SOUTHEASTERN CHAPTER    AMERICAN RHODODENDRON SOCIETY
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  • HOME
  • About
    • Benefits of Membership
    • Renew or Join
    • Officers
    • History of SE-ARS
    • HELP: How to use our website
    • 2012 ARS/ASA Convention
    • Contact Us
    • Events >
      • Upcoming & Past Events >
        • Calendar View
      • Flower Show Information >
        • 2018 Flower Show
        • 2017 Flower Show
        • 2016 Flower Show
        • 2015 Flower Show
        • 2014 Flower Show
  • BRR
  • Info
    • Dexter Study Group >
      • Don Kellam
    • Plant Sources
    • "Good Doers"
    • How to plant and care for a rhododendron
    • Rhododendron diseases & pests
    • How to propagate rhododendrons
    • How to hybridize rhododendrons
    • Other rhododendron links
    • Rhododendrons for Upstate South Carolina
    • RhodoWeather
    • ARS Blog
    • Hooper Bald
    • Rosebay
  • Photos
    • 2019 ASA CONVENTION
    • 2020 Virtual Flower Show
    • New Hybrids
    • Submit Photos
    • 2015 Photo Contest
    • General Gallery
    • Featured Rhodos >
      • Red R. maximum
      • R. hyperythrum
  • Members
    • Join or Renew >
      • Mail Application
    • Plant Payment
    • Gardens
    • JOURNAL ARS
    • Custom Search
    • SE-ARS Board Minutes (log in)
    • SE-ARS Member and Assoc Roster (log in)
    • Treasurer's Report 2016-24 >
      • Treasurer's Reports 2015 (log in) >
        • Treasurer's Reports 2014 (log in)
    • SE-ARS Meeting Minutes

Growing Rhododendrons from Seed

Start seeds indoors in fall, winter or early spring.     We also grow native azaleas from seed entirely outdoors, sowing in spring.
Equipment
  • Flourescent lights (Shop Lights) with Cool White bulbs.
  • Suitable indoor space or greenhouse.
  • Optional heating mat and thermostat set to 70 F if in unheated space.
Materials:
  • Milled sphagnum moss (available in bulk from wholesale suppliers, or in small quantities as "No Dampoff")
  • Peat Moss
  • Plastic Shoe Boxes with Clear Lids.  Drainage holes are optional and not necessary.
  • Flats approximately 3" deep for transplanting.
  • Transplanting medium (screened composted pine bark).
  • Optional fungicide, such as Captan.
Procedure:
  1. Add milled sphagnum and peat moss to water in separate buckets, adding a small amount of Dawn detergent (as wetting agent and mild disinfectant).
  2. Allow to soak overnight for thorough wetting.
  3. Add to a shoebox 3 double handfuls of peat moss, squeezing out tightly to remove excess water.
  4. Add to the shoebox, sprinkling atop the peat moss, 1 double handful of milled sphagnum, also squeezing hard to remove excess water.
  5. Thinly sow the rhodo seed on top of the sphagnum layer, so that individual seeds are about 1/4 - 1/2  inch apart.      *
  6. Lightly water in the sown rhodo seed (may mist with fungicide), and seal the clear lid of the shoebox.
  7. Add small amounts of water as necessary to avoid drying out of the sphagnum surface.
  8. Place seed germination containers under fluorescent lights.
  9. Germination should begin in 2-3 weeks.   Cotyledons appear initially, followed by true leaves in a week or so.
  10. Seedlings may be transplanted as soon as the first true leaves appear, although they may also be transplanted as cotyledons if sufficient care is taken not to dry out.
  11. Transplant to Flats, approximately 3-4" apart.   Flats may be under lights or in a greenhouse (we use a passive solar heated greenhouse).
  12. Do not allow transplants to dry out.  Water at least daily.
  13. Transplants may be fertilized weekly with 1/3 strength Miracid or other soluble fertilizer.    A thin top dressing of slow release granular fertilizer may also be applied.
  14. Seedlings may be moved outdoors in early fall, when they are large enough to withstand hard rains.    Remove excess tree leaves in fall, to avoid damage to the young seedlings.
  15. Seedlings may be transplanted to containers or beds after one or two years.    Large numbers of seedlings are produced, more than can be reasonably managed, necessitating intentional selection in addition to the natural selection which will occur.
* Fungicide treatment is optional.   Seeds may be misted with fungicide solution such as Captan.
JHMcC 1/15
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