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Post by nimbulan on Jan 23, 2017 16:40:12 GMT -5
While I've read through several Roridula threads here, I thought I'd create a new one to collect people's experiences with germinating Roridula seeds, especially the more difficult R. dentata. I have a pack of 10 seeds here that I'm trying to figure out how to do with.
My current plan: Burn some old dead leaves from my R. gorgonias plant and do a smoke water treatment with that, then place the seeds outside at night (nights are generally <5C this time of year) and bring them in during the day under artificial light. I'm considering saving half the seeds to sow in the fall as is more natural, though I'd like to start plants now if I can.
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Post by lloyd on Jan 23, 2017 17:12:18 GMT -5
Tissue culture is good, if difficult.
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Post by amanitovirosa on Jan 23, 2017 17:50:19 GMT -5
...I just got 3 little R. gorgonias seeds to pop several weeks ago. No special treatment whatsoever, treated exactly the same as my Flytrap seed. They actually started popping before some of the Flytraps. Cheers!
AV.
edit - germination occurred approximately 2 weeks after seeding.
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Post by nimbulan on Jan 23, 2017 21:34:17 GMT -5
Tissue culture is good, if difficult. Having never done tissue culture before, I don't think I'd like to start with such hard to get ahold of seeds. |
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Post by lloyd on Jan 23, 2017 23:17:11 GMT -5
The only Roridula I ever germinated is still growing, thanks to TC. I've 3 seeds to try, any suggestions?
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Post by nimbulan on Jan 24, 2017 23:09:54 GMT -5
Well I went ahead and started my seeds. I tried to make my own smoke water by burning a bit of peat and R. gorgonias leaves then soaked 5 seeds in that for an hour and 5 seeds in a commercial liquid smoke product. Now I just need to remember to move the pots in and out every day to give them the proper day/night temperatures for germination and hopefully they won't take too long.
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Post by nimbulan on Mar 7, 2017 17:22:09 GMT -5
Six weeks later, I think I have some life. It's not much, but I'm quite sure this red nub wasn't there a couple days ago and the split in the seed coat has been growing for the past week or two. This seed received the home-made smoke water treatment and has been experiencing days in the low 20's C and nights around 5-10C.  Roridula dentata by Nimbulan, on Flickr |
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Post by RuBisCO on Mar 7, 2017 22:21:25 GMT -5
Nice shot
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Post by nimbulan on Mar 8, 2017 12:08:04 GMT -5
Thanks! That red nub definitely appears to be growing larger, now I just need to make sure I can keep it alive.
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Post by lloyd on Mar 8, 2017 13:22:18 GMT -5
If it's in an enclosure, take it out into the room. Lots of air movement and lower humidity is essential to avoid rot. Keep the medium damp and mist to compensate.
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Post by nimbulan on Mar 8, 2017 15:48:47 GMT -5
I only provide elevated humidity for Nepenthes seeds so I shouldn't have any issue there. I'm planning on treating it the same way as I did with my Byblis lamellata seedling - remove the pot from the water tray at the first sign of germination and only water every couple days. Here's another picture from today showing about 28 hours of growth:  Roridula dentata by Nimbulan, on Flickr |
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Post by Apoplast on Mar 8, 2017 22:36:50 GMT -5
Very nice nimbulan! It's a great species. You'll enjoy it. |
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Post by nimbulan on Mar 8, 2017 23:29:24 GMT -5
Thanks! I just hope I can keep these alive. At least two of the seeds have germinated though there will likely be more so if I screw up with the early starters, I should be able to try something different with the others.
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Post by nimbulan on Mar 16, 2017 11:26:59 GMT -5
Current status: 3 out of 10 seeds are confirmed to have germinated, and one more looks ready to. Two seeds were likely non-viable and succumbed to fungus. The home-made smoke water vs commercial liquid smoke does not seem to have made a difference as both took 6 weeks to germinate and the germination rate is the same (assuming that 4th seed germinates.)
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Post by nimbulan on Mar 26, 2017 10:51:32 GMT -5
At the risk of triple posting here, I thought I'd provide an update with what I've learned so far.
All 3 of my seedlings have had trouble penetrating the soil with their taproot since I apparently had too much sand on top. Two were so bad they actually completely stopped growing after a short time (I believe due to lack of moisture) once the developing taproot had lifted that end of the seed off the soil surface. The other one got a little bit of purchase and ended up growing mostly upwards with exposed root hairs. I have done my best to remedy the situation and they all appear to be growing more normally now.
It's amazing how tough these seedlings seem to be, able to survive weeks with inadequate water and resume growing immediately after conditions improve.
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