今年授粉的扶桑算有所收成,可惜農曆新年期間長命雨,毀了一部份種子莢.最近,我們開始修枝,授粉也跟著放緩了.
除了因為修枝因素,天氣也是一個因素.今年的氣候反常,在正月多雨,尤其農曆新年期間長達三個星期長命雨,而進入二月份天氣異常炎熱,難得下一場雨.
當然還有一個因素,最近打算重新"整頓"庭院,因為台灣宮主先後寄了兩大箱孤挺及喜蔭,快把我的車房給塞滿了,必須騰出一些空位,容納這些貴客.
總得來說,根据2008年及今年初的經驗,我認為在馬來西亞,授粉的最好時段是在11月至4月之間.這段時間較多陰天,氣溫較低,成功的機會較高.
最近頻頻寄出一些種子,主要是在正月及最近收成的種子莢.希望有一天,它會開出一朵朵驚喜的花色.
這一張是最新開出來的花色,不知道是不是第一朵關係,有點怪怪的.
前些時候,我寫了關於種子脫殼播種的方法,一時手痒,也譯成英文貼在THML及國際扶桑拉丁文論壇.這種方法當初是台灣朋友張女士教我的,不是我自創.試了成功,覺得這方法很好.
在國際論壇貼了篇文章後,終於有一位來自巴西的園主名叫Rita採納這方法,並公佈試驗結果,引起許多扶桑同好的討論.
Rita分別在英文及拉丁文網站公佈她的試驗成果,並形容這是扶桑種植業一項"革命".
目前她的第二回合試驗尚在網上討論之中.在第一回合測試中,她作了一些改良.當我們剝了殼之後,是立在衛生紙團上,而她則是置放在鑽了小洞的海綿中,此舉是方便種子站立.
以下是Rita公佈的第一回合試驗全文,僅轉貼供參考:
Hello hibiscuses fellows,
If it can be useful to someone, I'm sharing with you some tests what I did about the suggestion made by Chia(message of the Chia in the end) for the germination of seeds (with some variations).
It was a domestic test and I used materials that were within reach of the hand at that time, which of course can be improved.
TEST 1 -
Nicked seeds were placed in a container
withwet cotton.
The colors of cotton and the order of the
colors were to identify the different samples
of seeds.
The container was cover to keep moisture
for the whole internal area.
TEST 1 -
The pieces of sponge cut in the shape of a
cube is only to make easy the direction of the
future roots to down and of the leaves up.
The sponges were cut with a scissors and
my husband drilled the sponges with a
domestic soldering iron.
TEST 1 -
After two days the seeds were swollen and
the bark were removed with the nails.
The seeds without the bark were placed in
the sponge (different from Chia, in my case
6 hours were not enough to swell the seeds).
TEST 1 -
The seeds were placed again in the
"mini greenhouse".
The cotton remained with the colors
to identify the different seeds.
TEST 1 -
The container was closed again to keep
the internal environment moist.
TEST 1 -
After four days more at most of the seeds
were with the two small leaves. The biggest
seedlings were transferred to small pots
(6 days in total).
TEST 1 -
Sixth day in total.
The biggest seedlings were transferred to small pots.
TEST 1 -
After the previous picture I traveled and here
are the seedlings with 33 days (the seedlings
were kept inside a closed room without
receiving direct sunlight).
TEST 2 -
Another test started 6 days after the TESTE 1.
In this case all the seeds are from the same pod.
TEST 2 -
Also I did a small travel and not removed the
barks in the second day. The seeds were for
5 days closed in the container and some seeds rotted.
In this test I removed the barks and transfer of seedlings straightly to small pots, without using the sponge and
without waiting that the first two leaves were appearing, then I traveled again.
TEST 2 – Picture of the seedlings with 27 days (the seedlings were kept inside a closed room
without receiving direct sunlight).
Chia, I think with these your simple and few words you "revolutionized" (at least in my case) the way to start the germination of seeds of hibiscuses.
Thank you very much; I think also that your name should be registered (with frame) in the "annals of the breeders of hibiscuses".
From now on I will start the germination of my seeds by this method.
All the best for all,
Rita
20090120
São Paulo, 20 ºC (68 ºF) – Brazil
http://roizzo.sites.uol.com.br
