Has anyone had experience with seeds for this? About the only thing I found the net about it was to let a monkey process it, ...only I don't got no monkeys :( Was thinking to soak in h2o2 then sow in a nice hot spot outside, any better ideas?
Grewia occidentalis seed treatment?
Maybe throw in some fermented banana? LOL I'd try the H2O2, maybe nick them too if they still seem a bit hard after the soak. No experience, that would just be my default approach for things that don't come with instructions but seem like they might be hard to germinate.
I was thinking nicking as well. Nice to know I am at least taking a logical approach!
Imitate nature-put them in your mouth, roll them around a little, maybe press one between your molars to see if it is getting soft and the spit them onto some potting soil. I would cover them with manure. The saliva in your mouth will break down the seed coat.
I have used this method with other seeds, it worked really well with fuchsia seed.
Best of luck with your project. Eye candy>
lol Nope, no way am I doing that. Really, you're not kidding, you put seeds in your mouth? OK, maybe I can fake the process? Some h2o2 soaking, a pinch with the pliers, a scrub with sand paper? I like the manure idea :) Very smart!
Thanks for eye candy Dale, that Blue Dawn? Mine is just now really getting going, a ahndful of blooms.
Some African and Australian seeds need smoked to germinate.As they grow in areas with grass fires, the smoke treatment imitates it and can get things like Proteas and bottlebrushes to germinate faster and a higher germination rate. Get a bottle of liquid smoke( in the spice area of the grocery) add a small touch to some water and soak the seeds overnight. After all the liquid smoke is a smoke in a water base.just concentrated. :-)
Kyle
OK, now I'm sensing a true experiment coming on....am wondering if I have enough seeds to do several different treatments to record the results....am pretty sure we already have liquid smoke :o)
Hmmmm, the mention of australian seeds brings to mine the emu bush.....I see fruit on my 'fire and ice' but had read they are very difficult to germinate...more experiemnts! I wish my plant was larger, I may only end up with 2-3 seeds from that.
I never thought of buying the liquid smoke from the grocery store, that's a great idea! Last time I had seeds like that, I spent the $$ for the special Cape Smoke Primer but I'm sure the liquid smoke is a lot cheaper! I've never looked at it though, is it actually the chemicals from smoke, or is it just something that has a bunch of artificial stuff to create a smoky flavor?
I think I had always thought it was the heat of the fire that made those type of seeds germinate, not the smoke, but if the smoke does it. I dunno what's in that stuff, just checked, and no, we're out, it's my grocery list!
Liquid smoke is usually made from real smoke and a carrier.Use a small amount in the water to soak the seeds, won't need much. All seeds have growth inhibitors on the seeds to keep them from germinating until the correct conditions exist for the seeds to grow and mature.Natures protective systems.Some take a certain amount of rinsing(rainfall) to remove the inhibitors,others take acids (stomachs of birds or animals), others take tannins(woodland or forrest plants), its all a matter of matching the correct conditions, just simulate nature and Taa Daa! up they come.
Kyle :-)
Just an observation..from the library of congress! LOL yeah rite!
OK, on that note......any idea how I might get hesperocallis seeds to germinate besides throwing them out and waiting?
Most desert plants need several rains in sucession to break the dormancy of seeds.One watering won't usually rinse off enough growth inhibitor to germinate the seeds.Thats why many cactus don't germinate when you get a freak rain in the desert(out of season), it takes several rains to wash off the seeds. Since the desert lilies are arid plants, I would just scatter the seeds,mark the bed or area and let nature take its course.If growing them in pots then keep barely moist after an initial watering(thourogh) untill germination. Research the climate they originated from,(seasonal rains or otherwise) and try to duplicate. Not all arid climates have the same rain cycles or seasons. That help any??? :-)
Kyle
lol It affirmed that I should just pick a spot outside let nature take it's course. My understanding is it can take years to break the dormancy, then boom, they'll just up and start growing. I have a nice dry gravely area that has their name written all over it!