FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

I planted 16 more pots today.
That should do it for this year.
Oh wait, I still have 30 or 40 Drosophyllum seeds to plant.
That's a job for tomorrow.

If these new seeds sprout, I'll have to thin out the collection to make room.
Some of these are leftovers from a year or two ago, I thought I'd just do a second sowing and use them up.

Drosera capensis Giant (ICPS)
D. serpens (TwitterGlitter)
D. spatulata Gold Coast (FB Matt)
D. spiralis (HollyHock)
D. capensis Red Gifberg RSA (ICPS)
D. serpens (Wes D)
D. brevifolia
D. ultramafica x D. spatulata
D. capensis Red Van Rhynsdorp Western Cape (ICPS)
D. capensis Crestate form
D. capensis Compact Rosette
D. capensis Wide Leaf
D. capensis All Red (HollyHock)
D. capensis Vogelgat NR - Hermanus RSA
D. capensis Dark Maroon BZ Bonn Clone
D. capillaris Emerald's Envy

Very nice list Mike! I actually just got some Compact Rosette seeds yesterday! I'm really excited for them; has to be one of it not my favorite variety of Capensis!

The seller even had a red form of compact rosette!

Ping wrote:Very nice list Mike! I actually just got some Compact Rosette seeds yesterday! I'm really excited for them; has to be one of it not my favorite variety of Capensis!

The seller even had a red form of compact rosette!

I had some sprout but they never did much the first time around.

If that crestate form actually breeds true, I'd love to see that.

nimbulan wrote:If that crestate form actually breeds true, I'd love to see that.

I can only keep my fingers crossed.

Are you going to do a thread on your drosophyllum seeds? I would love to see how you handle them. I just sowed my first round of them last weekend I think.

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boarderlib wrote:Are you going to do a thread on your drosophyllum seeds? I would love to see how you handle them. I just sowed my first round of them last weekend I think.

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I could if there's any interest.

New plants from old seeds.

I bought some 2015 vintage Drosophyllum seeds from Petar Kostov recently.

I scarified by snipping off the pointy tip until I could see the White Endosperm inside.

I soaked the seeds in distilled water for 24 hours and planted 1/8 inch deep in a 1:8 peatmoss:perlite mix.

7 days after planting, ( 7/12/19 - 7/19/19 ) the first seed germinated. I was surprised by how quickly it sprouted.

Thanks to Petar for the high quality seeds!!!

I'm definitely interested in that. It seems you covered it pretty well in here though, so kill two birds with one stone.

I used a chainsaw file to break the seed coat some. I see you keep yours very wet, until germination occurs? Do you also bag them at first?

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I see you keep yours very wet, until germination occurs? Do you also bag them at first?

I plant the seeds in small peat-pots.
I get 50 cells in a 10 x 20 flat.
I do put a plastic cover on to top to keep humidity high until germination.
I grow the seedlings pretty wet until they are 2 - 3 inches tall, then I wean them over into standard Drosophyllum culture. (Very open mix, very large pot, and drier than normal CP culture)

Good info. Thanks Mike! I was under the impression since they grow so much drier, they would germinate just as easily in a drier setting. Maybe I'll try flooding my pots to see if that helps them along.

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boarderlib wrote:Good info. Thanks Mike! I was under the impression since they grow so much drier, they would germinate just as easily in a drier setting. Maybe I'll try flooding my pots to see if that helps them along.

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They have a very seasonal wet/dry climate where they originate.
Seeds are usually produced at the end of the cool wet season.
They sit on the ground over the hot dry Summer.
They sprout and grow rapidly with the onset of rain and cooler temperatures, the next growing season.
At least that's how I think it works.

One side note:
Normally I plant the seeds during cooler weather and they germinate in about 4 weeks.
We're in the middle of a Wisconsin heat wave with 90 degree plus daily temperatures.
The elevated heat could be the reason they sprouted so soon.

I'll update this post as more seeds (I hope) germinate.

I've actually found 1 week to be a typical time for germination to start, when doing scarification. Germination may stretch out over 2 or 3 weeks though.

I'd also like to add that humidity is definitely not necessary.

We're in the middle of the same heatwave here too, temps in the 90's with the heat index over 105°. I tried starting my first batch outside right before this crap hit. Going on week 3 now I believe.

Between yours and nimbulan's (thanks for the insight by the way) experience I may try start another batch in a week or so and just let these sit somewhere.

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Mike! How are your Compact Rosette seeds coming along? I've just now been able to feed mine and they put on a bit of size from it. I got a good mix of albas and reds!