I garden on soggy clay, but I wanted to grow Eremurus. I bought a big bag of "Play Sand" at the hardware store, mixed a bit of potting soil in, and dumped it on top of the native soil. I planted the Eremurus roots I bought in this, and they all survived! I think for the Welwitschia I might need 10 bags. Now there are also Hollyhock seedlings growing in the sand. I had ripped out the rusty Hollyhocks to plant the Eremurus, but the Hollyhock seeds sprouted under the sand I guess.

"Would you pay > $2 per Seed?" No. No No :rofl:

I am cheap and the worst seed grower on the planet.

UPDATE.

I ordered 10 seeds today. A belated Christmas present to myself. And if they do take off - no I do NOT know what I will do with them. Maybe sell them cause they are very rare.

That would really be something. Please keep us informed of progress.

While researching I came across a discussion about this plant. There are photos of seedlings and some advice which may be helpful to anyone attempting to grow these from seed. Hope this helps.

http://cactiguide.com/forum/vi...

The plant I saw in St Louis (Mobot) was grown in like a 3' cylinder on top of a 12" pot, I'd guess to allow that taproot room to grow. Definitely 1 ugly but very fascinating plant.

@jmorth - If I succeed I will keep peeps posted on my progress You actually saw one in person? Wow. At the Botanical Garden in St. Louis? I may have to make a trip there. My wife loves plants as well.

@greene - Thanks for the link.

Check it out -


Mobot is a world class botanical garden, surprised you've not been there.
I'm would suggest going to their website if planning a trip to be sure said plant is on display when you go. I think they may periodically change the venue in the building where I got that picture, I think it's called the Linnean House. I took that picture in February (2013).
http://www.missouribotanicalga...

If you make it to St Louis, another enjoyable place to visit (related to plants) run by Mobot is the Butterfly House in a western suburb named Chesterfield.
http://www.missouribotanicalga...

Hope you and your wife make it there, the place is guaranteed to impress.

DavidLMO said:...You actually saw one in person? Wow....

Since you uploaded the photo, I assumed that you had seen this plant in person.

I'm still wondering how you plan to keep the plant happy during the winter months. Seems to like a steady climate and fairly decent lighting. Hope you add photos as the seeds germinate and the little plants grow. Hope ATP is still going strong 1,000 years from now as it is a very long-lived plant.

@DavidLMO
Here's a couple photo tours of Mobot, one is winter, the other summer...

The thread "MOBOT Feb.2013 St Louis" in Public Gardens Photo Tours forum

The thread "Missouri Botanical Gardens - St Louis (MOBOT)" in Public Gardens Photo Tours forum

Thanks - I have been there - a long time ago. Actually when I lived in New England. Since I moved back to Missouri 16 years ago, we have not been there.

"I'm still wondering how you plan to keep the plant happy during the winter months." In my basement under a 150 Watt flood light probably. Will worry about that later.

David -- are you going to plant it (or them? maybe you'll have a whole bunch!) in something like Jack's photo shows?

Weedwhacker said:David -- are you going to plant it (or them? maybe you'll have a whole bunch!)

Well - That is the plan. I will likely only start no more that 2 at a time in case I screw up.

I only have 10 seeds and paid 11.83 British Pounds.

The plants are likely worth something - given how expensive the seeds are.

My biggest challenge will be, like many other things, keeping them alive.

They all seem to look semi-dead to me anyway... how will you tell if they're healthy?

They turn more and more brown when they are dying. Some is normal.
Other than that I will research more

Hi David-
Keep us posted as to how this goes.
One thing you might try, to get a bit more milage out of the $$$ you spent- You might list a few of those seeds on the "Not from the Seed Rack Seed Swap". Then you could swap for some other oddity to try. And unlike buying from Plant World Seeds or wherever, it only costs a little.

Thanks for the thought Mary, I appreciate it. But no - having only 10 to start with, I will keep all of them.

A Welwitschia hedge. The only one in the world!

Had I had 20 .... well, I might have put a few in the Not From the Seedrack Swap.
I just could not get organized this time of year to get in any of the 3 swaps.

Good luck with the seeds I think it's cool you are growing strange plants I myself like amorphallus these go dorment in winter and don't need that much care