I have a new order of seeds arriving (as per the thread title), should be getting them just an hour from now
. To help maximize my success, I'm looking for any tips you have with these - germination, transplantation, soil, watering, ferts, etc. Here's what I know so far
Myrciaria spp (several): Love having a tray of water under them. Hate chlorine. Love iron. Like acid soil, pH=5,5-6,5. Like both organic and inorganic soils?
Eugenia candolleana: Similar to myrciarias? Don't know as much about this one's soil preferences, but from some searching it sounds like they like acid, don't like chlorine, like iron, and don't like drying out.
Garcinia intermedia: I see recommended pHs ranging from 5 to 7. Long germination times. Supposedly not picky about soil types. Soil should be watered frequently but not kept in a tray of constant water, perhaps?
Hmm... better to use a more inorganic mix for better aeration / less risk of rot, or an organic mix for better moisture and nutrient retention? On-hand I have moss, fine vermiculite, a peaty soil, a richer soil, and sterilized beach sand that I've had running through flowing freshwater for a day to strip any salts out.
I once grew a myrciaria before, and if I recall it wasn't too transplant sensitive; don't know about the other two. I imagine in all cases it'd be best to germinate in plastic bags or tupperware and then transplant. I remember having a big problem however with E. stipitata transplantation. I had like a dozen germinate and grow great, but every last one died when I tried transplanting them, no matter how gentle I was :Þ But I've had other eugenias which could care less when I transplant them, so I don't think it's a genus-wide problem.
Tips?