South American Seed sources

[cohan]

for anyone who hasn't looked yet, vojtech holubec has his list of patagonian seed up on the website--plants to cry for!
http://www.villevekster.com/patagoniaseeds.html

[gervandenbeuken]

Vojtech has a good list. my seeds are on it's way, but a very good alternative is Michail Belov from www.chileflora.com 
I have ordered seeds from this source and the quality is perfect.

[cohan]

Vojtech has a good list. my seeds are on it's way, but a very good alternative is Michail Belov from www.chileflora.com 
I have ordered seeds from this source and the quality is perfect.

it should also be noted that chileflora has an extensive database with a lot of information about many plants, including thoughts on cultivation--not only patagonian region, but other parts of chile as well..

[Michael J Campbell]

Conservation ? 

[Maggi Young]

I have heard from some about concerns they have for the sustainability of the collecting done by Chileflora and other firms....... I counsel caution and suggest that Forumists  make their own reseaches into any company with which they may do business.

[gervandenbeuken]

Oke Maggie,
I surely will do my resaerch. Many thanks for your welcome advise.

[cohan]

I have heard from some about concerns they have for the sustainability of the collecting done by Chileflora and other firms....... I counsel caution and suggest that Forumists  make their own reseaches into any company with which they may do business.

sad to hear one likes to think that those who are excited about native/wild flora will be interested in maintaining it, but unfortunately not always so ..thus far i have used chileflora as a reference site..
where would one do such research (into conservation practises of any given seed vendor)? trust to the vagaries of google?

[Maggi Young]

where would one do such research (into conservation practises of any given seed vendor)?

Easier said than done, Cohan!  I make mention of concerns that have been brought to my attention.... I make no judgement myself, for I am scarcely in a position so to do, as to the substance of these concerns; that is why I urge you all to make what research you can and make your own judgements about whether to do business with ANY particular company!


If claims are made for assistance/approval of their work by Academics, for instance, then contact that person, via their Institution  for instance and ask if their approval is verified and ongoing.... that sort of thing.


It is easy to condemn all seed collecting in the  same way as plant collecting - but there are genuine folk out there trying honestly to both preserve plants and supply the demand form insatiable growers..... in the current conservation climate it is never going to be a simple matter to please everyone.  While such companies are not illegal in many places and their trade is possible, it reamins with the individual to satisfy their own conscience as to their actions.
Of course many of these firms are commercially based..... but it cannot be imagined that seed collectors are any less keen to have a roof over their heads and feed their children than are the firerce and rigid conservationists .

What is legal and permissable in one country may not be so elsewhere and this is why I urge caution and a proper consideration of all the factors involved in such trade.

[Maggi Young]

Those interested in the South American Flora will be pleased to learn that John and Anita Watson are safe in Chile after the earthquake: no water or electricity, but they are fine!

[cohan]

where would one do such research (into conservation practises of any given seed vendor)?

Easier said than done, Cohan!  I make mention of concerns that have been brought to my attention.... I make no judgement myself, for I am scarcely in a position so to do, as to the substance of these concerns; that is why I urge you all to make what research you can and make your own judgements about whether to do business with ANY particular company!


It is easy to condemn all seed collecting in the  same way as plant collecting - but there are genuine folk out there trying honestly to both preserve plants and supply the demand form insatiable growers..... in the current conservation climate it is never going to be a simple matter to please everyone.  While such companies are not illegal in many places and their trade is possible, it reamins with the individual to satisfy their own conscience as to their actions.
Of course many of these firms are commercially based..... but it cannot be imagined that seed collectors are any less keen to have a roof over their heads and feed their children than are the firerce and rigid conservationists .

What is legal and permissable in one country may not be so elsewhere and this is why I urge caution and a proper consideration of all the factors involved in such trade.

for sure its not a black and white issue;
apart from any connection to academic institutions, i suppose the only way we could know anything is first hand accounts from anyone who may have travelled with collectors?
certainly if anyone has any input on the practises of specific collectors, i would be very grateful to hear--probably private message is best? or perhaps this is an issue that should be discussed openly, if its not too likely be a firestorm!
--any input from collectors themselves would be very welcome..



edit by maggi: Indeed ,this is a delicate issue when unsubstantiated allegations might be most hurtful.... pm-s best, I think, though positive testimonials from fellow travellers etc are always helpful.

[cohan]

Yes, I tried to cultivate some rosulates. Unfortunately with limited success. For germination I used the same 'toothstick' method like you described. After that I kept the paper with seeds in a sealed plastic bag and stored them in a fridge at a termperature of about 4 ° C until the seedlings appeared. Then these were transplanted in a similar mix as yours.
Elongation was a problem too but not with all species.
Most trouble was caused during hot spells in summer when temperatures were high day and night and the potting medium became dry and warm.
All my losses were caused during these periods. I am in contact with two violet specialists which had the same problems. Sorry - seems not much help from my side.

A very successful grower (Cyril Lafong) gave the following cultivation hints:
The plants were cultivated in a large alpine house with overhead ventilation by fans (on and off every 15 minutes) all year round. Shading provided with whitening agent painted outside during June to August. A lot of water when in growth otherwise they tend to flop.
He pointed to his special climatic conditions (Scotland) where temperatures rarely exceed 25 ° Celsius.
Cyril added that he had reasonable success by using the mothods described  but added that
these violets are definitely not easy. Nevertheless the longest time he managed to grow them was about to ten years.

So only to add from my side: try to give sufficient light, ventilation and cooling under your conditions and there will be a chance to have success.
Please let us know here about your results because the Andean rosulates are really worth to grow here in Europe.

Gerd

so is it presumed that GA3 is necessary for germination of these violets? is it essential, or just faster, better percentage etc?

[Diane Clement]

so is it presumed that GA3 is necessary for germination of these violets? is it essential, or just faster, better percentage etc? 

I think it is almost essential (that's to say, I have never known of any germinated without GA).  I have managed to germinate fairly easily with GA3 but it is the growing on, as Gerd says, that is the problem. 

Once, a pot that had been treated with GA3 didn't germinate and was left outside.  Oddly, it germinated after 4 years waiting, straight after a thunderstorm - I did wonder if there was a connection or if it was just that the pot got drenched.

By the way, I bought my GA3 some years ago from Hudsons of California, I think I paid $17 at least 10 years ago for a starter kit and it is now $19 which is quite a good deal as it comes ready measured and a little goes a long way - I'm still using my original supplies. 
http://www.jlhudsonseeds.net/GibberellicAcid.htm#Kits%20and%20Supplies

[Maggi Young]

In the dim and distant past when we  grew some rosulate violas from Watson's seed, I don't think we had hardly, in our innocence, even heard of GA3, never mind used the stuff! We never have used it.

So, in blissful ignorance, we sowed the seed and it grew.... so long ago now I barely remember what species..... several, anyway. Limited success for life of the plants to one or two to ten or so years, but terrible problems with etiolation in our light levels and a marked reluctance for most to flower. Fun while we did it , though!!

[Lori S.]

Cohan, you can buy GA-3, if you choose to use it, from Kristl's Gardens North for $7.50... a tiny packet, but more than enough to last a very long time.  It comes with an instruction sheet.  (Just a warning... Using it indiscriminately may not be a very good idea, as its use is fatal to some species (see Deno).)

[cohan]

In the dim and distant past when we  grew some rosulate violas from Watson's seed, I don't think we had hardly, in our innocence, even heard of GA3, never mind used the stuff! We never have used it.

So, in blissful ignorance, we sowed the seed and it grew.... so long ago now I barely remember what species..... several, anyway. Limited success for life of the plants to one or two to ten or so years, but terrible problems with etiolation in our light levels and a marked reluctance for most to flower. Fun while we did it , though!!

probably out of my mind to even consider trying, but what the heck? not sure what i will attempt for wintering, likely a few different strategies if i ever get that far... depending on the given year, i might be better off there than some others-usually not what i'd call hot here, but not necessarily subantarctic summers, either
i should probably just go ahead and get some GA3, as i will surely have some other things that could use it..though one wonders what the triggers are in nature--natural gibberellins in the soil? some odd combination of temps and moisture?
re: diane's comment--i know it has been discussed in the context of cacti and succulents  that thunderstorm rain is particularly acidic from some action of the electricity (the point for c+s being that some plants get most of their water from thunderstorms so they are accustomed to acidic water in spite of growing in alkaline soils).....


lori, thanks--i did know kristl was selling GA3 and was going to check there; i have read lots of warnings about the overuse---etiolation as mentioned above, etc.. i would probably only use it for those species where its considered near essential; among others, there's a local lysimachia that kristl mentions has very little germination without it...