yellow cleome question

I have planted these seeds 3 different times in 3 different places and they will not come up. I have planted other color cleome and they are doing fine. any clues? These are bought seeds. Thanks in advance
Cara

Cara, I read somewhere they need to be planted when the weather is cold. Guess mine won't come up either. Brenda

Oh no dont say it's so. I really wanted these to come up. I have very few seeds left guess I better save them till next year. Thanks for the info.

I was told that they like to be started in hot moist conditions. Makes sense if they come from the Arizona deserts. Just what I heard, not tried and true. Mine didn't come up either.

I received a partial pack that someone purchashed and the directions said something like three months cold. I have put them away until fall. :(

Michele, you were lucky to get directions with them. Mine came in a packet from the company and didn't give instructions. Think I'll put the rest of mine away too. No sense just throwing them away.

S.

i did some searching, this is the only site that offers a descent general info in growing cleome plant ... http://www.gardenguides.com/flowers/annuals/cleome.htm , hope that help. it may not be yellow cleome, but am sure they are propagated the same way.

MVR, I don't have any trouble growing the regular Cleome' plants, but this yellow one is a desert plant, I think, and it just isn't cooperating at all. It is called Cleome' Lutea.

thanks for the specie name Brugies... botany.com general propagation... http://www.botany.com/cleome.html , brb to see if i find something on C.Lutea.

interesting history/gen. info of C. Lutea ... http://anthro.fortlewis.edu/ethnobotany/baca/News_Letters/Fall_97.htm

photo ... http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?where-genre=Plant&where-taxon=Cleome+lutea

sorry there are no specific propagation on this specie, i tried :(

edited to add one more url ... http://wildflower.avatartech.com/Plants_Online/Native_Plants/Detail.asp?ID=316 , apparently this one has poor propagation accdg to this last site.

This message was edited Tuesday, May 21st 12:15 AM

Thanks MVR, for all the links. I might try a few more seeds in the heat of the greenhouse and see what happens. You are right.....interesting history on this plant.

Brugie... some insignificant url suggest planting in moist area, like near brooks or ponds. although allegedly claimed to be a draught plant, apparently it need moist condition to plant the seeds. as was suggested, plant in the fall where it is moist and cold. does that make sense?

sometimes it is just a matter of using one's common sense to understand these mysterious ways of some seeds. i do not know how big or small the seed it. try placing some on a damp paper towel. place the paper towel in zip lock bag and refrigerated. experiment and see how this will work.

Good idea....will try the paper towel thing. It would do no good to start them in the fall here. They would freeze before they could bloom. Have been thinking about putting some in the aquarium I'm using for rooting plants. Maybe the heat and humidity would work too. Just have to experiment. Thanks for the help my friend.

u're very welcome. two heads is better than one :)!

We planted twice and didn't get any to germiate. Now I know why. Will try again this fall, if I can get some more seeds. I ordered them and it took 6 wks to get them.

I've tried three different pots. This last batch in hot and humid conditions, and nothing. Oh yes, I did throw a few out in the wildflower bed and see nothing of them either.

If all else fails try refrigerating them for a few weeks. :0) Just a thought.

I experimented with regular cleome seeds for a couple years in a row. They re-seed all over but I could never get them to germinate in the house. The best results came from fluctuating temps. I put the seeds with a damp paper tower in a zip-loc bag and refrigerated them. After a couple of weeks I brought the seeds out to room temp during the day - and put them back in the fridge at night. I did this for about a week straight .... and then like magic... I had nearly 100% germination. That may be the key to the yellow cleome too - fluctuating temps like mother nature would give.