Anyone have a suggestion on starting candle bush seeds..Cassias..I can never get them to germinate..what am I doing wrong????????
I need help..
I soaked mine overnight and just put them in moist potting soil on low heat on the heating pad. The propagation mat was full. They came up like crazy. Do you have fresh seed this year? I think I tossed all my extra plants, but will run check for sure. Nope, have 4 kinda spindly plants, but will pot one up for you.
Have some extra seeds left too.
I started the yellow cassia, and brought water to a low simmer, poured over the seeds, let soak about 36 hours or so, and planted them. I didn't put them on heat mat (didn't know to). They all sprouted. I know they aren't the same, but just throwing my 2 cents in.
I think they are the same thing tiG. I grew one two years ago and it was gorgeous. About 5 ft. tall and yellow spike shape stalks that had small yellow blooms covering them. Nice foliage that no bugs bothered. Just too big to bring in for the winter and I didn't know how to cut it back and not hurt it.
No one told me to put them on heat, I just did it. Worked anyway!! :-)
I thought there was a red cassia that's called the candlestick.
Thanks..I'll try both methods...........
There is a red cassia, but Roz sent me these and called them the Candlestick plant (Cassia). I had some from a gal named Sherri and she said that they might be red, but I couldn't get any of them to germinate. I was disappointed because I thought it would be pretty. Wish I had a picture of the one I had two years ago. Loved it. Hope you get a red one and can save seeds. Could the seeds you have be some that I sent to Cala? I don't remember what all I sent in that package, but if they are, I'd bet they won't germinate.
to avoid any confusion here is a url for candlestick cassia ... http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/newsletters/hortupdate/oct00/oct0013.html ... http://msucares.com/news/print/sgnews/sg98/sg980924.htm ... http://www.tropilab.com/cassia-ala.html
i soak the seeds in lukewarm water for 3 days, changing water each day. then plant the seeds in moist growing medium. 3 days later the plant emerge. i have them growing on a 5 gal. pots. they are about 2' tall. i have to bring them in during the cold winter months. hopefully when the temperature gets warmer, they will grow nicely and bloom.
no, got the red ones from someone else, but I don't remember who. rats! I'm going to split them and try both methods too. Yours was gorgeous, thanks for the picture! I have one seedling left, and I'm going to baby it real good!!!
tiG,
u probably got it from Jianhua ;). the ones i got going was given to me a couple of years ago. i will try plant the seeds Jianhua sent me. will post a pic once mine bloom, keeping my fingers cross though =). their leaves a exactly the same as in the picture. hope the blooms are the same too.
I did get the yellow from him, and just remembered that I have a few more! dont' know where I got the red though, maybe from you??? thanks for the links, I wasn't paying this seedling too much attention, I'd only seen a terrible picture that didn't do it justice. Will go great in the tropical bed I'm planning.
whoaaaa! when do u rest tiG? from the looks of it, u are always coming and going =). here is the link for cassia tora ... http://flora.sut.ac.th/pg135.html be sure to click the photo to see a better view of the plant. another variety of cassia... http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/scripts/BODY_FW007 cassia fistula...http://www.floridagardener.com/pom/cassiafistula.htm ... another cassia fistula... http://mgonline.com/cassiafistula.html ... close up flower of cassia fistula... http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/carr/images/cas_fis.jpg ... winter cassia... http://www.floridagardener.com/pom/cassiabicapsularis.htm
cassia bakeriana... http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/carr/images/cas_bak_1993.jpg
i can not find the cassia with red flower. sorry :(. good luck! i need to find all the cassia seeds i've got. the above links definitely convince me to plant them LOL!!!
Great links MaVie,
I really liked that last one, but mine is the candlestick cassia for sure. I like it too.......
mine weren't, but after checking the links and talking to brugie, I realized, I got one at the swap in FL!! I'm so excited, cause it's gorgeous. another to bring in this fall, but hey, seems like they all are now:)
u're very welcome Brugie. this is the second year mine is growing. i planted it late last summer. so i did not have the opportunity to see them bloom yet. guess what? we had 6" of snow at dawn pacific time. not much compared to the amount of snow u guys get. it does snow in the desert! LOL
yeah tiG... seeing those links got me excited too. i probably will plant more.hehehehehe.