Seed exchange question

[boops]

Kind of wondering what the point of the seed exchange is when the plants don't come true to its parent?

[ViolaAnn]

It's true that they won't come true to the parent, but they may have some of the characteristics of the parent such as being blue or yellow or having red petioles or frilly leaves. While 99% will end up being plain Jane greenies, sometimes you get nice surprises.

[boops]

Oh-thank you. I was wondering the purpose of it. Understood!

[Carol O]

I love growing seeds just for the differences they bring. And some are quite like their pod parent, sometimes a little better, sometimes not as good. And sometimes, way different. Here's a group of "S. Elegans" seedlings. One very yellow and one with very floppy, rumpled leaves. The others just green.

[boops]

I can't wait to see what I get with my seeds-did you start then indoors Carol?

[Carol O]

Yes, these are the first I ever grew and I put some S. Elegans seeds on potting soil in the top half of an egg carton, inside a bread bag, on my laundry room window. 1000's of seedlings came up. Half were lost to damping off before I got them spread out in more containers. It was a great experiment and experience. Now I grow them in a closet under the stairs, on shelves with 4' florescent lights.

[boops]

I'll be sure not to keep them too wet. Thanks for the info.