So my precious Brug seeds have now been in water with a splash of Hydrogen Peroxide for two days and are not softening at all, leave them longer or plant out?
Brug Seeds
How old are the seeds and are they still encased in their cork cover? I would plant them. Leaving them in water more than 24 hours invites rot. If they are old seeds, it may take longer to germinate, but don't give up.
No idea how old they are - they were sent by a DG'er - yes cork still there - should I try removing it?
I remove the cork just because it lets me know if there's a seed enclosed within. Sometimes the cork casing is empty. I have damaged a number of seeds by trying to remove the cork after soaking so I prefer to remove the cork before I soak the seed.
I am interested to know how you remove the 'cork' without soaking, well I did remove it today and really hope I did not damage the seeds, they all had seed so I am going to keep my fingers crossed....
When dry, the seed itself is hard enough to stop your fingernail from going down any further. I don't pick the seed clean, although some seem to separate more easily than others, just enough to see most of the seed. Some crosses, that are heavily influenced by the species suaveolens, produce very small seed that are impossible to peel. I don't peel those because I've damaged to seed in trying to.
If you go about peeling slowly, it's amazing how sensitive the thumbnail is. You can feel when you encounter a different substrate.
Well they are now in their little pots, so I am just keeping fingers and toes crossed! I am watering with camomile tea as I read that was good...
Coco I googled asprin as 'plant food' and the article made it sound wonderful. 1 1/2 asprin per gal of water , spray the leaves. I will try it on my georgia peach- she looks kinda sick- and let you know. Liz
Yes, definitely peel the cork off the seed and then when you pot them up ,cover them with about 1/4 inch soil over the seed.
Hi Jerodsmom, I am not a mom but I fell like I am now, I watered with the tea/asprin mix this morning before work and then it rained all day, I rushed home to see if they were waterlogged but they seem to be ok though a crown of thorns I was growing for a colleague bit the dust, pretty good with those and will try another this weekend. With the Euphorbia's I usually leave them out to dry a few days before planting and find that successful.
potted on July 26th, absolutely nothing - am I being too impatient?
Seed can take up to several months to germinate. Fresh seed can start to germinate in a few days. I bought some Earth Angel crosses from arghyagardens (gordo) this spring. I planted them in Park's Bio-dome plugs. Almost all had germinated within a week. After they got their first true leaves, I placed the domes in my shadehouse so they'd get more light. Grasshoppers got them.
Older or old seed take a lot longer to germinate.
I generally peel large seeds when they're dry. It's less of a mess and there's less chance of damaging a softened seed. I don't peel the small ones, but I do keep a spray bottle of a water/fungicide mix nearby. If the seed case hangs on too long, I just spray with the mix to soften it. You really should use the spray mix w/fungicide - prevents damping off. :-)
Soaking seed really isn't necessary. Placing a waterlogged seed in wet grow mix can hasten rot. Better a dry seed in moist mix.
I agree with Liz. A water/fungicide mix will increase your yield of healthy seedlings especially if there is a delayed germination..
This message was edited Aug 13, 2009 10:00 AM
Great advice, thanks so much. Sue
Have my first Burg seeds - the double yellow seeds are browning and falling apart on the vine - do I take them off when still green? Also have double purple and their seeds have not started to brown - do they need to come off the plant now and dry or be planted? Help - so thrilled to have seeds and will share - but please help me send and plant viable seeds. TIA
Really looking forward to this answer....
Any particular fungicide?
Never seen that here but will try...thanks
Does anyone think a Rosalla x E. Angel could work in a pot??????????
Any Brug will work in a pot. The bigger the pot, the larger the Brug will get. Depending on the size of pot the Brug is in right now, you can pot up several times as the plant grows until you finally get to the size pot you want. Brug root systems grow fast enough that you can skip several pot sizes. Just be careful when you water while the plant is getting established in its new pot to avoid root rot. Be sure the potting mix drains well. If the potting mix doesn't already have perlite, add perlite at a ratio of 1/3 perlite to 2/3 potting mix.
Oh Betty Dee thank you so much..DH bought me the most lovely hanging pot for Valentine's day and the only seed Jerodsmom sent needs to repot....I will risk it and pray.... Sue
Sue, I though you were talking about a regular "ground dwelling" pot and cuttings. Cuttings would be more appropriate especially if you get cuttings from above the "Y" and which tend to branch outward instead of upward. They would look lovely in a hanging basket.
Seedlings will grow as a single stalk straight up until they form a "Y". The height at which they will "Y" is determined genetically. Pinching is not the answer as it only delays the formation of a "Y". Essentially the plant starts over. Sometimes a plant especially during winter will form a "Y" earlier, but then Xeriscape8321, Gary, has posted information on Brugs that grew up to 12' before forming that first "Y". I can imagine a Jack-and-the-beanstalk type growth coming out of the hanging basket. Take cuttings from your blooming Brugs, from above the "Y", root them and use those in you basket.
Ok good advice as this is the only surviving seed and I do have quite a few cuttings...I am just being too impatient. This is my environment...Thanks a lot! Sue
Sue, I'm green with envy. LOL.
Yay....got my first 'Y' and tiny blooms coming...I am so excited!!!!
Congratulations!
Not being a 'real mother' this is the next best thing for me....will post pics! Enjoy your weekend..
Oh gosh my blooms have been coming for a week, every morning and night I check but they are still not out...is this normal? And when they finally do please tell me more than one day...........
Brugs tend to produce buds up to a certain size. They stop growing until a certain number of buds is reached. Then they all mature and open throughout a 2 - 4 week period. The smaller the plant the shorter the blooming period because there aren't that many buds. It takes a few days for the blooms to exit the calx. Once out they stay open between 4 - 6 days each.
Oh dear 4 blooms left but they all look damaged and doesn't seem they will come out...oh woe is me after this long wait:(
plant looks very healthy though, how often will they put blooms out supposing these 4 drop off without opening? Thanks for your expertise. Sue
Rest period varies between 4 to 8 weeks. Keep up the regular feedings and you'll be rewarded by blooms. Was it wind damage or insect damage? Just be patient. Sometimes the calx can suffer some damage, but the blooms may still be fine.
can anyone recommend a reliable site for brug seeds and/or cuttings?
ebay theres a few good on there just don't buy from 7 servernt
I would recommend "dergaertner_1" I've purchased seed from him. I don't see anyone I recognize on e-bay right now. I agree with Dana about 7servant7, but he usually sells cuttings rather than seeds.