21 replies to this topic

[Flytyer]

Yep, more advice being asked for  

I was lucky enough to purchase some Cephalotus Eden Black x self Seed, and since these are the only (potential) Cephs I own, would like some advice on growing them.

I've read the section on these plants in the CPS publication A Guide To Growing Carnivorous Plants - "....Fresh seeds should be sown soon after harvesting by sprinkling it on the compost surface before covering with a fine layer of sieved compost. Newly sown seed needs to be placed in a warm humid environment (would a greenhouse be warm enough at this time of year?) where germination should take place within four to six weeks....". The Guide also recommends a 2/1 mix of peat and sharp sand or perlite.

Does anyone have any advice to add to the above?

Many in advance

[mobile]

I use peat:perlite mix which I thoroughly water and sow the seeds on the surface, giving them a gentle press and a good spray to settle them in. I then place some clingfilm over the top of the pot and add a few slits for ventilation. I find they germinate better with gentle bottom heat, i.e. in a propagator or on a plant warmer mat. Give good light but avoiding direct sunlight so not to scorch seeds. They can take months to germinate, so keep them moist and don't give up on them too early. Works for me but other members might have more ideas.

[loligo1964]

Flytyer, on 27 October 2011 - 19:40 PM, said:

Yep, more advice being asked for  

I was lucky enough to purchase some Cephalotus Eden Black x self Seed, and since these are the only (potential) Cephs I own, would like some advice on growing them.

I've read the section on these plants in the CPS publication A Guide To Growing Carnivorous Plants - "....Fresh seeds should be sown soon after harvesting by sprinkling it on the compost surface before covering with a fine layer of sieved compost. Newly sown seed needs to be placed in a warm humid environment (would a greenhouse be warm enough at this time of year?) where germination should take place within four to six weeks....". The Guide also recommends a 2/1 mix of peat and sharp sand or perlite.

Does anyone have any advice to add to the above?

Many in advance

I generally don't cover the seeds -- but press them against the compost to ensure contact. My preferred germination compost is a 2:1 mix of milled sphagnum (or peat, if it cannot be found) to quartz sand. I am currently cold-stratifying a batch of seed in the refrigerator for ninety days to see if I can improve its germination rate, which has -- historically -- hovered around 75%. A friend in SW Australia swears by it and I never argue with success . . .

Good luck with your seeds; I too will be sowing the very same variety this weekend, both in compost and TC media . . .

Edited by loligo1964, 27 October 2011 - 23:10 PM.

[bag1234]

Yes I can't wait!

[Flytyer]

Thanks Mobile and Miguel, much appreciated

I'll be sowing the seeds this weekend in a seed tray with individual sections (one seed per section), half of them with a mix of peat/sand and the other half with peat/perlite, stood in a cm or two of rainwater and placed in a heated propagator.  

I'll try to post regular photo's to show their progress, I think it will be interesting to see how they compare.

[mobile]

I'd be wary of keeping them stood in water, as this could lead to fungal issues. By the way, I don't think loligo1964's real name is Miguel, rather that is the name of the author of the quote in his signature: Miguel de Cervantes

[Flytyer]

mobile, on 28 October 2011 - 21:09 PM, said:

I'd be wary of keeping them stood in water, as this could lead to fungal issues.

I'll just spray them instead then, thanks for that

mobile, on 28 October 2011 - 21:09 PM, said:

By the way, I don't think loligo1964's real name is Miguel, rather that is the name of the author of the quote in his signature: Miguel de Cervantes

DOH! Of course, Don Quixote - I've read the soddin' book recently too....  

Edited by Flytyer, 29 October 2011 - 13:45 PM.

[droseraguy]

Thanks for asking the questions guys. Mine just arrived from a trade, will be sowing them tonight.

[wadave]

Hi guys,

I sow my seeds onto a mix of 50:50 peat perlite mix as soon as the seed is mature and ready to fall away from the flower in mid to late summer here in WA.

The seed then spends the summer in moist conditions in the greenhouse all the way through winter until spring when it germinates quite well.

I don't give them any special treatment other than plenty of air movement over their dormant period which is late summer, over winter till the start of spring, plus being kept moist, never on the tray system.

So long as they're fresh they have a very high germination rate, I don't put my seeds in the fridge, I put them straight from plant onto the soil.

From what I've seen in their natural habitat the summer is warm to hot but the soil remains moist due to slow moving moisture from winter rains moving through the soil towards the coast from low lying swamps and streams. I think the secret is aerated water, warm conditions during summer with plenty of air circulation and cold winter temps, though I'm not talking frost or snow like conditions as the SW of WA generally doesn't experience sub freezing temps, especially as most of the ceph range is coastal.

The SW of WA also gets relatively mild summer temps, when Perth temps exceed 40 deg C Albany can have temps around 20-25 deg C with rainy conditions.

I hope that helps.

Dave.

[RL7836]

wadave, on 12 November 2011 - 17:00 PM, said:

The seed then spends the summer in moist conditions in the greenhouse all the way through winter until spring when it germinates quite well.

Dave,
So most (all?) of your seed germinates in the spring, 4-5 months after being planted?

[mobile]

My last Cephalotus seeds, which were sown in late summer/early autumn and not in a propagator, did not germinate until the warmer weather in the following spring. They are very slow at germination and even when germinated they are slow to grow... patients is definitely a virtue with these!!

[Marcus B]

mobile, on 14 November 2011 - 19:12 PM, said:

My last Cephalotus seeds, which were sown in late summer/early autumn and not in a propagator, did not germinate until the warmer weather in the following spring. They are very slow at germination and even when germinated they are slow to grow... patients is definitely a virtue with these!!

Quite a few of my seeds, sown in late summer (Feb), germinated in early autumn.  Others have germinated during winter and have grown steadily since, to the point that I have had to re-pot them recently as some of the seed trays were too shallow for their long roots.  I don't appear to have had many germinate since, but I have had seed effected by fungal growth and the trays getting too wet.

I currently have so many seedlings that I am not about to try to count them.  I will just be potting on the best growers and some from each parent plant.

[RL7836]

Marcus B, on 14 November 2011 - 21:57 PM, said:

Quite a few of my seeds, sown in late summer (Feb), germinated in early autumn.

Several years ago, I had a few spare seeds and planted them. About half germinated and all of those within ~70 days iirc. This year, I also had some spare seeds at the end of the season so I planted them (Sept 30). As of today, I have 13 germinations.

I find it very interesting that for some people the seeds lie dormant until the following spring and with others they sprout long before spring.    

[gardenofeden]

I think it depends on your conditions, for me "winter" is cold, damp, just above freezing....give them a bit more heat and it would not surprise me if you got germination

[Marcus B]

RL7836, on 05 December 2011 - 23:35 PM, said:

Several years ago, I had a few spare seeds and planted them. About half germinated and all of those within ~70 days iirc. This year, I also had some spare seeds at the end of the season so I planted them (Sept 30). As of today, I have 13 germinations.

I find it very interesting that for some people the seeds lie dormant until the following spring and with others they sprout long before spring.    

As Stephen says, it all depends on how cold your winter is.  For me, local weather conditions are not too different to the Cephs' native climate.  We get a few more really hot days in summer, due to prevailing winds coming accross the arid inland instead of the Indian & Southern Ocean breezes that south-west WA gets.  By mid spring my seedling were ready for transplanting into deeper pots.  I have a whole heap more to do yet.

[smudge]

Hi Guys,

I hope its ok to tag my questions along with a current thread, or should I have started a new one..?

Well I'm currently re-inventing my Carnivorous plant collection and I fancy growing some Ceph's from seed which I have never done before.

I've ordered some seeds from a well know CP Nursery here in the UK and 3 seeds are on there way to me.

Now I want to give them the very best when they arrive and I hoped some of you who have been successful will be able to point me in the right direction.

I've been reading about the growing medium you suggest, but I'm a little fuzzy on the need if any for stratification, and if bottom heat is preferred. I can do both if required and will do if you think it gives optimum results.

Also should I have waited till autumn 2012 for 'fresher' seed..?  Or will the seed from the nursery harvested last Autumn have a good as any chance of germination..?

I know I will have quite a wait for germination, but that's half the excitement.

Hope that makes sense, and any info is much appreciated.

Cheers, Smudge.

[mobile]

smudge, on 04 February 2012 - 13:19 PM, said:

I've ordered some seeds from a well know CP Nursery here in the UK and 3 seeds are on there way to me.

Now I want to give them the very best when they arrive and I hoped some of you who have been successful will be able to point me in the right direction.

I've been reading about the growing medium you suggest, but I'm a little fuzzy on the need if any for stratification, and if bottom heat is preferred. I can do both if required and will do if you think it gives optimum results.

You might want to ask the supplier how they stored the seeds. Hopefully they were cold stored, in which case they should already be stratified. Personally I have always used fresh seeds and have found no need or benefit in stratification.

[gardenofeden]

3 seeds, seems an odd number! not really enough to give you a realistic chance at germinating these...

[mobile]

See how you go, but if they don't germinated then you might want to wait until late summer when plenty of growers sell fresh seeds on eBay and some on here.

[RL7836]

mobile, on 04 February 2012 - 17:40 PM, said:

See how you go, but if they don't germinated then you might want to wait until late summer when plenty of growers sell fresh seeds on eBay and some on here.

.... and some in the seedbanks (CPS & ICPS). Also, you may find some fresh seed from Oz (roughly 6 mo offset from N. hemisphere).

RL7836, on 05 December 2011 - 23:35 PM, said:

As of today, I have 13 germinations.

As of today, I have 33.

Edited by RL7836, 04 February 2012 - 21:31 PM.