That is a great pic Kim ...so it has to look like something going a bit off ...I am concerned because of all the rain ...will they take longer because of that (like our grapes are still green a month after the usual time) or even worse will they start to rot? anyone who has gone through this (a Summer with low temps in the 60's) ...no Sun ,grey skies and rain almost every day, what happened to your seed pods? I think Texas went through that last summer anyone from Texas that can pass on your experience please?
chrissy
First time harvesting brugmansia's seeds.
Chrissy, we had a lot of rain this summer, but unlike your cool weather, our rainy weather was a warm one. I would be more concerned about root rot. I have removed seed pods sooner than Kim's photo shows. When the stem leading to the pod yellows/dries, the seeds are ready and the pods may be cut off. If you are really that worried, perhaps covering the seed pods in plastic. Seal the top well to keep water from oozing down the pod, but I wouldn't seal the bottom. Air flow helps prevent many fungal infections.
Thanks bettydee I am just fussing I guess ...we have lots of wind so I think it will be ok the pods are now lovely and fat and knubbly ...looking lovely everything is going well ...the stems are still green so I guess I will just hang in there and hope they stay healthy, my Angels grow in built up beds of almost pure river sand and cow manure so I am pretty sure that root rot is not a problem. Please excuse first time jitters :)
chrissy
wow that is so cool Kim..........
These are various sizes of pods as you can see here. The biggest pod belongs to the Sauveolens White, the two smaller ones belong to a Peach x S. brug.
As Chrissy has noticed, the robust Sauveolens brugs also produce robust pod. The smaller peach, produces smaller, stubby looking pods.
Currently I've a Dr. D's seedpod that was recently crossed with Sauveolens, and another NOID white that was crossed with Dr. D. pods that are green still. All and all, I'll have 6 more pods to collect when become ripe.
Well I am waiting on more seeds.............lol
James, I'll wait until I've all the seeds out of the pods, let them dried before I stuff them into an evelope. Because if they're still damp. We may invite fungal problem.
Have you any butterfly-host plants seeds to exchange for these trade?
Kim
Chrissy; not a problem, thank you so much for sharing your experience with us. Together we make great team. I've learnt so much from you. Along with your encouragement. I'm now a proud brug's Moma. lol.
This was one of the brugs in its prime this past summer. :-)
Beautiful!
I only opened my thread because I wanted to show people like me (who knew nothing) some of the things I was dying to ask but felt a bit silly amongst obvious experts.What I found in these forums even without asking was such wonderful info and such an ardent love of these beautiful plants.I loved my dear white for over 25 years and just about moved mountains to get a bit of my apricot a few years ago.
The perfume was a bonus.To find that one could set seeds on them was a complete lightening bolt to me.Isn't it wonderful to share the love around :)
chrissy
It's a true joy to share the love of these beautiful plant with fellow gardeners that hold the same passion.
This is a most informative thread.. I've had brugs for 8 years, and I'm just now interested in the seed part... I learn new things from people who have loved them less time than me.. and who I consider experts, even if they have no title or degree. It is nice to share with brug lovers like ourselves. Now, I MUST go check out my pod and see what I find.. 100's of seeds!?! (GULP) What fun!
These are the pods that are about to be broken open. The curious pods, bound by a midrib that the seeds born along the middle core there you'll find seeds and more seeds. An average pod, doesn't matter large or small, has 135 - 165 seeds.
Hey Kim I wonder why I only got 29, weird...oh well at lest I got some.
Kim, what type of brug was yours? Color? How was the pod look like? Any likes mine?
This is to reveal the inner structure of the seedpod. :-)
Kim2
It was a NOID..3 were blooming white, yellow and the pod was on the pink one. small pod like the middle one in your 1/18/08 post.
I've no clue, these are my Sauveolens White crossed with Peach, Pink. The smaller one belongs to the Peach crossed with S. white. Yet there are other that were open pollinated. So I've many offspring that will all look different, I'm sure. So we will just have to wait and see.
The seed that I sowed on the 12th hasn't sprouted yet. :((
Kim I planted some seeds 12/25/07....nada and they are on a heat mat. :(
Yes we will just have to wait.
Oh kim... I never had good results with a heating mat.. they always rot.
ZZsBabiez; at what temp. do you have your seed tray? Please help out us newbies.
Currently I've this Dr. D. brug that was crossed with Sauveolens White seedpod. This is a cutting that was rooted last July.
Then I've a Milk & Honey, I'll have the 2 crossed, with the M & H to be the parent of the cross as I've planned. Dr. D x M & H, that should be an interesting cross I hope.
Kim
Joyce I think you are right. I did some more just pot the pot in a bag.
Ok guys! Ready for this one? The biggest pod that I harvested, bears 285 seeds!!!
Amazing!
Gosh I am feeling a little nervous.Just counted 62 pods =^()
crikey! ...I suppose some may be more generous in number than the others ...what an adventure!
Kim how long will it be before you will be able to take them outside?
once they germinate?
My seedlings are about 5" tall in just over a month since planting ...I was wondering how the little green leaves will go without sun? do you use the grow lights?
chrissy
Chrissy; here in my zone it's going to be relatively earlier than others who live north of us. I can begin to take my greenhouse's plant outdoor around March with some added protection in case if there may be some late freeze. I don't use grow light, infact I don't yet have an ideal place to germinate my seeds. :((
Kim
I just put 3 to 5 seeds at a time in a dixie cup directly in soil under a dome, very close to the lights in the house, no temp adjustments.. The warmth from the lights is all they get.
I take them out of the dome as they come up and tag them as they sprout..(#1, #2 etc.). As soon as they get true leaves, they go in a 2.5" pot till roots come out the bottom, then to a 4"pot. When they get big enough for a 1gal pot they go in the GH.
I was able to plant in the ground last year on March 16th.
Thank you, ZZ, I'll try a few in mentioned method. I will post the result as I see them. Your tips are greatly appreciated.
Kim
Whatever you guys have, (giggle) it's contagious! I'm really excited about my lone seed pod, I should snap a pic and post.. it's really long and skinny....The mother plant is void of all leaves except on one limb that is reaching out and under the fluorescent light, it looks pretty crazy.. WOW Lily_love, 285! I have started seeds someone sent me before, it's been a few years... back then I was told they don't really need light to sprout, just damp and warm..... I still have a couple plants from those seeds... I'm trying the ones from Joyce in a south window/ bright indirect light, it does get warm up there... it's been a little over a week, I should check them tonight. ZZ, I like your dixie cup method, very organized.
Thanks Joyce!! I need to get some lighting I use the window sill.
Hi all you clucky folks :)
I agree most things germinate with warmth and wet, but what I meant was once the true leaves come out ...don't they need some sun? or grow lights.
Windows would be a good idea, but because of your climates be careful ...we cover the windows in Winter because they let the cold in ...and on a hot day things may cook. I am interested to hear all the different methods used in cooler climates, in case I have to do the Winter thing ...although we had a couple of high 80's F in the first week of Spring and our Angels flowered very early within a fortnight of our first spring day, when do yours flower everyone?
I think it is going to be a very ...a dome? is that like some mini glass protecter thing?.
Have a wnderful day/night everyone.
chrissy
Hi Chrissy, and everyone.
Chrissy, I'm not at all familiar with your climate. But from my own perspective here in our zone. Brugs enjoyed the cool outdoor late in the season. Thus they're the last to be moved indoor in late Oct. here.
Those that I grew outdoor (in the ground, and cut back every year), they typically only flower from July-Fall until 1st frost (then that when we cut them down).
For those that overwinter indoor (for the 1st time this year) -- they're blooming continually, sporadically, but not yielding heavy flushes like they were outdoor during the growing season. As you can see, those made seedpod and kept on blooming...
As far as seed germination and light I believe they're all essentials. The dome is being created to provide extra humidity to aid the young sprouts, but need to be air-vented every so often to prevent stagnated environment where it would promote fungal/molds growth.
For a small scale, hobby seed sprouting. I've this tree's seed that germinated last Jan. indoor, being by a kitchen sink where it benefited humidity from the faucet usage below, it did just fine. I hope that answer your question?
Thanks Kim ...yes I have noticed that they seem to enjoy these milder conditions ...but even in drought here, they keep on keeping on ...and flush huge flushes after rain or a heavy watering.In Australia they flower as soon as we have some warmth and continue in flushes and spot flowering until late Autumn to early Winter depending on the cold.I also noticed that the pods I crossed on very hot days grew slower than the ones fertilized in these milder temps. I must have accidently deleted some of my last little note where I said that it was going to be an exciting year :) indeed a year of adventure ...thanks Kim, and hi everyone else ...
have a good one.
chrissy
Have any of you tried using the Hydrogen Peroxide solution when sprouting seeds?
I have had great results using about a tablespoon of 3% (Drugstore over the counter solution) to about a quart of water. I soak the seed for about 24 hours then plant. I usually see signs of sprouts within 24 hours.
A lot has been posted here on DG about the benefits of Peroxide in the GH.
Betty
Betty! That is great germination time! I will try it next time. I use peroxide and cinnamon for fungus but, I'd never thought (or heard) about using a solution of it for soaking the seeds... GREAT! Thx for the tip.
Hi everyone,
Thanks Betty for the tips, I'll def. try it. I'll need some preparation with some light racks which DH is going to help put together this weekend. I'm anxious to sow some seeds. Brugs seeds and others.
B; The cinnamon powder trick, tried it on my brug's cutting, it may kill fungus, but it dried up my cutting also. Ughrrr!
Are you sure it was the cinnamon that dried it up? I lost a couple cuttings, they dried up, I didn't use the cinnamon on them. I chalked it up to my poor watering habits... I think the cinnamon keeps fungus from growing, but I'm not sure it will kill existing fungii. I just put it on the planting medium, not the seed or cutting...
B, on one of Martha S. magazine, I read an article how to use Cinnamon on cuttings.....last summer. So I tried, the difference is you used it on the planting medium. The instruction I read stated applied directly to the cuttings' end before planting them. I failed. I kept the cinnamon for my cooking purpose since.
Oh, okay. I'll try it that way, too. thx
Hi everyone, are we ready for more seeds? This is a seedpod that I collected from a Suaveolens White, which has been open-pollinated back in the end of our growing season. Source of possible pollens could be either a noid Peach or noid Pink that were blooming at the same time then.
