questions about Jack in the Pulpit grown from seed

15 years ago

I planted a few Jack in the Pulpit seeds this spring, including three in a pot. They've all gone dormant, which I'm guessing is normal since they all did it at the same time. I dug up the bulbs in the pot just to have a look:

I understand it will take several years for them to bloom, but for the ones in the pot, I was wondering if I could speed things along by putting them in the fridge for an artificial winter, and maybe getting two growing cycles per year. If so, my two questions are:

1) How long would the artificial winter have to be at refrigerator temperature?

2) Would I have to give them supplemental light this fall/winter to grow them inside, so they perceive the daylength as longer?

I'm in zone 6, Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania, which is where the seeds were gathered. This message is also posted at the Aroid forum.

Alex

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Comments (3)

Lynda Waldrep
15 years ago
I have friends who germinate Liliums the way you describe, trying to fool Mother Nature. They swear by it! I think they chill for about six weeks. And yes to grow lights and warmth for the next cycle, then back to the frig. By that time it is summer once more.

I have just used winter sowing for my jacks, and some times I get a triple season because here in my part of NC we have fluxuations of cold and slightly warmer days. It all depends on our particular winter. So far this year my seedlngs have not gone down, but I know what you mean from previous years.
linda_schreiber
15 years ago
Very interesting idea, re Jacks and Liliums. If you get any further solid info, please cross-post it here.

My limited information tells me that Jacks development is much more size-and-vigor dependent than year dependent. If you could break dormancy, provide a long enough second growth season, get them dormant again, and get them reawakened in time for the next season....

Very interesting idea!
Keep us posted, please.
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Lynda Waldrep
15 years ago
Forgot to mention that a friend (botany instructor and very knowledgeable) said Arisaemas do better in the ground once they germinate. We have a planting bed just for them. I originally was losing some that I had placed in those four inch pots, so now we put them in the ground until they are large enough to plant out in the woods or give away.