Cindy's Heart

[blupit007]

 I am honored to have one this beautiful.  You really gave me a great one.  It earned a place in the sunny over-winter window this winter!

[roadrunner]

Those are incredible blooms of Cindy's Heart and the bush looks really healthy.

Charlie, this is the first bloom on mine since a recent move to an area of the greenhouse that gets much brighter light. The move appears to have increased the amount of pink compared to the earlier blooms.  The bloom is still a little small at 6 1/2 inches across which has been about average so far.  Note several missing leaves in the middle of the bush from spider mites.  Mine was also a 6 inch pot size purchase and was quickly moved to an 8 inch pot.  The bush to the left is Cherry Appaloosa.

dave

[Charlie]

That's an improvement in color, Dave. I suspect the full color and size is coming soon.

Charlie

[Charlie]

Are you kidding? That's the best looking Cherry Appaloosa bush ever..... Taking the time to stake and train young plants that need it really pays off.

Charlie

[blupit007]

Charlie,

  I know you said that CH is not a seed setter and doesn't give any pollen.  I have to admit, I have been trying.  Every time a bloom opens on her, I find someone to get pollen from.  Whether that be Saffron, Belle, Sunny Wind, or even a hardy Lord Baltimore.  But nothing yet.  I get a pod that looks like it may start to swell and then yellow and nuttin!  But I have been watching this one seed pod grow and grow on her.  I don't have one of my twist ties and labels on it because it is not one that I put pollen on...  I have been good about labeling them, I listened to you!  But this is the weirdest thing.  What do you make of this?  Is it real?  Or is it something she does.  I am getting really excited about it, should I?

[Charlie]

Yes, you should get excited!!! All the possible combinations have not been tried and there is always that  chance that this will be the one!

For example, in order to prove that the species plants we have collected are indeed species and not early hybrids the best technique available to us is to pollinate a flower of the species with pollen from a flower of that species. If we then grow the seeds and the plants that grow and bloom are identical to the one that set the seeds than we can make a reasonable conclusion that we do indeed have a species plant. If instead we can some pink and some double red we know we have a hybrid.

OK, to the point - I tried with our H liliflorus several times and could not get it to set seed. Cindy took that as a challenge and has continued to pollinate every flower on her houseplant H liliflorus. After many tries, she got a pod and when it ripened it had 1 seed. I have now planted it but we do not know if it will germinate or how it will grow once it does. Still, persistence paid off in this case.

That said, it is still quite likely the pod on Cindy's Heart will either fall off due to no seeds or remain on the plant but empty. You should note the date and if 12 weeks pass go ahead and break open the pod. By that time there will be ripe seeds inside or no seeds. If the pod falls off when it is near the time for it to be ripe - say after 6 weeks in summer, do not break it open but instead put it in a tiny open container so it can stand upright with just enough water in the bottom of the container to cover the stem of the pod. Often that will allow the pod to ripen normally and when it turns brown and cracks open the seeds will be a nice ripe brown/black color.

I'm thrilled that you are trying and would love to see a new hybrid come out of Cindy's Heart. Hot weather is usually fatal for seedpods but in shade or in the house you can get some to make viable seeds even in summer.

Charlie

[blupit007]

Awesome.  By the size of it I would say about 2-3 weeks old?  I may have pollinated it, but didn't label it.  I have a label on a stem right next to it.  It is either by Saffron, Belle, Sunny Wind, Baja Breeze, or the hardy Lord Baltimore.  Because those are the only flowers I have has as of yet.  I actually have a pod starting on Saffron from Lord Baltimore. 

  Cindy is in the sun, but the temps have been much more reasonable.  70-80º  60's at night.  And many overcast days lately also. I will baby it and keep you posted!

[Charlie]

Those conditions are perfect for hybridizing except for the sun. Good luck and keep us informed!!!

Charlie

[blupit007]

OK, here is a Cindy's Heart seed pod update.  The pod looks the same, I don't think it has gotten much bigger, it is still green and healthy looking, but does have some wrinkles in it.  I am hoping it ripens soon because the wait is torture!  Here are some photos from this morning. 

[Charlie]

So far, so good. I hope there are some seeds but have to add that the pod looks typical of one that is empty. They fool me sometimes so please don't give up on it (as if you would    )

Charlie

[blupit007]

Oh you know I wont.  It will be happy this week in the house too!  Maybe it will be ready when I get back!

[Doll]

Is Cindy's Heart a grafted variety? It appears to me that it is. It is probably the fastest growing cultivar I have.

[Charlie]

John, Cindy's Heart will occasionally root but I tend to graft it for more certain success. I think it likes or needs heat more than some varieties. The ones in my heated greenhouse are twice as large as the one planted in our outdoor garden. In any case, I am glad yours is growing well. It is most likely grafted since i stopped rooting it 2 years ago.

Charlie

[blupit007]

Soooo Yesterday guess what?! 

  The pod opened and gave me 4 seeds!!!  They are black and fuzzy.  I couldn't believe my eyes!  I put them in a small 3" pot with Foxfarm seed starter soil and got them nice and moist.  I have them under the grow lights in my office along with some random cuttings.  It is pretty warm in there, unlike outside.  Should I cover the pot with seran wrap?  Or just keep it watered well? 

 I am going to go to my Organically Grown store today and get one of those heat mats.  Are seeds better in the those small plastic cells with the dome over top, or is the teracotta pot they are in ok, or should I have put them in plastic.  And is the fact that I put them all in one pot OK?  So many questions.....

[Charlie]

How exciting!!!

They should be planted very shallow - barely any dirt over the top of the seeds, about 1/4 inch at most. Then do not keep it too wet - too wet kills a lot more seeds than anything else. Yes, it does need to be moist but not soggy.

If you have a suitable thermometer you can check the soil temperature at the depth the seeds are planted. Ideally it will stay around 80 but anything from 70 to 90 is acceptable. They do much better at warmer temps like 80-85 if that is possible.

The domes are very helpful in situations where it is difficult to get the temperature up high enough. If your spot is warm as it might be under the lights then you don't need a dome. A thermometer is a big help because then you don't have to guess whether it is warm enough. The domes also hold in humidity but that is not as important for seeds as it is for cuttings and can cause damping off if too much humidity is present.

Yes, you can plant them all in one pot. That is convenient but poses the challenge of transplanting them later without damaging the roots. It's not hard to do, but let's wait until you have seedlings with real leaves on them before doing any transplanting. The first pair of what look like leaves are not really leaves and will usually fall off as soon as real leaves appear.

Good luck!

Charlie

Since you did not nick them it is likely that they will need at least a week and maybe 2 weeks to germinate. Just keep them warm and lightly moist during that time and hopefully seedlings will pop up!