Tonight I went to the monthly meeting for the Eugene Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society (ARS). The speaker was our own Jack Olson. He's been hybridizing rhodies for several years and tonight he talked about his methods and provided us with seeds and planting medium to start our own baby rhodies.
Hybridizing
To be honest, I don't think I have the time to pick up this hobby, but I may give it a go next spring just to see what happens. If anything, it may be an interesting experiment for boy #1.
Big Picture when choosing parents:
1. What is your goal? Plant size, foliage, truss, fragrance, hardiness, flower types and color, etc.
2. Use good parents. Some of Jack's favorites are: Award, Marinus Koster, Nancy Evans, Clementine Lemaire, Countess of Anthlone, Countess of Derby, Cotton Candy, Cranberry Swirl, Genghis Khan, Grace Seabrook, Gwen Bell, Jim Drewry, Lems Stormcloud, Lems Tangerine, Lems Cameo, Point Defiance, Margaret Mack, Marley Hedges, One Thousand Butterflies, Sunspray, Pink Petticoats, Viennese Waltz, Naselle. Unfortunately I don't have any of these.
How to Hybridize:
1. Choose parents. Collect pollen from one parent (gather anthers). Its best to do this on a warm day.
2. Remove petals from mom plant before flower opens.
3. Wipe anther over pistol and ovaries. Cover with small piece of aluminum foil. Label branch. Wait.
4. Pick seedpod in October.
5. Put seedpod in paper envelope and label.
6. Put envelope in warm, dry spot until pods open or ripen.
7. Plant seeds Nov-Dec.
Starting Rhododendrons from Seed
1. Gather moss. Shred moss. Microwave 1 minute. When ready to plant wet thoroughly.
2. Put moss in clear plastic container. Sprinkle with seeds. Label container.
3. Place under constant (24hr) grow light.
4. Every two days open container to freshen air and spray with water.
5. Seeds should germinate in about 2 weeks. Spray for fungus if needed.
6. When plants are 1-2 inches tall, pull out and plant in flats about 1" apart. Fill flats with bark mulch and perlite. About 50 plants can fill a flat.
7. Keep under lights (24hr/day) until seedlings are a few inches taller.
8. Transplant seedlings to nursery beds, spaced about a foot apart.
I came home with two little trays of seeds both are open pollinated hybrids. They are Cream Glory x Opened and Forever Yours x Opened. I also grabbed an extra container of moss to try something out of the yard with boy #1.
