No subject

[Arisaema Enthusiast Group (AEG) Discussion List (and other=]

hardy  Aroids)" <ARISAEMA-L at NIC.SURFNET.NL> Aroids)" <ARISAEMA-L at NIC.SURFNET.NL>
Sender: "Arisaema Enthusiast Group (AEG) Discussion List (and other=
From: Ernie O'Byrne <nargsbs at EFN.ORG>
Subject: Seed starting: was My first :)
In-Reply-To: <OF49664D03.E408FDDA-ON85256B8F.00035A23 at shu.edu>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"
Content-Transf er-Encoding: 7bit

Well, since my Arisaema taiwanense have not yet germinated, I might as we=ll
say how I do seed of Arisaema. I opt for the simple method. Keep in mind,
though, that we have a nursery, grow a LOT from seed and therefore are
always present (or arrange for someone else to be) to care for the
ungerminated pots and subsequent seedlings.

We treat our arisaema seed just as all the other seeds that we do. Namely=we
fill a 4" pot to within 1/4" of the rim with a mix of one half perlite to
one half "Black Gold", which is a proprietary potting mix that has a litt=le
perlite, lots of peat, some worm castings and is similar to many other
potting mixes on the market. We then sow the seed. If the seed is few I s=ow
in a pattern, so I know about how many have germinated. If there are many=, I
sow no more than twenty-five per pot, but sometimes don't bother to sow i=n a
pattern, but just sow evenly. Then we cover to the top of the pot with #2
chick grit. We happen to use a granite grit, but we used to get quartz an=d I
don't think it matters much which. We then water them all in from the top
until thoroughly wet through and water runs out the bottom of the pot and=it
is heavy. We then put it on the shelf by our shed which is under the eave=,
so out of direct rain, but with lots of light, and let nature take its
course.

We have had very good luck with this method. The germination times of the
seeds are quite variable, depending upon species and the weather. None of
the arisaemas have started yet this year.

We leave them in their pots for the first growing season and then by the
next growing season, I make a decision whether they ought to be potted on=,
or not, based on size. I have kept some seedlings in their seed pots for =up
to three years, but can't remember what the species was. In that mix, the
seedlings can be transplanted when in growth with no damage to the roots,=if
one is careful. The mix just falls off them when they are knocked out of =the
pot. We then usually pot up into tall cross-band pots. They are square, m=uch
taller than broad and have an open bottom, except for a cross of plastic
across to keep them from bulging and to keep the soil in.

Several time during the season the seedlings get a dilute liquid feed--ha=lf
strength. When I pot up, we do use a 4-6mos. Osmocote, which many people =on
the list have warned against, but we can probably get away with it becaus=e
we have relatively cool temperatures in the summer and the fertilizer, si=nce
release is controlled by temp, does not 'dump' as it would in hotter clim=es.

Ernie O'Byrne
Northwest Garden Nursery
86813 Central Road
Eugene OR 97402-9284
USA
Phone: 541 935-3915
FAX: 541 935-0863
Eugene, Oregon is USDA Zone 8a on the map, but we can only grow Zone 7
plants reliably. Member of NARGS, SRGC, RHS, American Primula Society,
Meconopsis Group, Alpine-L, Arisaema-L, Hellebore Group


-----Original Message-----
From: Arisaema Enthusiast Group (AEG) Discussion List (and other hardy
Aroids) [mailto:ARISAEMA-L at NIC.SURFNET.NL]On Behalf Of Bonaventure
Magrys
Sent: Tuesday, April 02, 2002 12:59 AM
To: ARISAEMA-L at NIC.SURFNET.NL
Subject: Re: My first :)


Arisaema taiwanense seed that Ernie O'Byrne kindly sent me in December
germinated within weeks and is now still in leaf. I put about 2 dozen see=d
on the surface of loose Scott's Houseplant Potting Soil in an ordinary 4
inch pot and placed them in my humid flourescent light orchid case. The
root grows down into the mix from the seed body and the leaf then comes o=ut
after, (growing upwards of course). The seed body stays on soil surface a=nd
recently I just sprinkled a little mix over them. They really look great,
abou 3 inches (American) tall with 1 inch wide heart-shaped leaves of a
bluish tinge and thick substance that makes them look more like tropical
plants.
<SNIP>

Bonaventure Magrys
Cliffwood Beach, NJ
USA