Propagation: the key to cleome...., 0 by mebcdb

mebcdb wrote:
I love it! OhFiddle mentions reading about germinating cleome on what was probably my website (which is now gone). Here is how I do it:

I have learned, through trial and error, that Cleome seeds need a specific kind of cold treatment AND light to germinate. I can achieve near 100% germination rate in 6 days by doing the following:

1 - Moisten seed-starting mix and press it into a flat (container).

2 - With a butter knife, press shallow "trenches" into the mix.

3 - press the seeds into the trenches to make good seed-to-soil contact, but don't cover them, as they need exposure to light.

4 - Put the container into a plastic Zip-Loc bag.

5 - Every 12 hours alternate between refrigerator and plant lights. For example, at 6 pm put the flat into your refrigerator. At 6 am, take it out of the refrigerator and put it under plant lights. Do this for 5 days, and by day 6, most of the seeds will have germinated. So that I don't forget, I use my computer's alarm clock to remind me every 12 hours!

6 - When the seeds have germinated, remove the flat from the plastic bag.

Of course, if you already have Cleome growing in your garden, the easiest method is to just let Nature do it for you!

This message was edited Mar 15, 2014 6:26 PM