Re: Drosophyllum lusitanicum

Brian K. Cooley (bcooley@coins0.coin.missouri.edu)
Mon, 14 Aug 1995 16:33:34 -0500 (CDT)

Brian K. Cooley
Environmental Consulting & Biological Services
1899 El Centro Drive
Columbia, Missouri 65201
email: bcooley@mail.coin.missouri.edu
phone: 314-474-3941

On Mon, 14 Aug 1995, Manfred Buerzele wrote:

> I soak Drosophyllum seeds for 14 hours in 0.5% sulphuric acid (sounds far
> more dangerous than it is actually, 0.5% really isn't that acidic).
> Then I put them into a substrate consisting of equal parts of peat,
> sand, ordinary plant soil and sort of a clay granulate ("Seramis").
> I fill the lower third of the pot completely with the clay granulate
> to get good drainage. This way I can put the pot permanently in a saucer
> with 2 cm water without overwatering the plants.
>
Being new to growing CPs I have yet to try sprouting plants from seed. I
assume though, that you are using the sulphuric acid to crack the seed
coat. If that is the case you might try soaking seeds in a very strong
solution of cooled tea. The tea is high in tannic acid. I have used
this to speed germination in various seeds that I have planted in my garden.