Single delights – Moneses uniflora

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“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 :)

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Sowing in moss – part II
The love of winter – Pipsissewa
Green Inspiration – sowing in moss
4 replies
  1. Sue
    Sue says:

    That’s a really interesting conclusion. I too have failed with some unusual seeds. This I have to try. Now I know why I can’t throw any rotting logs away .. There is a use for everything… Thanks

  3. Ann Jolliffe, Langley, BC
    Ann Jolliffe, Langley, BC says:

    I have not tried these species, but I, recently got Helonius bullata to the true leaf statby covering with plastic bag,(only over the top) and standing the pot in a saucer of water in a cool, shady spot. Previous attempts with overhead watering resulted in damping off even though as you know this is a bog plant. I wonder if bottom watering would work for Moneses. At least it doesn,t dry out 5 minutes before you come around to water. Ann in BC

  4. diversifolius
    diversifolius says:

    Wow, good luck with Helonias! That’s a rarity in the wild as well, I understand a protected species.
    Moneses is not a bog plant and actually very different; it grows in cool, shaded places in the mountains, sometimes engulfed in rain drops, mist, so it actually likes humidity around the leaves.The moss
    keeps and provides extra moisture in times of ‘drought’. The main problem for germination and growth is the mycorrhizal requirement.

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