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[ 13 posts ] |
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carolpz
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Trex flowering
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Thu Nov 15, 2007 1:10 pm |
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Jonathan Poston
Joined: Tue Oct 30, 2007 11:08 am Posts: 266 Location: Eastbourne, Sussex, England
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Fri Nov 16, 2007 7:03 am |
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carolpz
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Hi Jonathon, nice to hear from you. I'll forget it then, I have plenty of seeds I can germinate without wasting valuable space. Ah well, back to the spade then.
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Fri Nov 16, 2007 12:02 pm |
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Chad
Joined: Tue Oct 30, 2007 10:03 pm Posts: 2343 Location: Inland Cornwall UK
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I think the reason it has a reputaion for being difficult from seed is that fertile seed is seldom set.
It probably needs two clones to cross polinate, and most of us only grow one clone. [The exception to that is Clive at Hardy Exotics who seems to collect them].
Seed from Chilterns is sold every year and lots of us have tried it. I don't think any one has germinated any though, and I now doubt its viability.
If I'm wrong, please tell me.
Peter Richardson posted [in an other place] an impressive picture of a stand in New Zealand, and commented on the lack of seedlings there too.
Chad.
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Fri Nov 16, 2007 7:12 pm |
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Jonathan Poston
Joined: Tue Oct 30, 2007 11:08 am Posts: 266 Location: Eastbourne, Sussex, England
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Fri Nov 16, 2007 8:37 pm |
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Paul Spracklin
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Indeed - a couple of times. I bought a job lot of 'regular' Tpnx many years ago from Sandeman Seeds and had good germination but nearly all damped off within a few weeks.
I then had good seed from my own 'regular' Tpnx with good germination. I passed them on to someone but forget who.
I think much of the problem lies with them flowering so late the seed never really gets much chance to ripen - you need a good long growing season, long indian summer and very late onset of frosts - my self-set version was after a year when we didn't get the first frost until January.
Can't imagine 'Rex' would be any different.
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Fri Nov 16, 2007 9:22 pm |
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Chad
Joined: Tue Oct 30, 2007 10:03 pm Posts: 2343 Location: Inland Cornwall UK
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Nothing like this forum to make me feel inadequate!
I tried Chiltern Tetrapanax seed for several years in a row and never saw so much as a rootlet.
I'm very glad to know others at least got somewhere [even if the seed was from an other source].
Crug had trouble, trying to get back the 'empress' strain, they re-imported seed from that locality, and it didn't germinate, so everyone has some trouble with it.
Chad.
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Fri Nov 16, 2007 10:24 pm |
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Paul Spracklin
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Chad - I don't think it is a case of feeling inadequate just that experiences differ. I wouldn't be surpised if Chilterns kept seed for yonks, reducing the chance even further. What I didn't say was that I tried twice again with Sandeman seed with no result, and twice again with my own (undeveloped) seed.
Having said all that, Bleddyn must have had success the first time otherwise none of us would have been growing 'Empress' or 'Rex' in the first place.
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Sat Nov 17, 2007 8:39 am |
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Kev Spence
Site Admin
Joined: Mon Oct 29, 2007 3:59 pm Posts: 10902 Location: Loughborough, Leics, central UK
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Not a deal to add but a picture and with 2 frosty nights the seeds still look viable how low a temp before its all over has anyone noticed.
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Sat Nov 17, 2007 7:44 pm |
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Paul Spracklin
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Kev, those are flower buds, not seeds. Those buds will open out into branched inflorescences rather similar to those on fatsia but longer and with smaller pom-poms, covered in a wooly tomentum. Berries (containing the seeds), if they form, make themselves known mainly by the flowers remaining plump after the flowering has finished - they don't turn black like much of the araliaceae unless the tomentum wears off. That doesn't happen for a while yet, if at all.
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Sun Nov 18, 2007 8:03 am |
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Peter Richardson
Joined: Mon Oct 29, 2007 12:16 pm Posts: 1472
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Sun Nov 18, 2007 8:24 am |
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Paul Spracklin
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Peter - I reckon that will be next year from the look and size of it. If I get a chance over the next few days I'll take a pic. One problem is that I have three other tetrapanax clones growing nearby and, unless the flowering time is staggered, we won't get a full picture unless I hire a crane and cut all the flowers off .
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Sun Nov 18, 2007 8:33 am |
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Peter Richardson
Joined: Mon Oct 29, 2007 12:16 pm Posts: 1472
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But, it would also be very illuminating to see whether the different clones will cross-pollinate and if you get berries even on the NZ clone, so don't do that!
Peter
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Sun Nov 18, 2007 8:44 am |
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