hibiscus sabdariffa (rosella, jamaicaseeds are not germinati

Watch Reply
More
Mark unread Print Skip to new
youngman Beverly Hills, CA Aug 13, 2008

i have some hibiscus sabdariffa (rosella, jamaica, soree) seeds that more than 3,4 years old. I put the seeds in the soil in late June to July, but none of them is germinating?

no matter where i put them, temperature or shade, etc.

does anyone know why?

(if you don't know what they look like, just copy and paste the whole name and search on google.)

Post #5407431
Quote
ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) Aug 13, 2008

The age could be your problem--I don't know anything specifically about the viable lifetime of these seeds, but it could very well be that they don't stay good for that many years. Some seeds will still be viable after many, many years, but others are best sown when they're very fresh, and of course everything in between.

Otherwise, Tom Clothier's website suggests nicking & soaking and then keeping them at 75-80 degrees and they'll germinate in 15-30 days http://tomclothier.hort.net/page06.html#H Often if seeds need to be nicked and soaked, they either won't germinate at all if you don't do that step, or if they do germinate, it will take a lot longer since moisture needs to soak through the hard seed coating before germination can occur. Also if you started these outside you don't have good control over the temperature--if they're in the garden then the soil temperature should be more consistent but may not be 75-80 degrees, or if they're in a pot the temps are probably fluctuating significantly between day and night which is not ideal either.

And of course there's always the chance if you started these outdoors in the garden that the birds ate the seeds before they had a chance to sprout.

Post #5408134
Quote
youngman Beverly Hills, CA Aug 13, 2008

yea, it is possible.

i planted the same seeds two years ago, one actually grew. but something happened, so it was not able to generate any seeds. ;(

there are stores that sell this thing, i have tried to use those seeds, but nothing has came out yet.

in nature, when seeds fall to the ground, some of them actually wait till spring to germinate. i wonder maybe that is the case. maybe it is too hot for them to germinate now.

Post #5410107
Quote

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
Back to Forum Homepage

More Beginner Gardening Threads

Go to all Beginner Gardening threads
BACK TO TOP