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Post by corky on Jun 12, 2016 12:45:30 GMT
I decided to have a go at something a bit different , so I bought 5 seeds from silverhill seeds, when they arrived one was crushed leaving me 4. In the past I have tried and failed with roridula gorgonias. After doing some geeking out I had a plan , first off I scarified the seeds with some very fine wet and dry paper , just on one end ( first time I have done this) then for the smoke treatment. I dried a small amount of peat under the grill then set it smouldering and put it still smouldering into a glass bottle, let the bottle fill with smoke and added a small amount of rain water , so the rain water infused with the smoke and burnt peat, then added the seeds and left to soak for an hour or so. The seeds were then placed on a media of 1/1 peat and sand and lightly covered, also watered with smokey water. I kept them damp and after a couple of months all 4 seeds are showing signs of life , I have transplanted the largest into a mix of 1/1/1 peat/ sand/ perlite . Here's the most advanced
caught its first victim still with its seed coat on |
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Post by fredg on Jun 12, 2016 14:15:57 GMT
Nice one corky.
When do you anticipate the first family of Pameridea roridulae moving in?
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Post by corky on Jun 12, 2016 14:42:18 GMT
Hehe, well I will certainly be on the lookout for some if I manage to keep them alive long enough to get a decent size. From what I've read the winter will be a challenge
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Post by corky on Jun 17, 2016 16:57:51 GMT
Down to two plants already, how quickly my fortunes have changed:-( mould took care of the two smallest, am sure this extra gloomy weather is to blame
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Post by fredg on Jun 17, 2016 17:38:46 GMT
If the present light is to blame then the winter will certainly be a challenge
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Post by corky on Jun 17, 2016 18:09:07 GMT
I plan on using supplement lighting in the winter , didn't think I needed it in June, probably should of took them off the windowsill and in to the propagator, oh well live and learn,
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Post by fredg on Jun 17, 2016 18:48:27 GMT
I've only ever seen them at Stephen Morley's. He's even further north than me near York. He has more direct sun than I do on the greenhouses though.
He has Pameridea on his.
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Post by nimbulan on Jun 18, 2016 18:48:09 GMT
Nice germination rate! I saw the seeds in stock at Silverhill earlier in the year but didn't jump on it. I probably should have.
Where did the mold start? What I've discovered growing Roridula gorgonias is that you should avoid water on the leaves and overly humid environments as the plants are very prone to botrytis infections. I ended up having to chop the growth point off my plant to stop an infection, but it's growing well again, though it was nearly a year old when that happened (I did not start the plant from seed myself.)
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Post by corky on Jun 19, 2016 9:09:42 GMT
The two that didn't make it never got as far as producing any leaves , they had only just germinated then the dreaded mould got em. I didn't try to raise humidity as they were in an open tray , I think they would of been better off in my outside open fronted propagator with more airflow and light. I hope to update this post with some better news soon:-(
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Post by corky on Aug 7, 2016 9:53:08 GMT
Well I still have two seedlings growing, I think they would be happier if we were having a sunnier and warmer summer as they are growing fairly slowly  they hang on to their seed coats for ages too , this one has only just shed its and is the most advanced of the two survivors |
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Post by fredg on Aug 7, 2016 10:52:27 GMT
Are you feeding at all corky? As they rely on the Pameridea waste products I'd be tempted to spot diluted liquid fertiliser on the leaves with a dropper.
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Post by corky on Aug 7, 2016 11:17:09 GMT
I'm thinking the same thing Fred, I will have a go with the smallest seedling and see what happens, I also considered finding some other insect poop such as caterpillar , but maybe I'm not all there:-) edit ...just tried the diluted fertiliser out a syringe and the water tension made droplets too big and they rolled off , I have some horticultural soap would that break down the tension and reduce droplet size or poison the seedling ? I also inadvertently fertilised the roots with the droplets that rolled off , what a pioneer;-)
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Post by corky on Aug 28, 2016 13:30:57 GMT
Down to one and a half plants, one had some kind of fungal stem rot and is now a miserable half plant
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Post by corky on Dec 17, 2016 14:44:44 GMT
The only survivor is slowly growing over winter, I have the lights on for 10 hours a day in an attempt to replicate its natural conditions. From what I've read it should speed up with some warmth when I place it outside in the spring  |
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Post by fredg on Dec 17, 2016 14:52:00 GMT
Nice looking plant corky. The regia is looking very green too, mine are all black
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not here it isn't