Seed Germination

From: Don Burns <burns at mobot.mobot.org> on 1999.03.02 at 02:59:43(3088) George, I am assuming for a moment that because you addressed your inquiry to the Aroid list you want information on stimulation of germination in the Araceae. Not that there are none, but I am unaware of any publications devoted to techniques/problems in germination of seeds of Araceae. My limited experience (primarily tropicals) suggests that seed germination in this family of plants is in general rather simple. There are exceptions and some have been discussed here, the most recent being germination of Amorphophallus henryi. On the other hand, if you are interested in germnination stimuli in other families, I suggest you review "Seed Germination Theory and Practice", 2nd ed., by Norman C. Deno. Deno has also published a supplement to the 2nd edition. In these publications are the results of his experiments with numerous genera, stimulators and inhibitors of germination. Don +More Don Burns Plantation, FL USA Zone 10b

From: Betsytrips at aol.com on 1999.03.03 at 04:36:36(3093) As to seed germination of anthuriums, I have sprouted thousands from greenhouse produced seed and collected seed from the wild. I clean the pulp, spread the seed onto good damp potting soil within a closed terrarium setting and put under lights. Most do very well in a fairly short time. Others take forever. And, of course, some take the heavenly route. The hardest usually are those that you are just dying to see and to have to live. Perhaps the most difficult I ever had and failed with production of mature plants, was anthurium cutuense from the southern mountains of Ecuador. I could get them to sprout, but getting them to grow was not within my realm. I tried transplanting into several mediums and each appeared to be just what I needed and then, as you have already guessed, they failed. I have grown anthurium peltigerum from seed several times from collected seed. The hardest part in general has been the transfer of reasonable size seedlings into solo situations and out into the open. Once they get adjusted nature takes its course. If they can stand our summer heat or the winter heat in the greenhouse. Another set of fun conditions to find in which each can survive. There is great joy in waiting and watching and participation in the cycle of life again and again. I think many of you have different genera that fascinate you and I would imagine go thru similar tribulations as I have with the anthurium. +More Wishing each of you well with whatever seed you tackle. You most likely will start with cleaning every seed that you find and trying to grow the thousands of little fellows only to come to realize you cannot save the world. At that point a few seed is wonderful and easier to watch and to deal with. Good growing now that the spring light has come to increase your desire to watch those plants grow. Spring does have that strange ability to arouse our interest in growing plants no matter what genera or type. Good Growing to all of you. Betsy Feuerstein

From: StellrJ at aol.com on 1999.03.04 at 05:29:36(3095) Speaking of germination, I am working on some seeds which were sold as "Lily of Kenya." To judge by the picture, it is obviously a Zantedeschia, most likely Z. elliottiana. I first soaked them for several days until they softened a bit, then placed them in a pot on top of the refrigerator, with a tray underneath so I could bottom-water. Will this work, and how long will it take? +More Jason Hernandez Naturalist-at-Large

From: Pidho at aol.com on 1999.03.04 at 19:31:43(3096) In a message dated 3/3/99 10:16:57 PM Mountain Standard Time, StellrJ@aol.com writes: << Speaking of germination, I am working on some seeds which were sold as +More "Lily of Kenya." To judge by the picture, it is obviously a Zantedeschia, most likely Z. elliottiana. I first soaked them for several days until they softened a bit, then placed them in a pot on top of the refrigerator, with a tray underneath so I could bottom-water. Will this work, and how long will it take? Jason Hernandez Naturalist-at-Large >> No Idea. But this is a sort of information I am seeking. Thanks George

From: "Marge Talt" <mtalt at clark.net> on 1999.03.04 at 19:40:42(3097) Well, Jason, I grow three of this genus, but have never tried to germinate the seeds. Did a bit of a hunt in my files of posts from Aroid-L and discovered that, using fresh seed, they should germinate in a couple of weeks. I didn't find any references to seed that may have been stored dry, but I imagine that if it is viable, it should not take more than a few weeks to sprout. One person said that a 24 hour soak wouldn't hurt and they put them in a zip lock plastic bag with coarse peat at room temperature until they germinate at which time he plants them in potting mix. Another comment was that they did not need to be continually wet to germinate. My reading of this was sitting in water. Personally, I water all my seeds from the top...otherwise they'd never get watered;-) But, I also top my seedpots with grit and water gently so the stream doesn't dig holes in the mix. What you're doing ought to work if the seed is viable. I would be patient a bit if you don't get germination in a couple of weeks and the seed has been stored dry...that can often cause things to slow up a bit. Be interested to hear if they do germinate and how long it takes.... Marge +More Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland mtalt@clark.net Editor: Gardening in Shade current article: Mailorder Nurseries - On and Off Line, Part 8, Potpourri http://suite101.com/welcome.cfm/222 All garden topics welcome page: http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/3425#top5 > Speaking of germination, I am working on some seeds which were sold as "Lily > of Kenya." To judge by the picture, it is obviously a Zantedeschia, most > likely Z. elliottiana. I first soaked them for several days until they > softened a bit, then placed them in a pot on top of the refrigerator, with a > tray underneath so I could bottom-water. Will this work, and how long will it > take? > > Jason Hernandez > Naturalist-at-Large

From: "Craig Presnell" <jcpresnell at earthlink.net> on 2004.11.26 at 17:06:33(12425) I have just finished harvesting seed from my Lagenandra ovata and have seed ripening on a Montrichardia linifera. Does anyone know if there are any special conditions I need to address to sprout them? Craig +More _______________________________________________ Aroid-l mailing list Aroid-l@gizmoworks.com http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l

From: "Julius Boos" <ju-bo at msn.com> on 2004.11.26 at 18:34:17(12427) >From: "Craig Presnell" >Reply-To: Discussion of aroids >To: "Discussion of aroids" >Subject: [Aroid-l] Seed Germination >Date: Fri, 26 Nov 2004 12:06:33 -0500 > Dear Craig, I know about the Montrichardia seed, they will fall off the spadix when mature, clean them, and float them in a large bowl of warmish water (80 deg. F.?) in a well-lit area, they will produce good roots while floating in water, when they have two or more 'pre-leaves' and lots of white roots, plant them in a pot with sand-on-top-of- soil mix, 2" of crock or larva rock BELOW the layer of soil in a saucer of water about 1 1/2" deep, the soil is kept from being UNDER the water level. If the remaining seed contacts actual soil-mix they tend to rot, hence the layer of about 3/4" of plain sand on top of the soil-mix. Where did you get the mother-plant, and how did you fertilize to obtain fruit?? The Best, Julius +More >I have just finished harvesting seed from my Lagenandra ovata and have seed >ripening on a Montrichardia linifera. Does anyone know if there are any >special conditions I need to address to sprout them? > >Craig > > > > > >_______________________________________________ >Aroid-l mailing list >Aroid-l@gizmoworks.com >http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l _______________________________________________ Aroid-l mailing list Aroid-l@gizmoworks.com http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l

From: "Craig Presnell" <jcpresnell at earthlink.net> on 2004.11.27 at 20:40:15(12432) Hello Julius, Thanks for your help and I hope I'm not being presumptous about the fruit, but I can send you of what I think are fruit. I got the mother plant from a mutual friend, Richard at Mesozoic Landscapes. I grow aquatics and he brought it to me last year when he stopped by my nursery to get some Victoria waterlilies. To fertilize it, I just tried plain old hand pollination, but there could have been some rogue insects involved as well. Craig +More _______________________________________________ Aroid-l mailing list Aroid-l@gizmoworks.com http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l

From: "Julius Boos" <ju-bo at msn.com> on 2004.11.27 at 23:18:34(12433) >From: "Craig Presnell" >Reply-To: Discussion of aroids >To: "Discussion of aroids" >Subject: RE: [Aroid-l] Seed Germination >Date: Sat, 27 Nov 2004 15:40:15 -0500 > Hello Craig, You did my old heart good, the chickens have come home to roost, so to speak. The original collection of seeds that produced the parents of your plants ( that you got from our mutual friend Richard) were collected in Nariva swamp of the E. Coast of Trinidad, W.I. by my elder brother Hans who still lives in Trinidad, Richard and myself are old friends dating back many years, he is a great guy. I`m just glad that both his and obviously your plants of this wonderful genus are doing so well, his are the size of the parents, I get such a thrill when I visit him and see the size of his! We still are not certain how his are pollinated, as big bees and scrab beetles are the pollinators in their native habitat, but they smell sop fragrant I`d not be surprised if SOME insect is attracted to them at anthesis. There is a dwarf clone of Montrichardia in Florida that I collected years ago, Charlie Mc Daniel has it, no taller than 5 ft., thin as your finger and blooms at this size. So glad that I solved this one! Thanks for the info. By the way, the seeds are good eating when roasted according to Pete Boyce who ate them w/ the natives in Brazil. The infructesence looks like a small, really knobby pineapple Good Growing, Julius +More >Hello Julius, > >Thanks for your help and I hope I'm not being presumptous about the fruit, but I can send you of what I think are fruit. > >I got the mother plant from a mutual friend, Richard at Mesozoic Landscapes. I grow aquatics and he brought it to me last year when he stopped by my nursery to get some Victoria waterlilies. To fertilize it, I just tried plain old hand pollination, but there could have been some rogue insects involved as well. > >Craig >_______________________________________________ >Aroid-l mailing list >Aroid-l@gizmoworks.com >http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l _______________________________________________ Aroid-l mailing list Aroid-l@gizmoworks.com http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l

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