I (thought I) did all the right things with some seeds generously sent: soaked them, then planted in a loose mix, kept warm and damp (not soggy). Out of 20 + seeds only 2 have come up. In another bunch, the Aborea, I soaked and then peeled the coating off, and out of 4 or 5 only 1 has sprouted.
Is it usual for them to sprout at different times? Should I wait and see what the empty trays will do?
Despondent,
Carol
I am really bummed
I think some take their sweet time coming up. I know I have some that have waited a month while the others were up within 5 days (from the same pod parents). Dont give up just yet.
Out of 6 Arborea seeds I planted, 2 have come up. But I am not despondent - I think it's great! I'm sure the rest will sprout eventually. Sometimes it takes many weeks for brug seeds to come up.
I planted my arborea seeds on the surface/just nestled into the seed starting mix because someone here said they like light to sprout. Then covered the tray w/that waxy self-stick new plastic wrap and placed on a heat mat for starting seeds. Every day or 3 I peek inside. 2 days ago I rescued 2 - one was stretching tall with it's corky seed head, the other not so tall. This is the first time I have NOT peeled the seeds, but it didn't seem to make a difference!
Eileen
It seems to me that fresh seeds sprout right away and the older seeds can take awhile. I have heard even several months. People have given up and tossed the seed dish in the compost and a while later brugs are growing up out of it!
As far as the Arborea seeds, if they are self pollinated, all you need is one seedling! If you want more Arborea plants, take cuttings.
Good Luck!
Carol, don't give up on your seeds. Don't keep them too moist. Like Kell said, I've had them to germinate a couple of months later after I had dumped the soil.
Don't give up too soon. I make it a point to start all of my seeds in 'new' potting soil, but then if they don't come up, or after I think I've 'picked and potted' all that did come up, I will re-use the potting mix for 'other than brug' plants. I decided to start some snake plant, so I used an old cup of soil that I had started brugs in. Now I have a brug 'snake plant'.
christmascactus
Dec 12, 2004
Linda, I just love your picture.
Your soil mix looks great-what kind do you buy or do you make your own?
Thanks, friends, for your reassurance. I won't be impatient....I promise... LOL
Found a seed pod on one of my large plants yesterday...so I am going to try really fresh seeds and see if they are different. These I won't peel but just soak.
So, do I understand correctly that seeds from a hybrid do not necessarily sprout "true" to the pod parent? Could there be a mixed bag there too?
Thanks, again....
Aloha, Carol
Carol -- you don't need to soak or peel the really fresh seeds. Just my own personal experience with fresh seeds that were sown immediately after being harvested and removed from the pod. And yes, you are correct, seedlings are not necessarily true to the parent.
Just make sure the seeds are ready to harvest,some of us get impatient and can't beleive they can take that long to rippen,every pod is different,I waited 10 months on one pod and 3 months on another pod.
Heck,I'm not naming any names(we all know who you are) but some people have even cut the pod open to see the seeds......(most are dark brownish black when ready) They would then seal the pod back up with Nu-skin(that bandaid stuff)
I wouldn't try it tho....my peacocks took off the tip of one of my pods one time,bugs and all kinds of ickys can get in there........
Dear Carol,
I received some seed from Susie (PoppySue) of the Aborea to grow out, and out of the 5, I planted them in the rockwool too ....and all 5 have not germinated yet :(...I hope they will germinate, I was so hoping to see what it will do for me...but I'm not giving up yet!!! They will stay put until I see some green lol
I am so hoping they will soon though. The rest I planted also and soaked in the pre-soak & rockwool and I'm getting excellent germination and growth rate...., maybe these seeds are slower??? Does anyone know if they are slower, the Aborea seeds?
I have never tried to grow any of my Arborea seeds so I do not know how long they take. They are self pollinating and I found if I even cut open the bud and remove the anthers, they have already pollinted themselves anyway! You will get plants true to the mother when they self pollinate. It is easier to just take cuttings then to grow their seeds. Faster to flower also. Arborea will flower on a 6 inch piece above the Y.
I would have been making peacock stew.
I have the same results with Arborea, one out of 6 seeds have sprouted but not doing too good, I also have seeds that have been in the rockwool over five weeks and nothing showing yet
Do you keep your rockwool inside a plastic bag or in the open?
I keep it in the warm greenhouse, also has a plastic dome over the seeds
(...with more confidence now)...The pod was very dry and cracked open...really surprised the seeds weren't all moldy, as I have that problem here when I WANT the seeds. I hadn't even seen this pod, and there is another ripening...
I won't give up hope...and even if only one Aborea seed sprouts, I shall treasure it!
Carol
Me too Carol, I agree...not giving up on those little seeds. And I will also treasure one, even if it's only one that germinates, I don't care...lol
Brugie, I soaked mine, peeled a couple and left the others with cork on them, they are covered in a plastic covering. I open it up from time to time also....Keeping my fingers crossed still though :)
Doris, the only problem with a plastic dome is that it can't keep the fungus gnats out and it only takes one to get at a pot of soil and lay eggs and then the cycle under the dome is started. That would be my concern with your not having any germination yet. Maybe they are just slow or maybe it is too cool. Could be lots of things.
Julie, I can see through my plastic, so I don't open it. When I see green hitting the plastic, it will be time to open it and see for sure what is going on. I have a pot or two now that the green is at the top of the plastic and I know I need to transplant, but I'm just not in the mood. LOL! They will be fine.
Brugie told me about these clear plastic bags last year. I had been using grocery bags. I have since bought my own supply. I just love them. I bought ones big enough to do large cuttings also if I want to bag them.
I probably should move these over to soil soon. I twist close them first then with a small piece of velcro. I never open them until I go to plant them up. But sometimes some are not ready yet to come out of the bag or haven't germinated, so I then reclose the bag with the velcro after I take out the bigger bruglings.
Auntie kalola, brugmansias have double the normal chromosome count of most plant groups. This is why them as well as plumerias can be seeds from two white crosses and still yield many colors.Doesn't show up each time, but can happen.Seeds can take up to 6 months to sprout on some crosses. Don't throw out the seed pot..just set aside and let nature take it's course. they will come up.
None will be exactly like the parent plant. Cept in the case of self fertile forms. Sanquineas and arboreas. Arboreas may not like your heat and humidity.Since most brugs grow in mountainous areas in the Andes...most have warm days and cool nights.Hot and humid nights keep many kinds of brugs from blooming well.So climb that mountain and plant your seeds!!! LOL P.S. Mele Kalikimaka, your package is comming your way! :-)
Aloha nui loa,
Great information, Kyle. Mahalo nui loa.
Fortunately (for US and the Brugs) we are at about 900 feet and our nights ARE cool (it was 60 last night and can get down lower). The cold air from the mountain (13,000+ feet high) slides down hill at night and it is dry, usually. The days are seldom over 85 in the summer, up here, but good amount of rain.
Shredded Paper grows OK here but would like cooler temps I think... Am going to "try" Sanguinea but am told I am too warm...up to the Volcano that goes!!!
Thanks again....EVERYONE!
Aloha...