Babies are sprouting

I bought some Brazilian seeds and they are sprouting. I spray them twice a day. I'm so excited even though it will be years till they bloom.

These hippeastrums were the first to sprout. They will have cream colored flowers.

This message was edited Jan 27, 2007 11:04 PM

These just sprouted on Friday. The flowers are white trumpets with red stripes.

These are yellow irises. They look like walking iris.

Got a great Cypella there too--one of my favorites:
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/53995/index.html

What was your germination time on that one? I find it to be 30+ days--by the way, it will bloom 2nd year from seeds, so you won't be waiting forever on that one!
=) Debbie

Great news! Do you know the difference between Neomarica and Cypella? They haven't germinated yet but it's only been a few weeks.

I don't grow Neomarcia--probably because a lot of other people do so I can't help you there; but somebody is bound to come along that will know. Here is some info on the Cypella's--I grow several including Cypella coelestes (which is what you have--your source is just using a synonym name for it)--they always take 30-60 days to germinate but are extremely easy from seed after that--like it on the wet side down here; I also grow Cypella herbertii which like it dry in winter and are summer growers; and I grow Cypella peruviana. Both Neomarica and Cypella's are in the Iris family. Cypella's are for sure and I'm pretty sure Neomarcia's are two. Here is a link for the Cypella's:
http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Cypella

and one for the Neomarica's:
http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Neomarica

Bulbs from seeds are such fun aren't they? Be careful, I must warn you its a highly addictive hobby. =)

Great info-I've bookmarked both. My yellow irises are trimezia and I wondered about them compared to neomaricas too and they explained it. These seeds were mixed (2 different yellows) so when they bloom I will have to ID them.

I have never done well with seeds before. New phase of life, I guess!

Bulbs from seeds really are easy and fun; you just don't get that first year gratification you get from, like say a marigold. But when they do bloom they are so much more rewarding! And its really the only way you can even get a hold of some of the more "obscure" bulbs--and many of those that you can find you'd need mortgage loan to afford.
=)

So true. I was so excited to get this source!!

Anyone have any Neomarica advice for Boojum? Like you Janet?

A friendly "bump" so maybe someone will chime in with Neomarica advice. =)

I have a neomarica but it's full grown (gracillus). So I'd need seedling advice.

Looking good boojum! Now I wish I had got some of those seeds, but I already have more than enough to cope with.

Neomarica I can only say I got a young plant of N. gracilis from an ebay seller who grows a lot of interesting bulbs, it's going through the winter fine in the greenhouse, I got it late in the year bare root. I would say treat it much the same as an Iris, but for here that would be OK, not in a very cold zone.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostle_Plant

http://www.rareflora.com/nemaricareg.html

http://www.badbear.com/signa/signa.pl?Neomarica-caerulea

As a seedling I don't think there should be any problems if you grow it in free draining compost with some organic matter, kept moist.

This site gives growing info,

http://www.botany.com/neomarica.html

Thanks! I didn't know to put sand in the mix. I'll try that.

Congrats boojum! Very exciting about the hipps especially. When did you sow them? Did you cover them?

Thanks!! It's been about 2 weeks now-the hipps were up in days. I have a clear dome over this flat but it doesn't seal well so I'm fussing over it twice a day.

Looking good Boojum! I have some species seeds to that I will be starting in spring and hope that I have the same success.

R.

Of course you will.

Keep us updated boojum! =)

Will do. I should take more pics, right?

sure Boojum--I'm a voyeur at heart! =) I really enjoy anything out of the ordinary as far as bulbs go--and you definitely have "out of the ordinary" there--lol

I've got some other Cypella's and the same one you have going in various stages of their "babyhood"--we can compare pics.

Kathy, where do you have room for growing bulbs from seed! They will take up valuable orchid space! LOL!

Todd, you got a chuckle over that. I still have very few orchids in the house (just 2 cyms in a cold corner of the kitchen). The rest are in my waiting room and oozing into the office in the big barn. These seedlings are on a big radiator in my livingroom (south light). Unfortunately I messed up by putting assorted pots into a big flat so the dome doesn't fit tight and I'm spraying madly with the low temps/radiators clanking away. Across the way in the diningroom (see pic), I have a picture window (north light) full of hippeastrums in various stages and also in the TV room (17 all together). Then further down on that side the 2 cyms and a mini rose are sitting next to the north back door (mostly glass) in the cold corner on a small white table. There are more plants upstairs (south and east) and in the cold bathroom upstairs (40 degrees F) are a crop of epis in dormancy, etc. Bottom line, orchids are my newest obsession but there are many more-and then there are the irises, roses, peonies, hollyhocks and the 200 varieties of daylilies outside. I get exhausted just thinking about it!

dmj, let's definitely compare pics! Cypellas still not up.

Not that much has happened since Saturday.

I'm very excited about these.
http://mpeixoto.sites.uol.com.br/amaryl/vittatum.html