Being either an optimist or a fool - or both - and no, I don't want your
opinions, thanks ;-)) - I'm going to have another try at getting this to
germinate. I haven't sown them for two or three years and last time, I
sowed two packets and not one came up. Obviously, I can read the
directions on a seed packet but has anyone any secret hints, tips or
suggestions for getting some success this time?

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
Perennials & shrubs online

Sacha wrote:
Being either an optimist or a fool - or both - and no, I don't want your
opinions, thanks ;-)) - I'm going to have another try at getting this to
germinate. I haven't sown them for two or three years and last time, I
sowed two packets and not one came up. Obviously, I can read the
directions on a seed packet but has anyone any secret hints, tips or
suggestions for getting some success this time?

No. Maybe it's one of those plants which germinates only from very fresh
seed.

I've tried many times and given up. I grew it from a young plant purchased
from a nursery around 20 years ago and was very impressed with it when it
flowered later that year. But it lived up to its monocarpic nature,
unfortunately. Well, actually, it didn't set seed...

Since then, I've only ever seen it in flower in one Yellow-book garden, and
that was about 5 years ago. I was as impressed with it then as the first
time I saw it in flower.

I think you have to ask yourself why such a desirable plant is almost
unknown and barely available (do any of the sources who mention it in The
Plant Finder actually have it available for sale?). I wonder how common it
is in its native habitats?

--
Jeff

On 11/2/09 16:41, in article , "Jeff Layman"
wrote:

Sacha wrote:
Being either an optimist or a fool - or both - and no, I don't want your
opinions, thanks ;-)) - I'm going to have another try at getting this to
germinate. I haven't sown them for two or three years and last time, I
sowed two packets and not one came up. Obviously, I can read the
directions on a seed packet but has anyone any secret hints, tips or
suggestions for getting some success this time?

No. Maybe it's one of those plants which germinates only from very fresh
seed.

I've tried many times and given up. I grew it from a young plant purchased
from a nursery around 20 years ago and was very impressed with it when it
flowered later that year. But it lived up to its monocarpic nature,
unfortunately. Well, actually, it didn't set seed...

Did you have it in the garden, Jeff? It was in the garden here and looked
wonderful for a whole summer and that was that. I think it probably isn't
warm enough here with long enough sunlight hours to make it set seed but
that's just my guess.

Since then, I've only ever seen it in flower in one Yellow-book garden, and
that was about 5 years ago. I was as impressed with it then as the first
time I saw it in flower.

It's absolutely beautiful, IMO.

I think you have to ask yourself why such a desirable plant is almost
unknown and barely available (do any of the sources who mention it in The
Plant Finder actually have it available for sale?). I wonder how common it
is in its native habitats?

You sound like my husband who says there's a reason some plants aren't sold
in many places! I believe it's from Turkey originally but I can't say I've
ever seen it there - big country, though. If we can get any of these to
grow, I think they'd be good conservatory plants. Maybe!
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
Perennials & shrubs online

Sacha wrote:
(snip)

Did you have it in the garden, Jeff? It was in the garden here and
looked wonderful for a whole summer and that was that. I think it
probably isn't warm enough here with long enough sunlight hours to make
it set seed but that's just my guess.

I think I planted it out in my Sussex clay! But I could have left it in
decent potting compost in a moderately large pot - I can't remember (pauses
to search for tablets...).


Since then, I've only ever seen it in flower in one Yellow-book garden,
and that was about 5 years ago. I was as impressed with it then as the
first time I saw it in flower.

It's absolutely beautiful, IMO.

I agree. It really should be a Magnolia-type shrub, flowering every year
reliably, not a bloody awkward biennial/perennial :-( Why couldn't nature
get it right???


I think you have to ask yourself why such a desirable plant is almost
unknown and barely available (do any of the sources who mention it in The
Plant Finder actually have it available for sale?). I wonder how common
it is in its native habitats?

You sound like my husband who says there's a reason some plants aren't
sold in many places! I believe it's from Turkey originally but I can't
say I've ever seen it there - big country, though. If we can get any of
these to grow, I think they'd be good conservatory plants. Maybe!

The RHS Dictionary of Gardening states that it comes from the E.
Mediterranean. If, like other Michauxia species, it also comes from Syria
and N. Iran, then that might well put it in the company of Oncocyclus
irises. Then it would be no wonder that it is difficult in cultivation!

By the way, have you ever tried germinating the seeds with the help of
giberellic acid?

--
Jeff

On 11/2/09 17:41, in article , "Jeff Layman"
wrote:
snip

By the way, have you ever tried germinating the seeds with the help of
giberellic acid?

I can't even say it! I'll look that up and ask Ray where he keeps it. ;-)
Seriously, can you tell us what this is and what it does - sounds of
interest to everyone.
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
Perennials & shrubs online

In message , Sacha
writes
On 11/2/09 17:41, in article , "Jeff Layman"
wrote:
snip

By the way, have you ever tried germinating the seeds with the help of
giberellic acid?

I can't even say it! I'll look that up and ask Ray where he keeps it. ;-)
Seriously, can you tell us what this is and what it does - sounds of
interest to everyone.

Gibberellic acid (URL:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibberellin) - note
spelling - is a plant hormone. But if you can say Michauxia
tchihatcheffii you shouldn't have trouble with gibberellic acid.
--
Stewart Robert Hinsley

In article ,
Stewart Robert Hinsley wrote:

Gibberellic acid (URL:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibberellin) - note
spelling - is a plant hormone. But if you can say Michauxia
tchihatcheffii you shouldn't have trouble with gibberellic acid.

Oh. I don't know. Just say 'Michauxia' and then sneeze. Vigorously.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

In message ,
writes
In article ,
Stewart Robert Hinsley wrote:

Gibberellic acid (URL:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibberellin) - note
spelling - is a plant hormone. But if you can say Michauxia
tchihatcheffii you shouldn't have trouble with gibberellic acid.

Oh. I don't know. Just say 'Michauxia' and then sneeze. Vigorously.

Mish'o'e'a? Mitsh'awks'e'a? Mi'ko'e'a?


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

--
Stewart Robert Hinsley

In article ,
Stewart Robert Hinsley wrote:

Gibberellic acid (URL:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibberellin) - note
spelling - is a plant hormone. But if you can say Michauxia
tchihatcheffii you shouldn't have trouble with gibberellic acid.

Oh. I don't know. Just say 'Michauxia' and then sneeze. Vigorously.

Mish'o'e'a? Mitsh'awks'e'a? Mi'ko'e'a?

They all begin "Mi". Don't be picky :-)


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

On 11/2/09 19:23, in article lid, "Stewart Robert
Hinsley" wrote:

In message , Sacha
writes
On 11/2/09 17:41, in article , "Jeff Layman"
wrote:
snip

By the way, have you ever tried germinating the seeds with the help of
giberellic acid?

I can't even say it! I'll look that up and ask Ray where he keeps it. ;-)
Seriously, can you tell us what this is and what it does - sounds of
interest to everyone.

Gibberellic acid (URL:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibberellin) - note
spelling - is a plant hormone. But if you can say Michauxia
tchihatcheffii you shouldn't have trouble with gibberellic acid.

I don't even attempt the second bit of Michauxia as it makes me sneeze. Bit
like Molly The Witch!

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
Perennials & shrubs online

On 11/2/09 20:29, in article ,
" wrote:

In article ,
Stewart Robert Hinsley wrote:

Gibberellic acid (URL:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibberellin) - note
spelling - is a plant hormone. But if you can say Michauxia
tchihatcheffii you shouldn't have trouble with gibberellic acid.

Oh. I don't know. Just say 'Michauxia' and then sneeze. Vigorously.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.


Snap!! ;-)

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
Perennials & shrubs online

On Feb 11, 8:29*pm, wrote:
In article ,
Stewart Robert Hinsley wrote:



Gibberellic acid (URL:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibberellin) - note
spelling - is a plant hormone. But if you can say Michauxia
tchihatcheffii you shouldn't have trouble with gibberellic acid.

Oh. I don't know. *Just say 'Michauxia' and then sneeze. *Vigorously.

Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Sounds like a sick rabbit to me :-)

Judith

Stewart Robert Hinsley wrote:
In message , Sacha
writes
On 11/2/09 17:41, in article , "Jeff
Layman" wrote:
snip

By the way, have you ever tried germinating the seeds with the help of
giberellic acid?

I can't even say it! I'll look that up and ask Ray where he keeps it.
;-) Seriously, can you tell us what this is and what it does - sounds of
interest to everyone.

Gibberellic acid (URL:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibberellin) - note
spelling -

Two "b" or not two "b", that is the question! You are quite right, of
course, it should be Gibberellic acid. Mind you, I see that Google has
988000 entries for "Giberellic acid", and only 794000 for "Gibberellic
acid".

--
Jeff

Sacha wrote:
On 11/2/09 17:41, in article , "Jeff Layman"
wrote:
snip

By the way, have you ever tried germinating the seeds with the help of
giberellic acid?

I can't even say it! I'll look that up and ask Ray where he keeps it.
;-) Seriously, can you tell us what this is and what it does - sounds of
interest to everyone.

Google is your friend here. But I'm not sure it is easy to obtain in the
UK - 'elf and safety rules about supplying chemicals, and all that. Still,
if you are able to order some, and knowing that everything in the UK is on a
database somewhere, you may find you get a visit from the Boys in Blue:
http://www.rollitup.org/advanced-mar...llic-acid.html
(I see that one of the tabs on this page is to "Live Chat". Can you imagine
what that entails whilst "under the influence"? The mind boggles -
really!).

--
Jeff

On 12/2/09 10:15, in article , "Jeff Layman"
wrote:

Sacha wrote:
On 11/2/09 17:41, in article , "Jeff Layman"
wrote:
snip

By the way, have you ever tried germinating the seeds with the help of
giberellic acid?

I can't even say it! I'll look that up and ask Ray where he keeps it.
;-) Seriously, can you tell us what this is and what it does - sounds of
interest to everyone.

Google is your friend here. But I'm not sure it is easy to obtain in the
UK - 'elf and safety rules about supplying chemicals, and all that. Still,
if you are able to order some, and knowing that everything in the UK is on a
database somewhere, you may find you get a visit from the Boys in Blue:
http://www.rollitup.org/advanced-mar...iberellic-acid.
html
(I see that one of the tabs on this page is to "Live Chat". Can you imagine
what that entails whilst "under the influence"? The mind boggles -
really!).

That produces a 'page unavailable' msg, possibly for a very good reason.
But I think we'll stick to the legal stuff here, somehow! ;-) My stepson
was called for jury duty (wasn't selected in the end) and the defendants was
a family of nurserymen who had been caught growing marijuana. Apparently,
having been bailed for that offence, they went home and promptly started
another batch which was, of course, discovered on the police's next visit.
Brains, eh?!
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
Perennials & shrubs online