Pass the scalpel please Igor

jackb · Feb 14, 2014

It is a fascinating process, now the single node has turned into Octo-mom and is still going strong. At some point I will separate this into single plants and root them, or replant single pieces to produce more plants. Also, I removed an olive seed from the drupe, sterilized it and put it into culture. It germinated in six or seven days. I have had olive seeds in perlite and coir for a year and they did not germinate. The cultures need very little attention and can be changed every four to six weeks.

Smart Red · Feb 14, 2014

As for keeping us in the loop, it's been 11 days since we saw your babies. How are they doing? Have you named them yet? When do they start looking like someone in the family? PICTURES, please!

JackB, pardon my faux pas. It seems we posted just about the same time. Your babies are lovely. How exciting to see they are doing so well.

jackb · Feb 14, 2014

I am afraid it is going to be a while before they can come out of the incubator though. As a side note, we got a little more than two feet of snow last night. I have really had it with this winter. Happy Valentine's Day all.
jackb

jackb · Feb 25, 2014

When I mixed the protocol for the olive seed I added enough hormones to grow hair on a brass doorknob, thinking I would really kick start the seed. Well, it is growing like mad, but it does not look like any seedling I have ever seen. It looks more like the creature from the blue lagoon. Perhaps Monsanto would be interested in my formula. Science marches on.
jackb

thistlebloom · Feb 25, 2014

So what's next in your workshop Dr. Jack? Hairy doorknobs?

baymule · Feb 25, 2014

That looks more like a frog with serious birth defects than an olive plant. :lol:

But what do I know? :idunno

Are you really going to get an olive tree from that? :fl

jackb · Feb 25, 2014

I totally agree with your description. It has yellow spots and what looks like two yellow eyes with green eyeballs. It looks nothing like an olive plant but more like a green slug of some sort. I plan on sending the photo to the professor who has been mentoring me and asking her what she thinks. Igor, though, thinks it is beautiful.
jackb