Frost on Podophyllum seedlings

[mickeymuc]

Hi Everyone,

I have some pots of Podophyllum seedlings (ex. delavayi, Spotty Dotty and pleianthum), that I overwintered in my basement and placed into a cold frame as they already grew leaves. One pleianthum refused to die down and was also overwintered in leaf. Now some frost is coming, and I wonder what may be the minimum the little leaves can take? The basement is too warm and dark to leave them in there for longer time, so I'd prefer to let them stay outside - but of course I don't want them to freeze.
Thanks for any advice,

Kind regards,

Michael

[johnw]

Michael - I too have some Podo seedlings that have not shut down for the winter, Under lights in a cold room they just keep putting up leaves whilst siblings have gone dormant.  I'd say best to get them inside as they are apt to get killed by any cold.

johnw

[Lesley Cox]

Pleianthum seems to be almost evergreen here but it does haul itself out of the ground in a good frost.

Intrigued that you've had seed on Spotty Dotty Michael. Mine hasn't had, even with hand pollinating. Maybe needs another species, like delavayi to pollinate it?

[mickeymuc]

Here it seems like there are very different clones of pleianthum, one is really evergreen, I keep it frost free and it keeps growing throughout the summer, while others only have one flush of growth. Spotty Dotty is one that keeps growing new leaves in summer and increases very well vegetatively. I think I pollinated it with whatever was available (versipelle and delavayi maybe), it grew beautiful pink fruits (I posted a pic here http://forum.garten-pur.de/attachments/podspot_klein.jpg ), but every berry only contained one or two seeds - it is not very fertile. If t sets seed this year I can send you some, it's fun having a surprise project like this. The berries have a nice fruity smell when you open them, unfortunately they don't taste as good (couldn't resist trying :-))
The little ones have plain green leaves, but I hope some pattern will appear soon. They are in the safe basement now, as cold days are to come - from friday it should be frost-free again & they'll get outside again :-)

[Tony Willis]

I planted out a couple of hundred seedlings last summer in a nursery bed and they are all still dormant but seem to still have good roots and crowns and so I am hopeful they will grow. The main plants are only just showing their growth buds at soil level so I am not concerned about the young ones at the moment. We have had the coldest winter since we have been here -9c.

[mickeymuc]

Happy you that you have enough space for that - mine only grew that early because the basement was a bit too warm, so they started early. But still I'm sure they'll make it, and they surely have a long growing season this year.
You have to post a pic of 100s of Podophyllum-seedlings growing in your bed!

[johnw]

Mickeymuc - Tony's garden must be a sight with those 100's.

Most of our pleianthums started flushing in earnest about 2-3 weeks ago in the coldroom.  What a marvellous sheen they have.

In dormancy some of the species have made very prominent resting buds but others have just disappeared. From the past we have learned to leave well enough alone as the roots may eventually produce shoots on those that appear dead. Well maybe the difformes are the exception.

Seems we haven't heard from Robin Callens  - the Chief Paris-Podo Guru - for a long time.

johnw

[Maggi Young]

Seems we haven't heard from Robin Callens  - the Chief Paris-Podo Guru - for a long time.

johnw

He was in New Zealand a few weeks ago....... there was talk of his visit in the SH threads .... and he visited the forum today.....