Pelargonium endlicherianum

[WimB]

Can anyone tell me what are the best sowing conditions for the seeds of this plant?

Thanks

Wim

[Martijn]

Dear Wim,

I always had good results with sowing in december. Seeds quickly germinate in spring, even at low temperatures.

Good luck!

Martijn

[WimB]

Hello Martijn,

thanks for the info. In which kind of soil-mix do you sow them?

Regards Wim

P.S. I'm waiting eagerly to receive the package from your nursery

[WimB]

Nobody??? 

[mark smyth]

I might be able to let you have a bit off my plant. I'll check in the morning

[Maggi Young]

Mark, Wim wants to know about growing conditions... he has the seed!

[Tony Willis]

I grow mine in a very gritty loam mixture under glass with plenty of water in summer. Although I think it is hardy it would not survive the wet outside  with me.It develops a large almost tuberous root above ground

[Peter Maguire]

My seed grown plants have survived outside in pots containing a gritty mix (compost:sand:grit in equal quantitites). They've been standing on a tray filled with sand which retains some moisture during the summer and which is the home for young plants which have been potted on and are awaiting a permanent home in the garden - the Pelargoniums root through the pots into this each year. They've been there for over three years  , but one has recently found a permanent home in a redeveloped raised bed which contains old bulb compost/topdressing and is 50% grit - it's  thriving there, as are its pot-bound siblings.
We're also in northern England, but on the drier east coast than Tony.
Hope this may be of help.

[WimB]

Thanks everybody,

I'll sow them in a grit-sand-compost mix and I'll see what happens.

[Martijn]

Hello Wim,

I sow all alpines in a mixture of 1 part coarse sand, 2 parts of good potting soil, and some perlite. Because of the perlite, it is easier when you transplant the seedlings.

When it gets later, grammar is getting worse

[Darren]

Hi - I live not far from Tony on the wet west coast and have one plant (bought from Tim Ingram at the Alpines 2001 conference) which has survived outside & unprotected ever since, and moved house with us. Several plants from Jurasek seed in 2003 died during their first wet winter (2005) despite being a similar size when planted out. They were a nicer form too!
I guess that it might be a matter of finding a clone happy with your conditions.

To return to topic - I too found the seed easy and quick to germinate even sown mid-winter. Might be best to grow them on for a season or two before trying outside. Mine grows wedged between two limestone boulders in almost pure gravel, our soil (about 30cm below) is very free draining anyway.

[nicheplanthead]

I've grown it twice.. Just snap off the long spike of seed head and push the seed into any kind of starter mix as it is a warm germination its fairly simple and seed germination rates are usually high.
I grew it in a tight crevice and it survived for 3 years and produced see. Next time I will grow it in a more open crevice.
It has survived -20C

[WimB]

I think I waited to long with sowing the seeds, they've all rotted after a week in the soil. Well, better luck next time.

[nicheplanthead]

Wim,

    Don't feel so bad about it the first time I got seed only 3 out of 10 seed germinated. It all depends more on the quality of the seeds so keep on the look out for them just as I am.
I've only been growing from seed for 15 years. Ideally about 20% air space is best in the soil but hard to achieve so even less than 10% air space works quite well if your mix is not too wet.

[4moreaction]

this pelargonium has survived planted in gardensoil here in finland... so it must be well worth trying it outside in other parts of europe as well... just keep it to that gritty, well draining soil... and it should be possible to survive outside... =O)