- Sat Jul 02, 2022 8:43 pm
#415793
Did I say 200 acres? I meant 200 square centimeters...what *was* I thinking!!!???
Anyhow, I've got some D. Binata (upright) seed coming along with some mixed capes. Throw into that a mix of typical capes, capillaris, spats, and some d. intermedia (courtesy of Bruce, Dean, seed bank) and it's a nicely jumbled up mix. The last time I planted sundews I carefully strew the seeds across the tops of peat perlite mixes in small 2-1/2" square pots and bagged half of them. The bagged ones did much better than the unbagged ones. Unfortunately, there was a range war resulting in a shortage of space to keep the planted seeds and seedlings in the house and they were subsequently evacuated a to remote outpost in the south seas of Alabama...namely, to my granddaughter's house.<g> The reports that I'm getting from my southern ally is that the tiny seedlings are growing but doing so ever so very slowly.
So, this time the seeds will be planted, germinated, and grown entirely outdoors. I figure, well, that's where they grew in the wild, so... Plus, whatever I grow has to be able to deal with the climate in south Alabama...hot and humid, mostly, with droughts and freezes, and an occasional snow, even...and inch or so of the white stuff shuts this place down! The weather is kind of all over the place at times. The most dependable thing, though, is that it will be HOT in the summer.
I'm debating on how to germinate the seeds:
If I do anything other than water germination I figure the seedlings will remain in the growing mix that sprout in until they're several inches long (I guess?).
Whether I start the seeds "in situ" or start them in water or small pots I've got several rectangular "windowsill" planters that I ultimately plan to grow them in, at least for a while...by a "while" I think the limiting factor would be the depth of these planters...they may become too shallow. They are roughly 5 inches wide by 17 or 18 inches long and 4-1/2 inches deep.
Once again, I'm all over the place here. First thing is to get the seed germinated. Water germination? Germinate them where they're going to be growing for a while? Germinate them on sphagnum moss and transplant the plantlets?
I'm overthinking this, ain't I?
Anyhow, I've got some D. Binata (upright) seed coming along with some mixed capes. Throw into that a mix of typical capes, capillaris, spats, and some d. intermedia (courtesy of Bruce, Dean, seed bank) and it's a nicely jumbled up mix. The last time I planted sundews I carefully strew the seeds across the tops of peat perlite mixes in small 2-1/2" square pots and bagged half of them. The bagged ones did much better than the unbagged ones. Unfortunately, there was a range war resulting in a shortage of space to keep the planted seeds and seedlings in the house and they were subsequently evacuated a to remote outpost in the south seas of Alabama...namely, to my granddaughter's house.<g> The reports that I'm getting from my southern ally is that the tiny seedlings are growing but doing so ever so very slowly.
So, this time the seeds will be planted, germinated, and grown entirely outdoors. I figure, well, that's where they grew in the wild, so... Plus, whatever I grow has to be able to deal with the climate in south Alabama...hot and humid, mostly, with droughts and freezes, and an occasional snow, even...and inch or so of the white stuff shuts this place down! The weather is kind of all over the place at times. The most dependable thing, though, is that it will be HOT in the summer.
I'm debating on how to germinate the seeds:
- Standard 50:50 peat and perlite mix with a little sand thrown in, possibly a top layer of just peat...or maybe a top layer of Better-Gro sphagnum moss.
- Better-Gro sphagnum moss with maybe sand or perlite or both.
- Live sphagnum moss possibly with ??? added.
- Water germination...I've really interested in this.
If I do anything other than water germination I figure the seedlings will remain in the growing mix that sprout in until they're several inches long (I guess?).
Whether I start the seeds "in situ" or start them in water or small pots I've got several rectangular "windowsill" planters that I ultimately plan to grow them in, at least for a while...by a "while" I think the limiting factor would be the depth of these planters...they may become too shallow. They are roughly 5 inches wide by 17 or 18 inches long and 4-1/2 inches deep.
Once again, I'm all over the place here. First thing is to get the seed germinated. Water germination? Germinate them where they're going to be growing for a while? Germinate them on sphagnum moss and transplant the plantlets?
I'm overthinking this, ain't I?