6,340 Garden Web Discussions | Growing from Seed
I have never saved desert rose seeds but I can't imagine they would be much different than any other seed. Keep them dry and out of extreme temps. If the seeds are dry I store them in ziplock bags. You could also drop the whole pod into a paper bag and leave it on the kitchen counter until you return.
Good luck
SCG
There is a great source of information for seed saving at the link below. Use seeds from ripened plants. Scroll down on the link for more information.
Here is a link that might be useful: Seed Save Org - Beginners
Mold is only a preventable "infection". Suggestion: since you still have seeds and not sprouts, replace everything with fresh, perhaps sterilizing first, and keep on going with the current seeds by washing the mold off them with something mild like hydrogen peroxide. Hands too.
There are other solutions that are just as easy.
I planted fresh seed into standard seed raising mix in a yoghurt contained with a clear lid. Cut some drain holes in the base. Fill the container up to about 2" deep of seed raising mix, water well and allow to drain. place seed (minus feathery bit) just under soil surface, put clear lid on and place in a well lit area out of direct sun. You dont want them to cook, just keep warm and slightly moist - you shouldnt need to water again until after they germinate. If there is too much condensation on the lid remove and wipe off before replacing. Good luck
Hi, I just looked at the Veronica I harvested this year. Looks like tiny brown specks. Sometimes I can sift out the seeds using a fine strainer. The chaff will probable fall through as well with this method. But when the seeds are round proceed with the following method...Place the crushed matter on a stiff piece of white paper, tilt it gently, you will see these small round seeds roll to the edge of the paper. Collect them onto another paper or dish. Repeat until only the chaff remains. Hope this helps. Jen
They are all probably viable.
I used the hot water cooling method in the linked paper.
SCG
Here is a link that might be useful: Redbud Germination
I have never tried phlox from seed (this year) so can't comment there. I think you are correct on your other ID's.
You can upload images to a hosting site, like photo bucket, then with html tags insert them in the post. You can only upload one image per post via garden web.
You must be in the southern hemisphere to be starting now.
SCG
I use one of two methods either the paper towel method which is a damp paper towel in some sort of plastic container. Then plant into soil once the root is about half an inch long or fill a cell about 3/4 of the way up with regular potting soil then the top layer seed starting mix (I use Eco earth which can be found in most pet stores in the reprile section I also use this for my snakes vivarium which has aroids plants in it that do very well) both methods work very well the first gets a higher percentage of germination but the second make transplanting easier
I know this post is old, but if people are still reading I figured it wouldn't hurt to add my experience. I've read a few articles that give a labor intensive list of things that need to be done to propagate Hibiscus, (scarification then stratification for 90 days) but honestly they haven't been that difficult to get started. I just planted some new coccineus and grandiflorus seeds (gotten from florida wildflower coop) 3 days ago. I scarified them with a hemostat and nail file until I could just barely see pale green/white, and put them in jiffy peat pellets soaked in rainwater (not tap!). The temperature is around 80 degrees lately. There were quite a few seeds that crumbled while I was scarifying, so make sure the seeds you are using are viable! Out of the 72 pots that I planted 3 days ago, 12 already have little plants starting to poke out. Make sure to keep them wet, they like a lot of moisture :)
I wouldn't worry about them being leggy. I have alyssum come up between pots in the nursery that start out super leggy but then fill out. I wouldn't plant it deep.
nil13,
Thanks a lot. Your personal experience suggestion is of great help to me.