How many do you plan to grow out of each seedpod?

Hope to see the first bloom soon!

I usually start roughly 50+ seedlings and pick out 20 to 30 of the best looking ones to grow on. The rest may get planted out into the shade garden if weather permits. In this case, I've already grown out some from this cross. Some of the best flowers were on green leafed plants and only one of the variegated were maybe a keeper. So I sowed the rest of the seed because it was getting old (two years of moving). You can see some of that seed was still viable!

I already thinned out and got rid of the non-variegated babies. I am hoping for better flower choices on the remaining variegated seedlings. If not they'll get planted out in the garden as well. Meanwhile I am working on another and hopefully better variegated cross as soon as a particular flower opens and the pollen matures...

The streptocarpus seedlings in the top photo are starting to make flower buds.. ;)

Hyn, I can't wait to see the flowers! Rosie

Me either. While I know that generally 99 percent of them won't be exciting, there's always hoping for that 1 % to knock your socks off! Otherwise they get planted in my shade garden outside. Still, they look really cheerful out there and produce so many flowers and seed pods! I could send seed pods to every strep grower in the universe from those shade beds but the seedlings would be bland crap flowers. ;)

And I bet I would love them anyway!!! lol Rosie

Heh. Well, I often have extra seed to share at no cost at all - my only request is that whoever grows out my hybrid crosses needs to stay in touch and send me photos of the flowers when they bloom and be willing to share plant material with me of any really outstanding seedlings that I may wish to evaluate for possible registration. So if you think you might like to try some from seed and would be willing to do that, Rosie, I can post over here when I have more seed to share. I shipped out or planted everything I had left over from last season but I have lots of new seed pods maturing from spring crosses now.

I think it's a great way to learn and no worries if the seedlings don't make it. There's always more seed to try again! I send more than you'd need so you only sow very few so you aren't over run with repotting tons at a time. Then if a germination attempt is lost you'd still have plenty of seed left to try again. The seed is very tiny almost like dust.

Hyn thanks for the encouragement! Well, with a kajillion seeds per package,,,,I guess I have a lot to practice with!!!! Look forward to at least trying! Rosie

Yep. If I send you a small pinch there will be hundreds and you'll probably want to sow more like 20 at most at a time. Unless you can do them by the flat and then plant them outside in the shade garden, plucking out your favorites later to pot up. That's what I like to do.

Well, I have a bit of time to think about it,,,,,,! Rosie

I have a nice spot all ready for starting the seed!!! Let me know when they are ready! Thanks! Rosie