They look like they are on a microscope slide?
It is so cool to see that the dust we see really does look like seeds.

Yes, @valleylynn

I used my old microscope. What I#m intending to do now ist to make photos of harvested seeds of different cultivars. Maybe the have different shape. I'm anxious to that.


@JungleShadows Of course you may use this photos for your book. If you like, I can send them to you with Mail, so you'll get fully detailed pics. Have some more, if you like... Some time ago you asked, if you can use my pictures of German hybridisers, like Haberer, Gensch, Geiger, Schara etc. I did not yet have the permit from all. Hans-Jörg Gensch said it's o.k. for him. The others I still wait for answers.

Wolfgang, would you add the seed photo and the others if you like to the general Sempervivum Parent Plant entry? Sempervivum

Will be interesting to see if there is a shape difference between cultivars.

also . Thanks Wolfgang it's very interesting !

Hey there Paddy. Were have you been, sure have missed you.

I've been up at the North Pole helping Santa with packing and sorting the semp orders
This year I'm telling family to get me semp gift cards .....ho ho ho !
Getting back on the seeds topic ,I've got mine stashed in the fridge for the winter layover !

Good place for them to be Paddy, taking a winter nap.

Hey @Paddy put in a good word for me on Santa's semp carriage :P
So I have decided that I won't lose anything by trying old seed...These seeds were cut from the stalks but nothing else was ever done to them and they have been in brown paper bags in a cupboard - so not handled correctly at all but I figured I'd try them and be surprised - honestly I don't even see any seeds on these stalks just chaf.
I'll update this post whenever there is something to say

Good luck Greg!

Let us know how it goes Greg.

Some different seeds of Sempervivum. Cultivars and species.
I've put three grains of each under my old microscope. Don't have modern technology. The microscope is from 1930. No direct connection to computer.
Anyways one can see the different sizes and shapes. (25x magnification)




'Pacific Blazing Star'

That is really amazing! Just look at the different shapes and sizes.

I can't wait to have Kevin see these. How very interesting Wolfgang.
I wish you could come to the clinic in April.

It makes sense that the seed would be different since the plants are different Great photos Wolfgang! So cool to see these!

After my mold issue in November I kind of neglected my test batch and left them outside on the balcony. Just 15 days ago I discovered that they had multiplied and some were even starting the first true leaves (I guess the mold died during winter cold or due to the cinnamon I sprinkled on...).



The one on the upper left close to the tag was the first one to have true leaves. Look how "fuzzy" it is...



Others are just starting their first set of true leaves.



and some are already showing some colour.



My other seeds sown beginning of March, after keeping them in the fridge since November last year, are just starting to germinate. This time I used less sand in the soil mix and left away the sand cover I applied the first time.



I keep them all together on our balcony in my DIY mini grow tunnel which I will later on open on the sides and use as a rain shelter for the seedlings as long as they are so small.

Oh wow that's a lot of semps. Hope you get some beauties. Keep use posted on the development of all the little guys.

Michael,

I'm thinking your plastic might have been the reason for your mold problems. I just leave the pots exposed to the elements. The only time I shelter them is after they have started to germinate.

It is probably easiest to wait until February or March and plant the seeds THEN. That way they aren't exposed to the elements as long and they germinate quite well with most dangers of freezing over, at least here in the Pacific NW. You may want to do it later if you have later frosts.

Regardless you will have such fun with your seedlings! I think everyone should dso this at least once for the experience.

Kevin