| Sowing
instructions C-D (sorted by scientific name) |
Caesalpinia
pulcherrima - Mexican Red Bird of Paradise
Peacock
flower is easy to start from seeds. Germination will be speeded up if
the seeds are nicked with a file before planting. Under good growing
conditions (80F), peacock flower will self sow and may even become weedy
Campanula
medium var calycanthema - Cup & Saucer
Sow direct outside in fall or spring. Don''t cover
seeds with soil, they need light to germinate. Sow 12-18 inches apart.
Germinate in 1-2 weeks.
Campsis
radicans - Trumpet creeper
Cold stratify for 6-8 weeks. After this process sow 1/16 - 1/8" deep in
quality sterilized soil and place at 70 degrees. Keep soil mixture
moist. After germination grow seedlings in bright light under grow
lights. Transplant to larger container after 4 weeks.
Cananga
odorata - Ylang-Ylang perfume tree
Michelia
champaca - Joy perfume tree
Sow seeds 1/8" deep in standard potting mix at 75 - 80 degrees, Keep
seeds moist and warm. Sealed plastic bag is best. Germinates in 2-4
months.
Canna
Cannas have an extremely hard protective seed coat that is impermeable
to water. You can help the germination process by removing a bit of the
seed coat through a process called scarification. Prior to planting,
take a piece of sandpaper and sand the end of the seed until you get
through the black seed coat. You''ll know that you''re through when you
see the white endosperm. Basically, what you''re trying to do is make a
hole in the seed coat so that water can get through. Once canna seeds
have been scarified, they are easy to grow. Sow them a quarter-inch
deep in a tray of vermiculite 8 to 10 weeks before your last frost
date. Keep the vermiculite moist and the room temperature between
65°: and 70°F during the day and at 60°F
overnight. The seeds should germinate in about one week. When the
seedlings reach about 6 inches tall, transplant them into individual
pots filled with a premoistened, well-draining potting soil. Add a
granulated organic fertilizer to the potting soil (follow application
recommendations on the fertilizer label). Keep the potting mix moist
but not wet, and place the plants in a sunny (southern exposure)
window. As the plants begin to actively grow, the soil will dry out
quickly, so check daily and water when needed. Gradually harden off the
cannas and transplant them outside, adding plenty of compost to the
soil, following the last-frost date. Keep in mind that most cannas are
hybrids bred for their flamboyant blooms and foliage. Seeds from
hybrids will not come true to type, which means they will exhibit
characteristics that are different from those of the mother plant (but
not necessarily unattractive). If you''re feeling a bit on the wild
side and don''t mind growing a few mystery plants, go ahead and start
cannas from seed. If you want exact clones of your canna plant, you''ll
need to propagate by division.
Carica
Papaya - Melon tree
Plant the seeds in warm (80° F), sterile
potting mix. Seeds should be planted in sterile soil as young papaya
seedlings have a high mortality rate from damping off. Potting soil can
be sterilized by mixing 50-50 with vermiculite and placing in an oven
at 200° F for one hour. Under ideal conditions the seeds may
germinate in about two weeks, but may take three to five weeks.
Gibberellic acid can be used to speed up germination in some seasons.
Seedlings usually begin flowering 9 - 12 months after they germinate
Cassia
alata - Candlebush - Guajava
Very easy to germinate. Plant in spring after all danger of frost.
Blooms the first year from seed.
Catalpa
bignoinoides - Southern Catalpa
Best sown in fall. Slightly covr with soil. No special requirements,
very easy to germinate
Celosia
Argentea - Cockscomb
Celosia
Flamingo purple - Cockscomb
Celosia does best in warm or tropical climates. Full sun is a must, and
you''ll get the best results in well-drained soil enriched with
compost. Start seeds indoors in spring, then transplant when the
seedlings are large enough to handle and danger of frost has passed.
Seeds can also be sown directly outdoors. Space tall forms 12-15 inches
apart, and dwarf forms 6-8 inches apart. Keep the plants well-watered
until the plants are established, then reduce to once a week unless the
weather is very hot. The plants tolerate dry conditions well. You
won''t need to add supplemental fretilizer if the soil has been well
prepared with compost.
Cestrum
nocturnum - Night Jessamine
Sow 1/8" deep at 70-80 degrees. Keep moist. Germinates in 2-6 weeks.
Chamaedorea
elegans - Parlor Palm
Plant the seeds at a depth of 3/4" using well draining soil mixture.
Keep warm, damp and in filtered sunlight
Chamaedorea
sifritzii - Bamboo Palm
These palms grow well indoors, though clump-forming ones will need
larger containers. Keep them out of direct sunlight, which can burn the
leaves. Outdoors they need well-drained, friable acid soil and a cool
root run. Plants of both sexes are needed for fruit. Propagate by seed
which will germinate in six to eight weeks in warm conditions.
Clump-forming species can be propagated by division.
Cheiranthus
cheiri - English wall flower
Sow seed directly outdoors after all danger of frost has passed. For
earlier blossoms start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before setting out.
Cover seeds with 1/8" of fine soil firmed down. Thin or transplant
seedlings to 1 foot apart outdoors.
GERMINATION: One to two weeks at 70''F. Keep soil moderately moist
during germination
Cimicifuga
racemosa - Black Cohosh
Sow seed in containers in an open frame in fall or
spring. Grow in moderately fertile well-drained soil in sun or partial
shade. For maximum freshness, please keep seed refrigerated in its
original packaging until it is time to plant. Lon germination process.
Clematis
chiisanensis - Korean Beauty
Clematis
vitalba
Clematis
virginia Old man's beard
Clematis
Tangutica Radar love
Clematis
heracleifolia
Sow seeds surface of lightly firmed, moist seed compost in pots or
trays and cover with a very light sprinkling of compost or vermiculite.
Seal container inside a polythene bag and keep at a temperature of
between 59-68 degrees, or place in a cold frame or sheltered position
outdoors. After sowing do not exclude light as it helps germination.
Keep surface of the compost moist but not waterlogged. Germination can
take 1 to 2 months and can be erratic.
Cleome
- Spider Flower
Germination requires warm temperature. Mid spring is the best season
for seeding if you grow cleomes outside, however you can enjoy the
flowers longer if you start them inside when it is still cool in early
summer. Because their single root grow long and straight and they do
not like to be transplanted, it is recommended to plant them directly.
Spacing is required when they are about 1inch tall. Because they grow
big, it is proper to keep 2 or 3 of them in a large container.
Clitoria
ternatea - Butterfly Pea
Pre-soak for 12 hours in warm water and sow in a greenhouse in the
spring or put them into a zip-closed plastic bag with soil for better
germination. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are
large enough to handle and plant out in the summer.
Cobaena
scandens - Cathedral Bells - Cup & saucer vine
To get a jump on the season and ensure a long period of
bloom, it''s best to start them indoors six to eight weeks before the
last frost. Plant seeds in containers and keep the soil warm; use a
heating cable if possible or set containers in a warm place such as on
a hot water heater. Once seeds germinate, provide plenty of light. When
seedlings are ready to transplant, slowly acclimate them to outdoors by
gradually exposing them to stronger light over a period of about a
week.Plant them in full sun unless otherwise noted; transplant
carefully to avoid disturbing the roots. Provide support. Large vines,
such as cathedral bells need sturdy supports.
Coffeea
Arabica - Arabian coffee
Plant at 3/4" depth using well draing soil mix. Keep warm &
damp and in filtered sunlight. Needs air circulation - do not cover
with plastic
Collinsia
hederophylla - Chinese Pagodas
Surface sow at 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit. Germination 2-3 weeks. Start
inside for earlier blooms and sow outside after all danger of frost.
Cortaderia
jubata - Pampas grass pink
Cortaderia
selloana - Pampas grass white
Sow surface after all danger of frost in well drained soil. It''s a
good idea to start them in pots. Seeds are very tiny. The plant can be
transplanted when 3 inch tall. If you start later than spring, you
would need to keep the plant the first winter inside to protect from
frost. Easy to grow.
Costus
speciosus - Crepe ginger
The small seeds are slow germinating - up to 8 weeks depending on the
soil temperature. Plant at 1/2'' depth using soil mixture. Be sure they
are kept warm - 70 F degrees is ideal. Provide bright light and high
humidity by covering the pot with a plastic sheet.
Cryptostegia
madagascariensis - Rubber vine
Cover the seeds very lightly with a porous potting mixture. Keep warm
80F) and in bright light. Water when soil is dry to the touch
Datura-
Devil's trumpet
see Brugmansia
Dietes
vegeta - Fortnight Lily - African Iris
Self seeding, very easy. Sow surface in late fall for bloom next year.
Diospyros
virginiana - Persimmon tree
Sow 1/4 inch deep in a cold frame (39F). Keep them at this temperature
for 3 month, then move to 70ºF for germination. Alternatively
you can cold stratify the seeds in the fridge for 3 month and sow them
in spring.
Dolichos
Lablab - Hyacinth Bean
Grow in mid spring 1/4'' deep. Tolerates drough and poor soil. Grows in
sunny and partial shade location.
