Finding information on the internet...

[JPB]

I have seeds of Nomocharis aperta and was looking for some sowing advise on the internet..

Well, that's not an easy task, to say the least...Most sites state that seeds need oxygen and that they need light for photosynthesis once germinated...They need also to be watered to avoid desiccation Thanks, I thought, that's a great help!

The most unhelpful advise is here:
Nomocharis can be grown from seed. (Well, that should be, otherwise this species wouldn't be among us, wouldn't it?)
Nomocharis seed will take 3-4 years to produce flowers, (That may be, but does not answer my question HOW to sow them)
however it is well worth the wait. (I know, otherwise I wouldn't have bought seeds of Nomocharis!)
Sow Nomocharis seed in small pots, (So a larger pot will definitely kill the seeds!!!)
and once growth starts feed regularly with a liquid fertilizer. (That's an interesting point, I heard before that plants need nutrients..)
Do not feed while dormant. (I don't eat when I'm sleeping either )

I think it's time for beer and relax...

Have a nice Christmas!  

Hans

[Maggi Young]

If we have sufficient quantities of Nomocharis seed we sow it in a polystyrene box. That way we can leave it to its own devices for a couple of years until the bulbs are big enough to be taken and planted in the garden. We often wait ( forget!) until the plants are flowering size.

The seeds are scattered on the surface of our usual potting mix ( see almost any of Ian's Bulb Logs to see what that is! ) with a little extra leafmould to make a woodsy sort of flavour for them, cover the seeds lightly with gravel and then leave till they start flowering!  We usually keep such boxes of seed  in the open at the west side of the house. If they are very lucky, they may get an  occasional liquid feed... but that doesn't happen often - luckily they are not greedy plants.

[ranunculus]

I have seeds of Nomocharis aperta and was looking for some sowing advise on the internet..


I think it's time for beer and relax...

I think it's time for beer and relax...  ... and toss the seed onto a woodland compost in a medium sized pot (have another beer), cover thinly with perlite (or some such - decide while enjoying another beer), stwoll awound the garden, water from your bottom with thwee more beers, drink, dwink, dunk the pots and have a bwandy. Merrrry Cwistmas.  Lie down, wait for spring and discover no more charis!!!

[JPB]

Thanks! You both are a bigger help than the internet.. I'll skip the sowing for tonight, but tomorrow at 9 AM I'll open up some beers and start sowing

[Anthony Darby]

I need to stock up on more beer. Clearly that's Cliff's secret.

[ranunculus]

I need to stock up on more beer. Clearly that's Cliff's secret.

I can't grow a thing, Anthony, but at least it's fun trying.   

[David Pilling]

Hi,

For Nomocharis sowing have a look at this link:

http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbslist/2010-February/6he0h9i4ouubput1av49ecfhh0.html

It is by iain of auchgourish botanicgarden so despite the Pacific setting a Scottish link.

Having failed miserably to grow the things, I've written a wiki page on them:

http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Nomocharis

[Maggi Young]

My goodness, I am astonished that Iain of Auchgourish goes to such lengths... our way works very well in similar conditions to his and there is no need to put the babies in danger by transplanting and, growing their whole lives outdoors, they are perfectly adapted to life here.
He may get harsher weather, but if the seeds are sown outdoors and left in the open then they would be in no danger of being exposed since they would keep their heads down untill better days come. The plants, even young ones , are hardy and not at all prone to rotting off in the open. 

[Anthony Darby]

I need to stock up on more beer. Clearly that's Cliff's secret.

I can't grow a thing, Anthony, but at least it's fun trying.   

You'd be a happy sow and sow then?

[David Pilling]

Maggi, I wish I knew the secret. In my experience about year 3 a slug finds them, even out of the garden, and they don't grow well enough.

Setting out growing one thinks that obtaining seeds and getting them to germinate is the big hurdle, turns out it is just the first problem.

Better say others provided the words for the wiki page, I'm only responsible for their order.

[Maggi Young]

This perennial problem of slugs and snails is a real bind..... remind me again, Folks, what "use" exactly are these slimy coves??!!

[David Pilling]

I recall Monty Don saying seriously that the Romans introduced snails to Britain, to eat.

A non-native species - we should have a cull of.

[Anthony Darby]

That wouldn't be Helix pomatia, the Roman snail, then?

[David Pilling]

That wouldn't be Helix pomatia, the Roman snail, then?

Very good.

The blighters even have their own facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Helix-pomatia/109378739093368

[Anthony Darby]

Seriously, the garden snail (Helix aspersa), which is quite a pest in some areas, seems likely to have been introduced by the Romans to Britain? It is quite common where I live in New Zealand. It only became common in my garden in Dunblane after the use of it was removed from the biology curriculum!