On a foray into the Canary Islands or Madeira, they discover many plant lovers. Quickly collect the seeds in the hope of germinating them at home and witnessing the great flowering there as well. But is it that simple?

The seeds must first be cleaned after harvesting

Prepare the sowing: clean, file and let swell

The pea-sized seeds of the parrot flower often still have hairs attached to them. They are orange in color and appear in clusters on the seeds. You should carefully remove them with a knife or your fingers before sowing.

The next step is to file down the hard-shelled seeds. This allows the germ to emerge faster. This can take time… File the seeds until the whitish interior is visible. You can use your fingernails, a nail file or a knife for this.

If you have come this far, continue with the swelling. Take a glass or bowl and fill it with lukewarm water. The seeds are put in for 24 to 48 hours. They soak up water and the germination process is activated.

Sow the seeds

Now the seeds are ready to be sown in the course of propagation:

  • Fill pots with nutrient-poor seed soil
  • Sow seeds 2 to 3 cm deep
  • press earth
  • moisten (e.g. using a spray bottle)
  • Put the bag over it
  • air regularly (to avoid mold formation)

Germination time and germination rate

Patience is now required. Some seeds germinate poorly, while others germinate quickly and successfully. Important is:

  • keep evenly moist and warm
  • when shoots are visible, place in a bright location
  • ideal germination temperature: 25 to 30 °C
  • Germination period: 3 weeks to 8 months
  • Germination rate: 60 to 80%

How long does it take to flower?

Patience is required here and you should think carefully about sowing! If you want to admire the flowers, you have to wait between 4 and 6 years after sowing the seeds for flowers to appear for the first time. Division is preferable as a propagation method…

tips

Only keep the substrate moist and not wet! Otherwise the seeds will rot and not germinate.

Category:

Indoor plants