Nomocharis 2008

[johnw]

From the SRGC seedex several Nomocharis in bloom here today. The photo name shows the name on the seed packets. Most or all may be hybrids though I would appreciate any comments.

johnw

[David Nicholson]

John, I have tried several in the past from the SRGC Seed Ex but have never got any to germinate, could you give me a few tips please?

[johnw]

John, I have tried several in the past from the SRGC Seed Ex but have never got any to germinate, could you give me a few tips please?

David - I received the seed in February or March sowed it and it came up with some warmth in April or May as I recall.  I don't believe they have any dormancy requirements but I believe I had a few pots sprout the following year.  Recently I've had no germination on my own seed and those from exchanges, even after several years. Perhaps the bulb gurus can shed more light on Nomocharis seed requirements, I too would be interested in what they have to say.

johnw

[Magnar]

I have sowed Nomocharis several times, and they have always germinated within a month at about 20 degrees centigrade. No cold treatment has been needed.

[Maggi Young]

Ian sows his Nomocharis and other lily seed of that type in January or February.
A quote from a Bulb Log of 8th Feb. 2006 :
"I have also been sowing my seed from the SRGC seed exchange. This is the ideal time to sow lily and nomocharis seed. I have only just sown my own garden collected seeds - I have found that if I sow them in August/September, when I sow my fritillaria seed, they germinate too quickly (sometimes within two weeks) and I have to try and take them through a winter. All this type of 'lily seed' gets sown on the surface and will be covered by 1 to 2 cms of 6mm grit."

seed pots live outside. If lots of seed, then a fish box might be utilised, then the nomocharis can stay there till they are flowering sized.

[Maggi Young]

Magnar, if we EVER experienced a month of 20 degrees c then global warming would REALLY be happening here!! 

[David Pilling]

Speaking as a total novice. I found that Nomocharis seed germinated better after being soaked for a few days.

The way this worked is that I got my seedex seed put them in a zip seal bag + kitchen towel, a few germinated. By about June 2007 I got back to them, soaked them and more then germinated. This latter batch growing in the middle of Summer, seemed to do better.

By that time the survivor of the first batch had died back. I excavated it and it looked quite reasonable, about 10mm diameter with a decent contractile root.

In 2008 they all reapeared in Spring but they're still at the blade of grass stage.

I'd be interested to know how many years this is going to go on for, and what are suitable conditions. I've got them in a propagator outside in the shade - so cold, wet, dark. Also in poor drainage peat potting compost - totally wrong?

They are akin to lily seeds, I presume they have to have a visible embryo and not all supplied do. So getting six viable bulbs out of the 2006/7 SRGC Seedex packet was probably a good score.

[TC]

About 6 years ago I got several packets of seed from the seed exchange.  They were sown immediately on receipt, left outside and germinated sometime at the end of May. I left them in their pots for a couple of years and they seemed to be doing well but not flowering.  I then planted them out in the garden with some self seeded wild orchids and then forgot about them.  This year I discovered one of them in flower    - nomocharis saluensis.  Now I am trying to remember where I planted the rest !

[Lesley Cox]

They germinate really well if fresh, i.e. from one's own seed, sown when harvested or soon after. As Ian says, on the surface of the seed mix and I cover with about .5 - 1cm of grit. Cool place outside, not permitted to get dried out. Hairs on a dog's back.

John, I've tried every species ever listed I think and in general, the amount of spotting varies within each species I've grown, which has lead me to feel everything we get that is of garden origin, as distinct from collected seed, is a hybrid. I really don't care as every one is beautiful. But it's a nuisance in a nursery when one wants to distribute correctly named plants.

Having said that, when I sow the seeds from a single bulb and keep them isolated from others as they grow up and mature to flowering, all the seedlings from that one plant appear to be the same depth of colour and have the same colour and amount of spotting.

[johnw]

Thanks for the information everyone, very helpful.

I think when I sowed my first batch years ago I was warned not to run the seed pots bone dry during the first winter without leaves. Am I imagining that? Just a dribble down the side of the pot every so often. I remember they were desparately slow but that was before I found out Lilies et al are hungry beasts.

johnw 

   

[Lesley Cox]

I wouldn't be running them bone dry at ANY time, from sowing onwards. Certainly drier while dormant but never REALLY dry. Trillium conditions probably. Some individual bulbs aren't long lived, others more so but in any case, once you have a couple, it's so easy to do them from seed that a good patch isn't hard to achieve.

[Paul T]

Lesley,

I guess mine were the "not that long lived" varieties.  I had them for a couple of years and just loved the flowers.  I only had single plants each time and they never set seed.  Must try them from seed one day as I thought the flowers were brilliant! 

[Anastasia]

Nomocharis - For us it while dream. 

Surprisingly beautiful flower, very much it would be desirable it to grow up.

[Lesley Cox]

I should have some seed in the summer (edead of winter here at the moment) so if anyone is interested, PM me your address. Anastasia, David and Paul, I have yours.

[Paul T]

Thanks in anticipation Lesley.  That would be wonderful.