Something strange is going on here. Gordon was kind enough to send me some of his Panama seeds and they were germanating nicely and several had sprouted roots. YAY
I had them inside on a heat mat while we were experiencing some cloudy weather. Yesterday the sun was out and I put the tray outside my kitchen door on a bench. When I brought them in last night I noticed 2 of the babies were gone. What/who do you think might have plummienapped them?
Needless to say, the rest of the babies stayed inside on the heat mat today.
Plumienapping
Ardesia, are the seedlings in individual containers, and someone stole two containers? That is terrible. Or were they in one community container, and a critter ate two? So sorry about that!
Oops, sorry, I wasn't very clear. They are in individual containers and some critter must have taken off with them. I can't imagine what kind of bird would go after a seed that large and we do not have squirrels on the deck as my dog is usually out there.
That is strange! Do you have kids in the neighborhood that might have walked away with them? Unfortunately, plumerias do get stolen from people's yards sometimes. It happens here in Southern California. They are still fairly expensive plants, and like some variety of palms, they get stolen and sold at swap meets and such. It is a shame. Your two seedlings must have been really little though so your thief -- whether person, child, or critter -- probably didn't know what he was taking.
wonder if the wind took them?....were you watering near there...?
No kids and although it is windy here (I live on a marsh) it wasn't bad enough for that. I was not watering anywhere near them.
My son is visiting from Colorado this week and he tells he saw a Blue Jay in the yard. We rarely have them here and I believe I've heard that they are thieves. Perhaps that is my culprit. Those little tails sticking up out of the soil must have been too much of a temptation.
Fortunately the remaining seeds are doing well and rooting. I am going to move a few of them to larger containers today.
Incidentally, I am a constant experimenter and I tried some seeds in a 2/3 perlite/1/3 potting mix, some in a a half and half potting mix/perlite and the remaining seeds I started in straight vermiculite. The vermiculite seeds were the first to root for me.
We have Blue Jays here and they are most certainlt thieves...
They steal anything shiny or colored
They love blue and green, gold and silver.
They sometimes steal for the heck of it.
Sorry to hear of your loss.
Contact Gordon, maybe hell send more ;^)
Well, my seedlings were not brightly colored but something snitched a couple. Thankfully Gordon is generous and I still have plenty. A few have their little leaves starting to poke through today. This is sooooooo exciting for me.
I did give the *tails* a crew cut to prevent them from enticing any more snitchers.
U cut what?
:-), I trimmed the papery *tails* that stick out of the potting medium when you plant the seeds. Following Plumeria 101's instructions I left them sticking out and I think that is what enticed the culprit.
I just re-read 101 and they call them *wings*; that is what I cut off. Those little things fluttering in the wind might have looked good to a big bird or something. I think I removed the temptation by removing them. The cotyledons remained intact.
I wouldn't think that would hurt them. It should be used just for gettin the seed around by the wind.
Ah, too bad. I have Blue Jays here. I leave peanuts out for them. My old neghbor Bob had one he called Goober who used to just love the peanuts Bob left him every day.
It may not hurt them but leads me to wonder why your seedlings arent covered over to keep the humidity level high as possible?
This may affect germination.
I cant see starting them uncovered, if they dry out even for a few hours after starting it cant be good.
Well, our humidity level around here is off the charts high. If they were covered, even lightly, they would steam to an early death. Only 2 were snitched, all of the remaining babies are doing well. They only go out when I can watch them (sort of like my puppy). Rest of the time they are on the heat mat and almost all of them have their cotyledons emerging. They are remarkable seeds. a
Good Luck!!
Ive done over 150 of these
Presently I have about 60 more going.
Keep us posted on how they develop.