Sowing d. intermedia for the first time

[jhaluska]

I got some D. Intermedia Cuba form seeds today. I think people wanted me to have something other than VFTs. heh

Ok, from what I've read I do not need to stratify them. I was going to take a drinking cup, poke some holes in the bottom and filll it mix with a 50/50 peat/perlite mix, leaving a thin layer of peat at the top. I then plan to have it absorb some distilled water till it is nice and moist. I will throw the cup into a microwave and nuke it to kill anything living in the soil.

Then I plan to sprinkle a couple seeds on top of soil and put a clear plastic hood over it and set it underneath my flourescent light fixture which is on a timer.

Is this correct or am I way off the ball?

 

[Zongyi_Yang]

hmm, i always thought intermedia needed stratification

? i don't know about the soil mix (i just use sphagnum and peat moss) but everything else seems ok. careful to wait till the microwaved soil is cool befor sowing

. Zongyi

 

[LenG444]

D. Intermedia (Cuba) doesn't need stratification.

Everything else sounds correct.

 

[Seandew]

I concur with Lenny. Nothing that would grow in Cuba would ever get cold enough so as to require stratification. The mix sounds fine. I use peat/sand myself but perlite is just as good. The seed should germinate well under the lights.

Sean.

 

[jhaluska]

Ok, I cleaned out a little plastic tub, poked some holes in the bottom. Did everything I said above and made sure the soil was thoroughly soaked.

I didn't realize how tiny the seeds are, and I thought the VFT seeds were small! I either sowed the seeds or put dust on top of the soil. I guess the only thing left to do is wait..and wait some more!

 

[jhaluska]

Wow, that was quick. I looked over my tub today and saw a couple green sprouts! Yey for me!

 

[SnowyFalcon]

Congrats! My D. Intermedia 'Cuba' are about 6 months old and 1 inch across. They have already flowered!!

SF