gerbil Posted January 13, 2003 Hi, Was wondering on how to germinate Anadenanthera colubrina seeds. Using CSS yes, but how to posistion the seeds? Lay them on top of the CSS?, slightly bury them verticaly, horizontaly? any input would be greatly appreciated gerbil Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Torsten Posted January 13, 2003 I find that lying them on their side is best. the best way would be to actually position them upright, but then you would need to know whih way roudn they are - ie, half will be disadvantaged while the other half will be perfect. Lying on side is a good compromise. When lying on side the radicle will simply grown down and in most cases upright the whole seed anyway (if not buried too deep). I actually don't bury most of my seed, but rather just sit it on the surface. I use a humidity dome to keep them moist enough to germinate. The few that don't germinate in the first few days are simply covered with a little sand before th dome is taken off. if you prefer to bury them then just stick them in half way & vertically. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gerbil Posted January 13, 2003 thanks alot Torsten was very helpfull! -gerbil Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
planthelper Posted January 13, 2003 but please dont overwater them, most people lost there plants soon after germination because of that, i didnt. the upperroot forms sort of a tuber storing the water.once they are older they are less sensitive! i planted many of my colubrinas out in the wild, unfortunately they seem to be top notch food source for some animals whilst small enough to be pulled out...high drainage, yep is a must, i got the feeling it is a nitrogen fixing plant. the leaves will fold down(like mimosa pudica) if there is too much stress. dont think its thirsty and water it again, you will kill it that way, as stated before. even if dead above ground it will reshoot, from the base.happy growing! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fractalhead Posted January 20, 2003 After my disastrous (wasteful) attempt at germinating this precious seed in Cairns last year i realised i had underestimated the heat requirement of this seed for germination. I assumed the tropical warmth of cairns would be enough on its own to cause germination and that additional bottom heat would not be neccessary. Wrong. But since then i've been trying to come up with a method of supplying the required heat without having to buy anything (i have no money) before trying again. I hadn't come up with anything until the other day when someone suggested their technique (for germinating other heat requiring species) that should work. The idea was: get an esky and fill it with very hot water (like water from the kettle or whatever) leaving enough room to put a plastic container (filled with vermiculite and sand or something like that) in the water so it is floating and have your seeds planted in that. Put the lid on the esky and leave overnight. By the time the temperature equilibrates throughout the esky and the soil and air, the temperature should be appropriate, the humidity should be high enough so that the medium or the seeds do not dry out, and the esky should keep the heat in long enough to get the things to germinate (I understand they come up literally overnight). I know i can't afford to go and by materials to build a more permanent bottom heating setup at the moment and there is no way my mum will let me germinate seeds in her electric fry pan. I would imagine most people have access to eskies, plastic containers and hot water so i think that this might be a zero cost and low time-input solution to getting this precious plant going for people. Am I correct in thinking that they are reasonably tolerant of temperature climate temperatures once actively growing? I hope so. Good luck, Fractal Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gerbil Posted January 20, 2003 thanks for that info planthelper and fractal. Fractal, if all fails, i'll give your method a go, sounds like a good one will let you know what happens gerbil Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
planthelper Posted January 21, 2003 a simple lightbulbe fixture can be put underneath some shelving, or even put in an inflammeable box, which has a sort of glasshouse structure on the top... 40 watts cover you a 35cm by 50 cm hotbox. between the bulb and the pots ample space must be provided, using say dishes filled with sand. the pots themselves rest on some glassshelving. this apparatus was called a edwardian box and "in the good old days" a kerosine lamp was the heatsource. co2 was so produced and some (now seemingly)impossible tasks were performed. on ships those boxes transported stuff like the pinapple to england. it got there propagated and than sent of again to the colonies. gee, those people must have been good! leave a hole in the box so you see if the bulb is burned out. this is a very cheap bottomheat divice. i dont take any responibility for your handycraft skills, dont start fires... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Dunkel Posted January 21, 2003 I simply potted some up in a sandy mix, put them in a little green house behind a sunny window and they popped up in two days. Down here in cold miserable Melbourne It did get hot in the greenhouse, 35-40ºC (or more). 100% germination rate (I only had two seeds) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Dunkel Posted January 21, 2003 I simply potted some up in a sandy mix, put them in a little green house behind a sunny window and they popped up in two days. Down here in cold miserable Melbourne It did get hot in the greenhouse, 35-40ºC (or more). 100% germination rate (I only had two seeds) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Dunkel Posted January 21, 2003 I simply potted some up in a sandy mix, put them in a little green house behind a sunny window and they popped up in two days. Down here in cold miserable Melbourne It did get hot in the greenhouse, 35-40ºC (or more). 100% germination rate (I only had two seeds) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Dunkel Posted January 21, 2003 I simply potted some up in a sandy mix, put them in a little green house behind a sunny window and they popped up in two days. Down here in cold miserable Melbourne It did get hot in the greenhouse, 35-40ºC (or more). 100% germination rate (I only had two seeds) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Dunkel Posted January 21, 2003 I simply potted some up in a sandy mix, put them in a little green house behind a sunny window and they popped up in two days. Down here in cold miserable Melbourne It did get hot in the greenhouse, 35-40ºC (or more). 100% germination rate (I only had two seeds) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Dunkel Posted January 21, 2003 I simply potted some up in a sandy mix, put them in a little green house behind a sunny window and they popped up in two days. Down here in cold miserable Melbourne It did get hot in the greenhouse, 35-40ºC (or more). 100% germination rate (I only had two seeds) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Dunkel Posted January 21, 2003 I simply potted some up in a sandy mix, put them in a little green house behind a sunny window and they popped up in two days. Down here in cold miserable Melbourne It did get hot in the greenhouse, 35-40ºC (or more). 100% germination rate (I only had two seeds) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Dunkel Posted January 21, 2003 I simply potted some up in a sandy mix, put them in a little green house behind a sunny window and they popped up in two days. Down here in cold miserable Melbourne It did get hot in the greenhouse, 35-40ºC (or more). 100% germination rate (I only had two seeds) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Dunkel Posted January 21, 2003 I simply potted some up in a sandy mix, put them in a little green house behind a sunny window and they popped up in two days. Down here in cold miserable Melbourne It did get hot in the greenhouse, 35-40ºC (or more). 100% germination rate (I only had two seeds) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Dunkel Posted January 21, 2003 oops [ 21. January 2003, 17:03: Message edited by: Ed Dunkel ] 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cosmic Debris Posted January 22, 2003 Ive got one of those hotboxes planthelper is talking about but with a thermostat. If you are making one make sure you only use low voltage light bulbs like 12v, 240v=RIP. You can see pics of my hotbox here http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p...4905&uid=763778 You can get a cheap thermostat from some electronics stores with kits if you have a soldering iron and some basic electronics knowledge, the people at the store can probably give you some help. I got mine for $22 from http://www.jaycar.com.au/ search for temperature switch [ 21. January 2003, 19:44: Message edited by: Cosmic Debris ] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gerbil Posted January 22, 2003 planthelper, thats a pretty good idea, althought knowing me i would burn the house down :D I've been saving for a good heatpad for a while, should have it within the month. Ed, I'm in Melb aswell, weather can be quite a pain in the arse hey, how are the plants doing? CD, nice looking setup whats the temp. sitting around? take care gerbil Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fractalhead Posted January 22, 2003 Cosmic Debris, That's a really neat little hotbox. Well done. Just need some cash... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cosmic Debris Posted January 22, 2003 I keep it at constant temp of 22-25c but it can go as hot as you need Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Dunkel Posted January 22, 2003 gerbil:Ed, I'm in Melb aswell, weather can be quite a pain in the arse hey, how are the plants doing? Yep, the weather shits me at times. Too cold, too hot, dry, wet but never a good combination of the conditions. Winter seems to run straight into summer. No time for plants to put out good growth for them to harden up for the dry hot summers. Stunted plants is what I seem to get. Once they can handle the heat it is alright. Cacti love it!!! Damn shame some of the tropicals fins it a bit to low on the humid side. I need to learn lots on the intricacies of the Melbourne climate. Been here 6ish years and it still throws me at times. Maybe it is just the last 3-4 years that have been weird. Anyway, I'm slowely getting the hang of it. Laters Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rev Posted January 24, 2003 (edited) edit Edited April 21, 2007 by Rev Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gerbil Posted February 22, 2003 have had 100% germination rates, but then again have only tried with 3 seeds. Using a chinese take out container, lid slightly open in one corner. Using CSS. took about 2-3 days, and the weather was getting a bit cold during night times. generally sitting between 15 at night and 25 C day On the subject of humidity. Does anyone know those promotional bin eskies used at bottle shops, the ones in the shape of a drink can? One of those sitting outside, humidity and temperatures are fantastic in there even just on warmish days. Just keep a little water in the tub, or in the section below it. Can think of many uses for this one Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gerbil Posted April 4, 2003 been about 6 weeks since i recieved the seeds, i am still getting 100% germination rates. The only problems i am having is, the root doesn't seem to penetrate the medium all the time, about 50% do this, and go extremely lanky, they have to be buried manually, and even then, some stems elongate and the seedling dies. Do many people have these problems? [ 03. April 2003, 21:43: Message edited by: gerbil ] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites