Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Cultivation => Cultivation Problems => Topic started by: Giles on August 04, 2015, 07:14:42 PM
-
I've recently bought some Dicentra peregrina seed, and would be grateful for any guidance on germination requirements and subsequent growing on.
I gather it can be a bit tricky.
Thankyou.
-
Sow the seed right away, Giles - it should germinate in spring. Pot could sit outside until you see germination. A potting compost of grit and humus is best.
This charming plant was the subject of plant portrait in the International Rock Gardener (IRG) issue 17 of May 2011 by Kirsten Andersen and Lars Hansen :
http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2011May261306444476IRGMay2011.pdf (http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2011May261306444476IRGMay2011.pdf)
where they included this advice ....
"Dicentra peregrina is in our opinion the most exciting among the genus Dicentra. We have grown it
for about 20 years in our garden in Denmark. In some years all our plants almost disappeared but they
have always managed to seed around and the seedlings will grow to flowering sized plants in one to
two years. We have tried to use different locations and types of soil through the years and we have
had the best result when we put the plant on a southern slope with roots and rhizome positioned
behind a stone. The soil must be well drained and contain humus to ensure adequate moisture in the
root zone. It is important that the soil never dries out completely.
Dicentra peregrina is easy to propagate from seed. The seeds should be sown immediately after they
are harvested in July/August. The seeds germinate in the following year in February/March and usually we have a very high germination percentage. It is also possible to divide the plants in late autumn or early spring while they are dormant. We don’t use this method since the propagation by seed works perfectly.
With regard to the cultivation of Dicentra peregrina it is undoubtedly an advantage that we have
relatively cool summers in Denmark. The average temperature in June, July and August is around 15.3 °C. "
-
Thankyou :)
-
I'm sure you'll succeed with it Giles. It is such a lovely plant - will be looking out for the photos in due course!
-
Hi Giles
Over the years, I have found that the plant grows better in sandy or gritty soil here, and won't love too much organic material ( just the minimum needed to ensure moisture retention). Weather is here generally more moist and wet during summer, that's perhaps the explanation of the plant's behaviour for these particular weather conditions, but I am really surprised the Dicentra does so well this summer, as we get plenty of sunshine, most of the time temperatures in the 22/28°C range, and so few rain or air moisture.
Here's a link to a picture in its native habitat ( beware, pic is big!)
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/Dicentra_peregrina_in_Mount_Norikura_s3.JPG (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/Dicentra_peregrina_in_Mount_Norikura_s3.JPG)
That might also explain many things about its requirements in cultivation ;)
-
:)