Devil's Claw

[jimscott]

I had a few seeds in the fridge for awhile and decided to attempt germination. So with hammer and screwdriver I delicatly destroyed, apparently, all but one. At the moment I have in the Nep planter, under artificial lighting. No blurry picture yet!

First of all, it grows like a weed! It went from one inch to three inches in slightly more than a week. Butwhat really intigues me was that the cotyledon leaves are in a different position every day. It's kinda like watching the position of the moon in the sky, from one day to the next. Has anyone else noticed a rotation?

[Guest Sheila]

I love your choice of delicate tools for seed sowing Jim

Can't say I have ever noticed it in the greenhouse, but that could be because it doesn't need to track the sun as it does on a windowsill.

[jimscott]

I DO come up with odd questions, sometimes! Guess where the seeds came from! The first true leaves have emerged. Anyways, is this one that really needs to be outside for most of year or can it grow just fine indoors?

[Guest Sheila]

Are they the seeds I sent you last year?

I haven't heard of anyone growing it indoors. If you want the seeds too ripen for next year then they need sun and lots of it. If you aren't worried about seed then no harm in trying, there is always a first time, though I vaguely remember reading somewhere the smell isn't too pleasant, not having a good sene of smell myself I wouldn't notice. At this time of the year you don't have a lot of choice other than to grow it indoors at least until the spring is here properly.

[jimscott]

Same seeds! What low temps can they tolerate.. or in other words, at what point can I take them outside to the porch?

[Guest Sheila]

Just a single frosty night and the plant will collapse and die, so it is best kept safely indoors until the danger of frost has passed.

[jimscott]

Here's are updated pictures of the etiolated plant:

Oh... and here's a very sleepy P. gypsicola: