I hope all you Brug Expert's don't mind a newbie question?
I purchased some Brug seeds here at Daves and i was wondering the best way to start them?
How do i start my Brug Seeds
Harmonyplace,
There are as many ways to start Brug seeds as there are growers starting with the question of whether to peel or not. I like to peel my seed. That way I know how many seeds I plant. They don't all sprout at the same time, taking anywhere from a week or two to several months. You don't have to peel, but you will have to keep the humidity high or the corky cover may not fall off trapping the cotyledons. You can use any seed starting medium, but I recommend you stay away from anything that stays wet for too long and reduces oxygen levels. Extra heat is not necessary to start Brug seeds. In fact, I've read that could reduce germination rates. You can choose to plant seeds into individual pots or to use a community pot for all seeds of the same cross. It helps germination if you don't bury the seed. Gently press each seed onto the surface of the starting medium so the seed is in firm contact with the medium. You will have the greatest germination success if you keep things sterile.
Scroll down to Kell's December 14th post:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/562187/
http://www.abads.net/seed/
http://www.brugmansia.us/seeds.shtml
HarmonyPlace.. Well.. good luck with them... Between Veronica's tips..and the excelent information in her links... [ and more thanks to her for posting links to the forbiden sites for you.. they are both excelent sources of help/knowledge for us all ] there's only asmall thought I've come up with... in reguards to pealing..
Pealing here is a two part operation.. I first just hand nip a tiny chip out of the hard seed cover.. I hold the seed... and put a bit of pressure on the side edge... till it breaks away to the seed in a tiny spot...just enough to get the water evenly under the cover.. this helps seperate the seed from the husk after the soak.. I then soak the seeds.... I find the husk will seperate and pull away from the seed much easier then... with less damage ..
but with these tips you'll be getting good sprouting...
Oh.. I might add... the time to get them to sprout is indeed quite long sometimes... after a month or two I tire of keeping them in their greenhouses... and mass plant all of the reluctant pots in a large saucer [ with drainage holes ] .. with their names inside small plastic partitions to keep types named within.. and I put them under an elevated container.. where the drip through from watering will keep the seeds moist..and they won't take up any space.. and I'll not have them to worry about as far as watering goes.. and I don't have to look at the empty spots .. .. if they finally sprout out I'll have them.. and can stilll tell who they are... keep checking.. if not.. after a few months I can recycle the saucer of soil/rockwool into other planters.. this has given them 3-4 months of a try..
Thank You Both that is wonderful information and i look at the links and use your advice Thanks^_^
Gordon, do you nick the seed itself or the corky seed cover? I've been afraid to go beyond peeling the corky cover.
OH>>>Veronica...I'msorry if it wasnot easy ... Ijust nick the corkey outer cover.. at first... just to get the water and whatever addatives in there...down to the seed level.. this starts the seeds expanding... and introduces the water inbetween the seed and the corkey outer layer.. in one spot... which spreads around the seed at that level.. and makes it easier to have the corkey layer seperate there from the seed.. I used to peal before.. but I found this two stage peal an easier process to pull off..without causing damage.. might be totally unnecessary..
I stuck my seeds in a little grow thing, and they grew into a lovely tree - but then the frost came one night when I wan't looking, and that one died the death! I have another one in the garden which is growing again from the bottom, and I have more groing in my patio which I have to plant out and oooh they are lovely.
Those are some beautiful flowers and top notch advise here. ;)
Seemama, don't give up on the "dead" one. In your growing zone, it will most likely come back from the roots especially if it was planted in the ground.
I have germinated brugs using the soak and peel, soaked not nicked or peeled, not soaked but nicked and neither soaked nor peeled nor nicked. I know. All the germinations have taken place within 2 weeks. Now I have soaked, peeled seeds I'm waiting on. I have found in my limited amount of brug seed sowing, that it depends on the brug. The soaked and peeled Rubilene/Peanut cross germinated in 11 days. The soaked and peeled Antique Lace/Peach Versi cross has been sowed for a month and nothing. The Maya/? cross still in cork soaked or not soaked or nicked not nicked have all gerinated in two weeks time. So, I'm summising that it has to do with the brug.
I don't know. I just did what Betty said to do and that was give them plenty of light and not buried in the soil. Anybody got any ideas on this theory?
Bettydee, I have left them in the ground and am waiting, had to go to SC, but go home again tomorrrow, and I will check the base again, also it has been nice and warm down there - here it's raingin and cold!