This blooming Alcantera Imperialis bloomed at Christmas and still no pups. How long does it take for pups to appear and at what point do I cut the stalk?
Thanks, AlyceUSVI

Pups may appear up in the leaves or at the base of the bloom spike. And many times only when the seasons start to change(warming or cooling). It depends on mother nature.

Hi Splinter,
Stalk is completely dried out and many seed pods visible and split. They easily come apart.
Wow there are thousands of seeds in each of the seed pod sections. I thought the black boat shaped section was the actual seed. The Alcantera is at the villa we sold two years ago to our neighbors so they are happy to have me go over to check on the yard. The are only on island twice a year and we retired here 16 years ago full time. We have had very little rain for the last three months and think it might have been difficult for any pups to form. The gardeners that the new owners use have cleaned the base of the plant and no offshoots in sight.
Will put all these extra seed pods on exchange forum. Should I preserve them as a pod or take the seeds out and save them separately to mail them to others? Thanks so much for the help.

AlyceUSVI

Hi everyone.

Alyce - I personally have no experience with Alcantarea seed, but I have a friend who only grows Alcantarea seed and he removes the seed from the capsule, puts it into small paper envelopes which he puts in an airtight container and keeps in the fridge. He says he has used seed up to three years old by storing in this way.

All the best, Nev.

Thanks sounds like a plan.

Most clones of Alcantarea imperialis don't produce normal pups after flowering, some will produce adventitious or hair pups throughout their lifespan, some produce hair pups only when young, some produce hair pups throughout their life cycle and some don't produce hair pups. Normal pups may be produced if the mature Alc imperialis has it's centre (meristem) damaged by a screwdriver prior to flowering.

Hair pups grow out like seedlings, Alcantarea seed is best sown on top of a seedling mix and kept moist, closed takeaway containers work well to start them off.

Alcantarea imperialis is a wonderful plant to grow and will flower for six months or more.

Seed will usually germinate well if harvested when the pods start to split open, the seed does not do well if it gets too wet on the spike.

Cheers,

Rick

Thanks for the info. The stem has dried as we have had a drought for five months. The pods are dried and split and there are thousands of seeds. I am offering them to anyone who wants them on the exchange forum. Is there any special preparation I should do other than keep them in a dry package? Thanks for the advice. AJ

They will store for quite a long time refrigerated, 6 months or more.

Hi all,

Quick question Rick (I know you answer 1 for me and I ask 5 more haha) but if I take seed from my Alcantarea Aladdin, how long is germination and will a fine misting do every few days? You must curse replying to my first post as I've asked you 1000 things haha.

Thanks a million☺

Tim

Hi everyone.

Fern_Freak - I'm sure Rick won't mind answering your questions as he thinks (like me) that's

what these forums are all about, information sharing and helping each other.

I know I've learned a lot from these and other forums over the years I've been a member, so never be frightened to ask a question; I'm sure someone will know the answer.

All the best, Nev.

Hi Tim,

Harvest your seeds when the pods split open, I sow on a 50/50mix coir peat and perlite, they will usually germinate in 2-4 weeks, germination rates range between 0 and 100%, I fill takeaway containers about half full, mist and close the lid, re-mist when moisture is not evident on the lid. I put drainage holes in about halfway up. Place in a bright warm spot out of direct sun.

Cheers,

Rick

Thank you Nev and Rick. Your all so helpful to us learners. I thought it would be so much harder. Also Rick, my wife wants a word with you. She just realised there could be hundreds of baby broms if these germinate haha. Thanks again guys.

Tim