Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Seedy Subjects! => Grow From Seed => Topic started by: WimB on September 18, 2008, 06:15:53 PM
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Can anyone tell me what are the best sowing conditions for the seeds of this plant?
Thanks
Wim
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Dear Wim,
I always had good results with sowing in december. Seeds quickly germinate in spring, even at low temperatures.
Good luck!
Martijn
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Hello Martijn,
thanks for the info. In which kind of soil-mix do you sow them?
Regards Wim
P.S. I'm waiting eagerly to receive the package from your nursery ;)
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Nobody??? :'(
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I might be able to let you have a bit off my plant. I'll check in the morning
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Mark, Wim wants to know about growing conditions... he has the seed!
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I grow mine in a very gritty loam mixture under glass with plenty of water in summer. Although I think it is hardy it would not survive the wet outside with me.It develops a large almost tuberous root above ground
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My seed grown plants have survived outside in pots containing a gritty mix (compost:sand:grit in equal quantitites). They've been standing on a tray filled with sand which retains some moisture during the summer and which is the home for young plants which have been potted on and are awaiting a permanent home in the garden - the Pelargoniums root through the pots into this each year. They've been there for over three years :o, but one has recently found a permanent home in a redeveloped raised bed which contains old bulb compost/topdressing and is 50% grit - it's thriving there, as are its pot-bound siblings.
We're also in northern England, but on the drier east coast than Tony.
Hope this may be of help.
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Thanks everybody,
I'll sow them in a grit-sand-compost mix and I'll see what happens.
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Hello Wim,
I sow all alpines in a mixture of 1 part coarse sand, 2 parts of good potting soil, and some perlite. Because of the perlite, it is easier when you transplant the seedlings.
When it gets later, grammar is getting worse :-\
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Hi - I live not far from Tony on the wet west coast and have one plant (bought from Tim Ingram at the Alpines 2001 conference) which has survived outside & unprotected ever since, and moved house with us. Several plants from Jurasek seed in 2003 died during their first wet winter (2005) despite being a similar size when planted out. They were a nicer form too!
I guess that it might be a matter of finding a clone happy with your conditions.
To return to topic - I too found the seed easy and quick to germinate even sown mid-winter. Might be best to grow them on for a season or two before trying outside. Mine grows wedged between two limestone boulders in almost pure gravel, our soil (about 30cm below) is very free draining anyway.
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I've grown it twice.. Just snap off the long spike of seed head and push the seed into any kind of starter mix as it is a warm germination its fairly simple and seed germination rates are usually high.
I grew it in a tight crevice and it survived for 3 years and produced see. Next time I will grow it in a more open crevice.
It has survived -20C
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I think I waited to long with sowing the seeds, they've all rotted after a week in the soil. Well, better luck next time.
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Wim,
Don't feel so bad about it the first time I got seed only 3 out of 10 seed germinated. It all depends more on the quality of the seeds so keep on the look out for them just as I am.
I've only been growing from seed for 15 years. Ideally about 20% air space is best in the soil but hard to achieve so even less than 10% air space works quite well if your mix is not too wet.
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this pelargonium has survived planted in gardensoil here in finland... so it must be well worth trying it outside in other parts of europe as well... just keep it to that gritty, well draining soil... and it should be possible to survive outside... =O)
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It would be lovely to get some seeds/cutting of it ...that isif somebody can spare any!!
;O))
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Mine is outside in a pot. P. quercetorum is also hardy.
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Matti,
I am interested in your comment that P. endlicherianum is hardy for you there. How cold does it get in your winters? Do you have constant snow cover through the winter?
I have tried it here a small number of times with no success at overwintering, and am wondering whether to give it up... or perhaps looking for some faint encouragement to try it again. :)
Thanks!
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Matti,
I am interested in your comment that P. endlicherianum is hardy for you there. How cold does it get in your winters? Do you have constant snow cover through the winter?
I have tried it here a small number of times with no success at overwintering, and am wondering whether to give it up... or perhaps looking for some faint encouragement to try it again. :)
Thanks!
gee, lori, you keep crushing my hopes on some of the plants i most wanted to try...lol...eventually, i still will, since my climate is a bit different, but it does lower my hopes to hear of your losses...
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Crushing your hopes, Cohan?!? :o Hang around and find out what all does grow here (especially if some more experienced local alpine growers would chime in) and I think you would be encouraged beyond your dreams, LOL!
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Crushing your hopes, Cohan?!? :o Hang around and find out what all does grow here (especially if some more experienced local alpine growers would chime in) and I think you would be encouraged beyond your dreams, LOL!
i'm not worried i wont find things to grow, its just kind of funny, since a few specific things i had thought to try, you have mentioned didnt overwinter for you..lol.. AND from comments of yours and johnw's, i have realised i have to be a bit --what, less optimistic? --looking at catalogues such as beavercreek's--not that i ever took any suggested hardiness to be a guarantee...
i know there are still more things than i can grow, even with the space i have! nevermind, much more than what i can afford to acquire ;) ..it does, though, make me even more want to grow all those great alberta natives!!
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You know, conditions make a huge difference in what one can grow... big differences between the climate of the maritimes (wet, wet, wet) and here...