Saxifraga dinniki

[Cgull49]

I received a packet of Saxifraga dinniki as one of my selections from the SRGC '09/10 seed exchange.  What regime should I follow to germinate this seed.  I've looked through various sites but haven't been able to find any that discuss the specifics of this species. Helppppp!

Rob

[WimB]

Hi Rob,

I've never sown S. dinnikii but it grows in a normal rock plants mix over here, that's two parts gravel, one part compost and two parts sand (see http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2014.0). There's a bit more information here: http://alpigena-saxifrages.nl/caucasus%20near%20east.html

[Lesley Cox]

That's a very hard mixture Wim, even for high alpine saxifragas. Do you think a greater proportion of compost is harmful?

[Lesley Cox]

Well, having asked the question then followed the first link (should have done that first), I can see that the mixture obviously works well for those in a relatively damp climate. It could be too open here where our summers are hot and dry (except this year). But I'll try it all the same for new troughs. I do wish some of those saxes were available here. Most of what we had 20 years ago are well and truly gone now.

[WimB]

Lesley, maybe it would be better to take equal parts of compost, gravel and sand in your climate. But here, in rainy Belgium, they like this mixture.
Alpigena has a very big collection of Saxes and the plants they sell are of very good quality. I'm sorry to hear that you don't have access to many of these Saxes, Lesley, cause they are really magnificent plants.

[Cgull49]

Wim and Lesley,

Thanks for your input on the type of soil in which to grow S. dinniki, which I will need once I get the seed to germinate.

In reading Deno it looks like most of the Saxifraga he tested germinated at 20C with light and that most had higher germination rates if started at 20C rather than starting at 5C and then moving to 20C after 3 months.  (He studied 11 different species of Saxifraga).  However, there was one that only germinated at 5C and one that germinated only at 20C in the dark.

S. dinniki is not always available and I want to obtain the highest germination rate I can get.  Would you or other know how best to germinate this species?

Rob

[Lesley Cox]

Alas, to me it is just a name and a photograph.

[WimB]

Sorry, I have never sown any saxes before...

[Martijn]

Dear Rob,

I sow all alpines in almost the same way, including Saxifraga dinniki.

Just make a good mixture containing 2 parts potting soil and 1 part sharp sand.
Sow the seeds on top of this, soak the pot with water from below, and don´t cover the seeds!
In this way, the seeds absorb the water, necessary for good germination.

After you have done this, put the pot outside, not in a heated frame but cover it with a pane of glass. Make sure that the wind and cold has full access! The seeds will germinate early: in march/april and they are very small. Best is to sow thinly, so that you can leave the seedlings in this pot for one year.

This is what you get in a few years.....


Good luck!

[Cgull49]

Martin,

Thanks for the advice I'll give it a try.  Normally, I would plant the seed in a small 7cm pot and put the pot into a small ziplock bag, to keep in the moisture, and then place the bag and pot outside in the shade - a northern exposure for me.  I'm assuming that the plate of glass and the baggie do the same thing - keep the rain from washing out the seeds and help retain moisture.

Rob

[Martijn]

Hi Rob,

Sounds just as good! I would certainly try your way!

Regards,

Martijn