Germinating now- - photos of seedlings

[Leucogenes]

Gentiana caelestris,  Gentiana depressa and Phemeranthus sediformis

[fermi de Sousa]

Some more germinations this season:
1) Fritillaria davisii (thanks, Paul & Colin )
2) Calochortus venustus SRGC Sdx 2017
3) Muscari inconstrictum (thanks, Ashley  )
4) Iris unguicularis  cretensis - Marcus Harvey ?wild collected 2013??
cheers
fermi

[hamparstum]

Hi Fermi, I'm very interested in your germination schedules because they reflect the southern hemisphere. I suspect I would have to add at least a full month here to achieve the same results. Could you please let me know when were your seeds sown?. I assume you gave them outside stratification; am I right?. I'm trying out actually the four genera mentioned and trying to figure out the stratification needs, either outside or in the fridge. I still have 12 or more weeks before outside temp highs rise beyond 12ºC. Lows will oscillate in -3ºC/-4ºC with occasional lows down to -6ºC/-7º at least until September. So I have the option of leaving my pots in a sheltered position outside all this time taking advantage of winter temp oscillations,or place them inside a cool greenhouse where frosts will hardly go below -2ºC. Perhaps in some cases I might be a bit late with my Seedex '71 seeds. I thank you in advance for any advice in any direction. Arturo

[fermi de Sousa]

Hi Arturo,
I try to sow these sorts of seeds by the end of autumn and leave the pots outside so that they benefit from a cold spell to help germination.
Our winter temperatures usually drop to -2^oC to -4^oC, though last year it did get down to -7^oC, so not too dissimilar to yours. I would think that the cool greenhouse might be a safe option as some seedlings are susceptible to really low temperatures. I had to move the pot of agave seedlings to the shadehouse as I think the first seedlings got caught by the frost, so even if they benefit from low temps to germinate the seedlings may be killed by frost. I don't have a glass house so just move the seedlings under shade-cloth. I haven't tried any other forms of stratification or sowing indoors.
I hope this helps,
cheers
fermi

[fermi de Sousa]

Back in April a tray of recently sown seedpots fell off the bench  so I scraped up what I could into a foam box and hoped for the best!
By late May a few seedlings started to appear and there appear to be tulips, ixias and other irids. But I won't know what they are until them flower!
cheers
fermi

[ChrisB]

Just germinated opuntia seed for the first time.

[ChrisB]

Really don’t understand why it turns my photos sideways all the time. They are portrait in my album and even in the tiny preview thing before it goes live. Puts me off doing them here.  I know you help by turning them somehow Maggi, but you shouldn’t have to, and if you can, why can’t I?

[Maggi Young]

I only know what I've said  before -  it does seem that when I take them into my  machine  I can rotate  them - I dunno why!

[bibliofloris]

Just germinated optunia seed for the first time.

I’ve never seen cactus seedlings before! How neat!
(I’m glad you posted it, despite the rotating issue!)
Kelly

[ChrisB]

It’s really weird Maggi.  I’m using an iPhone to take the photos and my iPad Air when I upload them.  I tried the large option too to see if that made any difference but sadly no.

Hi Kelly,
Yes, I’ve never germinated cactus seed before either, so I have been fascinated to see how they develop.  Optunia is supposed to be hardier, so I am going to try it outside.  Luckily there are 5 so I will still have more if the first attempt fails. I think the trick is drainage, so here’s hoping ...

[Gabriela]

Cactus seedlings are very cute.
I think we are talking about Opuntia here?

[ChrisB]

We are Gabriela.  I understand it is Hardy in North America ...

[bibliofloris]

I don’t know about the rest of North America, but apparently Opuntia fragilis is native to western Washington (much to my surprise!), among other areas, and some species of opuntia are grown in Seattle and Portland, Oregon. Seattle is zone 8b, Portland can get slightly colder, I believe. I hear the issue here is drainage, especially during our very wet winters.

[Gabriela]

There are a few Opuntia species natives to Western USA and Canada, all quite cold resistant and Opuntia humifusa from the southern part, with its northern limit here in Ontario (zone 5).
Of course good drainage is a must.

[brianw]

Opuntia polycantha, presumably, was quite common when we were exploring Wyoming before the NARGS conference on 2016. Not the friend of ranchers, well the cattle anyway.