guess I need a microscope

Hi guys--
I don't normally post over here but this is a new one for me so I thought I would. I know how helpful everyone is and I certainly welcome all opinions. =)

I grow a lot of species bulbs from seeds but not Sinningia's. Since there's not many bulbs that can be grown from seed this time of year down here, I thought I would amuse myself by starting several different species of these since the seeds fell into my hands from one of the many seed trades I do with other bulb growers.

These are all growing in those cheap 4.5"L x 3.5"W x 2"H plastic containers; sown 6/15 and the pic was taken today. This particular one is S reitzii and its obviously quite happy; and its the first one up this thickly. It looks like it needs to be dealt with pretty quickly.

I do specialize in the smaller bulbs but gheez, I never figured I would get this from these:
http://www.gesneriads.ca/sinni208.htm

Here are my questions:
1. Prick 'em out with tip of a butter knife?
2. What kind of planting medium mix? (I don't mean brand--I mean like peaty, sandy, clayey, perlite, vermiculite, etc--an approximate ratio would also be nice like 30% "X", 40% "Y", etc.)
3. micronutrients to mix in medium? (like bat guano, lava sand, etc)
4. acidic, neutral, alkaline?
4. Container dimensions for next size up?

Also are most of the "S" species pretty happy with the same growing medium? I know basic research like where all these are native to; but in my experience I've found that bulbs in cultivation often behave quite differently than in the wild. I use that research as a foundation, but...its usually "on the job" training. I can list out what I have if you need that info--but otherwise I won't overload you with excessive details at this point. The next one after this one that will need to be dealt with looks like S amambayensis.

I thought I needed to diversify a bit but now I'm not quite sure what I may have gotten myself into. ;)

thanks!
Debbie

They look great, Debbie! They can grow a lot lot longer where they are (I usually let mine get at least an inch tall before I separate them). I just use a mix of 1/2 peat moss or african violet soil-less mix or Pro mix and 1/2 perlite. I always wick everything but if you don't, I surely would put them on a capillary mat (felt material, acrylic blanket material, etc).............once they are well established in the pots, you don't have to worry about humidity any more.

Good luck!
Come back and see if with your pictures as they progress!

Hi Deb;
When you want to seperate them, put them in a bowl of warm water & they come apart real easy.also do as gail says,works great,
mrsbonnie

Gessie--thanks for telling me I could wait a little longer! whew! subdivision fencing project supposed to start Monday and I could really live without having to do this next week.
And I'm not going to wick (this is just something I don't do with anything) and hadn't even thought about it; but I think I do have some capillary mat around here..... I would have never thought about that!

I don't do African violets, does it show? ;)

Mrsbonnie--super idea! never would have thought of that one either...

I know I should have spaced these out a bit but I never really thought I'd have that good of germination......and I am just starting out with them and didn't want to waste expensive supplies.

Does 2.5" x 3 sized container sound OK? that's actually the smallest I have that are new.

Ladies, again thank you! I'll get a picture of the other one tonight, they were actually courteous enough to space themselves out better and are a little taller. Networking, its a wonderful thing--ya'll have re-ignited my enthusiasm for these. I was beginning to think I had really got myself into something too tedious.
Debbie
=)

Thanks, Bonnie. I just learned something new from you, (again!)
Just use little bitty pots like Solo cups...........here are solo cups (you get at the grocery store) that I even sowed my seeds in.

Here are a couple of pictures as I am separating babies and planting up individually. Hope it helps.

Those solo cups are the ones you get to rinse your mouth out after brushing your teeth. They are a clear plastic or white ones. Be sure to cut little slices on the two sides of the bottom for drainage. (I can see that I put perlite in the bottom of these, but I don't do that anymore.......)

Why don't you put perlite at the bottom anymore?

guys I'm with you and appreciate your posts--today's a "working" day for me and I seem to have a lot of (figuratively speaking) "fires" to put out--I'll get back tonight with some pics

=)

Debbie - I'm by no means an expert (ask anyone!). But as far as transplanting your seedlings, I'd say you have a few weeks. These are seeds I had started on May 26, 2008 . . . the pic was taken about June 7, 2008.

This message was edited Jul 5, 2008 9:43 AM

This is the same container of seedlings as of sometime last week. I'm going to do like Gail suggested and wait until they get a bit bigger (and after I'm done with my current repotting project) to repot, then do as mrsbonnie suggested - soak them in water to separate.

Syrumani, the only reason I quit using the perlite is that I changed to Volkmann's Wicking mix which is so light..............don't pay any attention to me as I am in a constant mode of change......just experimenting.

I have already decided that the Volkmann's wicking mix stays to wet for wicking streps and will go back to my old mix for streps only...........or either try mixing perlite with the Volkmann's wicking mix (since I do wick everything)

gail, i also find almost anyones wicking mix is to wet for my streps also.
bonnie

Oh my goodness, that Sinningia aff reitzii is absolutely gorgeous! Another to add to my wish list!

I am glad to hear you say that, Bonnie. The members in my club keep saying that their streps to do great in the wicking mix. I say when it stays that wet the new babies almost die away...........

Yikes...now I will be using 3 mixes again.......one for streps, one for African violets and one for sticking strep leaves...........actually that means I have about 5 mixes........oh well, we just do what works!

I use the same mix for all my plants & they all seem to like it, don't have any problems, i just have to watch that they don't get dry.
mrsbonnie

Hi all--
I'm finally back, these pics are not real "scenic", but I think they will make the point--lol

I appreciate the suggestion about the cups, I may go with those but I do have these green containers here I just got from Novosel for some fall perennials to start in Oct. This has been my experience in the past with temporary type containers. Ya'll know I'm really more involved with another type of plant material and these are for a fun hobby and diversion from all those bulbs. I find that if I use something temporary and get bogged down and can't repot my hobbies; then the temp. containers may fall apart on me and I'll lose what I have in them.

this is just for size comparisons--I just grabbed the cans quickly and we recycle around here. they were on the kitchen counter waiting to get crushed. Will these be fine for something that might hold these well for like maybe a year or 6 months?

I'm also going to have to set up my lights right? I can't do these outside in total shade like my Achimenes collection (which I have a lot of too, they are another of my ever-increasing obsessions) and expect any kind of success, right? I haven't used my lights for anything this year (not even tomato or annual seedlings) because--well, we all know what the electric bills are probably gonna look like this year. But I don't mind doing that if you think its best--it will give me something to play with when its too hot outside! and they will get used for other things too.

Debbie
=)

Nice shot on those Syrumani! I think with MrsBonnie's excellent suggestion for prying them apart--I'll not fret over them getting too close together.

Gessie--great shots there too, looks like you are an addicted and obsessed grower like me (up to now, just different species--lol)!

Here's another one starting to come along well. I really appreciate the fact that these spaced themselves out a little better for me. They were sown same date and methods. By the way that container that I started them in has no holes in the bottom and I had them in a baggie until germination. I'm just tilting it and letting water run down side to water them now and they are definitely out of the baggie. Sitting in a north window with no sun until I can get the lights set up this week. I also just used good quality germ mix because I had it and had no idea what I was doing anyway.

Those mixes you are talking about by brand--are those just kinda peaty with vermiculite? do they have slow release ferts? if so, can someone grab a bag and give the approximate ratio (like 2-2-2)? I'm just going to have to mix them up a medium myself with what I have, but I got about everything.

Thanks so much for all your input and please keep posting! I am learning so much here and am forever in your debt. =)

by the way--I have some slightly larger containers than those green ones up 2 posts if needed. I was hoping to use them for my S African oxalis collection--another hobby obsession--which would be best size wise?

I know you don't want to hear this, but you really need smaller pots for the seedlings.........those solo cups are wonderful unless you want to order the 1" pots.........they are cheap.......very cheap......I order them by the 100's just for starting new av leaves, strep leaves and potting up little african violets, seedlings,etc..........

I have found that tiny plants don't want any more volume of 'dirt' than they need. They will grow so much faster if they are in the right size pot. I use the 21/2" square for my baby streps coming from the solo cups or small pots.

Let me see if I can get a quick picture for you. These are 21/2 squares

that's cool--I need to go to Walgreen's anyway and will pick up the cups. Great picture! I really got those pots for something else and need them for that other purpose so that works out well. =)

I don't need anything from Novosel for a while and can't be ordering hobby stuff unless I put it in with pro stuff.

Several of us have been using CApe Cod Violetry for everything.........I have the catalog should you ever want it on PDF. You have to email them and ask for the online version. I saved mine but would need an email address to forward it to you. (Since you are probably using bigger pots most of the time, Cape Cod may not be the right place for you)

this place?
http://www.vsb.cape.com/~violets/

they have an email address at the bottom--or a "note" link. I guess I will use the cups until Nov-Dec. Yes, I usually use deep quarts or deep, narrow half gallons or bulb pans for most of my bulb seedlings--I got those 2.5 x 3's for some Scutellaria's and Columbine's and a few other perennials. Always gotta think about diversification in this economy--lol

Let me know if ya'll ever do a group buy--I'll help you kick up your numbers some if these do well and it looks like I can do something with them.

Do any of you do any Achimenes?

Thanks again all!
Debbie
=)

No, but that Achimenes are on my list for next spring. I have never tried them but they sound like fun and are so pretty.

That site you took us to doesn't have the catalog. I got all my bulb pans from Violetshowcase.com.

Inquiring minds want to know what kind of bulbs do you grow????????? I love to force them in the house during the winter months, but know little about growing outside except for some Amaryllis.

You know, I sent them an email over a week ago, but have not heard from them yet. On Thursday, I forwarded that email to their second email address, but have not heard back from them yet . . . but, since it was the day before a holiday, they may not see that one until tomorrow.



This message was edited Jul 6, 2008 9:19 PM

that link was for cape cod violetry I thought that's who you said you used ? As far as not answering--a lot of folks are on vacation, maybe they are too. I just can't go anywhere until all these fencing issues are resolved this week

I use this company for everything but they cut me pretty good deals and their quality is hands down the best I've seen--and I've tried a lot. But I don't think they have 1" pots--I think the cups will hold me until I figure out how I'm going to handle all these different species--that is I don't kill them first--lol
bulb pans:
http://www.novoselenterprises.com/products/bulbpans.asp

my website link is on my membership page--I can't directly tell you or it might be construed as self promotion, although I see several other pro-growers doing it around the forums all the time ;)

I am headed to your membership page (LOL) to find out what you are growing!!

Syrumani, did you turn in an order by email with that catalog I sent you? Sometimes with a holiday they are slow........don't give up on them as they are fantastic for gessie growers in particular.

I did . . . and really, now that I found my 1oz Solo cups, I'm not in as big a hurry for an order. I did want a pan pot for my Ramblin' Lassie trailer . . . but I found a cute shallow bowl at Party City . . . drilled a few holes, and got her potted up. I think I waited way too long to re-pot . . . it's like she's a ball now. But, as she's my first trailer, that may be normal.

I love trailers as I always feel like no matter what they look like, I have a success!! (LOL) As long as they bloom, I am a winner. (I am not so hot a growing african violets which are standards )

I need to go to bed but am on a roll right now.......may take a couple of pics of trailers in the pot pans.

Here is Yesterday's Valentine

Here is Sunrise Waltz

This is a tiny Champagne Pink getting started.

This is Moonlight Trail. I let her get so big in this 4" pot that I haven't decided what size pan pot to use yet.

great picks! I like the last too best--do the variegated ones do as well?
=)
Debbie

what beauties.
mrsbonnie

Well, here she is. She was still in the 3oz cup she came in, and was looking a bit like an ice cream cone before I repotted.

Here's a side shot . . .

Syrumani: That is adorable! I love how you used the bowl as the container for that AV! Great idea! I love different, unusual containers for plants! That wavy edged bowl is perfect for that trailer!

Thanks! I just hope she spreads out a bit, now she has room . . .

great looking trailer, Syrumani. What is her name? Good looking trailer.

Gail - her name is Ramblin Lassie. She was one of the plants I got from my order from www.violetbarn.com in May.

Syrumani--one fantastic looking ice cream cone, definitely more desirable than the real kind. =)

also much less fattening =o