I have dahlia and caladium tubers set in a tray of peat moss/vermiculite which I keep moderately moist. Beneath that there is a heating pad which keeps the mixture at a temperature of about 25°c.
But! they are not sprouting, except for one dahlia tuber.
I haven't had a lot success doing this in the past and am wondering what I'm doing wrong.
Any suggestions would be most appreciated.
Joan
Starting tubers
Joan when did you purchase them?
I find I have the best luck when they are purchased (and planted) shortly after they arrive in the nurseries. I've noticed many seem to desicate in the package quite quickly. I also move the tuber around in the bag so I can see the growing tip and try to pick ones that have a little sprout just starting.
I have never started tubers, rather I just plunk them in the ground after winter storing my dahlias, or straight into the ground if I buy them. Like Lilypon, when purchasing, I always look to make sure there is a bit of a sprout before buying.
I purchased them from Vesseys and received them about a month ago, except for one which is from last year. They have been in the tray for 2 weeks.
As far as I can tell, short of cutting them open, they are not desicated.
I have always just planted the dahlias without trying to get them to sprout beforehand.
Next step - plunk them in the garden. lol
Joan
You Go Girl. LOL
Joan I hope you have better luck with your Vesey's Caladium bulbs then I did. I received 3 Red Flash caladiums bulbs from them back in May.....I noticed they were rather soft and spongy when I got them.....planted mine as you did (but in a warm room no bottom heat)......all 3 rotted. *sigh* ...........Wendy
Wendy, I've discovered that some have rotted. Took the plunge and snapped one open - rot.
I got 2 kinds - one was Red Flash.
I've had great success with Vessey seeds, but I AM wondering about their bulbs/tubers.
Joan
Joan...just wondering have you had ANY of your Vesey's caladium tubers make it?...Wendy
I bought spider dahlias from Vesseys this year. All of the tubers were hard, like sweet potatoes, and healthy. I realized that I didn't have the garden space for them, so I donated them to a friend's garden. A week before I took them out to her, I potted all the tubers up, and watered them really well-the one time-and kept them on the floor under a couple of plant stands (there were 12 pots). Most had sprouted by the time we got them to their new home, but I didn't see any sprouts on the tubers before I planted them. What did I do right, besides getting lucky with healthy tubers, or is that all it takes?
Christine
Wendy, sad to say - no. I sent 3 e-mails to Vesseys and a letter yesterday. Today I got an e-mail from them with a $27 credit. But now I'm leary.
A friend has recommened Georgtown Seed House for plants and tubers, and that's where I'll be going in the future. I dealt with them years ago and don't recall having any problems with them.
The caladium tubers are still on the tray - nada. I think I'll pot them up and see if that works. I did that last year and had them rot on me, so I'll add lots of perlite to lighten the soil up.
It's nice that Veseys gave me a credit, but that doesn't help much now as time is getting on and replacements are hard to find.
Live and learn eh. Joan
You got lucky and got healthy dormant tubers Christine. I just have found that finding a little sprout growing (obviously on ones I've bought locally) guarantees that the tuber/bulb is alive.
Joan I had a feeling you were going to say that. I can't be bothered to contact them over the $9.95
I paid for mine....I just won't order from them again.
I wish Botanus carried Caladiums, I've always been happy with anything I've ordered from them.