Propagation/Germination
- Subject: Propagation/Germination
- From: W* G*
- Date: Wed, 18 Jul 2001 12:40:26 -0400
On 7/03/01 5:41 PM Nan Sterman (nsterman@plantsoup.com) wrote:
>Can anyone tell me how to propagate a coral tree (Erythrina sp) from
>cuttings?
Erythrina variegata (syn. E. indica) is the most commonly seen species in
the Caribbean and is easily propagated by potting up branches 12-24
inches long from which most of the leaves have been stripped. Just keep
warm (80F or higher) and lightly moist.
On 7/07/01 10:46 AM John Schlesinger (johnsaia@dnai.com) wrote:
>Does anyone know germination conditions for seeds of Pandorea pandorana?
A ubiquitous plant hereabouts and usually propagated from cuttings. But
easily started from seeds lightly covered and kept moist and warm.
Germination is usually rapid.
But always exercise patience with seeds. While visiting the Nairobi
Arboretum in December 1999 I collected a number of seeds - the size of an
English walnut - of Castrospermum australae (Moreton Bay Chestnut) that
were lying on the ground under the tree. This is a beautiful
orange-flowered tree from eastern Australia that grows to some size. Is
this being grown by any Med gardeners? Or any sightings outside of
Australia and Kenya?
I gave several seeds to friends here who lost patience after a few
months, but one of the seeds I kept germinated a few weeks ago a year and
a half after it was potted up. This is the record for slow germination to
date, but I am still of hope that one if not both of the two seeds -
weighing more than 25 pounds each - of Lodoicea maldivica, the
celebrated Coco de Mer (or Double Coconut) brought back from Praslin
Island in the Seychelles and planted in the ground here early last year
will germinate before this year is up. The coco de mer is a slow learner
in every respect and viable seeds can take two years to germinate.
Nice to be back in a warm country after a few weeks on the cold and
lonely Canadian prairie.
William Glover
Nevis, West Indies
