This is a public-interest archive. Personal data is pseudonymized and retained under GDPR Article 89.

Re: Gentiana septemfida & G. acaulis

I find that MOST gentian seed germinates very well, and the two species
are among the most reliable.  G.septemfida was one of the few items that
germinated in my first order from Thompson and Morgan, one of the first
alpines I ever flowered, and 10 years later, I still have seedling- and
cutting-grown plants from my initial efforts.

Most gentian seed requires chilling [at least a month at around 0-6
degrees C], and light.  I surface-sow on a peat-perlite mix lightened with
sand [about 2 parts p+p to 1 part sand].  I use 4-inch plastic pots --
smaller pots aren't a good idea, since they dry out too rapidly.  The
surface is pressed down, seed is sown thinly and then covered with a THIN
layer of poultry grit.  The pot is watered from below. I put my
pots outdoors in flats, covered with
window screening.  In your harsher climate, you could use cold frames, or
merely bury  the seed pots in snow.

I'd expect germination shrtly after the first warm weather.  Gentian
seedlings grow very slowly at first, putting most of their energy into
roots.  Don't despair -- if they are not allowed to dry out, and are given
liquid feeds, they will be ready to plant out next psring, and can bloom
that season.

Loren Russell, Corvallis, Oregon


On Mon, 12 Jan 1998, Dean Arndt wrote:

> 
> Greetings.
> 
> I have some Gentiana seed that I need to germinate.  Rumor has it that it
> can be on the difficult side.  Does anyone have some tips they would care
> to share?
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Dean 
> Zone 3
> Manitoba, Canada
> 
>
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index