SILENE CAPENENIS
Silene capensis is a sacred herb used by the Xhosa tribe in South Africa as an oneirogenic agent - a substance that causes lucid, vivid dreams, noticeably in color and vibrancy. The root is traditionally used to induce vivid lucid dreams during the initiation process of a shaman. Reputedly, a small amount of the root of this species is pulverised with water to produce a white froth. This froth is then sucked off and swallowed. The user's dreams for the following several nights are said to be more vivid and memorable than usual. It is regarded across the world as one of the most powerful of the dream enhancing ethnobotanical plants.
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Silene Capenis is an easy plant to grow from seed, however I am sceptical of germinating instructions be some seed sellers on whether they have actually grown this plant from seed at all?
I have read they need a heated propagator, at 20C temp, or in the greenhouse?
I have never had seeds germinate in warmth.
The best time to sow the seeds is in the spring or autumn when it is still chilly with frosts, they will quite happily do their thing in light frosts, and I have even geminated these seeds in the fridge as an experiment. I have germinated the seeds in Autumn and left them out over the winter (under cover) and they did fine. growing much quicker than a spring sowing, Tfe seeds tend to germinate at different times with an Autumn or winter sowing, those that don't germinate will normally germinate in the spring.
Sow the seeds in a seed compost, cover lightly with compost, just enough to cover the seeds, soak the container by standing the container in water, drain and put outside in the shade. They will germinate in a few weeks. IF THE SEEDLINGS PUSH THEMSELVES OUT OF THE COMPOST, YOU CAN GENTLY USING A TOOTHPICK OR SIMILAR TO MAKE A SMALL HOLE AND GENTLY TEASE THE PLANTB BACK IN TO COVER THE ROOT, OR ALTERNATEVLY SPRINKLE SOME MORE COMPOST OVER THE TOP If the compost starts to dry out, just soak the pot again by standing in water until soaked.
Top watering seedlings can wash the seedlings out of the compost.
When the seedlings are big enough to transplant, plant into multipurpose compost with some added grit to aid drainage and keep in a shady position, keeping root disturbance to a minimum Gradually acclimatise them to full sun, leaves will start to turn red in direct sunshine, but this is not a problem.
When they are growing well transplant into 3 inch pots, by filling the pots with compost and using the smaller pot to make the planting hole and repot.
Silene capensis does not like its roots disturbed, but if they are they will get over the transplant shock in a week or two.
Bottom leaves die off through the season as new leaves are formed.
Feed every 2-3 weeks with a half strength fertilizer
Finally pot into a 3 inch pot for the first year.
They should flower in the summer up to the start of winter, giving plenty of seeds
all year
After they have set seed and with the onset of winter, the flower stalks can be cut back.
Although these plants are hardy, reportedly down to about -10C, the cold and wet of winter can cause the roots to rot and the plant will die, so best to keep under shelter or better still in a greenhouse and water sparingly over the winter
I HAVE BEEN GROWING THIS PLANT FOR ABOUT 12 YEARS, AND THIS IS THE FIRST WINTER I HAVE HAD PLANTS DIE OFF IN THE COLD, i WAS AWAY FOR A MONTH SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT TEMPERTURE WAS REACHED, BUT WHEN I RETURNED THE TEMP. WAS -5C WHICH SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM, SO I'M GUESSING THE TEMPERTURE MUST HAVE BEEN DOWN CONSIDERABLY, IF EXTREME COLD TEMPERTURES ARE EXPECTED, COVER THE PLANTS OR BRING THEM INSIDE UNTIL THE COLD SNAP HAS PASSED.
FURTHER INVESTIGATION, AS I WAS GOING AWAY FOR A MONTH I GAVE THEM A GOOD WATERING BEFORE I LEFT, SO THAT WAS THE PROBLEM, THEY ROTTED, AS CAN HAPPEN IF TO WET WHEN THE TEMPERTURE DROPS
The following spring they can be re-potted into the next size pot but will grow quite happily in a 5 inch pot.
The roots can be harvested in late summer/Autumn of the second year from sowing.
Night flowering and scented, the flower opens at dusk and closes at dawn.
Links to further information
https://kumbulanursery.co.za/plants/silene-capensis-silene-undulata
https://www.world-of-lucid-dreaming.com/silene-capensis.html
https://www.thebotanicalsource.com/silene-capensis-undlela-ziimhlophe-african-dreaming-p-814.html
Pictured below, front seedling are from A November sowing, rear left are from a january sowing and the one on the right from a Febuary sowing, they was outside all winter, under cover from the rain.
