By Michael McGroarty

Most Japanese Maple seeds ripen in the fall. Watch the tree and wait for the seeds to turn brown. The seeds are ready to be harvested when they are brown and can be easily removed from the tree.

The seeds are attached to a wing, it’s best to break the wing off before storing or planting the seeds. Japanese Maple seeds have a very hard outer coating as do many ornamental plants. Under natural conditions the seeds would have to be on the ground for almost two years before they would germinate. All that happens the first winter is the moisture softens the hard outer shell, and the second winter germination is beginning to take place.

In order for all of this to happen in the proper sequence so the seedlings actually sprout at a time of the year when freezing temperatures or hot summer sun doesn’t kill them, takes a tremendous amount of luck.

You can improve the odds by controlling some of these conditions, and shorten the cycle. Once you have picked the seeds and removed the wing just place them in a paper bag and store them in a cool dry place until you are ready for them. You don’t want to plant your seeds out in the spring until the danger of frost has past. Here in the north May 15th is a safe bet.

If May 15th is your target date you should count backwards on the calendar 100 days. That will take you to about February 5th if my math is correct. On or about the 100th day prior to your target planting date, take the seeds and place them in a Styrofoam cup or other container that will withstand some hot water. Draw warm to hot water from your kitchen faucet and pour it over the seeds. Most of the seeds will float, just leave them in the water overnight as the water cools down. 24 hours later most of the seeds will have settled to the bottom of the cup.

Drain off the water. Place the seeds in a plastic bag with a mixture of sand and peat or other suitable growing mix. Even light potting soil will work. The peat or soil should be moist, but not soaking wet. Poke some holes in the bag so there is some air circulation, and place the bag in your refrigerator for a period of 100 days.

After 100 days you can plant the seeds outside. If you have timed it correctly, you should be at or close to your target planting date.

To plant the seeds just sow them on top of a bed of well drained topsoil or sterilized potting soil, and cover with approximately 3/8′ of soil. Water them thoroughly, but allow the soil to dry out completely before watering thoroughly again. If you water them frequently, not only do you stand a chance of the seeds rotting from being too wet, but you will also keep them cool, which will slow down the germination process.

Once they start to germinate provide about 50% shade to keep the sun from burning them. Snow fence suspended about 30′ above the bed will provide about 50% shade. Japanese Maples will tolerate some shade so it isn’t too important to transplant them too quickly. Depending on how close together they are, you might be able to leave them in the same bed for one or two growing seasons. Don’t transplant until they are completely dormant.

About the Author: Michael J. McGroarty is the author of this article. Visit his most interesting website, freeplants.com and sign up for his excellent gardening newsletter.

Source: isnare.com

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Maurice Lacroix Watches

by

Brian Johnston

Maurice Lacroix is a kind of extravagance watches that are hand crafted and Swiss constructed. Watches made with Maurice Lacroix labels have a high level of prestige and exclusivity that make the brand stand out from its competitors on both a national and international mechanical watch market.

Formally starting in small workshops in Switzerland in 1975, the Maurice Lacroix make has now stretched out to comprise sales in over 45 countries. Though the company prides itself on using time-tested, Swiss watchmaking techniques, modern technologies and updated tactics of testing are regularly being applied to the production of watches. The Swiss made watches used to be only sold at certain retail locations and cannot be bought online, but this has now changed. This rareness adds to the allure of the luxury watches, as their feature is too high for the majority of watch stores. The exactness and detail that is put into each timepiece shows the level of knowledge and excitement that a Maurice Lacroix watchmaker brings about . Each mechanical watch is built in the company’s independent manufacturing workshops, a rare feature of expensive watches today. Over the years, the company has infrequently shifted its local of focus from, for example, perfecting the construction of a mechanical watch movement to mastering careful retrograde timepiece displays. There are seven collections of Swiss made watches from Maurice Lacroix: Calypso, Divina, Les Classiques, Masterpiece, Miros, Pontos and Selena. Various| of the timepiece collections are specifically designed for women, while others focus on an ground-breaking design introduced by the brand. Nonetheless of the watchmaker’s design for each mixed bag, the intricate details of each timepiece are evident to the naked eye. The fine craftsmanship of each mechanical watch is one of the essential points of differentiation for Maurice Lacroix. The make customarily seeks out ambassadors who sensibly relate to the luxury watches and can characterize the collections with respect. The list of trusted, well-informed ambassadors consist of tennis star Roger Federer, celebrity chef Nick Stellino, and professional golfer Justin Rose. The celebrity ambassadors all have a personal link to the brand, whether it is through a Swiss heritage or a passion for collecting watches. The ambassadors can proudly portray the art of watchmaking that is showed by Maurice Lacroix and uphold the luxury watches with pride. The Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece watch assortment echoes upon the customs and skills that have built Switzerland a mecca for horological craftsmanship. This model mixture of timepieces hosts a number of Maurice Lacroix classic complications, among them the power reserve indicator, the regulator hour, and the grand date display.

To learn more about the

Maurice Lacroix Watch

visit the website dedicated to providing full information on all Maurice Lacroix Watches including Masterpieces and Pontos.

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Maurice Lacroix Watches