Propagation: Gomphrena seeds, 0 by birder17

birder17 wrote:
Hi Rick and Blomma,
I am glad you responded to this thread and appreciate your comments. It's definitely how we learn and share information, knowledge and experience.

Regarding Joanna S. picture: could you direct me to this thread? I have tried to read as much as I can about this cute but very tolerant little plant. I have read Tom C's information as well. In another place on his website, he says he refrigerates all of his seed "Except" Gomphrena, but he doesn't explain why.

Tom C., per the above thread, directs us to just barely cover and needs light to germinate.
This seed is tightly enclosed in a "pod" that looks similar to wheat seed chaff. The seed is at the end of this oval pod that was located next to the stem. SO, does the chaff keep it from getting enough Light? enough Moisture?

Rob's Plants says he got the seed to germinate using the baggy method with mixed results per attempt.

Blomma, thanks for your advice to pick the seed head off "After" the stem is brown. I hadn't thought of that. I just recognized the seed head turning tan and then, time to collect it. I love the way you think and explain things from the plants point of view. It seems so obvious when you explain it that way!

Here's a couple of pictures of the Gomphrena h. seed that I have collected in the past:
I hope these are clear enough. If not, I will try again.

The first picture simply shows the seed. See if you can see at the Left end the little brown seed.

The Second picture shows the seed and a failed attempt to pull the chaff away.

When I bought the seed, it did not have the chaff on it, when I try to eliminate the chaff, it would not come away from the seed. The chaff makes me wonder if that is what is keeping me from getting this seed to germinate.