Topic: Proteas

[viv]

Bought some seeds at Chelsea and am just getting round to sowing them.  has anyone here tried these and what sort of success have you had?

[Doris_Pinks]

Viv there is a thread here somewhere that might be of assistance. EJ is growing them!
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/yabbse/index.php?board=2;action=display;threadid=3346;start=msg29985#msg29985
Hope this helps  DP

[viv]

Brilliant, thanks, I have printed that off and will keep for reference!! :D

[Mrs Ava]

Growing them!  Making the poor blighters suffer more like!  They are struggling, but still alive so okay-ish....for now!  I have tried several times and I think it is a combo of my bad treatment and me not living in S. Africa  ;D.  Now Bird of Paradise I can tell you all about - sowed 18 seeds of different varieties, and 10 are up!  ;D

[Jesse]

Hi Viv, I haven't got round to planting my seeds yet. From what I have read they should be planted around spring time in the UK and can, depending on the type of protea you have bought, take up to 3 months to germinate. The seeds that I bought came with smoke paper which you are meant to soak with the seeds in water before planting, this is meant to replicate the reaction that the seeds naturally encounter after bush fires which aids germination. If you don't have this paper and want some I will be happy to send you some as they sent about 10 sheets and 1 sheet does a lot of seeds! I found this link which I found quite useful when deciding what medium to plant the seeds in. http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/ksheets/proteas.html

Let me know how you get on, I plan to plant my seeds around Feb/March. Heaven know's where I'm going to put them if they ever get big!

[viv]

Thanks for that, the seeds came in a starter kit with all the smoke paper as well.  But I am sure the instructions said something about sowing them about six months before the coldest period of the year?  They are at home so I can't check at the moment.  Something about their needing cold weather to aid germination, as lots of seeds do......which is why I was going to do them now.  Will drag the instructions out again later and re read!

[Jesse]

Hi Viv, I have also read 6 months before the coldest season but then other sources of information say they need a germination temp of 15-18 degrees C. I think the confusion comes in because SA has opposite seasons to us and also the winter in SA is more like our spring/early summer. Perhaps I will plant some now and some again in spring. Although I think spring might be better as the temps outside are around 15-18 in the south (I plan to plant in an unheated conservatory with de-humidifier running) and a lot of advice I have read is to prevent damp conditions as this causes fungal growth which is a killer for proteas. I also think if they germinate in spring, they have the whole summer to grow before the harsh winter. If they germinate in autumn then they go into a harsh winter before they have any strength. What variety did you get and how many seeds?

[viv]

They are King Proteas and I think about six seeds..will check tonight and come back tomorrow.

I have a heated propagator anyway so can sort out heat OK

[Jesse]

King Proteas are lovely, I think they are the same as I have - Protea Cynaroides. I also have Protea Burchellii seeds. Good luck and keep posting with your progress, it will be interesting to hear how things go. As I have 10 seeds of each I think I will plant some soon and if they prove unsuccessful over the winter months I will try again in spring.

[viv]

I had a quick look last night and I think there are 8 seeds.  So I shall do them 2 at a time (plenty of smoke paper) at different times of the year and see what happens.  Fingers crossed!!