Return to the Australian Native Plants Forum
| Post a Follow-Up
gahnia
| | |
Posted by dmzb QLD Aust (My Page) on Mon, Dec 12, 05 at 18:06
| I am after information on soil pH requirements of Gahnia sieberiana and clarkeii. I am able to germinate the seed but when planted into a container in potting mix they suffer terribly and pH may be the problem. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: gahnia
| | |
| Gahnia sieberiana (Sword Sedge)grows naturally in the snuffy redsoil in the Toowoomba area, and in the granite soils in SE Qld and northern NSW. The soils are slightly acid - probably 6-6.5, so the pH of the potting mix shouldn't be a problem. They are very well-drained and not at all rich. Are you mollycoddling your plants. Sword sedge is a head-height plant with sharp leaves which slash the skin of even the most casual passer-by who touches it by accident. Are you sure it's really what you want? |
RE: gahnia
| | |
- Posted by Popi NSW Aust (My Page) on
Fri, Dec 16, 05 at 4:02
| I think you are doing well to get the seeds to germinate, I have had no luck. How long do they take to germinate? What is the pH of your potting mix? Popi |
RE: gahnia
| | |
| I am also wondering how you were able to germinate gahnia. We've had them in seed trays for an eternity and nothing has happened. They are also a wallum plant so pH would be low 5, 5.5. Jane |
RE: gahnia
| | |
| I've heard that soaking in phosphoric acid cola (pepsi, coke, bilo brand etc) overnight helps germination. |
RE: gahnia
| | |
| Wallum, Eh? Not being familiar with coastal biota I didn't know this, but it makes sense, There's a lot of overlap betweem inland granite flora and coastal sand plants. It probably tells us that Gahnia sieberiana is rather tolerant both re water (or lack of) around its roots, and level of atmospheric humidity. The granite pH may well be that low, but I would be surprised if is was essential to the Gahnia. The best specimen I've seen was in Torrington National Park west of Glen Innes, where it was a decidedly hazardous object to someone wobbling through the bush on a bicycle as I was at the time. I thought it so lovely I photographed it, but don't want one in my garden. (I feel the same about those giant cactus). Granite soil is interesting mineral-wise. Could there be trace elements missing from the potting mix? Another trick that sometimes works with seedlings which fail is to put some nice fresh mother soil around them, because they need some specific bacterium or fungus. Is it worth a trip to the parent plant to collect just a little of this? |
|
|
|
|
