Gardenia Growing Fools - THE Tahitians...

Alrighty ya'll....who's planted them already...what type of soil did you use...keeping it moist - water or water mixed with a "secret recipe"...in a bag...in sun/partial sun....did you soak them first...knick them??? Inquiring minds want to know!?!
Let's get ready to G-R-O-W some Tahitians!!!!

I think I will try 2 or 3 different ways! And see which works the best.

Spill the beans already..what methods did you have in mind...since I've not planted mine yet...I'm open to about ALL suggestions... ^_^

I'm going to try just potting one, but I thought I might try a damp paper towel and baggie too.

Ahhh yes the ole paper towel/coffee filter method....good ideas!!

I haven't sown mine yet, but hopefully I will have time tonight. I grow a lot of Gesneriad seeds and recently started a few other types of seeds using the same method and most have germinated. That's the same method the Tahitians will get.

I'll soak the seeds for a little while first. My potting mix recipe is 5 parts MiracleGro potting mix, 2 parts perlite, 2 parts vermiculite. I sterilize it in the microwave. Normally I use 3 oz Dixie cups, but for these I'm thinking I'll use 3" pots. I'll fill the pot with potting mix, plop the seed on top and very lightly press it into the mix, sprinkle just a bit more mix over the seed, just enough to cover it, and set the pot into a bowl of very slightly warm water. When it's soaked up all it will, I'll immediately put it into a quart size Ziploc bag. I like to have just a little bit of water in the bottom of the bag, too. Seal it up, set it on my light stand and forget it. LOL With any luck, I'll see little green Tahitians in no time! ^_^

Hey RG - help me with this one...regarding the use of vermiculite - I heard horrible things (don't laugh) about cancer and that stuff so I've stayed clear. What makes it different then using just the perlite?
I do believe that I was going to soak mine (or at least some) in a warm water/peroxide mix as well.

Chantell, I've never heard that about vermiculite. Hmmm...might warrant a bit of research. OK So I did some research, and it seems that vermiculite from a particular mine in Libby, Montana contained asbestos, which we all know causes cancer. Much of the asbestos (Edited to say: I meant - Much of the vermiculite) from that mine was made into Zonolite insulation for buildings. That information comes from NIOSH, on this page : http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2003-141/ It says that mining stopped in Libby in 1990, so I would assume that the vermiculite we're getting today does not contain asbestos. That was what I found just doing a quick search, but I'll continue to research it and let you know if I find something that indicates vermiculite is still dangerous. Of course, it's not wise to breathe the dust from vermiculite, or anything else for that matter. Hope that helps ease your mind. ^_^

As for what makes it different from just using perlite, I find that it makes the soil softer and fluffier. It lessens the tendency of the mix to compact and it holds moisture. I just like the feel of the potting mix better with the vermiculite in it. I have been told by friends in Texas that with their high humidity levels they don't need vermiculite. That makes me think it holds more moisture than I realize. It gets dry as a bone around here and I need all the help holding moisture that I can get!

This message was edited Apr 25, 2008 8:27 AM

Thank you...that does make me feel much better!!!! Guess I should've looked into it rather then go by what I "heard" eh? LOL

panted mine-75% potting soil 25% percent perlite, i wet the mixture, pressed the seed on the soil and covered with vermiculite, and put a baggie over it and set it on a heat mat

Not fair you have a heat mat. I'm telling ya'll...soon as the craziness passing this week and next - I'm looking into doing a heat mat co-op if I can get someone to give us a really good price. ^_^

count me in on the heat mat co-op

I'm taking a break from counting and packing loop lock labels. I mailed some today and they are heavier than we originally thought! Oh well, live and learn!

I want to plant mine tomorrow. Not sure how I will do them yet, but I'll let you know

I would be interested in the heat mats too if we get a good price

Don't want to go OT too much...if anyone has vendors they prefer that would have heat mats...would you please dmail me their info? Thanx!

Okay. Here is the first one of the sprout.

Pam

And here is the second picture of a closer shot of the little guy.

I just put potting soil in and sprinkled the seeds carefully. Then I very carefully spinkled vermiculite just enough to barely cover the seed. Then I mist daily.
No difference today. I'm watching real hard for more.

Planted April 21. First sign of sprout April 28.

Pam

This message was edited Apr 30, 2008 10:04 AM

Doin' the happy dance for Pam's success - yipeee!!! She's got newborns!!

Mine are not up yet! I can't imagine why not, after all I DID plant them 3 days ago!!! :-)

(hiding head) mine are still in their baggies...but to my defense it was son's bday then my grandbaby's last week...that's my excuse and i'm stickin' to it. Oh yeah and our lovely forecast for 38 degrees tonight - gotta love April in VA...LOL

mine haven't sprouted yet, and my heat mat quit working

Hi Kathy. How goes it in your part of the world this morning??

Chantell...any word on that heat mat coop??? :-)

not going good- i need a new heat mat

Ok...so ya'll shamed me into starting my seeds finally...well, I put them in to soak...kept 1/2 out "just in case" ^_^
I need for folks to help me a bit with this heat mat co-op thing...please dmail me with vendors you've used for supplies - or if you've heard of one heat mat being better then another. I think I'll do a separate post in this forum to get some feed back from folks. I don't want it to turn into a huge thing...you know me...I can only handle a little at a time unlike some of the rest of you wonders! LOL

I've never used one Chantell, so I'm useless on this. Just limit the "coop" to the first however many you want that sign up. As long as I get to be one of them!! :-) Kathy too!

yeah me cathy and chantell!

chantell, i got mine from growers supply, but it isonly 3 months and doesn't work anymore

Are you talking about the Tiare? The Tahitain gardenia. I have just got hundreds of tiny seedlings coming up from one fruit from a Tiare bush. I picked the fruit when it was fairly green still and had it on my window sill for several weeks until it suddenly rippened up and I just put all the seeds on top of of some recycled potting mix and just left it outside......warm enough here in Hawaii. Took a while to come up but nows lots of seedlings that am transfering into recycled coffee cups. I always find in hard to get Tiare cuttings going so am pleased that the seeds work well. However, I am wondering if it is a bit like fruit trees from seed. Will I have to wait for several years before I get any flowers? Aloha

Hi everyone!
I was just reading stuff in the 'Plumeria' section and someone there had a link they recommended for heat mats and accessories. I though of your interest here so I thought I would post the link where I saw this.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/606718/
Hope this helps.
Pam

thanks pam

Thanks Pam...if Clare rec. them then I'm satisfied!!

Stella - must be nice...we're all green with envy!!! We ordered seeds from your lovely Hawaii and we're all sharing our sowing/germination experiences on this thread. Any helpful hints you'd like to bless us with?

I planted my Tiare on April 22- some right out of bag potting mix (Bayer Advanced?) No action yet. no heat, just in a baggie and under a fluor.light
But I also planted five of the Jobs Tears and got a sprout today! Have them in wet soil per a note in Plantfiles

My tray is sitting on top of the fish tank with dome lid on the tray....no signs of life....yet. Sure would be helpful if the weather could warm just a little outside......

mine still haven't sprouted

The one I had that sprouted is still pretty tiny. It is the only one that has sprouted. Hmmmmm.....
Pam

Here is the one and only I had sprout.
Pam

I haven't planted mine...BECAUSE I CAN'T FIND MY SEEDS! Argggh. I cleaned my desk (I should never do that) and now I can't find anything. Pffft.

Will let you know once I find them!

The seeds that I have been growing outside came up in great abundance from just one fruit....thousands. Most of them I left "bonzaied" in the seed tray until I need some more but several I planted up in styrofoam cups. They are all alive and healthy but seem to be very slow growers..so I guess that is their thing.....after a month they are still only a couple of inches tall while the "bonzaied" seedlings are still under an inch tall. Maybe the trasferred ones will really get going when I put them in a bigger pot.

stellamarina,
Do you have any more seeds? Yours sound like they really like to grow.
Pam

Sorry Pam.....I just had the one fruit that I picked from a public garden several months ago. I do not see the fruit very often so thought I would try and see if I could grow the Tiare from seed.....it took several weeks for the fruit to suddenly rippen so that i could even get to the seed. Aloha

PS I have been told though that when getting tropical seeds going it is better to use fresh seed from a ripe fruit rather than dried seed. Aloha