for seeds! Can't wait to see pictures of your seedlings Arif.

I really am motivated to try the seeds. I may just let those ones that flower seed out and collect them and try with my own seed next winter

I finally took photos of my seedlings. But I cheated. The semps sowed the seeds last year. I had to prick them out of the beds, boy was that tedious. Sorry that some are so blurry, I got cold and couldn't stop shivering.

Wow! Lynn do you know what semps these are?? I love how red, pink and orange they are! Very nice!!

The bees were very busy, so not sure even which parent tossed it's seeds all over. They were coming up in all the beds. I will not leave the bloom stalks in place again. There had to be hundreds of them coming up. I just saved a few, they were to tiny to tell what they would do at that time.

This year I may put bags on the stalks once they start drying out, that way I can send all of you seeds. And tell you which parent the seeds came from, just won't know who the other parent is.

Maybe I will get the hybridizing bug after the upcoming clinic with Kevin Vaughn. He just had his first cataract surgery yesterday. In six weeks he will have the other eye done. He should be ready to go the end of April or first part of May.

Arif- spread the sempervivity!!!

Everyone's seedlings are so adorable! They've all grown so quickly! Novice question-- how do you harvest seeds from sempervivum?

Let the seed heads mature until fully dry. The seed is tiny, so maybe gently shaking them out onto a paper towel?
I really am not knowledgeable on this topic, since I just let nature do it all. However I won't be doing that this year. Guess we will have to get this figured out.

Lynn you must have pretty sharp eyes to pick out Semp seeds. I have got fifty and they can literally fit on a pin head. Should I mix them in sand or talc as an extender before sowing?
Regards,
Arif.

I have never sown them. But Pia and Kate have. Maybe they can answer that question.

No worries, I think I will try the Talc routine, sand might be a bit harsh.
Regards,
Arif.

After doing some research, you want to sow the seeds on top of already damp soil, place in a clear plastic bag, or cover with a clear plastic lid. Place in bright light, but not direct sun. Keep the soil from drying out. Once the seedlings have germinated, keep moist but do not keep overly wet.
Seeds should make good contact with the soil but not be buried.

I have got those clear polystyrene cups with domes. Sand at the bottom with a thin layer of sterilized leaf mulch on top. Holes in sides, these will go into the fern bed. That should keep them from dehydrating. Will that do? Lynn you have started to write like a grandmother .
Regards,
Arif.

Lynn, your seedling are all showing so much difference already, as tiny as they are. Looking good!

I think the top right one might be a heuffelii.

That sounds like it might work Arif. Keep us posted on how they do. We will learn together.

Will do except for one thing. How did you see the Semp seeds?
Regards,
Arif.

Arif, I set my seeds in the way that Lynn described above, soen ot top of damp compost and then sealed in a bag and left by a sunny window. The seeds are VERY difficult to see, but putting them onto a piece of white paper helped. I folded my paper in half and tapped the end very gently to try and distribute the seeds as evenly as possible.

Lynn, your babies are soooo sweet , and showing beautiful colours already!

Here are mine, 7 days after sowing. And there are more to come, I can see more seeds just starting to germinate, but of course are too small to see on the photos.

Except for some nomenclature differences, got it . Spoke to soon though, the weather has changed for a few days.
Regards,
Arif.

Oh Kate, those are precious. It will be fun watching them grow up.

The key to growing semps from seed is not to let them dry out, they are to small and can't retain enough moisture at the baby stage.

They will be in a mini greenhouse right near me. Enclosed with maybe a hole or two for ventilation. The container will be full of sand with bottom holes. On top will be a layer of leaf mulch(decomposed leaves) or whatever you all call it. 1/8" thick should be enough to retain moisture plus the sand retains moisture well, on top of it all the container can be made to sit in a saucer of water. That should take care of all means I can think of of keeping them moist and not soggy. I promise to take a peek three times a day and if required mist them. If you want I can put them on my bedside table(gets three hours sun) and sing them a few lullabies before going to sleep. I don't think they require a tuck or a diaper change nor a feeder. What else can I do? Don't worry Lynn, if the babies consider that they want to hatch then I will be there waiting for them with wide open welcoming arms. You all will get photographs of glowing healthy red cheeked babies if they are in my luck, otherwise you will have to send me some viable seeds.
Grandmama of Semps .
Regards,
Arif.

Sounds like they will get all the love and care they may need! I'm excited to see how they fare, Arif! Bonne chance!(Good Luck) (I'm practicing my French and BB codes)...