Clematis texensis seeds germinating NOW - what to do???

18 years ago

Hi all,

Last November, I sowed some seeds from my Clematis texensis, in a pot. I sunk the pot in the ground for the winter and lifted the pot this spring. I have not paid any attention to the pot, until now, and, actually, I had forgotten about the pot completely. Thankfully, I put a label in the pot.

The seeds are just STARTING to germinate. Why now?

Shouldn't the seeds germinate in the spring? Some of the seedlings have shed the seed coat and others are just starting to germinate. None of the seedlings have any true leaves; there are just cotyledons, so far.

Do I leave the seedlings outside to fend for themselves, in a zone 4 winter or should I bring the pot inside and put it under lights? I have fluorescent lights and I have a high pressure sodium unit in the basement where it will be very cool - approx. 55ÂºF, through the winter.

I have tried to get C. texensis seeds to germinate for years and this is the first success I have ever had, so I don't want to mess this up. This week is going to be VERY cold so time is of the essence.

Any suggestions/help will be appreciated.

Thanks,

Mike

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Comments (5)

Joan Dupuis
18 years ago
I'll be waiting for tips too, as I have some seeds to plant this Fall. When you dug the pots up this Spring, where did you put them? In a semi-shaded area outside?
carol23_gw
18 years ago
I'm wondering if the species will grow in your zone 4a climate since the hardiness of texensis is zone 5.
I would definitely not leave them outside . I don't think anything will be left after winter.

My own seedlings of the natives, including texensis, have been kept in an enclosed porch with a southern exposure.
I've had upward growth on texensis in December. The plants were protected and had heat during sunny days.

If you bring them inside, make sure you have enough air circulation so they don't damp off.
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treelover3
Original Author
18 years ago
bloomorelse,
I put the pot with a bunch of other pots that had plants in them. It got watered by accident whenever I watered the other pots. The pot got full sun most of the time, but was shaded in the late afternoon.

carol23,
The seed I sowed came from the C. texensis I have growing in my yard. C. texensis is perfectly hardy here and blooms all summer long. C. texensis dies back to the ground every year - it does not re-sprout from the vines produced the previous season. It does this even in climates much milder than mine. You should have no problem with C. texensis in zone 6, in PA.

I may take a few seedlings out of the pot and bring them inside and sink the pot with the rest of the seedlings and see what happens.

Anyone else have any insight?
Thanks,
Mike
nckvilledudes
18 years ago
Mike, clematis seed often germinate after exposure to alternating warm and cool periods so it is very common to have germinations in the dead of winter. If the young seedlings were mine, they would be brought inside and kept in a cool area where they could get some sun--even better would be if you have a grow light or some other sort of light provided.
treelover3
Original Author
18 years ago
nckvilledudes,
Thanks, I brought the pot inside and have put it under my lights. I'll watch it carefully since I don't want to lose any of the seedlings. I need to collect more seed and sow them to get more seedlings for next year.
Thanks,
Mike