propagating waratahs - tips please!

[clare_b74]

Hi all,

I've one the one hand accquired me some tasmanian waratah seeds and on the other some smoked vermiculite... Does anyone know if waratahs germinate better using smoke water? I'm inclined to think bugger it and experiment anyway, but I've got a low tolerance for slow-or-no germination so would like to know if it's a really bad idea

Ta,
C

[Bluetongue]

Sorry mate, although I'm originally from NSW I have no idea. I think the Murray Ralph propagation book should help you - might be in the library.

Good luck! I lurve waratahs

[clare_b74]

Urm, thanks? BT!

I think I'll have a little look, with no real expectations, at what Google Books has to offer and plant them tonight anyway - a more general Google seems to suggest that seed freshness is the main factor so time's of the essence I guess. The scientist in me (get out, get out!) will probably vote for a half-half experiment with my smoke water

C

[Bluetongue]

LoL. Well let us know how it goes anyway.

[eataust]

Late to the party on this one; the Sydney Botanic Gardens have a huge waratah program and they've got some handy stuff on their website at http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/informatio ... sw_waratah.

Waratahs aren't one of those which propogate with heat, as I recall, as their main flowering period is late winter/early spring (I've seen waratahs with snow on them in the Blue Mountains). Well, ok, my info could be all off, but my feeling is that they're not one of those that need heat/smoke to continue ...

[clare_b74]

Hmm, interesting EA.

I did unlease my inner-scientist and did a half-half experiment, but I was looking in the minigreenhouse last night and nothing's come up at all

I guess I'll just have to start shouting loudly "I don't care if you grow or not!" at the greenhouse and see if reverse psychology works as well as it does with illawarra plums! Reverse psychology and about 7 months of thumb twiddling that is

C

[Ed Dunkel]

I'm sure you have seen this page:

http://asgap.org.au/wara2.html