SEED GERMINATION SECRETS SHARED

How do you germinate those tiny little Jacquemontia species seeds. I live in zone 8, and to me they are exotic, but the standard treatment doesn't seem to work for them. Does anybody out there have some good experience with these?? I bought plenty of tamnifolia, but I do have some entrusted to me to germinate, and my first standard attempt on heat failed and I do not want to dissappoint the benefactor by wasting seeds with silly experiments. If you have any info, it will be appreciated. Frank

Beth I think, posted a picture of C. floridus and posted it. Boy did I see breeding potential in that floriferous specie. There were 4 sub species in the Canary islands, as might be expected, and I found out later that it is not uncommon in the Mediteranian, African side.

After looking at this specie, I searched and found some seed. Not many, but some. 10. I only have enough for one more try to get them to thrive, and I am going to try scree. My C. floridus is still alive, after a month, but coiling on the soil, and iif it were a dog I would want to put it down. So, for science , I think I will try this again in some kind of scree.

Jacquemontia germinating information would be very helpful to those of us in the Northern states that never get to see one in Nature. Thanks Frank

I use Vermiculite for all my seeds just the top 2 inches then in the other good soil

Frank,
Just want to say that some of the tiny seeds that I've had no luck with, and some I did not even bother to nick.. just soaked them overnight, and sowed them using bottom heat, dome and Prayed alot..lol.

Some came up, and some rotted. It was a hit and miss with me.

wish I could help more, you need a couple more seeds for these let me know and also, don't bury them too deep, just sprinkle some very light moist seedstarter mix over them (Jiffy is the best as far as I'm concerned).

Jacquemontia tamnifolia seeds are very sensitive to hydrostatic pressure...a slight difference can make a difference...

more when I get my computer working properly...

TTY,...

Ron

This message was edited Jun 2, 2007 1:14 AM

~ bump ~

If you have a great seed starting mix. like black gold, at $9/16 quarts,
DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT CHANGING TO SAVE MONEY! I changed to Jiffy seed starting mix, and the black mold that engulfed the old seed coats got so heavy , it hung down to the soil surface., like hair and this is not an exxageration. I contaminated myself by using Jiff Seed starting Mix.

I have nicked and soaked 4 rounds of mg seeds this winter and spring, and the biggest mistake I made, was tryng to save money on seed startin mix.!!!!!!!!!!!!! Black Gole works , and Jiffy Seed starting mix is good for composting you expensive seeds. It is never coming to my house again, EVER!

I have 200 small maple seeds facing the same perile.

I am also wondering about controling the mold. Peroxide failed miserabily!!!!!!!!! Iodine is a good fungicide. Any notes out there?
Has any body experimented with controling the white and black fungus that infects out expensive seeds, in less than two weeks?

I have used Benlate, but it is expenive, and the smallest container it comes in is a 5# bag at about $80/now days. Do we need to make a groop purchase to stop this mold thing?

Has anybody tested Benlate on mgs?????????????

I used to use it as an pre cutting soak for Ivy and Rhododendron cuttings, and got 100% results. I am a believer in Benlate for those uses. But, as a pre-seedling soak, that can be another thing. I am thinking that with Benlate as a pre seeding soak for the media, All the liars from hell can't come against a good fungicide. With that as a given, it might not matter what seed starting mix you buy if you have $5/worth of Benlate on hand.

What do you know about these things, and what have you tried, and or done to prevent fungus.????

There are those fungi, that help to break down the seed hull of the mg seed, but they get so carried away, they can drag it back don to the ground and consume it too!!!!! Help you guys . What do you know.?


Frank






























4

Oh Frank, I'm sorry about what happened. When you soaked did you use peroxide in the water? That is supposed to stop the mold that is inside the seed. I've lost alot of seeds also. I've mixed lots of perlite into the Jiffy mix also, but when you transplant, the whole base falls apart. Out of 250 types, I've lost at least 3 to fungus or something when they are about a month old, and the others that I lost are from the wind, and most are from no germination at all, could be they rotted down in the soil. I tried other soil (Potting Soil) and that was worse than all the rest. Maybe we need to get back to adding sand into the mix.

Jiffy mix has to be the Soilless mix, it has absolutely nothing in it. There are a couple of Jiffy mixes out there I believe. The trick to this stuff is that you do not over wet it, it must be just moist, even if you have to drain it for the day/overnight, but it must be very light. Getting it that way is sometimes difficult for me also, that is what happened to one of my batches.

One year they did very well in cactus mix. But, that could have been a fluke.

I haven't tried any of what you mentioned because I really don't know that much about the commercial products out there. But, I would be willing to buy a bag of that Black Gold if we got a co-op going.


Good to see you back here.

A.

I hate jiffy mix!! It does falls apart when you transplant! I never used Black gold, I've never seen it here. I get a big bag of pro mix and like that the best so far, not heavy but holds the seeds and seedlings well...

Frank that black fungus is comeing from the soil your useing most likely when it gets damp it sets it off all iver used for the past 20 years is vermiculite to start seeds

I used peroxide, but I think Phicks is right about it coming from the soil mix. I think I will give vermiculite a try. Totally inorganic, nothing there for mold to feed on. I think I will presoak in alcohol next time as well. Frank

Frank - The superglue on the stick method may be a contributing factor...

The posts on Damping-off may be relevant...
http://davesgarden.com/forums/p.php?pid=3305246

TTY,...

Ron

The worst hit by the mold were the flying saucers. Those seeds looked gray going into the peroxide. They were profusely covered with mold when they germinated. I suspect the seeds coats might have been cracked or something. They were so gross. It makes me wonder if the I. tricolor group are predisposed to moldy death? I am getting out the chemical warfare kit and I am going to do some experiments. Myabe I will be the first to post pictures of disasters. lol
Frank

Frank i would not soak seeds in alcohol

I am now wondering if there is a top and a bottom to mg seeds? Like fall bulbs. I have just been using a pencil to make a hole and rolling the seed in. How it lands is how it lands. Guess I should sharpen the pencils and dissinfect them too. Frank