I usually end up harvesting the large asiaticum seeds after they have been on the ground, baking for a few weeks (not on purpose, just a scheduling problem). A few seeds will have germinated on their own after a couple of months. Generally, I bury half to 3/4s of each seed so there is a good bit of the top showing and then put the pots in partial shade so they probably get no more than one or two hours of direct sun each day. Success rates are generally very good, but I also notice that some germinate fairly quickly and others from the same plant are quite delayed. In general, I think that partially burying the seeds speeds germination up a bit but I haven't rigorously tested this. Have you noticed more rapid germination if you harvest seeds directly from the pods vs after the pods have split? I notice that many hymenocallis seeds often act the same for me. I was loathe to bury them, since they are green and I assume their photosynthesis apparatus is working, however, I have fully buried seeds from the local hymenocallis that grows on the dunes and find it speeds germination and I get a 100% germination rate. I have assumed that its due to reducing dessication. Regards, -Phil >From: "Joe Shaw" <jshaw@opuntiads.com> >Reply-To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> >To: <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> >Subject: [pbs] Crinum asiaticum germination >Date: Sun, 20 Aug 2006 17:14:24 -0500 > >Hi Gang, > > >From time to time I have seeds of tropical-type Crinum. The mother >plants >are garden forms of C. asiaticum or similar plants; the leaves can be red, >green, slim, or wide. Very often the seeds are huge. > >The seeds often take a long time to germinate. Typicaly, I put them on top >of good soil in a 2- gallon container and leave them under a porch where >they get rain, bright light, and no frost even though there might be frost >on the grass some feet away. Indoors germination has not sped things up. >Because they are Crinum, I tried a couple of obvious variations (several >months just sitting dry, etc.), but there is no fooling these seeds. > >The seeds take their time to germinate, each germinating on its own >schedule. Sometimes these "tropicals" germinate soon after they come out >of >the pod, even while half in the pod and spilling out; sometimes waiting >till >the following spring. I wonder if anyone has the same experience. > > > >Cordially, > > >Joe >Conroe, TX >Not so hot today, but still no rain. > > > >_______________________________________________ >pbs mailing list >pbs@lists.ibiblio.org >http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php