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Pygmies
Apr 8, 2015 15:42:10 GMT -5
Post by gerry on Apr 8, 2015 15:42:10 GMT -5
Devon sent me some Gemmae, and i ran out of sand to mixx with peat. Should i sow them on pure peat? or should i refrigerate them until Friday when i can go get more sand?
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Pygmies
Apr 8, 2015 16:29:40 GMT -5
Post by lloyd on Apr 8, 2015 16:29:40 GMT -5
Keep them moist at room temperature. There's no hurry. Plant them when you get the sand. I think it's better than perlite for pygmies. Don't use pure peat.
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Pygmies
Apr 8, 2015 16:52:25 GMT -5
Post by shoggoths on Apr 8, 2015 16:52:25 GMT -5
You can also put them in water, they can be keep that way a long time.
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Pygmies
Apr 8, 2015 19:34:01 GMT -5
Post by hal on Apr 8, 2015 19:34:01 GMT -5
You can also put them in water, they can be keep that way a long time. Make sure the water isn't very deep though, or give the pygmies a snorkel.
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Pygmies
Apr 8, 2015 19:45:35 GMT -5
Post by gerry on Apr 8, 2015 19:45:35 GMT -5
They are in moist paper towel, in a ziplock bag right now. sitting at room temp.
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Pygmies
Apr 8, 2015 20:31:56 GMT -5
Post by gerry on Apr 8, 2015 20:31:56 GMT -5
they are quite protected, i was just worried them keeping, cuz read lots of articles and none say the same thing.... 3 layers of paper towel in a bag with moisture seems protective to me, but i dont know if they need to breathe if they are at room temp sorry about all the questions its just that google can be ambiguous at times, and i trust you guys
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Pygmies
Apr 8, 2015 21:21:44 GMT -5
Post by shoggoths on Apr 8, 2015 21:21:44 GMT -5
I'll have to argue a bit with Hal on this one. For the past two years, I've been overwintering my gemmae in 10 ml vials half full of water, in the fridge, without problem. They usually float on the surface. I did not check for 'germination' percentage once sowed in Spring but really few turned black. You will not store them for a long time so both method should do but for long time storage, I don't like paper towel because if the roots get out of the gemmae, you will break them when you will remove them from the paper. Yours are already in paper so no need to move them before potting time.
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Pygmies
Apr 8, 2015 21:21:49 GMT -5
Post by lloyd on Apr 8, 2015 21:21:49 GMT -5
There's probably no hurry in taking them out of the paper towel right away. However there's no downside to taking them out and just floating them in water (distilled) or putting them on moist paper towel in a petri-dish (or some container which is closed). That way the gemmae will start sprouting sooner.
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Pygmies
Apr 8, 2015 21:48:04 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by hal on Apr 8, 2015 21:48:04 GMT -5
I'll have to argue a bit with Hal on this one. . Pygmies....shallow water....never mind. My bad joke has tripped me up. You've kept your Pygmy collection going much longer than I did, Martin. Gerry- listen to this guy. He knows his stuff.
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Pygmies
Apr 8, 2015 21:58:35 GMT -5
Post by shoggoths on Apr 8, 2015 21:58:35 GMT -5
Ouch, my bad. You know me, next time, don't forget the drawing and I'll perhaps catch it
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Pygmies
Apr 9, 2015 14:03:53 GMT -5
Post by gerry on Apr 9, 2015 14:03:53 GMT -5
Before i head out to grab the sand tomorrow, i want to ask this. If i cant find sand, they said they have sand, but its fine sand. Will Aquarium gravel, or activated charcoal work? Like the stuff for filters? Perlite? I wont be able to go again for a long time, so i want to know my options before i waste a trip and they end up not having proper sand.
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Pygmies
Apr 9, 2015 14:17:10 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by H2O on Apr 9, 2015 14:17:10 GMT -5
Grity silica sand is want you're going to want to aim for. Fine sand isn't the greatest for them but could work. Perlite would probably be your next best bet and charcoal isn't going to do anything that the sand is meant to do.
Aquarium gravel is hard to say, there are so many different ones. Most wouldn't act the same as sand.
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Pygmies
Apr 9, 2015 14:19:37 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by H2O on Apr 9, 2015 14:19:37 GMT -5
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Pygmies
Apr 9, 2015 15:37:25 GMT -5
Post by hal on Apr 9, 2015 15:37:25 GMT -5
Before i head out to grab the sand tomorrow, i want to ask this. If i cant find sand, they said they have sand, but its fine sand. Will Aquarium gravel, or activated charcoal work? Like the stuff for filters? Perlite? I wont be able to go again for a long time, so i want to know my options before i waste a trip and they end up not having proper sand. The ideal is coarse silica sand, like they use for sandblasting. Avoid "Play Sand" or "Construction Sand" from the hardware stores. It's 50% fine sand, 50% silt and clay. If you're desperate you can wash it, but you'll lose at least half of what you bought and the remainder is very fine.
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Post by lloyd on Apr 9, 2015 15:51:37 GMT -5
Wash the sand well.
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