Kind of tricky one here. I'm planning to cultivate Pedicularis Densiflora, The Indian Warrior. Have anyone of you ever tried this plant? Looking also a seed source. All help about growing pedicularis sp. or the seed source will be useful! :)
Growing Pedicularis
Sold by B&T World Seeds, apparently.
Though you didn't specifically ask about how to germinate the seeds, Deno found that P. rainierensis germinated well (>70%) at 70 deg F, dark, after treatment with GA-3; no germination at 70 deg dark, light or at 40 deg F (Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Ed; Dr. N. C. Deno, 1993). That's the only lousewort mentioned in the publications I have.
Some louseworts are root-parasitic; is this one? It can make culture more difficult, apparently, if it is, but chances are someone has figured it all out.
Just out of curiosity, were you planning on using it for herbal use, or just as a decorative species?
Hey and thanks for advice on germination!
Seems that B&T World Seeds is out of pedicularis densiflora. What i have come to understand is that densiflora is facultative parasite or hemiparasite. I'll give a try with GA-3 if i find vendor in Europe.
I have nice little herb garden with plenty of different culinary and medical herbs. This one is one of the most beautiful lousewort i've ever seen and because of it's muscle relaxant properties i find it to be great addition to my herb garden.
I can't help you with this one Suprmanze but I can welcome you to this
forum! I don't recall seeing you here before. (or perhaps I just have a
poor memory?)
Yes i'm new here and thank you :)
This sure is a tricky one. Some folks are using cold treatment about 6 - 15 week for pedicularis.
Anyone with any knoweledge could be helpful!
When in doubt, I split the seed and try various techniques. I can't
help you on this one. There are some really expert people here so
hopefully someone else will be able to help you.
Tam
I haven't tried growing lousewort from seed, but cold treatment is very standard. The most difficult seeds may need to be planted up and set outside in fall to sprout in spring, or may even need more than 1 year to sprout. (The use of GA-3 can speed this process, but only for certain species for which it is effective.)
It would be best, if possible, to find instructions for that particular species. (According to the Tom Clothier site, P. canadensis and P. procera germinate readily at room temperature, so not all pedicularis are difficult, evidently.)
If you can't find specific instructions, then Tammy's advice is excellent. One could pot up a portion of the seeds and set them outside in fall. Another portion of the seeds could be started indoors; if there was no germination after 2 months, then set the tray in a cold room for around 3 months before bringing it out again. If the pots outdoors did not germinate, come spring, then hold them over for another year... with hope, it wouldn't come to that. Well, anyway, using nature (i.e. the outdoor pots) is ultimately the most effective method if they do prove to be difficult seeds.
This message was edited Mar 29, 2008 11:01 PM
Thanks for all of your advices!
I'm going to try now various techinques. I ordered some p. groenlandica and p. canadesis seeds too just
becouse of my growing curiosity for Pedicularis sp. I'll skip the GA-3. It seems to be illegal here in Finland?
I'll be reporting here about my pedicularis project!!