discouraged. Need to hear from someone successful with calla lily

18 years ago

I read a tutorial and have tried the baggie method.

I've also tried the Throw them in a warm pot with moist dirt method. It has been over 40 days still nothing.( I realize it can take up to 90 but I have a bad feeling)

I harvested my seeds as late as possible here in zone 5. I planted them immediately.

I'd like to hear from someone who has success with this plant from seed. Please give me some advise.

Thx

Karen

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Comments (8)

georgez5il
18 years ago
I DO NOT COVER THE SEED.......SOIL TEMPERATURE 70-80f... KEEP SEED/SOIL DAMP NOT WET & did take 30-90 days to germinate
highlandsgardener
18 years ago
Planted 50 in a self-watering seed starter almost 30 days ago. Planted them 1/8 inch deep. Put them in the basement under lights. Temp probably around 70. Took the lid off after 2 wks. 2 have sprouted already & I have high hopes for the rest! Don't give up!
Carol
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morz8 - Washington Coast
18 years ago
Druse, Making More Plants, agrees with George...

Light, sow outdoors in warm climates. Or light, sow indoors 70-80F, germination in as many as 90 days.

Also increase by sections of tubers with eyes.
highlandsgardener
18 years ago
druse, making more plants, germination up to 7 now after 35 or so days. Obviously, I'm an idiot. You guys can agree on anything you want. But why is my method working too?
morz8 - Washington Coast
18 years ago
No one is suggesting you are an idiot...there is a range of sowing methods that will produce seedlings for any given plant. And a wide range in viability of seeds depending on when they were harvested, sown, how they were stored and handled, or maybe the plant angels were just smiling harder on those seeds :)

The recommendations found by the best propagators (i.e. Druse, Clothier) are the suggestions for the methods that will most often bring the best results...not that only one particular method is the ONLY way you will find germination - more an average of what will work most reliably and not an exact science. For most plants at least, there are exceptions of course.
highlandsgardener
18 years ago
Hey, I really am an idiot!! After all, I planted amaryllis in the ground and left it for going on 4 yrs. Now I've planted an agave outdoors too. I just want things to work my way even if they're not supposed to. What better definition of an idiot. Didn't mean to sound like I took offense!
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dirtysc8
18 years ago
cheerpeople, I'm in a warmer Zone than you are (Zone 8), but I wintersowed calla lily seeds last year from a trader in England who sent me seeds of a particularly hardy calla lily not available here. The seedlings are progressing nicely.

When I try to sow seeds indoors, it's in my sunny dining room, but so far I've succeeded only in burning up the plants by not keeping the soil adequately moist. Thank goodness for winter sowing!
cheerpeople
Original Author
18 years ago
YEAH!!!!!
It worked. I have sprouts!!! It took 7 long weeks.
I was unable to exposed them to light AND have heat- so I picked heat- and put the pot of dirt and seeds in my sons waterbed drawer. FWIW :the baggie method has so far not germinated.

Whooo Hooooo! yippee skippee!

DirtySC8- my mom gets them to germinate from self sowing in her warm zone like yours.After trying over 400 types of various seed with WS..I have found WS to not be effective with tropicals and half hardy plants in this zone. I only WS those that require cold treatment now as spring sowing has been so much more successful, overall for me.

thx folks for your encouragement . I was fix'n to pitch 'em.
Karen

discouraged. Need to hear from someone successful with calla lily

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georgez5il

highlandsgardener

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discouraged. Need to hear from someone successful with calla lily

Comments (8)

georgez5il

highlandsgardener

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