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Post by blokeman on Jan 9, 2009 17:20:22 GMT -5
just wondering what to do with gemmae, how would i go about giving these guys a home, just wanna be able to expand my collection in an interesting manner... so my questions are: is humidity really relative, substrate requirements, and lighting and temp issues. and for later reference, what about lifecycles and future gemmae production... Thanks for any advice Steven
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Post by hackerberry on Jan 9, 2009 17:25:27 GMT -5
Hi blokeman, Not sure who posted this site earlier but all the information you're gonna need is here. pygmydrosera.com/gemmae.htmlHope this helps, this is just a reference but first hand experience is still the best. I know that a lot of the folks here will give you much detailed information. hb
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Post by lloyd on Jan 9, 2009 21:18:02 GMT -5
There probably are really hard pygmies but so far I've found them fairly easy.
The hybrids and pygmaea are really easy. Gritty sand: peat 1:1 any size or depth pot is good, drained or not. I grow mine now in 2" tiny pots, maybe 20 in a pot. They give a really nice show with foliage and flowers.
The species ones I grow in Sand:peat 1.5-2:1 in 4" drained pots ~ 10 per pot.
They all grow in my terrarium. Hot to occasionally cool room temperature. Humidity medium to high. Always wet with distilled water. Lots of sun. Flatten the medium, gently lay the gemmae on top and water gently with a dropper or from a tray or dish so as not to disturb them. Try to harvest some gemmae, the pygmies seem to die off after 1-3 years.
I find I can transplant them if I want. Put the medium in distilled water to tease out the roots. Poke a hole in the new medium and gently guide the roots in and tamp the soil down.
In short, they are fun and not too much effort.
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Post by hal on Jan 22, 2009 18:11:31 GMT -5
Another question on gemmae.
Everything I've read says don't cover them. I didn't, but after a couple of mists they've disappeared under what I guess is a thin layer of sand as the medium settles. I can't see them anymore. Is this a problem, or am I just being a neurotic newbie?
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Post by hackerberry on Jan 22, 2009 19:32:10 GMT -5
Nothing to worry about hal, this happened to my gemmae too. They are now growing like weeds coming out of the medium.
hb
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Post by lloyd on Jan 22, 2009 19:33:32 GMT -5
It is hard to water them delicately. Coarse sand helps as it doesn't shift as much. If they're only a mm or so deep they should be Ok. It's easiest to use the tray method so the medium stays moist without watering from above. If you want you can poke about with a toothpick and uncover them carefully or use the mister to unearth them.
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Post by Rick Hillier on Jan 22, 2009 20:19:38 GMT -5
Hi Lloyd,
Just to let you know that all of the gemmae that I got from you have started growing. Thanks once again for your generosity. Now if only I can get my existing pygmies to produce gemmae, I'd be really happy... They really are beautiful plants!
>>> Rick <<<
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Post by tael on Jan 22, 2009 20:23:40 GMT -5
Thanks from me too! I don't really see any signs from the callistos yet, but the lasianthus are starting to come up. I think I might not have been keeping them in high enough humidity... so I might have messed up with the callistos because most of them are a reddish colour. But hopefully there's still hope for them! In any case, thanks Lloyd!
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Post by lloyd on Jan 22, 2009 21:03:21 GMT -5
Red is not necessarily dead. They really don't need super high humidity but the surface should be constantly moist.
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Post by tael on Jan 22, 2009 21:37:34 GMT -5
Oooh okay! Well hopefully they'll still come up then.
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