Kadsura japonica
 

An outside chance, but has anyone here tried growing this from seed? No
problem with germination, but despite regular watering and misting it is the
worst seed I've ever come across for retaining the seedcoat after
germination, and choking the first leaves and/or stem. I've had to resort
to cutting the seedcoat away with fine scissors in order to save a few
plants.

Does anyone have other suggestions for dealing with intransigent seedcoats?

--
Jeff

Kadsura japonica
 

In article , lid
says...
An outside chance, but has anyone here tried growing this from seed? No
problem with germination, but despite regular watering and misting it is the
worst seed I've ever come across for retaining the seedcoat after
germination, and choking the first leaves and/or stem. I've had to resort
to cutting the seedcoat away with fine scissors in order to save a few
plants.

Does anyone have other suggestions for dealing with intransigent seedcoats?


Probably needed cold stratification to start decomposing it, Lovely plant
though so hope you are succesfull!
--
Charlie Pridham, Gardening in Cornwall
www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of national collections of Clematis viticella cultivars and
Lapageria rosea

Kadsura japonica
 

Charlie Pridham wrote:
In article , lid
says...
An outside chance, but has anyone here tried growing this from seed? No
problem with germination, but despite regular watering and misting it is
the worst seed I've ever come across for retaining the seedcoat after
germination, and choking the first leaves and/or stem. I've had to
resort to cutting the seedcoat away with fine scissors in order to save
a few plants.

Does anyone have other suggestions for dealing with intransigent
seedcoats?


Probably needed cold stratification to start decomposing it, Lovely plant
though so hope you are succesfull!

Good point. I've never considered the physical benefits of stratification
before, just the chemical ones. These were Chiltern seeds, and they
germinated within a month. Quite unusual for moderately large seeds from
woody plants in my experience.

Well, they are still sitting there - now with their seeds leaves free - and
showing no signs of further growth. I wonder if most of the growth is going
on under the soil surface? Googling for Kadsura and hypocotyl didn't turn
up anything of relevance, though.

Do you grow it down there, Charlie?

--
Jeff

Kadsura japonica
 

In article , lid
says...
Charlie Pridham wrote:
In article , lid
says...
An outside chance, but has anyone here tried growing this from seed? No
problem with germination, but despite regular watering and misting it is
the worst seed I've ever come across for retaining the seedcoat after
germination, and choking the first leaves and/or stem. I've had to
resort to cutting the seedcoat away with fine scissors in order to save
a few plants.

Does anyone have other suggestions for dealing with intransigent
seedcoats?


Probably needed cold stratification to start decomposing it, Lovely plant
though so hope you are succesfull!

Good point. I've never considered the physical benefits of stratification
before, just the chemical ones. These were Chiltern seeds, and they
germinated within a month. Quite unusual for moderately large seeds from
woody plants in my experience.

Well, they are still sitting there - now with their seeds leaves free - and
showing no signs of further growth. I wonder if most of the growth is going
on under the soil surface? Googling for Kadsura and hypocotyl didn't turn
up anything of relevance, though.

Do you grow it down there, Charlie?


Not yet! I have just seen some on the Walls at Spetchley labled as
schisandra japonica and was rather struck with how good the leaves looked
(flowers would be a bonus) I have not had it up to now due to warnings in
some books on its being invasive, but looking at these mature plants I do
not think it is in the UK climate. Being evergreen makes it different to
the deciduous Schisandras.

Re the slow growth, I find most woody hardy plants spend ages producing a
realy good root system before they start to grow away
--
Charlie Pridham, Gardening in Cornwall
www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of national collections of Clematis viticella cultivars and
Lapageria rosea