FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

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Ask questions about how to grow and care for Venus Flytraps

Moderator: Matt

By Jack Frost
Posts:  19
Joined:  Tue Aug 06, 2013 11:10 pm
#184092
Hi all,

I'm new to VFTs, and have never owned one before. However, a friend of mine visited the Chelsea Flower Show here in the UK, and got me some VFT seeds from Hampshire Carnivorous Plants (a well respected carnivorous plant grower). I read online the best way to grow them from seed (including this forum), and did the following:

1. Soaked the seeds in distilled water for 3 days until all but one had sunk.
2. Ordered specialist VFT compost and put it in a styrofoam cup, with enough holes in to allow the compost to always stay damp.
3. Placed the seeds resting on top of the compost, and put them in a north-facing room out of direct sunlight but still warm (ranging from 24-28 deg C).

The seeds were planted on 13th June (almost 8 weeks ago), but so far there is no sign of anything happening whatsoever. How long should I wait until giving in and trying some new seeds? And does anyone know anywhere in the UK that sells VFT seeds?

Thanks in advance for the help!
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By Matt
Location: 
Posts:  22523
Joined:  Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:28 pm
#184105
Sounds like you did everything right. Though the seeds may have benefited from dappled or filtered light, rather than indirect light, to warm the soil surface a bit.

If it has been 8 weeks and you still see no germination, it may be that the seeds were not viable.
Jack Frost wrote:How long should I wait until giving in and trying some new seeds?
Might be time to throw in the towel now. Perhaps try moving them to a place that is slightly warmer and gets some dappled sunlight and give them another week or two.
Jack Frost wrote:And does anyone know anywhere in the UK that sells VFT seeds?
No, but we have very viable seed for sale in the FlytrapStore and we ship worldwide.
By Alex ESanto
Posts:  71
Joined:  Sat May 05, 2012 6:04 pm
#184106
Hi!

Seems that you did it all right... But 8 weeks is too much.. Maybe the seeds weren't fresh enough.

My method is simply put them in destiled water until they start germinating and when I can see green emerging from the seed, I put them, with a wooden toothpick, in a container with slightly wet sphagnum moss (it works with the regular soil that you use in adult VFTs)

With this method if the seeds are fresh the germination rate is next to 100% and the seeds germinate in more or less 2 weeks.

I just have harvested some fresh seeds with potencially very interesting characteristics due to cross polination that I've done with the mother plants. If you are interested in buy some, please PM me.

Best regards,
Alex.
By Jack Frost
Posts:  19
Joined:  Tue Aug 06, 2013 11:10 pm
#184156
Thanks for the replies everyone. :D

There was no date to say when the seeds were from, but it did say to sow before 2014. As I say, they are a reputable dealer so they should have been ok. There were only 5 seeds though, so I guess statistically my chances weren't good!

I didn't realise you could ship seeds to different countries Matt. Now I know this, I may have to get some from you. For some reason the only seeds you seem to be able to buy in the UK are in those seed kits aimed at children. I want some good quality seeds!

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