North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["tanis cuff" <tanistanis@hotmail.com>]

What is the brand name of the common commercial stuff-- MetroMix?  I think 
this is what I got.  The bag I got was mostly fine peatmoss & composted 
bark, w/ a little vermiculite.  I sifted it thru 1/4" screen for use w/ 
Amelanchier & Ribes.  Ribes are fairly delicate seedlings, doing well, and 
very tiny fine weeds seem to grow OK in it!  My problem has been the various 
attritions of critters, hail, heavy rain, wind, etc as the season 
progresses.  Another thought is to go see what soil the parent trees are in, 
and try to find a potting mix similar to that.

You have sprouted these seeds on paper towel or other artificial situation?  
The main problem will be transfering them to the potting mix without 
damaging them.  I'd bet this will be more important than which potting mix 
you use.


----Original Message Follows----
From: Charles Paradise <>
To: North American Fruit Explorers <>
Subject: [NAFEX] Delicate seedling planting medium
Date: Mon, 15 May 2006 17:12:58 -0400

I had never got any seed to grow from two Alders I was attempting to get an
interspecies cross from - I believe the species were Alnus Obligifolia and
Alnus Manshurica [pardon any spelling mistakes] - and I cut both trees down
this spring - but I gathered seed in fall - kept at room temperature -
planted in spagnum moss this spring - and to my surprise now have one
germinated. I had numerous times before cold-wet stratified seed with never
germination. This is an extremely small + delicate seedling and wish to ask
opinions as to best medium to plant into for best chance survival.  My
thoughts are:  1] more long-strand moss 2] peat moss 3] Miracle-Grow potting
ng mix 4] _________you suggest.