I purchased some seeds from seedsprout last fall and am now planting them. I soaked them in warm water/peroxide mix over night. But this "peeling" the corky stuff - is quite frightening...I'm concerned I'm going to hurt the actual seed. Finally gave up and put them in the dirt. Have another batch soaking...any helpful hints/suggestions or are they fine to soak and plant "as is?" Thanks again for your patience w/question you've probably been hit with a million times. ^_^
Seeds: Soaking and Peeling tutorial
Chantell,
Whether to peel or not is a matter of personal preference. I like to peel the seed. That way I'll know exactly how many seeds I have sown, but I prefer to peel the cork off before I soak the seed. I've tried peeling the cork off after soaking the seed and had nothing but disaster. I damaged a lot of the seeds.
Sometimes the corky cover doesn't come off trapping the cotyledons. I decapitated a number of seedlings before discovering raising the humidity takes care of that problem.
Thank you Betty - I'll try that this evening with the next batch. Hopefully the first 2 will do ok between the baggie over the pot and the trays of water I keep in that area for the orchids.
A week ago, I started 4 community pots in baggies. To stave off damp-off, I sterilized everything before putting the bagged pots in the greenhouse. I wish I could get my seed started indoors under lights so I'd have better temperature control, but I don't have any room. I used coir as the starting medium. We had two very warm days. Toward the end of the second day, although the inside of the bags were covered with drops of water, the coir looked too light colored to be wet. When I opened a bag, I could feel very warm air hit my face and I could see that the coir was almost dry. I had to remove all the bags or risk baking the seeds. The humidity is pretty high in the greenhouse so misting the pots once a day should keep the coir moist. The second batch of B. arborea from The Banana Tree Nursery are starting to germinate already.
How exciting for you!!! Wish I had a greenhouse...some day...till then I make the most of those big ole south facing windows!! ^_^
I do not peal, or soak, I only pinch a small piece off the edge to make sure there is a seed in there (saves a lot of watching on an empty casing) by exposing a tiny corner it helps give the seed a start, I have pretty good luck this way.
Doris
I remember doing that w/MG seeds using infant nail clippers - thank you.
I don't have time to soak and peel seeds, etc. etc. etc.
I sow them as they are in conditions that are right for them, and I always have germination rate for viable seeds. To me, excessively messing with the seed can do more harm than good.
So, Chantell, what did you do with the brug seeds I sent you as a gift?
Alice
They're in cow pots as we type - gonna put them IN the ground come mid spring...thank you again SOOOO much!!! How are the succulents I sent you doing?
This message was edited Feb 15, 2009 6:52 PM
The green ones didn't make it, but the variegated did well and are very nice.
Can you tell me what it is called?
I hope the seedlings do well and you will post pictures as they bloom.
Thanks.
Alice
Oh Alice...if you can remember what the green ones were I might be able to send more. The variegated ones are called Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi 'Variegata' http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/165484/ And yes, I will absolutely share pics...going to keep some for my yard and I'm making up large planters for my mom for mother's day.
Chantell, I am happy for the variegated ones. Nothing else is needed.
I appreciate the name and will tag it today. Thanks :-)
Best wishes for good seedlings.
Looking forward to your pics :-)
Ok...but if you change your mind...you know where to find me...LOL. Cant' wait to see what the gift seeds will be when they grow up!!!
Well.. I guess I use a combination of styles.. mentioned...
I start by taking the seeds and just nip away an edge... till it gets down to where I can see a seed.. then I saok them for a day or two.. the nip gets the moisture.. right down to the seed right away.. the soak gets the water to be all around the seed.. and more than making the seed real husk real soft.. it softens the inner layer around the seed... then after the soak.. in which I usually use a delete sea weed soak..[ Maxi Crop ] with this time a bit of epin.. a russian compound.. when the seeds come out of the soak.. the softened inner layer is more easily pealed off.... taking the outer layer with it.. away from the seed.. then into a pot with it.. or into a community baggie on paper towels.. if they don't sprout right away.. in say a month or two.. I pull them out of the pots and place them into a large saucer..segmented by type.. and put it in some out of the way place in the garden.. I've had them sprout 3-4 months later there.. unlikely.. but for the odd one that has taken so long.. well worth being able to have it..
This message was edited Feb 17, 2009 7:17 AM
Oh .. you can't edit to include a picture...
if you at all damage the seed in doing this... it will be evident in the first leaves.. as in the larger seedling in the center of this picture.. one of Kells true aborea seeds.. it has a wavy lightly deformed leaf on one side.. this is from a bit of very light damage to the seed. and the part of the plant which would have been underneath..
This message was edited Feb 17, 2009 7:37 AM
I have tried all the ways mentioned, and the only times I have gotten seedlings was the soak, peel a piece and plant in medium and in the curio where I incubate things.. All these other seeds I have planted out of the incubator curio are still just sitting there.. bleah!
Hmmm....think I'm gonna end up with a fear of seeds complex....
Weeellllll....I'll hope for the best...should've nicked the sides with the infant nail clippers prior to soaking like I've done with other seeds - ahhh, hindsight....oh well.
Thank ALL of you for helping with this!!!
Good..Debra... if they don't sprout.. just have them sit about .. give them a real long time... and often they will reward you.. with a late emerging sprout or two...
Chantel/// aclipper is nice... but breaking the covering off will oftem pop a bit off and stop naturally at the seed...as it breaks away.. the weaker covering... the nippers don't give this a chance... but cuts right down and through where ever it is placed.. ..actually causeing more damage than you might breaking it ... just enter from an edge slowly if you're nipping... a little then a little more.. you just never know where the actual seed part will start... that's why I like the non cutting part of it.. breaking a bit away till you get to the seed..for the first round..soak then easily peal it away
Wishing you great seedlings no matter the seeds ands the methods.
Seeing great new brugmansias always makes my day :-)))
Good Growing!
Good point...gonna have to remember all these for next time