead

Be very patient. I no longer

Mon, 12/16/2013 - 10:41am

Be very patient. I no longer bother with colchicum seeds as they often take so long to germinate, and then there is the wait till they flower.

Well, I've just checked my seed database, and they are not all slow. C pusillum took only two years, C. corsicum four years, but autumnale took eight years, and I didn't note when C bornmuelleri, sown in 2000, germinated, but it was in 2009 or later, and there is a wee green leaf in the pot now.

Diane Whitehead

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

cool mediterranean climate