Tag Archive for: Sowing in moss

Medeola virginiana seeds have just been placed in the inventory. The Indian cucumber is a species that germination speaking “breaks with the tradition” (Breaking the tradition- Medeola germination).

New foliage of Medeola virginiana in the spring, growing in moss with Coptis trifolia (previous year leaves) and Canada Mayflower.

In some places it can be found growing on mossy decomposed tree trunks together with Coptis trifolia, the goldthread and Maianthemum canadensis (Canada Mayflower).

This is a great occasion to emphasize that Coptis trifolia should also be sown asap! Like many other species from the Ranunculaceae family, and those from the moist-packed seeds category, for the best germination it requires a slightly warm/moist stratification period before the winter arrives (ie. the cold/moist stratification period). Otherwise, germination will happen in the second year.

I decided to also sow Coptis seeds; hands-on experience is like no other :) And why not sow like the nature does many times in moist places? Meaning in moss. I already described and recommended this method for Gaultheria and Saxifraga cuneifolia: Green inspiration – sowing in moss.
The method can certainly be used for other species like Coptis, Trientalis, Medeola, Clintonia, Cornus canadensis. And surely 2-3 species could be sown together in a larger pot.

Medeola germination is already tested so let’s try the bunchberry (Cornus canadensis) this time.

 

Prepare a pot: add regular garden soil and a tuft of moss and saturate with water. Next day, have the seeds handy, remove the moss and press the larger seeds in the soil (Medeola, Cornus…), put back the chunk of moss and sprinkle the finer seeds on it (Coptis, Gaultheria, Trientalis); water slowly to push the finer seeds into the moss. Keep the pot in a shaded place, water when necessary. Depending on the situation: many critters, hot summers, you can also enclose the pot in a loose plastic bag. *Preferably use a larger pot that the one seen here.

Especially for species that take 2+ years to germinate, I think it is a wonderful method of sowing: the moss will help keep the pot content evenly moist, plus that it looks nice all year long!
Have yourself a nice hike and collect a little bit of moss :-)

 

“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.”
Some may argue that this famous Samuel Beckett’s quote is not an inspiration for trying and grow very difficult species, but I differ. With every failure we will, at least, learn something a bit more about them.

This long overdue post is about mycorrhizal species, included in the Orchids & other mycorrhizals shop category and especially about Moneses uniflora – the single delight. It always keeps one to want more ;)

Some people are more adventurous than others when it comes to growing from seeds – this is the reason I collect and offer, when possible, a few almost impossible to germinate/grow species. The cost of seeds is really insignificant; it’s all about the quest and desire to go beyond what’s easy.
In other words, for those loving to grow plants from seeds – it’s also fun!

Moneses uniflora is a little, evergreen species growing in shady, cool places, and not often encountered. Managing to grow it in the garden, it would be nothing short of a miracle but nothing is impossible.
Like all species from the above mentioned category, it requires a specific mycorrhizal fungus at least for germination and maybe even later for growth.

This one single delight was spotted growing on top of decaying, exposed roots covered in moss in the Lizard Mts., BC. In my opinion, this may offer a hint about the way one could go about when trying to germinate it.

Moneses uniflora, single delight (red arrow pointing)

This is my advice for sowing Moneses uniflora (Pyrola and Chimaphila as well):

Collect a piece of decomposed wood together with some moss from the woods; place them in the garden, half buried in the ground to stay moist in a shady location; sprinkle the very fine seeds on top and water well to washed them in the moss. Keep the spot moist at all the time and….fingers crossed.

Few years ago I tried sowing in the same way Pyrola elliptica (same category) with the decomposed wood/moss placed in a pot. I noticed tiny, green sprouts in late spring but then it slipped my attention and got dry at some point, so I cannot draw a real conclusion; must repeat it in the ground in a good shaded place where I water regularly (under a Chinese Epimedium, for example).

Try again :)

‘Tis the season this year meant ‘enjoy the mild weather as long as possible’. A recent escapade into the woods inspired me to do more sowing in moss. Last year I sowed Saxifraga cuneifolia and Gaultheria procumbens, just for play and it worked very well; now I need more Saxifraga seedlings.
I cannot really replicate this boulder, but if this Saxifraga likes to grow and spread on moss, it makes sense to sow it like that, right? Nature is best source of inspiration.

Saxifraga cuneifolia ssp. robusta in wild habitat

Saxifraga cuneifolia ssp. robusta in wild habitat (Carpathian Mts.)

Of course I don’t have a big, mossy boulder, but I am creative – an old decorative clay pot looks good ornate in moss.

For sowing on moss:
Prepare a pot, mossy stone…, your moss pieces and potting mix (best to add some sand to it);
Place the moss pieces you gathered, press well, water;
Spread the seeds on top, water again;
Enclose the pot/stone in a Ziploc bag, or cover just the top;
Overwinter outside; in the spring start opening the Ziploc or remove the plastic cover.

The seedlings will be tiny (see in the images below taken last summer) and remain like that for some time, so keep it in a shaded spot and mist once in a while. A smaller pot can be kept in the Ziploc but watch it closely as the moss can overgrow the tiny seedlings (this can be rectified by trimming it). It depends on what type of moss is used.

Another Saxifraga that would enjoy this sowing/growing would be the North American Saxifraga virginica (correctly said Micranthes virginiensis).

Saxifraga virginica (Micranthes virginiensis)

Micranthes virginiensis (syn. Saxifraga virginica) in habitat

It is a fun sowing method and in the worst case scenario you will end up with a nice, green, mossy pot! It can be used for other shade loving species, particularly those that like a bit of acidic substrate like Vaccinium, Pieris, Rhododendron…Also it is a great way to germinate and grow any species which like a permanently moist substrate like Viola macloskeyi, Cornus canadensis and probably quite a few others.

Viola macloskeyi

Viola macloskeyi on a mossy hump in wild habitat – Why try to grow it in a different way?!

May the Green Inspiration follow you all throughout the New Year!

Update: Saxifraga cuneifolia spp. robusta (seedlings grown in moss) 5 years later :-)