Seed Starting
 

I have several different kinds of seeds that I am ready to sow. I have done all of these before, with varying degrees of success, but I would like to know if anyone is really experienced with any one of these, and can give me some hints. (These plants all come from Florida, so I don't think any would need a cold treatment) There are things like soaking, or scarifying, etc. I would just like to try to have maximum germination.
The plants are:
Asparagus sprengeri
Southern magnolia (M. grandiflora)
African Iris
Orange Bird of Paradise
Variegated shell ginger ( alpina Zerumbet)
Crape myrtle
Oleander

TIA

Re: Seed Starting
 

I can see why you'd try most of them, but why the Magnolia and Crape myrtle. They are popular but have no function down here. They are both a real pain in the A** to dig up in retrospect. :^)

Re: Seed Starting
 

C'mon, somebody must have some hints, or little secrets! Oh, by the way, Migael, people here like the Crape Myrtle, and Magnolia. I think they're both pretty, although I'm not too fond of the way the Magnolias drop their petals all over.

Re: Seed Starting
 

I can tell you I have plenty of volunteer Magnolia's come up in my lawn,so the must be easy to germinate.

Re: Seed Starting
 

Well down here in the middle of summer they shed their leaves as well.. Crape Myrtle is like a lilac up north, Lilacs do smell good now, have some color, but a tree nonetheless. :^)

Re: Seed Starting
 

[quote=john_ny;124884]C'mon, somebody must have some hints, or little secrets! QUOTE]

I have NEVER gotten any Bird of Paradise seeds to sprout. :02: I can tell you that for me, Oleander is easy. Best to use clean moist potting soil. :lurk: Spread Oleander seeds on the top and spray enough to moisten the seeds. Keep warm and in bright light Don't let the seeds dry out till they start to sprout. Then only water when dry. :waving: Watch out for "damping off" because you can loose a lot of seedlings to that. What kind of Oleander seeds are they?

Re: Seed Starting
 

Re: Seed Starting
 

Tony O - Don't know what kind of Oleander I have. They were just some, where the mother plant was pretty. Whether the seedlings come out the same is ?

Re: Seed Starting
 

Like Migael said, Magnolias can be a pain in the --- especially when it comes to leaves--all summer long, and then the seed cones in the fall. A friend of mine told me too late--if you are going to have a Magnolia--NEVER CUT ANY LIMBS! If you do that, it will look like a Christmas tree with limbs all the way to the ground and most of the leaves and seed cones will fall under the tree. You still may have to rake some, but not nearly as much.