Loakesy Posted November 8, 2003 Report Share Posted November 8, 2003 Some of you may remember that I was recently sent some Cobra seeds by AndyCPUK (thanks again Andy!) following my purchase of a 'Grow your own' kit from my local Garden Centre. Well they've been in the fridge wrapped in wet tissue for about 5 weeks and I planted them in soil about 3 weeks ago. When I was checking on them this morning (with a magnifying glass ) I noticed that a lot of them have started to sprout. None of them have more than about 1mm growth, but I got very excited. Still nothing from the 'Grow your own' tho' :x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sheila Posted November 8, 2003 Report Share Posted November 8, 2003 Has anyone ever had any luck with the grow your own kits? I know a few people who have tried them, none of them germinated. I think the seed tends to be too old in these kits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul O'Keeffe Posted November 8, 2003 Report Share Posted November 8, 2003 I've only tried a couple of those little garden centre kits in the past with no joy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sheila Posted November 8, 2003 Report Share Posted November 8, 2003 I don't think cp growers are the people these kits are targeted at. They give them a fancy name that will sell the kit like 'hooded executioner', in the hope the general gardener will buy them. When the plant fails to grow the gardener puts it down to his lack of knowledge, rather than blame it on useless seed. I think they are a rip off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Aidan Posted November 8, 2003 Report Share Posted November 8, 2003 Seconded! This is what they are............... :sh**: So this is the best place for them................ :toilet: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Salter Posted November 8, 2003 Report Share Posted November 8, 2003 I think the other main problem could be the shelf life of unrefrigerated seeds as viability would drop rapidly at warmer temps I think. And if the grow your own kit seeds hav'nt been stratisfied then growth would not be as likely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Salter Posted November 8, 2003 Report Share Posted November 8, 2003 Aidan, I think that looks like a painful way of discarding a seed kit. :cry: Although some plants rely on this method Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Aidan Posted November 8, 2003 Report Share Posted November 8, 2003 I know the company that supply these kits and I have seen what might charitably be called their production facilities......Enough said! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul O'Keeffe Posted November 8, 2003 Report Share Posted November 8, 2003 Thinking about it, it was probably these kits that got me thinking about CP's in the first place and led me on to buying my first VFT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sheila Posted November 8, 2003 Report Share Posted November 8, 2003 Peat, it would be very unlikely that you would get any results from those seeds even with stratification. The only one of those type of kits I have ever known to grow is a banana tree, and that only lasts a week or two in the little tiny pot that comes with the kit before it needs to go into a bigger pot. A lot of these kits are sold to children, its like stealing their pocket money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Salter Posted November 8, 2003 Report Share Posted November 8, 2003 K Sheila. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobble Posted November 8, 2003 Report Share Posted November 8, 2003 I think I would agree that these are pretty poor kits.I got a drosera binata seed kit and have finally produced two VERY small plants, while some fresh seed from a forum member has produced around 20.I appear to have one sarra. minor so far. These kits are designed to extract money from kids and that is about all Bobble Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loakesy Posted November 9, 2003 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2003 OK! I know it was a rip-off! But I was more tempted by the challenge of trying to grow the thing, particularly as it was graded as "Difficult"! I guess I should have learned my lesson after my 'Grow your own' VFT a few years back. Never again tho' Eh! I think I shall assign it to the :toilet: ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jago12 Posted November 11, 2003 Report Share Posted November 11, 2003 I am new to this hobby, I saw these kits in my garden centre and bought three,Sarracennia Purpurea,Darlingtonia Californica,and Drosera Binata, you have confused me, it said nothing about putting them in the fridge, however all three little pots have thrown up a couple of plants each,its taken at least eleven weeks and they are tiny, my question is how wet do I keep them? I bought a very good book and it states that this is the dormant season, is it likely that I will have to wait until spring before I see rapid growth. Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexa Posted November 11, 2003 Report Share Posted November 11, 2003 Well done Jago12, you have beaten many more experienced growers on this forum in getting these kits to work! :haha: . True, the Sarracenia and VFT should be dormant at the moment, but as they are seedlings you might be able to skip dormancy. Keep them wet and in a warm light place such as on a windowsill. Next autumn you can let them go dormant as your book says. Regards Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Aidan Posted November 11, 2003 Report Share Posted November 11, 2003 It is remarkable that you have been able to get anything to grow from these kits, the general experience seems to be that nothing happens at all! Sarracenia and Darlingtonia are slow growing initially. Sarracenia will typically take five years from seed to reach flowering size and Darlingtonia may well take longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sheila Posted November 11, 2003 Report Share Posted November 11, 2003 If you can get these kits to grow, then you have definately picked the right hobby. If I skip dormancy on seedlings , I keep the plants warm but don't use any extra lights. Because light levels are low at this time of the year and growth is virtually nil, I keep the plants wet but don't actually leave them standing in water. I just pour a little into the water tray a couple of times a week, just enough to draw up into the pots in a few minutes. I must admit I have never tried skipping dormancy with D. binata so this may be different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob H Posted November 11, 2003 Report Share Posted November 11, 2003 I managed to get both Dionaea and Saracenia to germinate but killed of the VFT through ignorance. The Sara is still going strong in my greenhouse and about 40 mm tall, ten pitchers. The kits got me going and now I'm here I intend to stay, but I won't buy the kits again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul O'Keeffe Posted November 11, 2003 Report Share Posted November 11, 2003 Well done jago. I've only tried twice years ago and failed both times. It didn't help with my Dad knocking one over Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loakesy Posted November 11, 2003 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2003 Another big well done from me! I've never had much success with them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest radmail Posted November 11, 2003 Report Share Posted November 11, 2003 HEY!!!! I just want to say that i have bought these 'grow your own' kits myself, and was VERY excited when my minor, purpurea, binata and venus flytrap ones germinated, all this year! The venus flytraps are so tiny, with around three traps each, barely 2 mm long! the sarras are all looking strong and healthy for little seedlings, nice red colour.... must be doing something right! Though i shall admit last year i tried a cobra kit and it failed maybe i will try again Rhian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TroJon Posted December 7, 2003 Report Share Posted December 7, 2003 My VFT from the kit germinated as well, i had them light heated and in a sealed transparent bag, so kept them warm! Then, i took the bag away and left the light on a bit too long = dry plants... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexis Posted December 7, 2003 Report Share Posted December 7, 2003 What do you actually get in these kits? Do they tell you about stratification and what to sow them on? I don't see why they should be any different from normal seed packets with some decent instructions on the back :? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TroJon Posted December 7, 2003 Report Share Posted December 7, 2003 Guys, can someone give me a breif overview into sowing the D.cal/cobra seeds, and how long it takes, how long to reach potting size etc. etc. Thanks a lot, Jon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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