ellenr:
Stop covering them after all danger of frost is past.Lady in red should set seed for you.It would be a
good idea to take cuttings of them in the summer so
when they don't make it through your winter you still
have plants for next year.
Art

I am amazed they survived outside since temps went into the teens at the end of February. Maybe if you continue to cover them they will make it now. Presumably there is still ungerminated seed out there. Normally the species will not germinate until the ground has warmed - sometime in May. Coccinea reseeds like crazy in New Jersey.

How would you care for the cutting over winter. I have WS'd some also.

Wardaa,
Yes I should have Winter Sown them end of March/beg. April, then they would have germinated right in time to be planted out in warm temps. Now I have to keep them alive in the container til I can plant them out.
I've heard many people say Cocchinea re-seeds as you say, but for me it doesn't. Just a couple of plants. Every year I dream of having a whole area with nothing but them, but hasn't happened.
By Wintersowing them I get pretty good germination, about 75%. I also have black and blue Salvia, which germinated *real* well, the whole container is full of them, they are so tiny and cute.

ellen

there is still time to plant seeds. You could just surface sow a whole batch into a pot and then seperate them into cells at the end of the month. I will have coccinea as part of a plant sale at Palmyra Cove Nature Park on 4/25/09 - fundraiser for the gardens there.

I sowed Lady in Red and Coral Nymph inside and they germinated very well. First time trying anything inside so hopefully I won't kill them before it's time to harden off and plant.

I have more seed and should spring sow some of both outside so I know I have some that are weather toughened.

The Hummingbirds loved the Lady in Red last year. It was the first time I ever saw a Hummingbird in person and up close.