AGGS sent my 'welcome' packet. Got my seeds and all the goodies. I'm going to wait until after the Florida trip at the end of this month to start my seeds since I'm afraid DH won't know what to do with them. BUT I'll keep ya posted on their progress once they do get planted.
http://www.aggs.org/
It's been 7 weeks since I joined AVS, STILL no word on that. Perhaps the need to relocate has slowed things down.
This message was edited Feb 4, 2006 4:32 PM
It's official! i'm in the club!
congrats!
If you sterilize the mix, you can completely seal the container while they sprout. Everyone I know uses this method. You could also sow them in two batches, one half now, the other half later. (yeah, I'm excited to watch.)
Keep in mind that you may have an annual or two (FAST growers) and others that are really slow - try to space the seeds out so that you can prick out the faster ones. I didn't do this so I lost quite a few.
thanks Key, good to know! When you say sterilize do you just mean bake it? and can I use the same mix I used when I did my av's and streps?
yes and yes. Something like equal parts perlite, vermiculite and potting mix (soil-less) works well, as does the same mix with even less potting mix.
I sterilize by baking moist mix at 250F or lower for 2-4 hrs, depending on the amount of mix and the temp (lower=longer). I cover the mix with foil (with a vent hole). Sometimes I use those oven bags (Reynolds or someone makes them) which keeps things neater.
It's also possible to microwave small amounts - I don't do this but there's info out there (and maybe here) on it.
That's what I thought you meant. I don't know about spacing them out they are suuuuper tiny seeds.
What if, they put petrocosmea seeds in the mix. Now that would make my day! I keep watchin ebay for them, they rarely come up. I'm going to have to just break down and order from pats pets or someone.
BTW, there are two nice sinningias on ebay right now (kathystrep is the seller)
I need to replace my petrocosmea too. Someone must have leaves (super easy to propagate from leaves - like AVs).
Key, I harvested some begonia seeds this morning. Can't say for sure if they are viable, would you like some?
I also don't know if they cross polinated. But the mom is B. 'Red Bluff' a rhizo variety. Here's some old photos of it. It has need hairy legs and pretty green and bronze/red foliage. (new foliage is bronze red)
Here's the whole plant. (one on the left)
Here's another
Congratulations !!!! Laurie on both your AGGS 'welcome' packet.!!! And Begonia seeds :)) I'm so excited for you ! Yippee :)) I don't know how mine came so fast in a week :))
Alli - your AGGS membership was given special handling :-)
Laurie - I'm not sure I can keep rhizos happy. Of the three I started with last year, only one is still here - and only barely. I think I have both low humidity and inconsistent watering problems which I have to fix first....
okee dokee, but they are really easy, I have low humidity too. I have to keep the humidifyer going a lot of the time. They like to go dry a bit before you water too.
Let me know if you change your mind!
do you think rhizos would do okay wicked? If the reservoir is allowed to go dry from time to time? I can't do "go dry a bit" - my stuff goes dry A LOT between waterings. A wonder that I manage to grow non-tuberous gesneriads.
I suppose so. I've never tried it. I almost think that it would be ok to let them get almost bone dry if you have it over a pebble tray. They really don't like wet 'feet' per say. But it couldn't hurt to try, i'd make sure you have a lot of orchid bark or volcanic pummice type material in the soil blend first. They like lots of air pockets in and around the roots.
I haven't hardly watered my rhizo or rex this winter. The ones in the house and playhouse that get more heat have been watered, but they get to go dry before i do. And many are in a very light mix with more thatn 50% perlite.
I got mine yesterday too :)
I just hope I dont' kill the seeds :)
WOW Lorry you too ! Super and we all have the magazines to chat about ! I have not had a cnahce to do my seeds . Soon :)) So much excitment . I just love belonging to the AGGS . So much to learn ! I notice African violets are included also. So many pretties :))
he he...you all are in business...it is exciting..
I will be in business if I can get them to grow LOL.
And yup..they didn't send me the new magazine but did send an older one..they said I will get the next magazine that comes out though :)
Lorry, here's a link from our sticky on seed starting.
http://geocities.com/rachelsreflections/Janet.htm
I've started my tutorial on my flickr site, but until my AV's sprout, I can't really finish it. They can take a few months I hear.
sorry it's kinda boring until the sprouts happen.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/begonias-photos/sets/72057594059053819/
edited for poor spelling! HA!
This message was edited Feb 4, 2006 4:20 PM
I think from seed they can grow to bloom pretty fast ?
some will bloom in a few months, others may spend the first growing season forming a tuber.
This is a pic of my AGGS seeds from years ago. The one big leaf threatened to overtake everything - it's an annual chirita that grew to be about 3 ft tall and 3 ft wide.
what you can't see in that pic are the 50 or so TINY seedlings underneath - all the episcias, streptocarpus etc etc.
Ki, did that annual chirita seed for you?
WOW I'd love a Chirita that big. Did it bloom ? I wonder if it would grow outside in the ground for me. They don't need much room and grow in-between cracks.
Here's a link to other seedlings from that mix. Lots of oddball streptocarpus (like the single-leaved species). http://kyi.info/ges/mixseed.htm
Single leaf Species are out of this world too !
Yes the chirita did bloom. it's Chirita lavandulacea - tiny flowers, huge plant.
Some of the things that bloomed here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ki/search/tags:aggs/
Basically, I lost a number of them from that green algae type stuff that grew over the soil - now I always sterilize the mix. That green stuff suffocates the young seedlings.
Those are great pictures Keyring :)) I have best be setting mine to grow tomorrow :)) Thanks for sharing them !
How long did the large plant live ? I can't get the last link to open ?
Ki, some of those leaves made me laugh, they are somewhat Shmoo looking. (ok, dating myself on the Shmoo thing, but they DO!)
Ki, I think Ali uses lysol in her water to keep that algae at bay. Allison?
LOL.
I'm told Chirita lavandulacea is an annual (annual everywhere, not just grown as an annual up north).
Let's try that link again. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ki/search/tags:aggs/
If that doesn't work, go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/ki/ and search by the tag aggs.
Lysol if fine for older plants, but I would hesitate to use it (even really weak) on the just-sprouted seedlings. You can fully avoid the problem by sterilizing the mix first - and grow them sealed shut for a while if you can.
by the way, I checked the current seed list - no petrocosmeas, so I don't think you'll find one in the mix....
=(
guess it's to Pat's Pets I go! She has a nice list of them and of course I want the p. begonifolia!