Gasteria hybrid seedlings
Moderator: Geoff
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Gasteria hybrid seedlings
They're not much to look at yet, but I'm really excited I have had some measure of initial success with 3 different hybrids, all involving Gasteria rawlinsonii, both as pollen donor and seed parent.
I had almost given up on this one, but today noticed that there are at least 2 seedlings in here after all, after several months waiting. My own first Gasteraloe!
from Gasteria rawlinsonii seed pods resulting from a cross with Aloe 'Sunrise' pollen. from Gasteria marmorata Variegated (white) Seed pods crossed with Gasteria rawlinsonii pollen from Gasteria bicolor liliputana seed pods crossed with Gasteria rawlinsonii pollen Of interest to me is that Gasteria rawlinsonii is an unusual growing Gasteria which is stem forming and distichous. Will be fun to see how much influence this plant has on the 2 Gasteria seed parents. Also, whether the variegated marmorata will result in any variegation in the seedlings. And, particularly interesting, will be to see how this unusual Gasteria's own seedlings develop crossed with one of the more lovely Aloe hybrids out there (Sunrise).
Here are the actual parent plants involved
I had almost given up on this one, but today noticed that there are at least 2 seedlings in here after all, after several months waiting. My own first Gasteraloe!
from Gasteria rawlinsonii seed pods resulting from a cross with Aloe 'Sunrise' pollen. from Gasteria marmorata Variegated (white) Seed pods crossed with Gasteria rawlinsonii pollen from Gasteria bicolor liliputana seed pods crossed with Gasteria rawlinsonii pollen Of interest to me is that Gasteria rawlinsonii is an unusual growing Gasteria which is stem forming and distichous. Will be fun to see how much influence this plant has on the 2 Gasteria seed parents. Also, whether the variegated marmorata will result in any variegation in the seedlings. And, particularly interesting, will be to see how this unusual Gasteria's own seedlings develop crossed with one of the more lovely Aloe hybrids out there (Sunrise).
Here are the actual parent plants involved
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Re: Gasteria hybrid seedlings
Gasterias & Gasteria hybrids, miniature Aloe hybrids, Gasteraloes, and related plants and their hybrids are truly wonderful plants to collect. The resultant progeny from cross-pollinating these plants are always most interesting, and nearly endless in their variety! Some, as they mature, turn out leggy and rather ugly, or can be "touchy" to grow, but there are almost always some compact, cinch-to-grow little gems in the batch. Most of the best looking ones are quite small and "controllable", so make great plants for collectors who are space-challenged, or who might choose to limit their collecting voracity. (Good luck with that! )
Tom, I am glad to see you going down this path; I look forward to swapping with you for some of your newly-named little gems when you start propagating and get perhaps "a few too many of them" someday not-to-far in the future!
The Monger
Tom, I am glad to see you going down this path; I look forward to swapping with you for some of your newly-named little gems when you start propagating and get perhaps "a few too many of them" someday not-to-far in the future!
The Monger
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Re: Gasteria hybrid seedlings
Thank you very much, and I say sincerely I appreciate your words of encouragement. I have utmost respect for you and your work, and it is really nice to receive some positive feedback from someone of your experience and knowledge.
Hopefully, once some various seedlings and future seedlings have shown their stuff, whatever that may be, and you find any interesting enough as trading material, it would be a pleasure.
Hopefully, once some various seedlings and future seedlings have shown their stuff, whatever that may be, and you find any interesting enough as trading material, it would be a pleasure.
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Re: Gasteria hybrid seedlings
progress
G. marmorata Variegated S X G. rawlinsonii P G. liliputana S X G. rawlinsonii P - oddly, wound up with an orphan A. polyphylla seedling in there (re-used a container with no germination, but I guess one came late after all) G. rawlinsonii S X Aloe 'Marmalade' P
Above, I have Aloe 'Sunrise' shown previously as the pollen donor of the last seedlings- that's mistaken. It was Aloe 'Marmalade', and this was the plant. Not sure if it makes much difference as Sunrise and Marmalade are similar enough, and the Gasteria rawlinsonii influence seems to be quite dominating.
G. marmorata Variegated S X G. rawlinsonii P G. liliputana S X G. rawlinsonii P - oddly, wound up with an orphan A. polyphylla seedling in there (re-used a container with no germination, but I guess one came late after all) G. rawlinsonii S X Aloe 'Marmalade' P
Above, I have Aloe 'Sunrise' shown previously as the pollen donor of the last seedlings- that's mistaken. It was Aloe 'Marmalade', and this was the plant. Not sure if it makes much difference as Sunrise and Marmalade are similar enough, and the Gasteria rawlinsonii influence seems to be quite dominating.
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Re: Gasteria hybrid seedlings
This one coming along...
this Hawaorthia truncata - a seemingly unusually tall plant... has two developing seed pods resulting from pollen from this Gasteria 'Platinum'
already contemplating crossing it with these, and these two to each other (if that will work)
A better look at this cultivar without the red light
And a potential curiosity... this Hawaorthia truncata - a seemingly unusually tall plant... has two developing seed pods resulting from pollen from this Gasteria 'Platinum'
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Re: Gasteria hybrid seedlings
Now crossing these 3 plants together. 'Snow White' to the other, and rawlinsonii and the one 'Snow White' to each other.
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Re: Gasteria hybrid seedlings
and the progress of G. rawlinsonii hybrid seedlings
G. marmorata seeds with G. rawlinsonii pollen G. bicolor v Liliputana seeds with G. rawlinsonii pollen G. rawlinsonii seeds with Aloe 'Marmalade' pollen It would appear that G. rawlinsonii is a heavy influence on the outcome, whether by seed or by pollen - due to the fact that although marmorata and liliputana and the aloe are all quite different - by and large, the seedlings look very similar. The marmorata seedlings have wider leaves with more round tips, the liliputana seedlings have narrower leaves, and the aloe seedlings have pointier tips. All of them at this point feature the distichous form of rawlinsonii, with new leaves stacking up on the stem. That could change, but I don't believe it will.
Most interesting will be the look of them in a year or two, with more leaves, and taller plants.
G. marmorata seeds with G. rawlinsonii pollen G. bicolor v Liliputana seeds with G. rawlinsonii pollen G. rawlinsonii seeds with Aloe 'Marmalade' pollen It would appear that G. rawlinsonii is a heavy influence on the outcome, whether by seed or by pollen - due to the fact that although marmorata and liliputana and the aloe are all quite different - by and large, the seedlings look very similar. The marmorata seedlings have wider leaves with more round tips, the liliputana seedlings have narrower leaves, and the aloe seedlings have pointier tips. All of them at this point feature the distichous form of rawlinsonii, with new leaves stacking up on the stem. That could change, but I don't believe it will.
Most interesting will be the look of them in a year or two, with more leaves, and taller plants.
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- Spination
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Re: Gasteria hybrid seedlings
Already sowed the G. carinata sp Varrucosa 'Snow White' S x G. rawlinsonii P seeds yesterday, but like last time, the seed pods on G. rawlinsonii from the opposite cross are slow to develop. So far, so good...
Very interesting to me is all the seedlings I have involving rawlinsonii from the last time it bloomed all seem to be strongly influenced by rawlinsonii (as though it's genes are quite dominant). What I would love is to get some of that outstanding texture/spotting of 'Snow White' to make a notable contribution with this cross. We shall see...- Spination
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Re: Gasteria hybrid seedlings
Only 2 weeks, and already the hybrid seeds sown of Gasteria carinata var. verrucosa 'Snow White' S (S = seed) x Gasteria rawlinsonii P have popped. The opposite cross pods on rawlinsonii itself - I'm still waiting for them to open up.
Finding from previous crosses just how dominant the rawlinsonii influence is, I'm hoping that the 'Snow White' spots come through on the seedlings. That would be cool...
Finding from previous crosses just how dominant the rawlinsonii influence is, I'm hoping that the 'Snow White' spots come through on the seedlings. That would be cool...
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Re: Gasteria hybrid seedlings
Updates
These are the seedlings above - Gasteria carinata ssp Varrucosa 'Snow White' S X Gasteria rawlinsonii P - showing some markings early on. Looks promising! And older ones getting bigger
Gasteria marmorata Variegated S X Gasteria rawlinsonii P Gasteria bicolor Liliputana S X Gasteria rawlinsonii P Gasteria rawlinsonii S X Aloe 'Marmalade' P With small variations among them, a strong showing of G. rawlinsonii characteristics to date, even the G. rawlinsonii seed parent seedlings pollinated by Aloe 'Marmalade'
These are the seedlings above - Gasteria carinata ssp Varrucosa 'Snow White' S X Gasteria rawlinsonii P - showing some markings early on. Looks promising! And older ones getting bigger
Gasteria marmorata Variegated S X Gasteria rawlinsonii P Gasteria bicolor Liliputana S X Gasteria rawlinsonii P Gasteria rawlinsonii S X Aloe 'Marmalade' P With small variations among them, a strong showing of G. rawlinsonii characteristics to date, even the G. rawlinsonii seed parent seedlings pollinated by Aloe 'Marmalade'