Passiflora seed germination,101

I had such good luck lastime I started some from seeds,that I recieved from Clare and Mitjo,I thought I share with you.
I understand to have a high germination percent,you need fairly fresh seeds,most of these were dated from 1999,so I don't know how well the outcome will be,but I thought I'd give it a go.
Last time which was in February,I didn't use any bottom heat,I don't have a heating mat or soil cable,but what I do have is the wifeys heating serving tray which she'll never know it's gone,{I hope!} We'll she needs a new one anyhow!!!
Here's some pics of the seedling from february,which are doing great,and have shipped some off already to new homes.

Here's a pic showing them reaching 3to 4 ft,if I'd pot them up they might have been larger,but am waiting for warmer weather.

Here's my set up,and I didn't soak the seeds this time or the first time.

Neat, Don. This should be fun to see how long they take to germinate. I did this a year ago also and have P. Morifolia, P. Edulis, and P. Mollissima all from seed. The Morifolia flowered last summer right away in the first season, but the other two are taking longer to flower. I had my first Mollissima flower the other day. I don't recall exact how long each took to germinate, but I think it was between 60-90 days. Do you know which Passiflora species you are trying to germinate?

Hi Clare,
Yes theres edulis,flavicara,molissima,red grandilla.yellow unknown and a pink unknown,and coccicena and ligularis.
This makes the 3 rd day,started April 12th,so yours were within 60 to 90 days,if I remember correctly the morifolas seeds you sent me germinted in about a week.
Being that these seeds are several years old not sure when or even if they might germinate,its now a wait and see experiment!

Oh, yes, Don. P. Morifolia was much quicker. The rest took about two months if I remember correctly. Good luck with those seeds. I'll be watching for your results.

Thankyou for all this wonderful info.....I'm a goin' for it!....The serving heat tray is a great idea, Tropicman.....thanx! Elaine

I soaked some passiflora seeds in lemon juice for 5 days in mid-February then potted them in peat pellets and put them in little green houses made from recycled salad containers. I didn't use any bottom heat and just left them on my counter in the pantry where I have a window facing east. Last week, my P. molissima sprouted (6-7 weeks germination) and this week my P. edulis sprouted (7-8 weeks germination). None of the others have done anything yet. Upon sprouting, I move them out to my unheated greenhouse for more natural light. We have had nice Spring weather for a few weeks now without any freezing so my seedlings are all doing well out there. I like to keep some of my treasured seeds in the house until they germinate so I can keep an eye on them.

Your welcome,Elaine.
Way to go busy bee!!
Were your seeds pretty much fresh,as far as you know?
Clare,keep your fingers crossed,I think the long fingered leaves has set a few buds,its hard to tell since I have next to caerula,but I chased the vine back and as far as I can tell,its it!!!Its on very new growth,and the flower buds are more round than the caerula.Take a look!

Progress on epi buds.

Oh, Gosh, Don, jumping up and down excited for you. They are looking good and large! I can't wait. Your epi buds look wonderful too:-)

I just erected my new trellis today, and your long-fingered vine will be growing on it along with P. Amethystina. It was late in the afternoon when I finished, and I couldn't get a good picture because the camera was facing the sun. Your vine is huge now and goes right up to the top of the trellis. Here it is:

Wow you have that vine growing really fast,hopefully it will put on some flower buds as well,these are on very new growth.In fact the leaves are very small.If you look closely there just buds and no leaves at all,I have been feeding it bloom buster by shultz these past couple of weeks.
10-60-10,which may have just triggered the flowering or the fact were having more sunshine now the days are getting longer.

Tropicman,

I bought my molissima seeds on ebay last fall and a lady in California sent me the edulis as 2 fresh fruits so I know that those seeds were fresh. I think I remember sending you some of the edulis seeds. Did we do a trade a while back with castor beans and passiflora seeds? The ones that I sent you should germinate. My caerulea and incarnata have not germinated yet but I am still hoping that they will.

Hi Don

I sowed some P. Alata (6) and 3 came up between 8 to 15 days later. I'm still waiting on the other 3 though - it's been 7 weeks now. My 3 seedlings looks tiny compared to yours though!

Sue

Don, whatever you did worked great. I can't wait to see those blooms. Maybe then we can get someone to identify it. By the way, the P. Mollissima roots have doubled in size. It won't be long now that I will send them to you.

Busy,yes you did and they were some of the ones I germinated in February,and are about 4 ft tall now,in fact they germinated in about 2 weeks,so they were really fresh seeds.
Sue are you giving any bottom heat?
Also how deep did you plant them?
I planted mine just barely under the soil.
Clare,I'm very excited,for I been wanting to try the banana fruit.
I too hope this is the long fingered one that has the flower buds on it.

Don, I bet you did right by barely covering with soil. It sounds like what I did. I didn't use bottom heat, but it was warm outside when they germinated.

Don - if you mean the seeds that haven't germinated yet - they are in folded kitchen towel in the heated propagator,the same as the others that sprouted. The 3 that have germinated are potted up in the kitchen but I haven't fertilised them at all. When would you start to fertilise? There are only 3 leaves on them at the moment.

Sue

Sue,I start fertilizing about 1/4 strength,after the first 2 true leaves have opened,these will be full size leaves not the tiny leaves.

Thanks Don

Hi Don! How's everything going? I was just wondering if you long-fingered Passiflora bloomed yet!

Hi Clare,
Sorry I forgot to get back with you,been so busy,beside being dissapointed too!
There the same as passifloria p,careula,blue crown,might be just a little smaller also.
None of the seeds have germinated either,and the strong wind gusts this week took the leaves off of everything,or either broke it in half!
Hope things are going better for you,now another cold spell has come,temps below 40* tonite,gee whiz I must have really
pi--ed mother nature off!!!!

Hi Don! I'm sorry to hear that you are disappointed and busy and that the weather is wreaking havoc. The Passiflora is like P. Caerulea? That IS disappointing. Is P. Caerulea fragrant at all? It's not you; Mother Nature definitely likes to change her mind!

Hi Clare,
I know just feeling sorry for myself...Patti's not back to her regular self yet,overtime at work and mother nature driving me crazy,be fine when those all strighten out!LOL
Yes it is fragrant,smells like wrigleys gum,the green package
of gum.
Like the foliage so I'll keep it anyways.

Don, I hope things get bettter for you soon. Very soon, summer will be here, and you will forget all about your troubles while enjoying your tropical paradise.

I like the Passiflora's foliage too so I will definitely keep mine. I know something that will cheer you up! Your Ruby Glow has rooted! Finally! I'm just about to post over at Jeff's thread.

Be well, my friend.

Thanks Clare,Iv'e been wanting that one so long,I can't say thanks enough for sticking to it,until sucess!!!

Sure, Don. I think you will be very happy with these cuttings. I'm going to pot your rooted cuttings up soon, and I will pot up the P. Mollissima at the same time. It looks like P. Lady Margaret rooted as well; although, I couldn't see the roots yet on her, but the cuttings have green leaves so I'm sure she is sprouting roots inside of the cubes.

Thanks Clare your a sweetheart,fingers are crossed on the lady margret cuttings!!!