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Post by cpgeek on Jul 30, 2011 14:32:05 GMT -5
Hi folks, Thought you would be interested to see some recent photos of my dentata seedlings. This is my 1st attempt at this species, but I think they're on steroids as I am amazed at just how fast they've matured in just under 9 months from seed. Check it out... Germinating last Nov. Like most cape seed, they require a cold stratification period with temps dipping to freezing to stimulate germination. Feb 2011 April 2011. Growth really picked up in the warmer temps. The resin secretions are easily seen in this pic - much more sticky to touch than drosera mucilage. June 2011 - Producing its 1st branches 2 weeks ago - very bushy now and growing very fast even without help from Pameridae! Plants are now ~17 tall. The plant is surprizingly easy to grow (so far) in tyoical windowsill conditions (SW exposure). Plants have long, delicate roots and probably need deep pots. Mine are in 15 cm deep pots. However, they seem to not like changes in growing conditions or root disturbance. Happy long weekend, Rob
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Post by lloyd on Jul 30, 2011 15:16:29 GMT -5
Excellent plants-inspires me to maybe try again.
I thought Roridula were hard. The seeds I once tried certainly never grew. When you say cape seeds need stratification, do you mean Drosera capensis? D. capensis seeds sure don't need cold stratification. Also I'm growing some fynbos plants from the cape and they don't need any special stratification-according to the various people who sold me the seed. So far my cape area seeds have germinated without any special stratification, although I did use GA3 and epibrassinolide.
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Post by Devon on Jul 30, 2011 16:04:28 GMT -5
As Lloyd said, this is inspiring. I would love to give these a shot some day. Thanks for sharing.
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Post by cpgeek on Aug 1, 2011 12:58:01 GMT -5
Thanks guys for your feedback. Lloyd, I'm not an expert by any means, but according to the Silverhill Seed website (where I purchased the dentata seed), veteran growers and my own experience, many seed from the cape region of South Africa respond well to cold stratification, if not a requirement for efficient germinaton. For example, difficult dews like cistiflora, pauciflora, hilaris, trinervia, ramentacea etc have only germinated for me after 6-8 weeks night temps down to 8-12 C. If I sowed them in similar conditions in the summer, little (if any) germination would occur. Actually, the seed of the above dentata plants had sat in their pots since sowing in spring of 2010. Then, on the advice of a respected grower, I moved them to full sun in the summer allowing the medium to dry out and increased watering in mid-October. Out of 10 seed sown, 4 had germinated by mid November. Prolific species like D. capensis and aliciae (and probably other non-CPs from the cape area) don't seem to require stratification to induce sprouting; however, I wouldn't be surprized if germination rate would increase if provided. I don't have experience with GA3, epibrassinolide,r smoke/fire treatment etc but these may work well too. R. gorgonias responds likewise to stratification. Both Roridula spp. I've found are actually quite easy and, as you can see, are fast growers ;D Here is a shot from yesterday. R. gorgonias plants can be seen in the background on the RHS. Good growing, Rob
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Post by Devon on Aug 1, 2011 14:48:26 GMT -5
These are just growing on windowsills?? I think I also see some lovely cephalotus in the background. You've got to show us some pics of your entire windowsill plant area! Thanks for the information too, I tried trinervia once and failed, likely because of the warm conditions. Now I know!
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Post by lloyd on Aug 1, 2011 15:02:59 GMT -5
Maybe that's why my trinervia is sitting there although it's reasonably cool in the basement. Rachel at Summerhill has given me verying advice at different times: varying warm and cool, cold temperatures and just waiting a long time. I guess it depends a lot on where in the cape the seeds come from. There's a wide variation in climate depending on lwind patterns, latitude and altitude in the Cape area.
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Post by vraev on Aug 1, 2011 16:26:38 GMT -5
Fantastic plants Rob. If anyone is planning on getting more seed/plants of this, please let me know, I am interested in getting some as well. I always wanted to try this species.
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Post by cpgeek on Aug 1, 2011 17:26:44 GMT -5
Varun, I just checked the Silverhill Seed site but looks like they're out of seed at the moment www.silverhillseeds.co.za/ByCategory.asp?pgnum=0A google search may turn up other sources. Now is the time to locate seed as I've found the best time to sow SA seed is in October when temps are dropping. Keep seed in a cold, bright location that experiences 0-10 deg C at night and about 10 degs C higher during the day. Germination should occur in 4-6 weeks in high humidity and seedlings should grow until May-June when the heat of summer will cause them to go dormant. This method has worked well many times on cape dews trinervia, cistis, paucis etc) and Roridula spp alike. Devon, you'd be surprized at what you can grow well on the humble windowsill Lloyd, don't throw out old pots of sown seed. Place them outside in direct sun, allowing the medium to dry out and withholding water. Start watering in mid-October and you should see some activity in ~6 weeks. Good growing, Rob
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Post by hal on Aug 1, 2011 18:11:50 GMT -5
Darn, just tossed a pot of trinervia seeds that hadn't done anything for 6 months. But I think I have some more.
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Post by lloyd on Aug 1, 2011 18:50:01 GMT -5
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Post by lloyd on Aug 23, 2011 20:30:11 GMT -5
I never got around to putting the trinervia pot out in the sun and letting it bake and dry out. But today I looked and there were a lot of reasonable sized seedlings. Must have been the 24 hr. soak with 250ppm GA3, 5ppb epibrassinolide and 1 drop of Tween 20.
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Post by dvg on Nov 19, 2011 14:16:07 GMT -5
Rob, that's surprising how fast your R. dentata grew out from seed for you.
It must really like your conditions.
I started some from seed a few days ago and already the seeds have swollen up considerably, so hopefully in another month or so, i too will have little R. dentata sprouts happening in my basement as well.
It definitely is a plant of interest and seems worth growing.
dvg
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Post by Apoplast on Nov 19, 2011 20:14:36 GMT -5
Rob - Nice R. dentata! I've just started my first R. gorgonias. I've heard they are slower than R. dentata.
I see your plants are, sadly, lonely like all Roridula in North America seem to be. Do you know if anyone in North America has their little companions? I realize they will grow fine without them, but it would be so much cooler if they had their friends.
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Post by cpgeek on Dec 27, 2011 15:09:21 GMT -5
Looks like I missed answering your question Apoplast - apologies. I certainly don't have the critters on my plants nor am I aware of anyone with them in Canada. I was once offered leaves with embedded Pameridea eggs from an overseas source but didn't want to be the cause of introducing into the environment yet another invasive pest, however remote the possibility. As you can see, their presence is not necessary for success. Here's a recent pic of one of my plants - just over 13 months old and 25 cm high. The lower leaves have died off to yield to a woody stem and lower branches that are typical of mature plants. Who knows, they might even flower this year! Good growing, Rob
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Post by lloyd on Dec 27, 2011 16:46:50 GMT -5
!!!!!!!!!!!
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