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VFTs In flowering, when to plant the Seed?

Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2020 8:38 pm
by Greenthumbs Garden
So this year I was planning to cut back all my flowering VFTs as I had recently repotted. But time got away with me on a few plants and the stalks got big so I've let a few flowers. One thing I've failed at twice in trying is growing these by seed, I would like to try again this year from my seed I harvest.
Question is when should I plant them, are they good to go straight away?

Re: VFTs In flowering, when to plant the Seed?

Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2020 8:58 pm
by crazy_carnivores
yes, from what i've heard, they are best when fresh. you can also refrigerate them to save them for later.

Re: VFTs In flowering, when to plant the Seed?

Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2020 9:10 pm
by _-SphagnumFromHell-_
Aside from what some sources will say, Venus Flytraps don't require any sort of stratification. I try to plant them as early as possible, so they get as much time in the growing season to sprout and develop.

Re: VFTs In flowering, when to plant the Seed?

Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2020 6:34 am
by Greenthumbs Garden
fantastic stuff guys, I cant wait to try again this year! The first attempt.... pot was too deep and the soil dried on the top surface and I lost them..... Second attempt,,, Fungus Gnats and then fungus killed them all. ... I can still hear the screams at night.

Re: VFTs In flowering, when to plant the Seed?

Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2020 6:40 am
by Greenthumbs Garden
I have a few flowers right now that has dried up and enclosed, I think ill go snip them off today.

Re: VFTs In flowering, when to plant the Seed?

Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2020 2:13 pm
by ChefDean
Dr GreenThumb wrote: Thu Jun 04, 2020 6:40 am I have a few flowers right now that has dried up and enclosed, I think ill go snip them off today.
Don't snip them off quite yet, the ovaries need time on the plant to ripen and mature. Just keep an eye on them and, when it looks like they're splitting open, gently massage the pod to release the seeds into a bowl held underneath.
If you snip them off too soon the seeds don't get anything from the plant to mature, then the plant went through all that for nothing.

Re: VFTs In flowering, when to plant the Seed?

Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2020 2:35 pm
by Greenthumbs Garden
@ChefDean, Ah great!! It's a good job I got busy with other things and did not have time to snip away this morning, :lol: Thanks for the heads up, I shall wait and watch closely.

Re: VFTs In flowering, when to plant the Seed?

Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2020 3:47 pm
by schmeg
And then donate your extra seeds to the Seed Bank!

seed-bank.html

Re: VFTs In flowering, when to plant the Seed?

Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2020 4:14 pm
by schmeg
Thread with pictures of ripe flytrap seed heads, including this image posted by @boarderlib: ready-to-harvest-t43991.html

Image

Re: VFTs In flowering, when to plant the Seed?

Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2020 7:49 am
by Greenthumbs Garden
@schmeg, excellent, i must have missed this pic. Most flowers have died now and its curled around but still pretty fresh and green. so ill wait more. My plants have suffered this year letting them flower, I'm eager to cut off the stalked and be done with it. a few were repotted this year and the other is in desperate need of a re-pot, the plant is looking in serious need but the flowers are still in bloom. Cant decide what to do, I'll try and get some pics later

Re: VFTs In flowering, when to plant the Seed?

Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2020 2:29 pm
by schmeg
At this point, let the flytrap just do its thing naturally: ripen those seeds, then recover. If it is otherwise healthy (good potting medium, etc.) don't mess with it. Living things often need time to rebound after producing offspring.

Sincerely,

A mom.
:D

Re: VFTs In flowering, when to plant the Seed?

Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2020 10:36 pm
by MikeB
Here's what I do with my flytrap seeds. I take a 6 in. X 9 in. / 15 cm. X 22 cm. tray (with drain holes), fill it with carnivorous plant soil, then top it with a thin layer (0.5 inch / 1 centimeter) of damp sphagnum moss. When the seeds are ripe (in July, where I'm located), I collect them and sprinkle them on the moss, then water them in. The seeds get the exact same care as the adult plants. In 2-4 weeks, they sprout. In the fall, I let them undergo dormancy just like the adults.

Here is a picture of last summer's seedlings:
Almost 1 year old.jpg
Almost 1 year old.jpg (691.53 KiB) Viewed 4846 times
And here is a picture of the ones from two years ago:
Almost 2 years old.jpg
Almost 2 years old.jpg (664.19 KiB) Viewed 4846 times

Re: VFTs In flowering, when to plant the Seed?

Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2020 9:26 pm
by Greenthumbs Garden
@MikeB, Fantastic Mike!!! I'm envious :mrgreen: I hope I can successfully grow vft from seed next time. very rewarding!

Re: VFTs In flowering, when to plant the Seed?

Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2020 9:42 pm
by Matt
Great looking babies, @MikeB, !!

Re: VFTs In flowering, when to plant the Seed?

Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2020 6:00 pm
by Greenthumbs Garden
So I'm still waiting for the seed to ripen, what I notice is that some of the seed pods did not swell and remained small. while others have swelled tremendously! So I'm gathering the ones that did not swell did not get pollinated? so there will not be seed in them?