Well, you know I am fairly new to brugs, but I would volunteer to test brugs or the like. BUT not until I have had a few years experience in growing them. I would do it for the experience, and to help with the whole process.

I would think that the process requires alot of note taking and photos for documentation. I wouldn't do as I please, I am the type of person that likes precise directions to follow when it comes to doing something for someone else.

No, it is not proper to pass along aplant or cutting unless first getting permission from the hybridizer.

I don't see any harm in sharing photos, unless the hybridizer asks you not to.

LOL, so how'd I do?

So far I've only volunteered for your dats, someone elses brugs and another person's aristolochias. I don't think it's proper to pass along seeds or cuttings of test plants without first checking with the person that gave them to you. If someone just gave you seeds/plants as a trade or just being nice I don't see a problem with sharing. For the aristolochias it was a very specific protocol to be followed, noting temps, days to germination, soil, water, etc. It was for a lepidopterist at a university.
Karyn

Why do you ask??? I know Tersea( from your parts) has posted photo's on BGI.. With wonderful disscussion. about the poteintial out come...Your intials are clearly in the forfront of the photos. Has something else happened???
Kylie

I haven't ever tested, but I do think It would be fun.

daniellalell, you did great and chena, thank you for asking. Not to point fingers but I ask due to some serious problems that I have had. I value my testers and I do thank those that have come to me first, those are the folks that are the best testers! I have some concerns and it does hurt when folks you think you can trust don't honor what one feels should of been done.

Let me just use this as an example:
I'm not a member of BGI or Dave's and don't get to see the discussion there even though I have shared with BGI members. I do thank those that have sent me information and those that have supported what we do here. But there is more that can be said and I'm not pointing fingers at just BGI and can do the same for ABADS, with the sharing of plants without asking.
Karyn, you are one of the awesome folks that will go the extra mile and understand the importance! deerslayer08, we will keep you in mind when we get more seeds to test.

KHT, is it ok to post pics here of the datmansias? I never even thought to ask that. I'd really have nothing to post but pics of just the plants at the moment. I've had one bloom but it was after a pounding rain and the bloom opened basically laying on the ground. So it didn't open like it should've and was pretty cruddy looking because of that. I don't think I took a pic but plan to take plenty when I get more blooms.

I'd never share a plant, cutting, or seeds without getting with you first. I volunteered because heck! What a neat test to volunteer for!!! :) Let us know about posting pictures. I have no clue what's happening at BGI, ABADS, or anywhere but here...

wildflower, I shared with folks mainly here due to folks here know how important this is and there is support here.
Please post them, I welcome the posting of photos here as I can come in and see them, it's a little different if one has to pay to see them. Another issue I have if this is for the best interest of the species, right? ; )

Wow Karma....it sounds like someone has really upset you, as it's not like you to go off like this :-) I have known you a while now on here and on other sites.

I agree with what you have to say there, and I even got into a fracas with Jroot over the B.Shorty, when there was a misunderstanding regarding him thinking I was someone that sells plants.

Anyhoo...we cleared all that up and as you all can see, I have been posting pics of all my plants in my new garden.

Karma, I believe you made it clear to all of us what was expected in the testing although mine didn't germinate due to our funky weather I would not have shared them without permission. That is really wrong since they are in the testing faze and I am sorry if someone did that to you. I have no idea what is going on since I don't go to those other sites either. I hope you get is resolved to your satisfaction.

Karma, I test because it is a fun way to help someone try to realize their dream. If it's something really cool like your Dat-Mansia, you would be able to say that you had a small part in their "glory" if turned out to be special or save them disappointment down the road if it isn't. And growing plants & trying new ones is just plain fun for me. I don't share if I don't have permission.

I checked tonight & I guess none of my seeds are going to come up since there hasn't been any sign of life yet. I kept watching & hoping they were just going to be late. My other plain white Dats that have been faithfully reseeding themselves for years didn't come up this year either so I'm thinking it was the weird weather.

Linda

My ones that reseeded are still very small so I had hoped too that they would emerge but I don't see anything yet on the test ones.

IMHO, If someone has been asked to test a plant..they should follow any guidelines given by the owner of the plant or seed..AND respect the fact that they were given a chance to play an important role in the future of a new plant. I wouldnt ever offer to test a plant, with intentions of not following the guidelines..that wouldnt be any help to the person trying to grow this plant.

It does sound like you are very unhappy, and I am sorry that someone has taken advantage of the situation. If you ask for testers again, you might want to think about having the person aware of the not sharing or posting pics..I KNOW, it shouldnt have to be this way..

I dont know much about those other sites, or what is going on..but I would think if the person was testing a seed or plant for you, they should know better then to be passing on the plant..gosh..that is like working for a patent company, and selling the ideas to other people as they come in..JUST WRONG !

I hope you can get atleast an apology from the person that has upset you..and I hope it wont keep you from allowing people to help you !

Gang thanks for the support, just disappointed with lessons learned.

Wow Karma, I don't know what to say since none of my seeds came up. I'm kind of like Kristy, I keep looking at the ground but nothing there. I've even been looking a little futher away since we had so many storms after they were planted. I thought maybe the rain moved them some.

I think it's terrible if someone if trying to profit off your project. I think it's awful for ohters to be sharing your plants and seeds if you didn't tell them it was ok.

I wish I had an answer for you but I don't. I just wish playing with plants and flowers wasn't so heartbreaking at times. We all grow our plants because we get great pleasure out of watching things grow and bloom. When all the fun is removed and it's just all work, it's no longer fun.

Please know that I tried my best to grow your seeds and I feel like I gave it 100% at getting them to grow. They just didn't like me, the soil, or there was another problem.

Good Luck and I hope things get better for you real soon.
Love Ya,
Marian

KARMA: I just happened to drop in to the forum to see what was happening and noticed this posting. I too Karma was one of your test group but have had no success with germination of the Dat-mansia up here in Canada. I tried for germination both indoors and out and unfortunately was unsuccessful in both attempts. I am sorry that I have no positive results to pass on to you but do wish you all the best in your future endeavours. Thankyou for the opportunity of trialing these seeds for you and I look forward to trying again if ever you are in need of a northern test group. Thanks again. Bye for now. Ross.

KHT: I believe the whole idea of testing is to document the results. If I were to be a tester, I would follow the guidelines given and certainly would not consider sharing cuttings, seeds, or even photos until the "experiment" was over. If testers all do their own thing, then what's the sense of the test?
KHT you are so on the cutting edge of things I'm sorry if someone has upset you so. Please know despite some people disappointing you, there are still a lot on this forum who are interested in what you are doing and respect the standards you try to uphold. Kudos and Hugs ;) Gloria

Karma, hope things are looking up and that person has learned their lesson. Wishing you great success in getting your Datmansia growing strongly and out to the public.

This was ment for a healthy discussion on testing plants and seeds! Not to point fingers and to help folks understand what it takes. Those of you that have seeds from us, don't give up!! Honestly, we are still seeing seeds that were put in the ground several years ago pop up!! These have been albinos and after the second set of leaves die. It just takes one with strong genes that can be used for the next generation. It is also important if you get the green ones to see what they do and in a rare case one may have Brugmansia form. It's important to have these tested and again I'll step out here and say longer than a year! Thank you again for your support!!

Great summary to this post Karma! I hope to be lucky and get to test the next time you need testers.

OK Karma, I'll keep the area cleared where I put them & mark it so I don't plant something on top of them. I still can't figure out why my other Dat seeds didn't come up either. The only thing I can think is it might have been because of all the rain & cold & the seeds rotted. But ALL of them? :(

Linda

napdognewfie, weather has a lot to do with this. I have another person that was saying the same thing and she called two days ago. Low and behold 4 of them sprouted when she had given up. I'll tell you, the PNW has only had a hand full of above normal days and D. Missouri Marble is way behind in poking up her head. I may have lost it but we are headed into 90 for this weekend so we will see? Many of our nanas are slow to come up and yellow no matter how much Epson salts they get. They both need heat to germinate and to green up.

Karma my first batch sown like my brug seed didn't come up yet, like we discussed. The second try was outside in mid spring; nothing yet there either, but I'll hold on to them like you say.
As soon as I get time to make up another batch of soil I'm going to try them like I do delphiniums. Since you said they may like a cold period, I'm going to sow them in sterile containers in damp soil & let them stratify in the fridge for three weeks first. This has more than doubled my germination on delphiniums.
- Tom

I was too late to test any seeds, but I agree with most everyone else around here. no sharing without permission, follow directions, take good notes and photos, etc. the common sense stuff really.

but seriously, when the time comes around again, I'd love to test, if you still want other people to do it. you can trust me not to be a jerk about it. this is the only forum I visit anyway.

I feel bad that you had bad experiences, though :\ why are SO many people SO unscrupulous? doesn't honor mean anything anymore?

Ri

Unfortunately all my MM x albino seeds were albinos and didn't survive past the 3rd set of leaves. These weren't part of the test seeds but had been given to me the previous year by KHT. They did retain good viability. The only ones of the test seeds that is growing is my datmansia and I'm happy to say that I'll be posting pics of the blooms in a couple days. I haven't ruled out the possibility of the other test seeds sprouting as I have daturas coming up all over the place that were planted in March and Apr, maybe some before that.
Karyn

I have never tested, but I would like to so that I could learn what is involved. I think it would be really special if someone asked a person to test the seeds for them. I don't think testing or growing someone else's hybrid gives the tester rights to share or spread the seeds in any way though.
I am just beginning to hybridize so anything I can learn at this point is helpful.
IMHO, if you give me seeds to test then I believe it is my job to grow them and keep detailed notes and report back to you. Not to share them or the findings with others.
Linda