Loakesy Posted September 13, 2003 Report Share Posted September 13, 2003 Hello everyone, me again.:wavey: Went on a family ‘trip’ to a garden centre today - can’t think why, my wife thinks it was to look at shrubs and trees, but we know better, don’t we! Sadly when I broached the idea of buying another plant - I found a beautiful little Sarra (poss. leuc.) - she said, quite rightly, that we have nowhere to put it. But she did agree to a ‘Grow you own Cobra Plant’ kit. Only 1.99 UKP. So now I have four Californica seeds. I know that there’s a possibility they they’re old and infertile, but still worth a go. There was a full set of instructions with it and I’ve read what Peter D’Amato has to say about cultivating from seed. But has anyone got any suggestions about when would be the best time to start them off? I’ve got them stored in the fridge at the moment, and will await further instruction! Cheers. Loakesy 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zongyi_yang Posted September 13, 2003 Report Share Posted September 13, 2003 Only 4? Andy from CPUK gave me hundreds of seeds! (thanks Andy) Zongyi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Aidan Posted September 13, 2003 Report Share Posted September 13, 2003 Could try sowing them now, but late Winter/early Spring is probably the best time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenofeden Posted September 13, 2003 Report Share Posted September 13, 2003 I sow all my Sarracenia & Darlingtonia on New Years Day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul O'Keeffe Posted September 13, 2003 Report Share Posted September 13, 2003 With a hangover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loakesy Posted September 14, 2003 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2003 LOL :lolmen: I have to say I'm sorely tempted to sow them now, but I don't to be too premature :) I also feel gutted that I only got 4 but hey! Cheers Loakesy 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Collins Posted September 14, 2003 Report Share Posted September 14, 2003 Loakesy, I have a few seed you can have for a SAE. email me if you want some. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob H Posted September 14, 2003 Report Share Posted September 14, 2003 When Andy say "a few seeds" he don't mean one or two, if / when mine come up I'll have a forest of Darling Darlingtonia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loakesy Posted September 14, 2003 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2003 Tremendous offer that I don't think I'll be able to pass up on. I'll email you for details. Probably get round to that tonight if that's OK! Cheers very very much!! Loakesy 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest radmail Posted September 14, 2003 Report Share Posted September 14, 2003 Hi Loakesy, Definitely take andy up on his offer, those seeds that you got i also got over a year ago, i actually tried three times with no success! Let me know if they do sprout though They are under the guise of being a childrens plant but are they heck! Ive loads of seeds from andy that i will sow in winter... dont be tempted to sow them now! guaranteed to failure as the seeds you have now arent fresh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loakesy Posted September 14, 2003 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2003 I've just emailed Andy to take up the kind offer. Hope it works (the email thingy that is!) I have to confess that I sowed those seeds today - yes I know, I'm sorry, I just couldn't wait any longer, honest, I won't do it again I promise!!!! - I'll let you know how I get on with them! Cheers Loakesy 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zongyi_yang Posted September 14, 2003 Report Share Posted September 14, 2003 ah yes, i sowed Andys seeds yesterday... i didnt know i was wrong before someone told me late winter and said i was changing there natural cycle. Anyways, i would have sowed them even if someone told me not to because i have a lot of spares and i cant hold in the temptation. but i do have loads left and im saving it for spring in case these don't work . Zongyi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest radmail Posted September 15, 2003 Report Share Posted September 15, 2003 well... dont say i didnt warn you! The temptation is great, but after my failures last year i can hold on! Good idea Zongyi.... if the ones you sow now dont work you havent lost out! I will be very interested to see how you both get on 8) Rhian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob H Posted September 15, 2003 Report Share Posted September 15, 2003 How can sowing the seed now be changing the natural cycle. If a plant produces seed now, now should be the time to sow. I'm leaving mine outside for a few months, sown, to get a few frost touches and then I'll bring them in to warm up and germinate. Is that wrong?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vic brown Posted September 15, 2003 Report Share Posted September 15, 2003 If you sow the seeds now and allow them a long cold stratification period throughout the winter you should be fine, make sure that you don't leave them out in the rain though, they will wash away! The problems are likely to occur if you sow them now and keep them warm in the hope that they might germinate now. They are likely to rot, or if they germinate, they will suffer through lack of light etc and also be prone to fungal attack. Vic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexa Posted September 15, 2003 Report Share Posted September 15, 2003 Loakesy, let us know how you get on with the seeds from the garden centre. I had some and nothing happened :cry: . I think the seeds were not viable, maybe too old? I think that there's been another thread about this not to long ago. Regards Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loakesy Posted September 15, 2003 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2003 Well I have to confess the packet felt a little dusty, which should have deterred me, but I was more concerned with the prospect of more plants :goofy: that with wasting money on dead seeds. Still time will tell! Cheers Loakesy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zongyi_yang Posted September 15, 2003 Report Share Posted September 15, 2003 Vic, i don't know about light difficency because i grow my plants under 4 grow lights. i am planting to rase the trays containing the seeds closer to the light with a small brick when they germinate. Zongyi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giles_KS Posted September 15, 2003 Report Share Posted September 15, 2003 Zongyi, The seeds will germinate better if you stratify them first - give them several weeks of cold & damp before raising the temperature. This helps to break their dormancy. Otherwise the seeds will still be thinking it's autumn/fall and be waiting for the spring to germinate. Giles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zongyi_yang Posted September 15, 2003 Report Share Posted September 15, 2003 i just soaked them in water for a few days until they sunk. hope that helps them, the advice was givin by Aidan, so it better work . Zongyi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Aidan Posted September 15, 2003 Report Share Posted September 15, 2003 Zongyi - Advice gleaned from Adrian Slack! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexis Posted September 15, 2003 Report Share Posted September 15, 2003 Loakesy - feel free to start them now. I've started seeds in the depths of winter and they've done fine. I keep them in some wet kitchen roll wrapped in foil for 5 weeks in the fridge and then sow them onto sphagnum moss. The brown sphagnum you can buy in bags from DIY stores is best as by the time it starts to grow, your seedlings aren't at risk from being overwhelmed. Keep them on a windowsill and when it gets to about late October, put a 20W energy saving bulb next to them, or a blue incandescent daylight bulb. Seedlings don't actually require heaps of light and I find seeds germinate and grow fine with just weak December light 9am-3pm and then lamp light from 3-9pm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loakesy Posted September 20, 2003 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2003 Well, I've sown the seeds, but from what people have been saying about the 'Grow your own...' I'm not that optimistic. They're in the fridge at the mo and I'll let you know. I've just received a batch of seed from AndyCPUK and I can't wait to sow them. I might sow some now and another lot in the middle of winter. Very exciting! Cheers Loakesy 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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