botany 101

So, I was supposed to write this a week ago, that way the story was gonna progress gradually and be an exciting, adrenaline filled, botanical adventure. But I didn't and the first significant event in the story has already happened. It's annoying but the excitement over rules that! So here's 2 installments:

1 - Sunday 23rd May 2010

I have planted 11 Pachypodium Densiflorum seeds. I'm apprehensive as the literature states that they must be kept at temperatures exceeding 25ºc in order to germinate. Never-the-less I have planted them in pots of sand (that I nicked from the park over the road) mixed with cactus compost, and sealed them in polythene bags by the kitchen window... like this:The plan is that the polythene bags will create a greenhouse effect and store heat so that they stay hot even when it gets cooler in the kitchen. To help them on their way, I will also provide them with a hot-water bottle on cold evenings because I can't afford a heat mat.

2 - Sunday 30th May 2010

After a week of keeping the kitchen window and door closed as much as possible, warm hot-water bottles and endless checking upon I have one pachypodium seedling:I'm hoping that more will appear this week. And of course, I will keep you, the rest of the world, posted.