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Re: Sylphium perfoliatum (cup plant)


> MJ Hatfield wrote:
> > 
> > I've never had to germinate my Sylphium perfoliatum (cup plant)as the
> > seeds just fall to the ground and the next year there are more plants.
> > MJ Hatfield
> 
> I take it from that that these seeds do not have to be in the ground to 
> germinate, but above ground?  Thanks for answering my question. Judy 
> Showers (PA z/6)

Judy,

A LOT of seeds do successfully germinate without burial, and many require 
light to germinate [ie, need to be in the top few millimeters of soil].  
I generally sow almost all seed on the surface of the compost, adding 
crushed-granite grit to cover.  This insures that light reqches the seed, 
while keeping it from drying out while germinating.

There ARE seeds which only germinate when buried deeply enough to block 
light [Cyclamen is a well-known example], but surface-sowing works for 
most hardy plants.

Loren Russell, Corvallis Oregon
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