6,340 Garden Web Discussions | Growing from Seed

For starting plants in my basement I use a 4x2 folding table with 4 shop lights hanging over it. It can handle 4 trays which hold 21 newspaper pots each, so 81 plants. The table I picked up from the side of the road (someone was throwing it out, but I have seen them for about $20), the shop lights(4) were less than $20 each and I use the cheap bulbs (>$2 each). The lights are suspended using the S hooks that come with them, clothes line, and eye screws(8) and lanyards(4) in my floor joists, so I can raise and lower them individually.

I managed to get a shelf at Lowes. It was really supposed to be some sort of green house. A plastic cover came with it but I've put that aside for now. I have the shop lights ($9 each. Yay!) hanging on the shelves and it seems pretty good so far.

Thanks for all your help!

Thank you! Will write this down in my garden notebook to not forget. . .

I just read what my book (The Plant Propagators' Bible) says about growing these from seed. She (Miranda Smith) says:
"You can purchase seeds for some cultivars. Plant them early inside. They require light to germinate and respond best to daytime soil temperatures of 65 degrees and nighttime temperatures of 50 to 55. They will germinate in 1-3 months, so prick out seedlings as they germinate, but don't throw away the flat."

She mentions nothing about stratification. What do you guys/gals think?

Thanks for trying there plant lady in Colorado. I don't think bulk seed is available and the plant is so easily propagated from cuttings. We need so many and thought the seed way might be the way to go cost wise. So we'll probably end up buying plugs.

I have a cousin living in the Springs and is a nurse as well. I'm pretty sure she works at Ft. Carson. Name's Linda and she's been there a while.
Thanks again
Marshall

I've never worked at Ft Carson, so I'm sure I don't know your cousin.
As for the plumbago....
I have a huge patch of it, but I can't ever remember seeing any seed.
I'm sure it's there, but must be really small.
Maybe that's why we can't find it for sale.
Kathy

I winter sowed fresh seed. I just wiped off the red pulp and put them in regular potting soil. They sprouted in the spring but are slow growers. I think it's easier to propagate magnolia from cuttings.

I would think cuttings or layerings would be easier to propagate magnolias, but I collected the seed and I love to try out different techniques. . . .

I would expect most of the plants to do better in containers though because the soil in the container (potting soil)has more nutrients than my garden soil. It has a lot of pebbles and sand.

I agree with nckvilledudes - there are far too many variables involved. No way to justify a blanket statement that things do better in OR out of a container.

size of container (most use one too small)
type of container (self-watering, clay, plastic, etc.)
color of container
sun exposure
potting mix used (soil-less only in containers)
fertilization/watering regime
garden soil tilth
garden soil nutrient levels
type of plant
pests
etc.

If you are having consistently poor results with container plants then I'd suspect it is because a) the containers are too small and b) you are using a poor quality mix or worse, garden dirt, in the containers.

Dave

Bernadette, typing the latin name, followed by 'sow' or 'propagate' will usually lead you to a good database that includes those hard-to-find toughies, I tend to stay away from suggestions from most personal websites.

I don't grow it, I suspect it's too wet here in winter to establish perennially or grow well.

Hardy Plants database, not even Clothiers had this one but warm, followed by moist chill if no germination occurs is standard for most silene...

Here is a link that might be useful: Hardy Plants

Will keep that in mind! Thanks!