Xuan, how did you plant them? I have more seeds if they do not come up. Some of mine have grown fast others are slower. Maybe they got Xrayed in the shipment and became sterile?? Weird!

I have more seeds, too... not to worry! I'm not sure why the germination rate was zero... mine sprouted ok for me.

The only thing I can think of is that they may have passed through some cold weather on the way to your daughter, and didn't survive... but Priority Mail usually moves too fast through the system to sit anywhere or get that cold.

I'm not sure what an x-ray would do to a seed... I know that video and cassette tapes are affected by x-rays, but I'm sure about seeds... that's a good question.

Perhaps your weather is too hot for germination to occur in a timely manner... I'm out of possibilities... it's a mystery!

Never fear... I have plenty of seeds, and will be happy to replace some for you... just keep me informed of your daughter's travels.

When I got Exotic Star and Limona from Jodi last December, I started them and got TWO Limonas. I used a mix I made myself of coconut peat + rice husk ashes + garden soil + perlite and left them in the shade house in Saigon and the weather was about 90F. Now these two seedlings are doing ok.
Last year the batch of seeds from Elizabeth and Cindee germinated almost 100%. I started them in California. I used the salad plastic box. I left them outside (it was June-July weather in Northern California). I used peat moss + perlite.
This time, I used 100% rice husk ashes which people here use a lot of seed raising. I put all the baskets in a big plastic bag, carefully marked with names and all..., and placed them on the top shelf in my green/shade house in Dalat. The weather is about 80F. Three weeks passed and no germination!
I guess maybe it's too hot on the top shelf and the mix was not right... I should have added perlite (just wanted to save it for AVs...) and should have placed the baskets on the lower shelf!
Anyway, a close friend of our family from Denver Colorado is coming to visit us in late May. I'd appreciate it VERY MUCH if you can spare me some more seeds, please! I want to do it right this time. I'll email the address.
Thank you so much, friends.

Xuan

Haxuan, maybe if the weather is that hot, you can try the water method. Give them indirect sunlight (I guess in your climate you can keep them outdoor but under shade).

I used a plastic cup to hold the water and close it with another cup. The picture shown here was taken about 2 weeks ago. Now almost all the seeds in the cup have germinated.

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These are Red Lions self cross. The seeds were given to me free. I now have more than enough. If you want some of them, I can send some to you too. The germination rate of these seeds is pretty high. If you want the seeds, just email me your friend's address.

Xuan...Is it alright to bring in live plants in Vietnam? Like little bulblets? If yes, I can send you some bulblets from the collection through your friend. I will properly ID them for you so you can have 'named varieties'.

Ohhhhh... And the variegated AV I got for you guys! I can send you some of it's leaves too! And I just bought another Optimara AV that has these huge deep red (just like Benfica)single star flower, again thinking of you Cindee and Jodi...lol! I hope the leaves would survive the trip though.

Please email me...

Thank you so much, Dave and Maria, for wanting to share. FYI, it's VERY EASY to bring live plants into Vietnam. When I came back from the US last year, I got my carry-on full of plants - you guess AVs, amaryllis bulb & seedlings, and many other plants that I couldnot find in Vietnam. Everything came through intact and almost all the plants survived and flourished to date!
As for the seeds being discussed here, this morning I picked up a seed from the batch and sure enough the "lump" was quite visible! Maybe it will germinate soon?!?! I'm afraid I've "cooked" the seeds leaving them in that plastic baggie while the temp was high!
Anyway, I will wait a little longer and will keep you informed. But still, I'd appreciate some of your seedlings/bublets if you have more than enough. I will email you my friend's address.
Thank you again, Maria, for the AV leaves. I'm not sure if my friend will know how to take care of the leaves before taking them back to me. So, please hold on to those leaves until my daughter's next trip. But thanks all the same.

Xuan

Xuan - my guess is that the temperature is too high for decent germination... some of my seeds sprouted at room temperature, which here is about 70 degrees F. Some I floated in water and placed on a heat mat, but I added a buffer zone so the water wouldn't get too warm.

I think your temperatures may be too high, and as you said, the poor seeds are cooking! If you can find a more temperate place to keep the germination pots or trays, you may have better luck.

I will get some seeds together and send them to the address you emailed. How soon do they need to be there??

Last year I tried the float method outside and I had a cooking issue too. However, after relocating I did get roots and plants from the seeds. This year I have had much better success floating in sunny windows indoors.

I relocated the seeds two days ago and am watching every day for sign of white/green.

Xuan

any roots yet Xuan? If these seeds DO make it they will be strong plants for all the struggling they have had to endure. lol

If not give us enough heads up to get some more seeds to your friend in Colorado.

Cindee, I have left Dalat for my home in Saigon since Tuesday so I don't really have any news about the seeds! I will know next week when I return there.

Xuan