Acacia Maidenii

[executi0n]

Hi,

First of all, this is going to be my first attempt at growing plants. I've successfully grown mushrooms before, and found that something really fun to do, watching them progress from the mycelium stage to the fruiting stage. So I hope that this journey will be just as successful.

So I recently got some Acacia Maidenii seeds from a member of this forum, and want to try my hand at germinating and then planting the seeds. I apologize in advance if these questions have been asked a thousand times. I have search the forums and read up on a few threads, but would like to throw in a couple more questions, and just make sure I'm on the right track.

1. I put the seeds in near boiling water, and am leaving them over night to (hopefully) swell up. At the moment, there are 5 seeds on the bottom of the cup, and 1 seed that is floating. From what I've read in a couple places, this means that the floating seed is not viable. Is this true? Should I get rid of it? (Put it in the garden).

2. Once the seeds are swollen, the next step for germinating is to place them on some wet towel and put in an air tight container and wait for them to start sprouting, am I right with this step and will tissues or paper towel work okay for this?

2a. How long should the roots(?) be before I pot them? And do I need to replace or re-wet the towel every so often?

3. I have a few pots here that I purchased today. 1 is a 175mm pot, the other is a 250mm pot. Would either of these be okay to start off with? And do I plant the seeds 5mm apart or more so than that?

4. What kind of soil is best? We have some 'Gardener's Choice Terracotta Potting Mix' here, but I'm not sure if it will do. Are there any other specific brands or methods for making a mix that you would recommend?

4a. I'm going to fully wet the soil in the pot before sowing the seeds, is this the right thing to do?

5. How deep should I place the seeds in the soil? I read that the should be sown just under the surface of the soil, about the depth of the seed itself. Can anyone shed any light on this.

6. After sowing the seeds, should I wet (mist with a spray bottle) the soil and leave it from there? And how often should I be watering, and how much? Just enough to keep the soil moist, but not wet?

7. I realise this probably isn't the best season to be starting, but it is more of a test run to know what I am doing, and get everything ready. Do the plants need to have indirect sunlight, or will they be okay sitting on the desk in my room, or would the be better off on the porch at the back door (with possible indirect sunlight + cold temps)?

8. This also brings up the question of humidity. Is it necessary to have something to keep the humidity up, and what kind of range am I looking at? (50-60)?

9. Does it seem like I'm on the right track? Is there anything I'm missing?

Sorry for all the questions, I can understand that people may get sick of answering these kinds of questions, and might not want to spoon feed everyone, but sometimes I feel a lot better asking these questions rather than reading page after page, and in the end, missing some kind of important step.

Thanks to anyone that made it through my post ;)

-executi0n

[The Deb-One-Amine]

Im also on the same path..

here is what i found

@ shroomery

treat with boiling water allow to swell o/night and plant all swollen seeds in sandy poting mix about 1 cm below. keep moist but not wet - will germ within a week.

They grow pretty fast

@ B & t world seeds

These notes are a general guide, it is recommended to check specialist literature for some of the more unusual seeds in our lists. Some knowledge about growing from seed is necessary to germinate even the easiest seeds. Most seeds require humidity to germinate, even desert plants like Welwitschia mirabilis require that their growing medium remains moist until germination.

Most seeds require oxygen to germinate, if buried too deep in their growing medium, or if the medium is too wet, the seeds may not get the oxygen they require.

Some seeds need to be in the light (surface sown) or in the dark (sown deep enough to receive little or no light) to germinate. A rule of thumb is to cover the seeds their own width deep in the growing medium, but some seeds prefer to be sown much deeper, and some fairly large seeds like to be surface sown (or higher).

Many seeds germinate best at certain temperatures, some will germinate at a comparatively wide range of temperatures, yet others need fluctuating temperatures.

Almost all seeds are waiting in a dormant state for some outside stimulus to break their dormancy, some just need sufficiently high ambiant humidity, others need scarification, vernalization or to be passed through the intestines of an animal.

Acacia maidenii seeds will usually germinate in 21 days. Sow seeds about 2mm deep in a Well drained seed sowing mix at about 25°C.

Soak in warm water, which should be changed daily. Most seeds swell up when they are soaked, those that do should be sown immediately.

Soak in warm water for 4 hours.

@ herbalistics

Care and Cultivation Pour just boiled water over the seeds and allow to soak for a few hours to overnight. Plant 0.5 - 1cm under the surface of a well drained mix in full sun. Keep moist until germination.

Maiden's Wattle can grow to 5 metres tall (some sources say 15-20m) with a similar spread. Likes a full sun position with well drained soil and adequate water for the first year or two. Drought tolerant once established. Suitable for most soil types and climates.

i am also trynig to figure pot sizes and such but im going to start in Chinese containers with a ouncebag over it

[The Deb-One-Amine]

Im also on the same path..

here is what i found

@ shroomery

treat with boiling water allow to swell o/night and plant all swollen seeds in sandy poting mix about 1 cm below. keep moist but not wet - will germ within a week.

They grow pretty fast

@ B & t world seeds

These notes are a general guide, it is recommended to check specialist literature for some of the more unusual seeds in our lists. Some knowledge about growing from seed is necessary to germinate even the easiest seeds. Most seeds require humidity to germinate, even desert plants like Welwitschia mirabilis require that their growing medium remains moist until germination.

Most seeds require oxygen to germinate, if buried too deep in their growing medium, or if the medium is too wet, the seeds may not get the oxygen they require.

Some seeds need to be in the light (surface sown) or in the dark (sown deep enough to receive little or no light) to germinate. A rule of thumb is to cover the seeds their own width deep in the growing medium, but some seeds prefer to be sown much deeper, and some fairly large seeds like to be surface sown (or higher).

Many seeds germinate best at certain temperatures, some will germinate at a comparatively wide range of temperatures, yet others need fluctuating temperatures.

Almost all seeds are waiting in a dormant state for some outside stimulus to break their dormancy, some just need sufficiently high ambiant humidity, others need scarification, vernalization or to be passed through the intestines of an animal.

Acacia maidenii seeds will usually germinate in 21 days. Sow seeds about 2mm deep in a Well drained seed sowing mix at about 25°C.

Soak in warm water, which should be changed daily. Most seeds swell up when they are soaked, those that do should be sown immediately.

Soak in warm water for 4 hours.

@ herbalistics

Care and Cultivation Pour just boiled water over the seeds and allow to soak for a few hours to overnight. Plant 0.5 - 1cm under the surface of a well drained mix in full sun. Keep moist until germination.

Maiden's Wattle can grow to 5 metres tall (some sources say 15-20m) with a similar spread. Likes a full sun position with well drained soil and adequate water for the first year or two. Drought tolerant once established. Suitable for most soil types and climates.

i am also trynig to figure pot sizes and such but im going to start in Chinese containers with a ouncebag over it

[psili sausage]

I'm no expert and have had little success keeping acacias alive so take my advice with a grain of salt.

A couple of years ago I got some obtusifolia seeds from SAB. I treated them with hot water and the majority swelled overnight. I sowed the swollen ones and retreated the rest and ended up with nearly all the seeds swelling up... Only problem was, none of them germinated or if they did they didn't make it out of the soil.

Second time around I treated the seeds in hot water again but then forgot about them for a week or so (they were in a bowl of water in a cupboard). When I remembered them I had a look and half of them had germinated in the water. I planted the germinated seeds and they grew into young seedlings but then died on me . I had little gardening experience at the time and killed a lot of plants with love.

I too have received LOTS of maidenii and acuminata seeds from B_T, bless his soul, and am going to try again with the acacias...

From what I've read: after the soak (can even be in cold water if you nick the seed coat) you place the seeds in the dark on moist paper towel or cotton pads etc in a sealed container until they germinate. Then you can sow them shallowly in sandy soil mix.

Someone else can hopefully shed some light on how to tend to them as seedlings

[alkatrope]

I was sent two maidenii seeds in a trade a few years back, poured boiling water on em and left em for a few hours, then did a little scarifying and planted in plain soil.. One sprouted, one didn't

[The Deb-One-Amine]

Thanks for the replys B_T's Seeds Will Live on...

[mud]

I've tried 30 or so..

only had one sprout

[The Deb-One-Amine]

well of my 10 soaked 2 floated and im waiting for swelling will the size be noticable?

any tips for where to get starter soil?

[alkatrope]

I just mixed some potting mix with dirt from the back yard..

[The Deb-One-Amine]

sick thanks i still have a bit before then

[Bush Turkey]

i just nicked with scissors pretty roughly, soaked in a glass of water overnight and planted in some potting mix i had lying around mixed with washed sand. id say i got bout a 40% germ rate so far even with cold temps. im sure that percentage will go up though.

[The Deb-One-Amine]

sweet thanks for the advise

[executi0n]

Thanks for all of the replies. This will definitely help me on my way.

@B_T - When nicking the seeds, what end is it that I'm supposed to nick? The end of the seed that has the little orange tail(?) or the seed coating end?

Cheers,

-executi0n

[Edit] I found a couple of links that people may find helpful on growing Acacias:

http://www.worldwidewattle.com/infogallery/cultivation/

http://anpsa.org.au/APOL2006/jun06-1.html

Edited August 18, 2010 by executi0n

[vual]

Fantastic we are going to have a great supply of maidenii seedlings thanks to B_T's giveaway ^_^

They can germinate even if you don't soak or scar them, but for best germination rates its recommended, i suggest after you plant your seeds put a layer of cling wrap over the pot and sticky tap it down, i find all seeds germinate in 1/2 the time if this is done, essentially a small humidity chamber, propagation house.. thingy...

Would smoke germination be the thing to try for these?? I know most natives love smoke germination.

A few ideas that should up your germination %

Edited August 18, 2010 by vual

[gerbil]

IMO boiling water soak, sow swollen ones approx 1cm in a fine compost coarse sharp sand mix (have also used plain seed raising mix), water in well, give them good light and warmth, don't keep watering them or they'll rot (within reason, if it gets very dry moisten them up), done and done, if you stuff with the roots imo esp. acacia you will never get them to their full genetic potential, sure you can get huge fantastic plants, but not what they are fully capable of, direct seeding in favorable conditions is always preferable. Species to species differ of course, but general rules are good for general species.

Edited August 18, 2010 by gerbil

[executi0n]

I already have a shotgun FC from when I was playing around with growing mushrooms, so that should come in handy with keeping the humidity up.

It's good to know I can reuse things like that!

I'll give the seeds I have soaking a couple more hours before I pot them I reckon, and hopefully I'll be able to post back with some good news later on.

Good luck to everyone else as well,

Looking forward to hearing how every one goes, and any tips you might have picked up on along the way

[Bush Turkey]

whoops! i was talking about the acuminatas. havent tried maidenii yet. dont know why i was talking about acuminatas? im sure they will be much the same. from a reliable seed source

[Scientician]

I have a near 100% success rate with my acacia seeds. I soak in near boiling water overnight those that swell I plant. Those that didn't swell I will soak in near boiling water over night again. Sometimes it can take up to 5 times but most will swell eventually. After planting seedlings usually surface after about 1 week.

[The Deb-One-Amine]

execution please keep me informed and i will do the same

[planthelper]

cool info about 5 times rewetting (to overcome the seeds safty mechanism), muskrat.

excelent info here.

i have set down some obtusifolia seeds, into two groups, one group has garden soil from around the colubrina tree mixed into the potting mix and the other group into just straight seed raising mix.

if they come up and the incubated ones, never show symptoms of yellowing, i'd be a happy man...

[executi0n]

Well I put them in the soil last Wednesday like I said, and have put them in my Shotgun FC to help keep humidity up. Haven't seen anything of them yet, but there's still more time to see what's happening. I've been misting inside the FC every now and then, and the humidity is usually around ~80-90, sometimes dropping to ~60-70. Not sure how high i'm supposed to have it, but it's a learning experience. Guess it'll be something to pass on to everyone if i'm successful or not.

I'm hoping that I'll see something from at least 1 out of the 6 seeds that are I've done. Will post up some pics if something does happen.

Hope everyone else is doing well with their seeds!

[kindness]

I have had success with soaking in boiling water until the water just cooled down enough to touch. Then sowing the seed into a decent potting mix. The seed were gained from the cental coast seed ring when it was in operation and I imagine must have been quite fresh.

At the time I had my seeds in small pots rather than tubes, (I think tubes would be preferable...) and these were kept inside a cheap plastic container from the $2 shop. This keep them nice n' warm as I was trying to get em to come up in the middle of winter... so I had them getting whatever sun I could - I think my success was less due to humidity and more due to the warmth factor, (I guess the moisture level was kept constant by being in a box / humidity though).

I have found with other acaicas specifically a.phlebophylla that doing the cling wrap mini-green house thing doesn't work. Yes they come up.. but sadly they seem to be born pussies, (as in pussy cats..no disrespect intended) and die an early death when exposed to the cold harsh realities of life.

In short grow them hard, they are native and survive in the crappest of soil conditions and situations...

great thread btw. Slightly off topic but are Maidenii way more rare than obtusifolia? Coz I hardly ever see em and when I do they are generally stunted and living on their own?

peace

[psili sausage]

Nothing to get excited about just yet, but one of my seeds has germinated already...

Just had them on wet cotton pads in a takeaway container in a cupboard (after boiling water treatment).

6 days for germination is pretty good if you ask me

Edit to say the seeds are maidenii

Edited August 24, 2010 by psili sausage

[Bush Turkey]

if i try to hard i have a lower success rate. just knicked them, soaked in tap water overnight, planted in cacti mix. i let the top layer of soil dry out before i water again and leave in full sun. dont need to keep them humid at all. not a tropical.

both Acuminata's and Maidenii's have sprouted

the acuminatas are about a %80 germ rate

Edited August 24, 2010 by B_T

[planthelper]

what they are fully capable of, direct seeding in favorable conditions is always preferable.

 

great you say that, as i was thinking of trying this but was not 100% sure about it.

sandpaper is a very good tool for scraping the seedcoat.