Re: transplanting Jacks in the pulpit - PAGE 1

 This bounced last night as I had exceeded my 4 post limit...but as I
 went to the trouble to write it, am trying once again..FWIW

Well, it bounced again because it exceeds the 200 line limit...so I
am splitting it into two parts - which will, of course, use up 2 of
my allowed 4 posts for this day...hope some of you find it worth all
this hassle!
=========

on 9/5/00 Karen Cooper asked about transplanting jacks in the pulpit
and sowing seeds

==========
PAGE 1 of 2

 Yes, Karen, you can move jacks - preferably when they're dormant,
 or  at least when the stem has totally yellowed and you can still
 locate  the tubers.

 If they have been there a while, dig *really* deep - they will pull
 themselves down sometimes and it's best to be safe than sorry.

 I find Arisaema seed easy to germinate, especially if fresh.  Wait
 until the berries are nice and red and then remove the red berries
 and clean them.  Wear rubber gloves as some people are sensitive to
 some substance they produce...hasn't bothered me...yet, but I pass
 this on.

 I shell the berries into a metal kitchen sieve and macerate them
 under running water to remove the skin and pulp.  You'll find
 several  hard light tan seeds in each berry.  Once planted the
berries and
 they eventually germinated, but you'll get more even germination if
 you clean them.

 Plant the seed immediately.  If you can't and need to store it, dry
 them on paper towels and store in the fridge.  Then, when you're
 ready to plant, soak the seed in warm water with a drop or two of
 dishwashing liquid added - I use Joy.  Soak at least overnight...if
 longer, replace the water daily.

 I sow in 3.5 or 4 inch square plastic pots of ProMix, which I use
 for  seeding instead of my home made mix as it is clean.  I sow from
5
 to  10 seeds per pot - better with 5 as the babies need to stay in
 those  pots for a while, but if you have loads of seed, you may need
to
 conserve pots.  Have also used flats when I had a *lot* of seed.
 Try  to keep them at least a half inch apart - an inch is even
better -
 gives them more room to grow.

 I cover the seed with granite grit - about 1/4" or so and water the
 pots.  I don't cover the pots with plastic or anything.  You can
 tell  when they need water as the grit turns light.  Usually get
nearly
 100% germination in just about a month at room temperature.

 If you don't have grit, you could cover the seed with vermiculite -
 it also turns light when it dries out...or with about a quarter
 inch  of your seed mix and keep an eye on them for watering.

 Once they germinate, give good light and air circulation.  If
 weather  is such that the seed pots can't go directly outside, I
keep them
 in  my cool greenhouse.  Lacking that, a cool east facing window
sill
 would work - you'd need to turn them so they grow straight.  You
 can  also keep them under shop lights inside in a cool room.  Don't
let
 them dry out, but don't keep them soggy.  Baby jacks are touchy
 about  moisture.  Too much and they rot; too little and they go
dormant
 early and sometimes permanently.

 Once they do go dormant the first time (they will yellow off just
 like the big ones do in the garden), slack off on the watering and
 just keep the pots barely moist - just so they don't totally dry
 out  - in a cool place.  Some people refrigerate them as most need a
 cold  period for dormancy.  40F or so is fine.


CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor:  Gardening in Shade
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