Gentle Persuasion

[Paul Christian]

Jim,

PRETTY PLEASE.........

By the way, Scott has it wrong - publish first - lets see the methods, then
barbecue Ray if you have to but publish FIRST. :-))))

I don't have any germination on anything here yet, but I tend to keep things
cool until later, to try and grow them on unchecked.  No implication
intended that anyone else is wrong, I don't see any absolute rights and
wrongs in plant growing, but we all have to adapt to our conditions.  My
problem is low light levels early in the year.

On seedlings:- I have half a feeling that seedlings left undisturbed in
their pots or seedtrays ("flats"?) until the end of their second year do
better than those repotted after their first dormancy period.  I don't have
any solid, quotable results from any controlled experiments, but it does
hold for Fritillaria where mortality is close on double if they are repotted
at any time in their first year's dormancy period.  I am on sure ground with
the Frits, thinner ice with the Arisaema.  What I cannot figure out is WHY.
They are totally dormant when repotted, they go into the same compost mix (I
make my own).  I try to be aware to the mositure levels and temperatures of
the "old" and "new" compost.  The new should (?) be sterile, the old would
no longer be, so whay do so many fail to re-emerge.  Having said all of this
it is easier to leave them alone but I would like some reasons or answers -
anyone out there got any speculations??

>Arisaema griffithii tubers from India (from Red's Rhodies)
>have sprouted in the garage and so far two have inflorescences emerging.
>We were experiencing nightly 26 F frosts when they arrived so I was
>reluctant to put them outside.

I have a theory on many A.griffithii from India.  If they arrive dead they
were griffithii, if they arrive alive then they are something else.  Last
year I had a lovely packet of A.intermedium by just this route.  This year
some nice (true-to-name) A. costatum are rotting away nicely in my garage.
The combination of tuber shape, green tinge and their ability to go soggy
overnight is how I know that they are [were ?] true.

A.nepenthoides is dangerously advanced here but seems to survive light
frosting each spring.

PRETTY PRETTY PLEASE JIM

Paul :-))
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Paul Christian   - Rare Plants
Internet Site    - http://rareplants.co.uk
e-mail           - paul at rareplants.co.uk
Telephone        - (+44) 01978 366399
Mobile telephone - (+44) 037 44 77 442
Fax              - (+44) 01978 366399
Snail Mail to    - Dr. P.J.Christian,
PO Box 468,WREXHAM,
LL13 9XR, UK
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