I have gone crazy lately planting seeds. I would like to know from others who have experience growing seedlings what is the chances of the seedling looking like the parent plant. I know that you can't guarantee that a seedling will look anything like the parent, but my question is this. Is it most of the time? I guess what I am looking for are percentages.
I have a gold plumeria with red markings that is a prolific bloomer, but it grows slow and in addition it is one that is difficult to root. I had a seed pod that I harvested and planted the seeds. I have given some away, but I have kept approximately fifteen. Just looking at the seedlings, as plants. it appears there will be a lot of variation. I am going by the shape of the leaves, the rate of growth of the seedlings and the color of the stalks. These were planted last year and they range in size from 1 foot to 2 1/2 feet.
This year, I have planted many more seeds of different varieties, but they are not big enough to make any meaningful observations. I may be able to carry them over this winter in my greenhouse, but I don't know what I am going to do in another year when they are all mucg bigger. I hate to give up a plant before I know what it looks like. I think we sometimes forget that little plants become big plants one day.
Seeds
Percentages are about 25% likelyhood of resembling a parent.
You may well have a new fascinating blossom as well.
I do many seeds, Love the uncertainty of whats gonna bloom or hows it gonna grow.
Good Luck!!
Michael, where did you find that number? I think it is too high.
I may have to disagree with my pal Michael here. I think there is a 99% chance that the seedling won't look like its parent, but it just depends on the cross, the cultivar, and whether the flower selfed or not. Plumerias are bisexual and can self-pollinate rather easily. This still doesn't mean that the seedling will look like the parent, and in most cases, it won't. Another thing is that you really can't tell much about the seedling's flower color until it blooms. The leaves don't give the flower color away. It takes on average about three years for a seedling to bloom from seed, and then the bloom can change over the next few blooming cycles, which is why you can't register a seedling until you've observed it for three years. I've seen pictures of flowers from one seedling in Year 1, Year 2, and Year 3, and the flower changed over time. By the time Year 4 and Year 5 come around, the seedling flower is usually stable.
If you don't have the room to grow the seedlings out, give them to someone else who has the room with the condition that they will show you pictures when the seedlings bloom and will give you a cutting if you should desire one. Most plumie growers will honor this agreement.
I have heard that figure over at MPG continually 20--25%
Is it wrong?
I dunno Squaawwwk!
Im a parrot sometimes lol!!
If they never looked like the parent id be ok with that too! ;^)
Did it come from Jack? It doesn't sound right to me, but I could be wrong:-) I was looking through Jim Little's book for that info. but didn't see it. I'll check into it when I get some time. Nothin' wrong with being a parrot, dear:-)