Hepatica from seed

[Carsten]

Hepatica seed is ripening these days and for the next few weeks. So I started to sow them now.

Best practise for me is to sow the seeds as soon as they are ripe and easily fall out of the seed heads. To prevent the seeds from disapearing between all my pots and to tell the different crossings on the same plant apart I use small gauze bags and connect it to a label with the data of the crossing.
A plastic pot is filled up with a mix of Seramis, pumice or zeolite, which is free draining and the seeds are easily pricked out when I seperate them some 2 years later.
Spread the seeds evenly and let them enough space to grow for a season or two. Then cover the seeds with +/- 10mm of finely chopped and composted pine needles.
 
I place the seed pots on the floor of my greenhouse and water regularly that the seeds never dry out.
Other composts and a cover of gravel will work as well but for me itīs easier to keep the seeds moist at any time but not water locked this way. I start feeding them when the seedlings clearly start to grow from April/May the following year. In the first season most seedlings only show their seed leaves but sometimes another 1 or 2 extra leaves appear. In this case you might be lucky to see the first flowers in the 2. season of their growth.

[Carsten]

Some seeds only germinate in the 2. year while I might be able harvesting seeds in the same pot. As many crossings only show interesting features in the F2 generation a flower in the 2. year after sowing is very valuable.

[Herman Mylemans]

Carsten, thank you for the interesting information!

[Pennine Wanderer]

Very interesting Carsten.  It just shows you are never too old to learn.  Thanks. Dave

[Carsten]

Almost 3 years after sowing, it is now high time for repotting the Hepaticas. The pot is densely overgrown and well rooted.

[Carsten]

The pure mineral substrate makes it very easy to seperate the seedlings without disturbing them too much.
Otherwise you might need to prick out the seedlings much ealier in their 2. year of growth.

[Carsten]

12 seedlings out of 16 seeds is quite ok and more than enough to breed the F2 generation. Most plants already have flowerbuds und only need another week or two to start flourish.

[Carsten]

Astonishing that they all had grown in a 10 x 10 x 9 cm pot and had roots up to almost 20 cm length.

[Carsten]

The plants are potted into quite small containers 8 x 8 x 8,5 cm and will be repotted every year. I give them a drainage of 1/3 of the pot which is 4-8 mm gravel from pumice, lava and zeolith. They always root into the drainage and seem to 'like' it. The compost is made from each 1/3 of a standard soil (Einheitserde) based on peat, pumice and composted needle scattering. It is free draining and suitable for both, nobilis and japonicas.

[Herman Mylemans]

The plants are potted into quite small containers 8 x 8 x 8,5 cm and will be repotted every year. I give them a drainage of 1/3 of the pot which is 4-8 mm gravel from pumice, lava and zeolith. They always root into the drainage and seem to 'like' it. The compost is made from each 1/3 of a standard soil (Einheitserde) based on peat, pumice and composted needle scattering. It is free draining and suitable for both, nobilis and japonicas.

Carsten, very good results. Do you also cut the roots?

[Carsten]

In most cases, yes. But not with this seedlings.

[Carolyn]

Carsten, what do you feed your seedlings with, and how often? I wish my hepatica seedlings had such strong roots! Are they so healthy because of the good drainage/ gritty compost?

[Carsten]

Carolyn, I feed with a 20-20-20 Peter's professional, highly diluted to 0,6-0,8% and try to do this as often as possible. As the mix in the seed pots is of pure mineral grit with a cover of composted pine needles you need to feed regularly. I guess any other balanced fertilizer will work, too. The mix is airy, holds some moisture und is free draining. This must be a great advantage for the roots in my view. But, there are many other ways to grow healthy seedlings ;-)
As a disadvantage, you must pay attention that this mix never drys out.

[Leena]

Your pictures show how well your system works for you! I am amazed how fast the seedlings have grown, it must be your feeding and the well draining soil which allows the roots to grow so well.
Thank you for showing how you do it.

[Carolyn]

Thanks, Carsten, I will try your method this year!