6,340 Garden Web Discussions | Growing from Seed
I've made a discovery. I started fertilizing my moonflower about a week ago with fish emulsions (phew by the way. Stinky) and the purple in the leaves and stems have started to disappear and are getting greener everyday! I've changed nothing else other than the fertilizer so I'm guessing it was the phosphorus.
Well, I live in New Mexico and they do fine. They just require a little more TLC. Ive read that they are drought resistant when established but mine dont seem to be at all. I have to water them sometimes twice a day. It gets so hot here and the soil dries out really quickly. Also I have to feed them alot. They are heavy eaters and the sandy soil they are in now does not hold nutrients well. Just watch the plant. If its droopy, water it. If the color changes, try feeding it. I would thin them out at 3 or 4 inches and definately put them in bigger pots. They have taproots so make sure they are deep pots. I hope this helps and good luck with your sunflowers!
Thanks for all of the advice. They are in the little peat pots, and in just a few days, one has sprouted and raced to about 6 inches tall with true leaves coming in. It is having difficulty standing, so I have some Qtips helping it, and will be transplanting it into a bigger pot today. I'm reading and debating about the peat pot - whether or not to leave it in or cut it out of it.
Hi. I've raised Lotus from seeds for four Years now. It has been MY expirence that floating seeds are no longer viable. I generally toss the floaters. My first couple of years doing this I tried to keep my floaters thinking they just might survive. But each time the seeds only grew fungus and fouled up the water. Now when I'm growing my lotus I always just toss out the floating seeds as they have NEVER sprouted for me. If you received a package of seeds and they all floated as you stated, I would defiently ask for a replacement pack of seeds from the vender! What kind of lotus are you growing? I've ordered nuciferia seeds and have had venders send lutea seeds in the past so be careful of your venders also they like to swich up seeds sometimes. The nucefieria is the asian lotus and the lutea is the American lotus and there is a difference. Also a difference in the flowers. So get a good vender you can trust that won't send floating seeds and will send you the correct seeds you have ordered. Good luck growing your lotus! Remember to have fun and lotus growing is very rewarding so don't give up! :) happy growing
Like clematis, I don't think the 'tails' on pasque flower have anything to do with germination, just seed dispersal (wind).... not like pulp of berries or fruit that can contain germination inhibitors. For sowing, it's up to you if you remove or leave it on. For storing, it's easier to clean the seed of dirt or dust, make sure you aren't packaging anything crawling, with it removed.
Here in California where we have no rain at all in the summer,seeding a dry hill side with any thing but grass sown in the rainy season, seldom works. I have similar conditions to yours and start the plants in pots and plant them when the rains start. Baccharis pilularis "Coyote Brush" has worked well, with roots growing down to five feet and very drought tolerant. I also use a prostrate Rosemary "Ken Taylor" which has a long bloom season with exceptionally beautiful color. The rosemary is better with some summer water. Al
For me I just dig them up and transplant them as I have never seen any seeds either, but if they are in an area where they can they will spread with no problem. I have problem areas in the yard where nothing likes to grow like along my shaded backyard against the house and they seem to love their new location. I just take them at random so they can still be in their old location to spread there also. Watch out if you plant them in your flower bed they will spread quickly and they are tough plants that enjoy shade.
Maybe this will help you guys. I took the shot while it was raining. You have to actually lift up the leaves to see the seed pod but here is one that hasn't opened up yet.
If you need a better picture just let me know and I will see if I can try and take one.
i'm new to the outdoors. lol so new to the whole garden thing. i prob did not put enough dirt in the cups. so, it is not a time of year but a size. i will add more dirt. dh had started them in those little soil discs. so i don't think it would disturb them too much, as long as i do it sooner rather than later.
thanks!
Many people have these flowers in there garden in the fall or early spring many will be willing to share some bulbs.. otherwise
store the seed at 40F (in refrigator vegi storage) for 120 days then lightly cover the seed soil temp for germination 55-60F & takes 30-90 days to germinate. takes 2-3 years to flower.
The smoke treatments are thought to be helpful for those plants that grow in areas frequently swept by fire - I don't see anything in the natural habitat of this plant that makes me think it fits in that category.
There was an appealing stand of the chaerophyllum (roseum) in one of the borders at the Kingston Heronswood - in looking at Hinkley's propagation notes he said 'spread so well they would divide and not have to grow from seed'. Not helpful :) RHS says only - sow when fresh or early spring.
The plants do self sow, I'm not seeing anything that mentions a prolonged cold period. If you wanted to cover your bases, you could always refrigerate (moist sown seeds) for 2-3 weeks ....it couldn't hurt and might help. Wrap the pot in saran or place it in a zip lock bag, then bring out to warm later.
We've had such a cool, showery Spring, with many nights dropping into the 40's still, here I might be tempted to sow and place the pot outdoors.
Thanks for the response.
I did not know about the smoke treatment for sure. I thought maybe somewhere it said, that the smoke treatment helps starting native seeds? Or seeds that need cool?
I think I am going to try half in the fridge, half outside. I had a cool spring myself...but the last two day its been heat index 100..? Ha! The ones outside are going to need protection! I am going to save some seed to start in fall. I also noticed the sow fresh option. So I hope they will be good in my fall? I will try to post my results! Thanks again :)
i started some morning glory and moonflower, i read a cool tip...it said to plant them together: the morning glory flowers during the day then in the evening and night, the moonflower blooms. pretty cool.
My mother has had 4 O'clocks in her southern garden in michigan for 60 years. She does nothing to maintain them, let the seeds fall to the ground, don't rake them in. They reseed themselves every year. She has had 3 or 4 dfferent colors. About 1998 my dad transplanted them to our county" farm". 2003 my mother had the basement foundation dug up and retiled. The next spring she had 4 O'clocks again, but they are all yellow, no reds or any others.