Victoria Cultivation - 1

Let us say at the outset that the recommendations here are our opinions as of now. As we learn more about Victoria, some ideas will change and we will make regular updates to these guidelines. Victoria is not an easy plant to grow. It requires special treatment throughout its life but the result is worth the effort.

Victoria is generally regarded as an annual in most climates. It grows only from seed (no tubers or rhizomes perpetuate it season to season). Because the seeds don't keep well, the seeds must be remade every year and the plants must be regrown from those seeds every year except in exceptional circumstances. Yes, it grows from those pea-sized seeds to huge blooming plants in a matter of months.

Storing Seeds

Victoria seeds must be stored in water or they will not survive. Drying out for even a few minutes will kill the embryos. They can be stored in jars or ziplock bags (that don't leak!) in whatever water is available. We use our lightly chlorinated city water but others use pond or well water.

Seeds can be stored at room temperature (for us 76F or 24C) unless they begin to sprout when you don't want them to. Storing the following at cooler temperatures can greatly reduce viability -- amazonica, 'Adventure', 'Challenger' and 'Columbia'. Fresh 'Longwood Hybrid', 'Atlantis', 'Discovery' and cruziana often require storage at 60F (16C) to prevent sprouting.

DO NOT store any Victoria seeds colder than 55F (13C) as it will kill them. Euryale ferox seeds can be stored in the refrigerator door at 45F (7C) without damage.

As a humorous side note, the cruziana seedlings at the right sprouted in our 60F (16C) storage refrigerator in the dark. This IS the exception and not the norm.

Starting Seeds

For starting seeds, we set up a small aquarium with submersible heater half full of city water maintained at 85F (29C) minimum. We also use an airstone, primarily to help keep the water circulated and the temperature even. The seeds are placed in Glad snack bags. We do not perforate the bags so the occasional bad seed doesn't foul all the water. Water temperature as high as 92F (33C) may benefit amazonica and others.

Details of Starting Seeds and Partial 2003 Germination Records

"Nicking"

Very few 'Adventure', amazonica, 'Challenger' or 'Columbia' sprout on their own even at 85F so we "nick" them, removing the operculum carefully with a scalpel. This is very different than scarifying the seeds in random places since the embryo is directly beneath the operculum. Nicking the seed coating in places other than at the operculum will damage the seeds.

Nicking Step by Step

By nicking, our germination rates improve dramatically and usually in 3 to 12 days. After about three weeks, we inspect unsprouted seeds and renick them, which stimulates another flurry of sprouts.

Sprout Day 1	Sprout Day 3	Sprouts Days 1-5

Though we can accomodate seedlings year round, nicking allows us and others to predict sprouting more accurately counting backwards from setting out dates. We nick all seeds that are on a "timetable".