What's new
TerraForums Venus Flytrap, Nepenthes, Drosera and more talk

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Alba Seeds - Dry Out Time? and How to Catch?

My D. Alba is about to finish blooming and I would like to know how long to let it dry out and how best to capture them. I'm sure there are some threads on this but searching "alba seeds" is a little daunting with the amount of results. I'd appreciate any input or direction to the proper thread or info. Thanks!

<a href="http://imgur.com/fdzWI6a"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/fdzWI6a.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" /></a>
 
By Drosera alba do you mean the actual species Drosera alba E. Phillips 1913 or Drosera capensis "alba" aka Drosera 'Albino'? Drosera alba is a winter growing Drosera that has a rosetted and upright threadlike leaf phase of growth.

See
Harvesting Drosera Seed by Tamlin Dawnstar
 
My mistake on not being more specific: Drosera capensis "alba." Thanks for the link!
 
Last edited:
These seem like they are ready to go. What should I do specifically? Cut the stalk? Cut off each pod? Place them in a bag? Leave them on?

My first time doing this, love the feedback so far. Pic:

dkviL5i.jpg
 
Wait until the stem around the pods has turned black, to ensure that all pods are ripe, then cut off the entire stalk and shake it upside down over a plastic bag or the pot you wish to germinate the seeds in. I'm sure you'll find that these are very easy to grow from seed. :jester:
 
Last edited:
I agree with Bio on waiting until the stalk darkens as well. As for harvesting seed, I'm sure others have their own ways of doing things, but this is the process that has worked best for me thus far:

To collect, I cut the stalk and usually don't remove the pods individually unless it's too ungainly as a whole. I use a set of tweezers to remove the dried flower remnants, then a pin to jostle the seeds out of the pods. I generally do this one pod at a time until the entire stalk has been collected from, and use a plain piece of paper to collect the seeds as they fall.

Then I try to clean them of as much chaff as possible. If the seeds are small enough I put them through an old brewing basket I have (looks a lot like this one). Otherwise I use a pin to sort it from the seeds and dispose of it.

From there I packetize them like so, multiple packets if I intend to distribute them or one big packet if I'm keeping them for myself... or am just lazy and want to hold off on dividing them. Then it's into a labelled coin envelope, and into the fridge if I'm planning on storing them long term.

I should also say, when I'm not feeling like making such a pain of the process I use Bio's method of just cutting the stalks, turning them upside down, and shaking them (though I use a plastic cup instead of a plastic bag). My burmannii for instance produce way too much for me to as careful with them as some of the rest... I'd be at it for days if I was.
 
Last edited:
I go for a more detailed approach, cutting off individual pods as they ripen and gathering the seeds from each. I mostly do this to avoid debris and because one pod usually contains enough seeds for at least one seed pack, around 50-150.
 
In my personal experience, I would harvest those seed pods now. My Typical form Capensis flowers a lot and I try and harvest the pods before they get to dark or else you might end up with small plants all over the show as they will grow where ever they fall in your pot. :-D

I previously tried to wait for the stem to darken as well but it never did and I ended up with a mass of small little Capensis all over the show, The stalk stayed green long after I removed the seed pods so I eventually just cut it off.

Good luck!

PS. My typical form is going at it again as well.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top