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- To: "L-Soft list server at St. John's University (1.8c)" <L*@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU>
- Subject: Growing From Seeds
- From: G* d* V* <g*@tstt.net.tt>
- Date: Wed, 05 Nov 1997 21:04:23 -0400
Hello all Sans lovers, Over the last few days there has been a lot of discussion on growing from seeds and my own experience seems to have been rather better than most so I will document the experience I have had for the benefit of all. Here goes---- All seeds were sowed in a standard mix of 1/3 each of soil/sand/peat moss, buried about 1/4 inch and kept in good light, but not direct sun, under cover (not exposed to rain). Weather generally hot and humid (70degF night, 90degF day). Watered regularly so that seeds never dried out. In general 50-100 Percent germination, showing from 3 days min to 3 weeks max. All seeds from CSSA seed depot. One exception showed ZERO pct germination; this was a "sp.from Africa collected by Mary Bleck (Eby)" Also some seeds collected here in Trinidad from a S. cylindrica also gave no show. Here's the results of the successes -- Sowed 95/July - S. Mason Congo - Now with leaves more than 1 ft long, 5 ins broad and have sent out many side shoots. Long passed the juvenile stage. Sowed 96/April - 1)S. dawii - Now with leaves more than 1 ft long, several side shoots, Long passed the juvenile stage. 2)S. patens - Now with leaves very thick up to 4 ins long. No side shoots yet. 3)S. FKH 424 (horwoodii?) A lovely rosette of thick leaves, about 6 ins in diameter. At only 18 months old, one of these is now showing a beautiful inflorescence in which flowers are opening at he rate of 15-20 each night. Have taken photos which will post if they are good. Sowed 96/September - 1)S, cylindrica. Now producing straight cylindrical leaves, the longest about 10 ins long. 2) S. desertii - Well passed the juvenile stage with leaves thick and straight almost 2 ft long. 3) S. liberica - also seems passed the juvenile stage, leaves about 1 ft long. 4) sp Mary Bleck - No show. Sowed 96/November - S. zeylanica - Now seems to be in transition from juvenile with leaves about 6 ins long (but this one still in the seed pan). Have just received seeds of S. schweinfurthii from Norma Lewis (many, many thanks Norma) and am looking forward to success with these too. Hope that my report is of interest to this group and will provide any additional info if required. Cheers from Trinidad and Tobago. Currently very hot and rainy. George de Verteuil
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