Hi everyone!

I got a mess of seeds recently, and Ive been using misted, plastic lidded food containers, rotating with a bottom heat electric buffet warmer on super low, and recently got my shop lites up (just flouros)

I have 3 tiny babies showing! I gently switched over to cocoapeat/ or cocapeat and soil once I got a brick of it. I have what I think is a kumquat, and one that is really confusing- I think its a Yuzu seed (large, non wrinkled, teardrop shape), but its got 2 embryos! I thought Yuzu were mono?

Maybe next time Ill get smaller containers or something, but my labeling system does stink

I think Im going to leave the lid on the container most of the time, until a few more seedlings emerge. Its been since before Thanksgiving, so only about 3 weeks to emerge, less for the Yuzu that I got after t-giving.

I hope I get at least one of each baby, but Ill have to put my FDs in the other window with my pomegranate.

I think I got my seed starting setup ideas from BabyBlue and Patty, so thanks!

Garnet, if you saw my set ups, you'd laugh! I have a heating pad on floor -it's covered with homemade seed trays. A small dishpan with a hotel shower cap over it, styrofoam egg cartons etc. Then, for more bottom heat I put a paint can on either side of my heat vents & a covered seed tray on that so when heat goes on, the bottom of seed tray gets heat & it doesn't block the air flow.
You just gave me an idea to use the heat tray from my slow cooker LOL. If it's too warm on low, I'll put a piece of cardboard on it first.
I also put a thin layer of sand over all so when they sprout they don't damp off & die.

Ive had 2 hatch out seemingly fine, but im treading a fine line between keeping them warm enough, and keeping them moist enough, and not letting them rot. Ive got a spritz bottle, humidifier in the room, and a buffet warmer that can be on "low" just warmer than body heat.
What im trying to do is spritz reall thorough, put the lid on, turn the lights on, and when the lid gets all condensation-ey, shake the water back onto the cocoapeat, and take the lid off for a little while.
In the summer, this was much easier. water frequently, its so hot they wont mold.... Should I put future seeds in the fridge till summer?

Garnet,
I would say plant as soon as you can. the sooner seeds are planted the higher their chance of germination.
Guess you might have gotten the food container idea from me as I used a bread stick container with a lid when I ran out of room in the two mini green house boxes I got. I am a bit disheartened that out of 60+ seeds planted I only have 5 trees that are still alive. Still not 100% that the two Tangerines are going to make it.. but it has been a learning experience all the way. I think that I will have a better understanding of what they need as they grow older than if I had started with full grown adult plant.. I mean poor George.. He has suffered at my inexperienced hand. If I had had more adult trees I doubt they would have survived the first few months of learning...
That anything survived is Thanks to all the wonderful help and advice!!!
Gina *BabyBlue*

I'm getting worried now. All those citrus seeds I planted & none have sprouted... planted 14 days ago! About a week ago I remembered I saved those plastic zippered blanket bags. Set that on heat pad & put some seed trays in there-- it's a mini greenhouse! Some brugmansia & daturas have sprouted so I now have a compact fl. lite right over it. I check to make sure it's moist, so I don't know what the problem is.
In one large tray I have, centennial kumquat, meiwa k., ponderosa, limequat, & ponc. trifoliata. I also have flying dragon, yuzu, 1 miracle fruit, thomasville citrangequat, & swingle citrumella all planted. I sure would hate if none of them sprout.

Hi Patty, not to worry. Two weeks is much to soon to see citrus seeds germinating. You probably won't see any germination before 21 days or longer. Citrus seeds germinate any time between 21 - 90 days depending on temperature. I have some germinating by the famous Laaz method, in zip lock bags on top of the heat vents of my computer's monitor. - millet

Thanks Millet, I feel better now. Still checking all. A Thomasville Citrangequat has just germinated (1 of 3 seeds... YEAY) but there are no leaves on it! Wonder if those fungus gnats had something to do with it. Hope it produces some leaves soon. I put extra sand around all (not too much) to keep gnats away & keep any seedlings from damping off.

Watch for UPS , like maybe Friday? Just a little something for you, Joe, & Laaz, made in Milwaukee... by ELVES! HaHaa You'll never guess.

3 more sproutings as of today! That T. citrangequat does have leaves. They were just too small to see yesterday.

I think it was a kumquat who was acephalic. SO SAD! the stub looked good for a few days, now it looks dying-ish. I have 2 strong looking Yuzu right now. I cant believe, the Ponderosas (that had seemed to dry out the most in shipping) are trying to push out right now.
Now, I just have to remember to pack them all with my moving stuff for tomorrow AM, because ill be an hour north when I get off work, and im going straight to my dads!

Garnet, what the hell is acephalic?? It's not even in my dictionary LOL.
I think you mean it's damping off & dying(?). Put sand around the seedlings just when they sprout...it'll help keep them up & growing.
If possible, I like to water from the bottom up to keep moisture away from the tender stems & down to roots.
Have a great time at your Dad's & a very Happy Christmas!
Patty
my yuzu's haven't sprouted yet

New seedling are very susceptable to many problems, such as damping off as Patty mentioned. New seedlings, should always be watered in the morning so the sun's rays can quickly dry the soil's surface, or one can always use a fungicide. - Millet

Hey Patty,
The seeds you planted, are they the ones from the Expo? Mine have only really just begun sprouting good and I am using a Mini Greenhouse inside my big greenhouse. I am getting really germination rates though. I wouldn't worry too much, I am sure they will be fine.
Darren

Heres a pic of the seedlings from Scott's Pommelo. They will all be hybrids, but interesting to grow...

Laaz,

Wow! those are some extremely healthy looking sprouts. Looks like WAY too many for one person to take care of

Does pommelo do well on a dwarfing rootstock, FD for example? Otherwise, what is the usual mature height of pommelos? Scott's didn't look all that big, though it IS nice and bushy, is his on a dwarf rootstock?

Ross
Casa Del Gatos

Hi Ross. Scott isn't sure what the rootstock is. He purchased the tree in FL on one of his trips. I would estimate his tree to be about 3 Ft high from the soil line. His is a Hirado Buntan which is said to be one of the cold hardiest of the Pommelo's. The fruit was super sweet and huge.