[Arisaema-l] What Happened To My Seedlings

[Aad van Beek]

David,

When I sawed the arisaema seeds in Mai last year I used 7 cm (3 inch) square containers The soil was 50% regular potting mix, 20% pumice, 20% course sand and 20% perlite. Filled the containers with the potting mix up to 1,5 cm (0.6 inch) under the top. Made the soil soaking wet. Put all the seeds from 1 packet on it (these seeds were soaked in water for about a week, refreshed it ones). Put about 1 cm (0.4 inch) quartz sand on top and finally sprinkled it with a fine layer of grid. Then put a refrigerator bag over the container and to secure the bag put them in a second container like this
https://www.dropbox.com/s/sqf7ovf35k7a8zu/Photo%2028-12-13%2020%2040%2039.jpg

The containers stood in a shed on a shelf.
After 3 weeks I checked twice a week if there were any leaves visible. If they were about 1 cm above the ground I removed the plastic bag and put the container outside in a shady place. There they stood until september / october when I harvested all corms. Half of them are now in the refrigerator to see if the two cycle in one season will work out for me and the others half I will place in march in containers again.

To protect the seedlings from birds but also from the 2 rabbits we have the containers stood behind bars
https://www.dropbox.com/s/nbl3r7gqkacdf5z/Photo%2016-12-13%2016%2001%2033.jpg

Used the same approach with the asarum, arum (both in the middle in the picture), helicodiceros and zanthedeschia (both at the right in the picture) (about 2 weeks ago as there is still no significant frost in Holland)

Aad

> On 28 dec. 2013, at 18:23, "DAVID LEEDY" <djleedy at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> 
> Thank you Louse and all,
> 
> I guess I will have to cut up my screen wire to fit the pots.  Generally I use my screen wire at the bottom of the pots covered with grit/gravel/perlite to keep "things" from climbing in and to keep planting mix from going out.
> 
> Before the rains of this Fall and before the seeds sprouted, I purchased some shower caps (10 for a dollar) and placed these over the pots to keep birds out and humidity in.  However, now with the seedlings, I want them to gain the strength from growing in the air and sun.  Your idea will work.
> 
> David Leedy
> 
> From: Louise Parsons <parsont at peak.org>
> To: Arisaema Enthusiast Group <arisaema-l at science.uu.nl> 
> Sent: Saturday, December 28, 2013 10:22 AM
> Subject: Re: [Arisaema-l] What Happened To My Seedlings
> 
> Mice can also uproot seedlings or seeds with little, if any, visible 
> soil disturbance.
> 
> Generally I place seed pots in a heavy plastic utility box with holes 
> drilled in the bottom. It is lined with spun poly fabric ("remay") to 
> keep worms and most bugs out. A thick layer of pumice is placed on top 
> of the fabric. Any sort of grit would work fine.
> 
> There is enough depth to these boxes to place seed pots on top of the 
> pumice and cover each box with an old window screen and/or a piece of 
> hardware cloth, weighted down with a couple of small bricks. Not only 
> does screen protect from various bugs and critters, it also keeps our 
> heavy winter rain from compacting soil.
> 
> All the best for a bloomin' fine 2014!
> 
> Louise Parsons
> 
> Chilly Corvallis, western Oregon
> This year's mintemp so far = -18 degrees C
> (Arisaema seed pots are in our basement this winter.)
> 
> 
> On 12/28/2013 07:31 AM, Ellen Hornig wrote:
> > Mother Nature is a b***h, David.  If they don't come from above (birds,
> > squirrels, chipmunks, mice) they come from below (sow bugs, earwigs).
> > If they didn't, the world would be overrun with seedlings.  Consider the
> > ratio of seeds to mama plants.  Scary thought!
> >
> > Happy Holidays. :-)
> >
> > Ellen
> >
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