What I've learned about growing from seed

[bluemax]

I thought it might be fun and useful if some on this forum were to share one or two useful tips or tricks that they learned while sprouting or rearing seeds of carnivorous plants. My experience was that there were certainly surprises as I muddled my way through several species. If I had emphasized one or two things that I had probably heard before I started out it would've saved me some real grief. So here's mine:

Sprout seeds on good quality ground/grated/chopped long-fibered sphagnum moss. I suffered many losses in my terrarium setting due to fungus which consumed quantities of seedlings. The use of grated lfs completely stopped this for me. I was amazed and still am.

- Mark

[coldcoffee]

Do you use live LFS or dried/reconstituted?
How do you sow them? Do you rinse the media first of just reconstitute it (assuming dried). Assuming you are using dried, what brand?

[bluemax]

I use dried sphagnum and reconstitute it after it is grated without rinsing, though that is an interesting idea. It gets a little dusty so a mask is a good idea while breaking it up. I use a brand of nearly white New Zealand lfs intended for reptile terrariums but I suspect any good high-quality brand would work fine. This was just what was available to me locally. I just lay the seed on top of the moist medium and cover the pot with clear plastic. I understand that chopped lfs can be bought ready to go.

- Mark

[coldcoffee]

I have been experimenting with live lfs. Unfortunately, fungus is a big issue for me here, even using reconstituted lfs. Live lfs seems to keep some of it under control, but I have found that sometimes there are tag alongs living in there. Here is an example. Another issue I have been running into is trying to figure out how to grow lfs correctly. It seems like algae wants to take over and I am not sure if that is bad or not. Jury seems to be out.

Either way, I have noticed that humidity and temperature are key. Almost lost a tote of Red Sphagnum due to temperature. Did lose a tote of NZ lfs to temp (same heatwave).

Those plants in the pic are tag-alongs

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[peterhewitt]

In my rather limited experience, I have found live Sphagnum does not like to be grown in an undrained container. This goes against everything I have ever heard of Sphagnum, but experience with run away growth in my highland Nursery, has taught me to not water it too frequently, and not use undrained containers. I never use it for Seed germination, because in my conditions, the live Sphagnum will overgrow seeds in a matter of two weeks or less. I am constantly Harvesting Live Sphagnum from pots in the greenhouse, and it even grows well in pots in a sunny windowsill in my house......but somewhat slower. for me the key has been to only water it when the tops seem dry, and change from dark green, to a lighter shade of green.
Long fiber Sphagnum is what I use for seed germination, with very good results.
It pays to remember, that LFS(and Live Sphag) can hold ten times its weight in water, so should not be watered too often or excessively.

[auth100488]

1 trick that i think people need is DO NOT LOOSE FAITH, i almost threw out my first "batch", and now it just sprouted ... after 2 months. So, people, BE PATIENT

To be more serious, Id say
Use dead long fiber moss (chop it so it is easier to lay down seeds on top)
Soak it in distilled water for about 10 mins (before putting the seeds on)
Put the seeds
Keep the seeds around 30 ºC or 86 ºF
Nepenthes seeds does need lights, i/we do not know rly WHY but it wont germinate if there's no lights. (do not need insane direct lights, just to say there's a decent light in the room.
You need 80-100% humidity (90+ watch for fungus + algae)
To get rid of the Fungus problem make sure to open the top of your container at least 1h / day (flush the whole humidity), as for the algae ... pray

then ... as mentioned before ... wait wait wait wait wait and wait some more

Here's my complete setup



+ video

just my two cents >_>

[fredg]

Aug 9, 2011 11:06:04 GMT peterhewitt said:

In my rather limited experience, I have found live Sphagnum does not like to be grown in an undrained container.
/............................................................................../
It pays to remember, that LFS(and Live Sphag) can hold ten times its weight in water, so should not be watered too often or excessively.

Well Peter, I'm afraid I have to disagree with you yet again.
( It's not personal ;D)

I grow all my sphagnum in gravel trays, kept very wet.
I also flood the tray to the top level of the sphagnum when I top up.

[iansalter]

For me I find live Sphagnum grows best as a top dressing on peat and once it fully colonises as thick mats there is no stopping it.
There seems to be equal success for other growers who just grow it in water but outside in the fresh air (and frost) seems beneficial it seems.
Ian.

[fredg]

Oct 15, 2011 22:07:06 GMT iansalter said:

There seems to be equal success for other growers who just grow it in water but outside in the fresh air (and frost) seems beneficial it seems.
Ian.

I'd love to grow my sphagnum out in the open Ian.
It would all disappear in the Spring though.
Blackbirds love it for nesting.
Three years ago I left an 8" pot full of sphagnum out by accident. Completely stripped in a few days.
I have various trays in the greenhouses and some in a 4 tier temporary unit.
The main stay is a small outdoor propagating house that holds 6 trays on the top two shelves permanently (the lower half is too dark to use for sphagnum).
The main use of the live sphagnum is as medium for my Darlingtonia (also grown in undrained trays )

[iansalter]

I know what you mean Fred and I've just strung mesh across the Sphagnum beds as birds/other are rooting around in there.
A couple of years back a few plants flew off with the birds, I also saw a jackdaw or whatever it was sat on the fence with a dried full sized S. flava pitcher in its beak I assume for a novilty nest build.
Ian.

[yimmz]

When you use dried sphagnum do you use it for only the top layer of the pots or do you fill the pot with it?
After reading this i was wondering if a 1:1 peat/perlite mix topped with chopped dried long fiber sphagnum would work better than peat/perlite alone?