bigdog

They don't look a whole lot like each other, but they are still both Ensetes. I can assure you of this: They are both very difficult to germinate. I see RPS has fresh seeds now too. I'm almost tempted, but I just bought several hundred other seeds from them. Ahhh...

The habit of growing on limestone cliffs is interesting. Sounds like the seeds somehow get deposited there, and probably sit there for quite some time. The monsoons might trigger them to germinate. There is a cactus, Ferocactus I think, that requires gibberellin in order to germinate. They grow on rocky outcroppings, and the seeds must land in a crack on top of some leaf litter. When the rains come, fungus will grow on the litter, and then the cactus seeds will germinate.

There is also the thought that repeated cycles of wet, then hot and dry, could weaken the seed coat enough to allow water to penetrate it. Works for some palm seeds.

the flying dutchman

Yep, they look different, but it is amazing they grow in such invironment.
I don't know if a high PH also is good for ventricosum or only for those
two.
Maybe they grow in any neutral soil well.

When your perrieri seeds sprout, you can test the different soils. If mines
sprout I will test this too.


Ron

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bigdog

Ron, I can tell you that my bananas had smaller fruit, and smaller bunch sizes last year here in Knoxville. I think it had something to do with my high-acid soil. The previous year in Nashville, my pH was quite a bit higher than it is here, and fruit and bunch sizes were quite larger. Nashville, although only about 2 1/2 to 3 hours from here, has completely different soils than E. TN. They are alkaline. I also had some leaf deformities last year here, which I now attribute to my poor soil. I have heavily amended it with lime and organic matter this year, so I am hoping for better results!

the flying dutchman

the bad news is my seeds still have not germinated yet but the good news is I finally found and placed a description of the banana in the WIKI.

http://www.bananas.org/wiki/Ensete_Perrieri

ron

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bigdog

Nothing here either, after over 3 1/2 months. Patience is definitely needed with this species!

STEELVIPER

I think i will give these guys a try. It's sounds like a big challenge.

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the flying dutchman

I hope you will succeed mark, I have not much confidence in my
seeds anymore because I tried it in three different ways.
1. In normal sterile soil
2. In soil with additional lime
3. In a bottom of water only.

They are still in but i see nothing happen

Ron

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bigdog

I took out the 70 + seeds that I didn't sow out of the bag today. There are two distinct colors: Brown and black (or really dark brown). I took a razor and made a chip on a lateral side of the seed coat, flaking away integument until I got to endosperm. The lighter-colored brown seeds had an off-white, almost cream-colored endosperm. The dark brown, almost black seeds had very white endosperm. Curious, I decided to split a few of the light-colored ones open to examine the embryo. The first three seeds that I split either had no embryo, or I just couldn't find it. The next three I split did have an embryo, but it was quite obviously not viable anymore. They were brownish-colored and dessicated very badly. The seeds split quite easily also with a pair of pliers. This is one reason why germination seems impossible with these seeds. The embryo is dead! I scarified ten of the dark-brown seeds, and all had chalk-white endosperm, so I am soaking them now. We'll see what happens!

the flying dutchman

The embryo is dead

That must be it Frank else at least one of all those seeds should have sprouted especially because we tried it in several different ways but nothing
happens.

Ron

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bigdog

Ron, I didn't split any of the darker-colored seeds open to check the contents, because the endosperm looked bright white. I wouldn't give up hope on them yet anyway.

Dean W.

Nice thread you all. I'm trying to learn more about this one myself.

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Dean

Raules

All hello! The Interesting theme. I have 4 seed Ensete perrieri from Russian the Internet-shop and I have already planted them. Certainly I have small percent of their germination, but all I hope for it. I shall observe of a theme. All the best!

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Tropical agriculturist

Dean W.

Raules,

Good luck! I just ordered some seeds from RPS last night and they didn't have that one available anymore. Keep us posted, as 4 seeds isn't to many to work w/.

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Dean