skip to main content

Chrismac: C'mon in... the water's fine! (AKA: My first seeds)

15 years ago

Chrismac:

Thanks for the seed recommendations. Yesterday I received Boon Yen, Daisy Wilcox, Mary Moragne, Madame Poni and, as a bonus, some mystery seeds. I used the information straight from your website. After a quick trip to Lowe's for the Superthrive, and the dollar store for the cheapest "Tupperware" around, I was all set. I felt like a kid doing a science project... a 50-year-old kid!

Everything I need

Little man in a boat

A comfortable spot, with a view of the pool.

After one hour, no sign of growth! LOL!

I placed the germination pools on a bench, outdoors (South Florida), in bright shade. Should I replace the water at any time? Also, I saw on your site, that you placed the seeds in perlite after they sprouted, and before you placed them in your potting mix. Can you provide some specifics there. I want to make sure I get this right. I'm going for 100% success here!

Mahalo nui loa,

Bob

Just checked again... nothing.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (14)

iowajojo
15 years ago
LOL Bob, too funny. Now I am going to have to check this post every hour to see if anything rooted!
lopaka_mikale
Original Author
15 years ago
Yeah, Jo... this patience thing is killing me. I don't know how I am going to make it till they actually bloom!!! :o)

Bob
Related Discussions
My blueberries are finally in...
Q
Comments (81)
Its not hard. First I look for crossing branches that are rubbing on each other and see which one makes the most since to remove. Next I look for branches that grow back into the center of bush and remove them. You want sun light and air to get to the center of the plant. If its a 4 year old plant or older I will look to remove a few of the oldest canes but leaving a 3 or 4 inch stub above the soil line. It will sprout new vigorous canes from the stub. Then I just cut back the top and sides of the remaing branches and canes. Some plants like sweetcrisp and springhigh have very thin long branches. I cut them back hard to keep them from getting too long and flimsy. Plants like Emerald have very thick and sterdy branches and my not need to be cut back hard. After a good hair cut they tend to flush out alot of new growth which will be all your new fruiting wood the following season. Its important to start tipping all the new growth early and often as they will get out of hand in a hurry if your fertilizing often. I like to tip my new growth at about 6inchs. It slows the plants down, keeps there size in check, strengthens the branches and increases fruiting wood as each time you tip it promotes more branching. You have to keep it up all growing season. I usually stop tipping around Aug/Sept. Let the new growth go after that point and that last flush will produce all your fruit buds for next season.
...See More
My Christmas present (AKA prettier pot gettho)
Q
Comments (19)
My oldest daughter (who is in the Army) and has some money for the first time in her young life, asked me what I wanted for Christmas. I told her lots of dirt for Winter Sowing and Bubble Mailers for exchanging seeds through the mail. She had a fit!! She said she was not getting "some raggedy stuff for her mother for Christmas!". I tried to convince her that it was what I really wanted, but she was having none of it. She ended up buying me a very lovely indoor tabletop water fountain that I will NEVER be able to use because of my 4 large dogs and three smaller children that would just destroy it!!!! PLEASE!!! SOMEONE GIVE ME SOME DIRT!!!!!!!!
...See More
Okay my fellow seed-starters, what seeds are you ordering?
Q
Comments (17)
Just for fun I stopped at the Ravenna Gardens up in U Village this weekend (I took the bus since my neighborhood's side streets were totally snowed in this weekend). Renee's Garden seeds has packets of rose seeds. I thought it would be fun to give them a try. It says they've been scarified and pre-treated for somewhat speedy germination (I've grown plenty of roses from my own seeds and always just plant them in autumn and wait until spring so they get variable temps/moisture that they need to sprout in spring (or muuuuuch later)), but this is the first time I've tried from purchased seed. I thought it would be fun to give them a try. We'll see how they do, but I'm curious. It says they are small growing, small flowering types in various shades of pink with some white. Below is a nice link to the actual seed pack. Happy growing and sowing, Grant Here is a link that might be useful: Rose seeds from Renee's Garden seeds
...See More
Where did I go wrong? (aka Honey, I shrunk the tomatoes)
Q
Comments (17)
I say pot them up a size, and in regular potting soil, Bonnie. Bet itÂll give them a boost. And carefully remove the seed leaves and bury them all the way up to the first set of true leaves. And keep watering them with a dilute water soluble fertilizer. I also recommend putting them out all day any time itÂs up around or above 60, and even a little bit lower if the sunÂs out. The wind and sun will be good for them, and theyÂre gonna be out there on their own before too long anyway. You might keep them in or put them out in filtered sun or bright shade for a couple days right after you pot them up. Most of mine have or are just getting their second set of true leaves, so I really donÂt think youÂre that far behindÂif at all. And one other point! Last year I was looking for a couple more varieties than I had started, so I bought one in a gallon pot, and one in a small pot. Both of the store bought ones were bigger than the ones I started, and it almost looked like my tiny little plants werenÂt worth putting in the ground, but once they were planted, it wasnÂt long at all before they were ALL the same size, and without a scorecard, I really couldnÂt tell which had been which. In my experience, they love getting out into the ground and really take off once they do. And, Ian, all that for you too! I sowed my seed on March 31st, and I just potted them up from the 2' pots they were started in to 3Â½" pots. I mostly potted them up a size so I could bury them deeper to help establish a bigger root system before they go out into my clay! If you think yours look a little too pale, I recommend you start watering with a water soluble fertilizer too. I use 20/20/20Âfor EVERYTHING! For seedlings I usually use it half strength, and if they seem to like that, I make it a little bit stronger. IÂve never used Miracle Grow soilÂor Miracle Grow anything else, but if itÂs forming a crust on top when it drys, get something else. IÂve never used it either, but the Black Gold everybodyÂs talking about sounds good. I use Sunshine mix, since I can get it in bales, but itÂs available in smaller size bags too. ItÂs what everything was planted in at PaulinoÂs, and it always worked well. I use it for starting seeds, rooting cuttings, and everything else. But Digit and David both grow a LOT of stuff, and if they think Black Gold is good, thatÂs good enough for me. Ball mix is a good quality too, but I donÂt think you can usually find it in anything smaller than a bale. Just think, for a minute, about all those YUMMY home grown tomatoes! Skybird
...See More
iowajojo
15 years ago
Bob, any roots yet? ;)

I won't EVEN try seeds up here in the cold north! Probably take 10 years to bloom!!
chrismac_flutter
15 years ago
LOL BOB!!!!!!!! You are killing me! The set up looks great. I usually don't have to change the water at all as they usually germinate before the water looks even close to dirty. I would say by Tuesday (depending on this dopey storm and the heat) you should see a little tail at the bottom of the seeds. If the weather gets bad, bring it in and put it on top of maybe your dryer.

After they pop open and have a root long enought to almost hit the bottom of the tupperware, I would move it into perlite. At least a 1/3 of cactus soil and 2/3 of perlite. YOu can use a small 4" pot and put all the same kinds in together (Don't forget to label the pot)

Then leave them in there until you have at least 4 good leaves (A little bunch at the top and then 1 more set a little lower down the branch). Then put them in 2/3 cactus soil and 1/3 perlite

Looking great so far!!

Chris
lopaka_mikale
Original Author
15 years ago
Jo

Last check of the evening... not yet.

I admire you folks up north. Out for summer... in for winter. Sounds like a lot of work. Mine only come in when the serious hurricane threats pop up. Which could be this weekend :(. And then, the in-ground trees, really take a beating. One of my Aztec Golds has, at least, 12 inflos, right now. Would hate to miss out on the show!!

Chris

Don't worry... first sign of Fay heading our way, and these little guys come in. Don't want them in the chlorinated pool! Hope it stays clear. The gardens look their best, since before the the first round of hurricanes back in 04'. You remember them well, I'm sure.

Looking forward to the next step in the process. Can't wait to see those little leaves.

Another question: Why do the Plumeria seeds not produce flowers true to the mother? How similar, or dissimilar can I expect them to be... assuming success, of course?

Mahalo,
Bob
kbauman
15 years ago
Hi,
Missed the original message. Now is that starofoam pieces..seed through starofoam, bottom laying into little pools of mentioned liquid? I have never tried to grow seeds.
Karen B
tdogdad
15 years ago
Bob- the plumeria has more genes than humans which gives it a very large potential for variations. If the flower is self pollinated the variation is less whereas a cross pollination gives a greater variation. Also, if a self pollinated flower is a product of a cross pollination you have greater variation than if it was a product of another self pollination. In other words, you need over four dozen genes to match for a plant to be just like mom. In my experience, between 50% and 75% of the seeds in a pod will look close to the mom plant but may have variations in thickness, smell, shape, color, size, flower production, etc. Whites and yellows produce fewer other colors unless they are a mix (like Cindy Moragne). Reds, pinks and rainbows produce more variations. It is the complex genetics that give such a potential for something to vary. Bill
lopaka_mikale
Original Author
15 years ago
Hi Karen B.

Yes, the styrofoam pieces are just regular packing peanuts. Chrismac has a web page that explains the whole process. This is where I got the information in the first place. Check out the link below... then look thru the entire website. Chris did a fabulous job of sharing experiences and useful information, in an easy to understand manner. I now have her website saved on my plumeria bookmarks page, in the number 2 position, right after this forum! Next I will try her water bottle method for rooting cuttings.

Bill

I thought it might take you or Jack to give that explanation! I would not have thought that different variations would emerge from the same pod. That, I find very interesting and exciting, as I could get varying flowers from the few seeds I have.

Mahalo,
Bob

Here is a link that might be useful: Chrismac's germination pool
iowajojo
15 years ago
Well?
lopaka_mikale
Original Author
15 years ago
Iowajo

You know, I was going to give you some cute reply, without even checking. I checked. Can't help it. Water never boils for me. The mystery seeds and Daisy Wilcox are already showing white spots emerging from the tips!!! Chrismac is a genius! Hopefully will have enough to show up in photos tomorrow! Or an hour from now.

Mahalo,
Bob
iowajojo
15 years ago
LOL!!! If only my cuttings would root so fast!!
lopaka_mikale
Original Author
15 years ago
After 3 days, there is a great deal of activity in the germination pools.

Here they are, hiding from Tropical Storm Fay, in my garage. Hopefully those cuttings will be outside tomorrow for some fresh air and sunlight!

A couple of the better performing mystery seeds

Daisy Wilcox taking a peek

A regular party in the Boon Yen pool!

I wish I could get excited about this stuff!

So you are seeing here, 7 out of 31 seeds. I'd be happy if the success ended there, but there's lots more going on with the other seeds, just not as photogenic. I will get back when these guys start sprouting in their pots, so I don't bore you to tears. I expect that won't be too long from now.

Bob
chrismac_flutter
15 years ago
Awesome Bob! Everyone looks great! COngrats

Chris
iowajojo
15 years ago
WTG Bob!!! Now who am I gonna pester???

Related Stories

MOST POPULAR Meet a Lawn Alternative That Works Wonders

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Carex can replace turfgrass in any spot, is low maintenance and adjusts easily. Add its good looks and you’ve got a ground cover winner

GARDENING GUIDES Unleash Your Guerilla Gardener

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Toss some seed bombs around the yard for easy, beneficial plantings

GARDENING GUIDES 8 Flowers That Hummingbirds Adore

To draw those mesmerizing little birds to your garden or doorstep, plant these flowers that are attractive in more ways than one

PETS 5 Finishes Pets and Kids Can’t Destroy — and 5 to Avoid

By Christine Tusher

Save your sanity and your decorating budget by choosing materials and surfaces that can stand up to abuse

SMALL SPACES Life Lessons From 10 Years of Living in 84 Square Feet

By Mitchell Parker

Dee Williams was looking for a richer life. She found it by moving into a very tiny house

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES Gardening for the Bees, and Why It’s a Good Thing

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

When you discover how hard bees work for our food supply, you may never garden without them in mind again

INSIDE HOUZZ How Much Does a Remodel Cost, and How Long Does It Take?

By Erin Carlyle

The 2016 Houzz & Home survey asked 120,000 Houzzers about their renovation projects. Here’s what they said

MOST POPULAR How to Get Rid of Those Pesky Summer Fruit Flies

By Mitchell Parker

Learn what fruit flies are, how to prevent them and how to get rid of them in your home

PETS Dealing With Pet Messes: An Animal Lover's Story

By Tiffany Carboni

Cat and dog hair, tracked-in mud, scratched floors ... see how one pet guardian learned to cope and to focus on the love

BATHROOM DESIGN Powder Room Essentials to Keep Guests Happy

By Nicole White Designs Interiors LLC

Set out these bathroom necessities (hello, hand towels) to make your company comfortable and your parties run smoothly

Sponsored

MCR ROMERO WORK LLC

Innovative & Creative General Contractors Servicing Franklin County

More Discussions

My Plumeria tree is it sick?

1

How to save my plumeria?

6