Gourd,
DON'T GIVE UP! Give your seeds time to germinate, they may surprise you!! If a couple of seeds were ruined, it wasn't a total failure, because you have learned what to do differently the next time!! Even if you push the seeds "way down in there", they still may poke through the rockwool...could be sideways instead of straight up. That's okay too! They are fighters and much stronger because of it. You can always transplant them deeply into enriched soil, to encourage more root growth laterally.
Please keep us posted, as we are all anxious to hear how your seeds will fare!!! :~)
I am sold!!!
Hi Shirley1md, the ones I ruined I knew they were goners because the inside looked like a little white worm. (I don't know how else to describe it).. The others I put into the soil less mix about 3 days ago and I am waiting for some seeds from BGI that I will try to sow in the rockwool. With any luck, they will both arrive close together. Even set up some lights too.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you! Hope your seeds will germinate. Did you throw out or keep the "ruined" seeds? I think it's better to have something inside the seed coat than to find it empty! Good luck with your seeds from B.G.I.
Antoinette, what you were seeing was probably the embryo. If it was wiggling....yep, worm. LOL!!
Great thread, thanks all for the information. I am off to find supplies. The two hydroponics stores that I used to frequent, have gone out of business, due to some crack down on indoor farming that has taken place in the last ten years. There has to be an oulet in the area though. Off to research. Thanks again folks.
Doug
hehehe.. it was not wiggling, but I bet it was the embryo. Didn't keep them, just double checked to make sure they didn't move..lol. The others I planted in tall clear plastic containers with soilless mix..
I asked as Lowes if they had any Rockwool (the garden manager looked at me like I had just come from another planet) so I tried to explain what it was, then she said that the Lowes Parent company will not send any (of those jiffy pellets/trays) until April.. (So, I said "this is Southern California, we start seeds all year here), but she said that their Parent Company is in New Jersy and they have the mentality that you start seeds in April. So, from that conversation, I don't think anyone of the Local garden centers carry any rockwool. Maybe some of the other privately owned Nurseries.
dough448, too bad you don't live in CA, the land is selling so fast that they are getting rid of alot of the orange tree orchards, they just let the trees die and there are some people taking all the black plastic hose, drippers, etc.. before they cut them all down. I guess they don't want them, again, they may be brittle from the harsh sun here.
Gourd -- you aren't alone. Before I ordered my rockwool, I checked at every gardening supply place in San Antonio to include Lowes, HD, etc. None of the employees at those places had ever heard of rock wool, and also stated that it wasn't the right time of year for sowing seeds... Boy do they miss out on sales or what!?!
RW cubes are a specialty product so I wouldn't evpect to find it at a chain store or local GH nursery.
I'm waiting for my next order of 'cubes'
All the Argyreia nervosa (Hiawiian Baby Wood Rose) germinated, one upside down with the little root-tail sticking straight up and it's head buried in the RW cube......lol
aThis has been a most interesting and helpful thread. I had some RW cubes several years ago and don't remember where i got them. Know I ordered them from a catalog. So now I need to find a source or if a co-op is started get them that way. My computer has not worked well for a couple of months. Finally found a woman to help me. It has been in computer hosp. on and off all week. Think it is finally working ok. So I have missed a lot of DG and all you nice people. Donna
We have missed you too Donna. I hope your PC keeps on working well. I know I would go nuts without mine.
Com'on,someone get a co-op going.....
I did ask the Mgr (I think, maybe owner?) of the Worms Way that I went to, about co-op/bulk pricing. He did say it would be quite a savings but from what I saw you have to buy pretty much. The plugs for instance are .20 per, but if you get 2000, it goes down to .12 per. He also told me one brand was being discontinued and they only had a small lot left at a store in IN. The one link I posted above for $3 per sheet, that was the disc one. Apparently one brand is less dense and the other brand is a better quality product they are getting from Europe.
I've been thinking about doing this co-op thing and wouldn't it be about the same price by the time you pay the postage a couple of times, especially if you didn't buy a ton of the cubes? I think I've said this before, but I bought the slabs and cut them in half lengthwise and then score them from the top into cubes. Not very expensive this way, I just don't know how it will be when it is time to cut them through to separate. Guess I could just cut them into cubes from the gitgo.
I think you are right Shirley. The slabs that they are going to keep carrying are $6.50-8.50. You have to buy a case to get the deal. Each one is still like 2#. I don't think any of us is going to get a better shipping rate then the companies but I didn't really investigate. The other thing is the odd shape of the slabs. Finding boxes might be a hassle.
I guess cutting slabs would work, but I remember reading that there is a reason for the inverted vee-shaped air spaces found under a sheet of 200 cubes like I use. It has something to do with root development ???
I will watch to see how you peeps do with your slabs.
;-D
I have a lot of canna seeds growing in the slabs that I cut and they are doing very well. So far the roots are growing straight down and they would be easy to separate right now. I have others that I started later that are just now peeking through. In this picture there are 15 cubes or sections that aren't cut all the way through and 12 seeds have germinated.
Nice work, Brugie! Your rw looks like the newer type I bought (not the ebay ones I also purchased). How old are these sprouts? They look so healthy.
Brugie those are the cutest babies I have ever seen! And they show their colors off right away!
I agree . . those are adorable. I have never canna baby cannas sprouting up. Shirley, you have been one busy lady.
So cool, Shirley! I can't wait for my rw to arrive!!!
Shirley is a trouble maker, I mean inspiration to us all! LOL I, who was not gonna start too much this year, just peeled and put 202 Brug seeds in rockwool! I believe I have a few more seeds on the way. Looks like I may be returning to Ww. LOL
Badseed: I know its none of my business, but will you plant all those or do you sell them? Just curious -- that's alot of brugs!
I don't count on all of them sprouting. When it starts to cool down here, I trade out the duplicates or send them to friends in warmer zones. I have at least that many in the basement and garage but I think the $(*#)*)$ cat, we all love her :), may have demolished all my newer cuttings before they could root well. I don't expect all of those brugs to make it to spring either. I either have to feed the kids OR build a greenhouse. LOL Some of these seeds are from very special crosses and they will go back to the hybridizer if so desired. I just like to grow from seed.
That's really cool! Thanks for sharing your info with me :)
I think those canna seedlings are about two weeks old. The next group that I planted about 4 or 5 days ago are just starting to show. I love this rockwool.
I should have added that I only started four crosses and they are from two people. That's a lot of duplicates but I am hoping for that special one! LOL
Me too Brugie!! And if the immature seeds from that GL X RK pod would germinate I would love it even more! Planted on 1/17 and no sign!
I hope you get a special one Michele. You have tried so hard, you deserve to be the one!!
I'd just love to see blooms, blooms and blooms!!! Kell, have you grown out any of the KGG x L'a?
I think I do have some Chele. I better! LOL
I really need to go thru and see what I do have up and plant more of what I do not! My best pods have not ripened yet. I sure wish they would hurry up!!
I already have so many up that I must be off my rocker! We spent the afternoon digging up my front bed to plant roses. I was thinking I should just plant 20 seedlings in there and forget the roses!
How soon do you think this search and listing will be done?? LOL I wanna know what kind of flowers you ended up with. ;) Oh, and I like that second plan!
Information from 2003-2004 seems to indicate the possibility of rockwool being carcinogeic:
http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Mineral-wool
badseed,You better make some more room...I'm sending your packet out today.......
Thanks a bunch Karyn! The rockwool is conditioned and ready. :) Make sure you send me the double dark pink seeds. LOL
Gosh Brugie, I couldn't even get pollen to be accepted! I am an amateur in comparison to many of you that have grown them for years and turned out some true beauties! I have a knack for starting seeds so maybe that is my best talent and you all just have to keep crossing them. ;)
Michele, don't feel bad. I won't even tell you how many times I tried to get a pod to set on EP last year and absolutely no luck at all. I was about ready to toss pollen, plants and all I was so teed. Will try again this year, but won't have the same pollens.
I must not be too bright Shirley. I just keep coming back for more! LOL
Oh this year you will be drowning in seed pods Chele! I find some take so easily and others you just have to be persistent! I had 2 Rosamonds. One tree was covered in pods and the other though polinated many times, never even got 1 pod!
But Kell, I have to drown in blooms first! LOL Mine all started blooming too late last year except my huge white one. I'm gonna have to figure out a way to get them going faster this year!
fertilize fertilize fertilize!
Who's more fertile than me?? LOL