A. Incarnata w/ baggie method in fridge?

Can I do the baggie method w/ these in the fridge or do I need to put them in a seed starting mix?

You sure can. I have done 99% of my perennial seeds using a modified Deno method. A. incarnata require stratification (cold treatment) to sprout.

Wet a kitchen paper towel, then squeeze out excess. Fold until you have a square. Place your seeds inside the square towards one corner and fold over. Place in ziplock baggies and seal the runners, leaving 1/2" on one end open. Blow air into the bag then quickly close it. If the runners are lined up correctly, the air will remain in the bag. It prevents the plastic from laying on the seed package. Stick in the fridge for 2 weeks.

After 2 weeks, place the package in room temp. Check in 3 days, and every day thereafter. Once you see a white tiny root emerging from teh end of the seed, it has germinated. Make a hole with a pencil in the seed mix. With a tweezer hold the seed by the seed cover and gently guide the root into it. Place the seed to the depth it is suppose to be, and cover. When enough roots have formed, the leaves will reach the surface and continue to grow.

Once they have surfaced, they will need light I have a 12 plants growing with this method. Better than sowing in seed mix.

I use this method with most seeds. With tiny seeds, you can substitute paper napking with moist peatmosss in the baggie. Just blend in the seed with the peat lightly, Once sprouting, just spread the peat/seed mix over the seeding mix in the container. If the seeds need stratification, place baggie in the fridge. IF not, place in room temp.

Instead of a baggie I used a clear plastic container with a lid. The kind you get from Albertson when you purchase salad. I left the lid on until I saw sprouts.

Here are Aquilegia (Columbines)seeds sprouting in paper towel just prior to transferring to seed mix. These seed required stratification.

great! Thank You! this was a big help. I didn't get these seeds in time to sow in the fall ( and I'm not really sure how "Winter Sowing' would work in Florida anyway. Hopefully I can get them to sprout now!!

Glad to help. WS is to sow in jugs or other containers that are placed outside during winter for stratification, then sprouts when weather gets warm. No, it would be too late for Florida. Aside from that, I wouldn't want to have a bunch of containers standing in my yard, not to mention going out in the cold to check on them. I'll take the paper towels and the fridge anytime. I have done all my seeds that way this year. Believe it or not, some of the seeds were from 2004 and sprouted great.

Keep in mind that some seeds that have a hard coating require nicking and soaking overnight in hot hand water before placing in a paper towel. Otherwise moisture can't penetrate the seeds. The soaking washes away a chemical that some seeds have that Nature included so that the seed wouldn't sprout when the growing needs for that variety isn't met.

CAPTION: These are Hibiscus seeds sprouting after nicking and soaking. They sprouted in 2 days. They are seeds from 2005. When I tried to sow them in 2005, in soil, only one sprouted. I now have 24 Hibiscus seedling.

These are some of the seedlings that have been sown by my modified Deno method

blooma,
I posted a new question then remembered I had asked just about the same thing here...( duh)
I supposed I could do the baggy method for gloriosa lutea and clematis Radar love too then?
I'm really new to this baggy stuff and it still blows me away that the Cranesbill geranium Bill Wallis sprouted IN the refrigerator !
thanks
mj

mjsponies I too have seeds of C. Radar Love that I bought this year. It is not an easy plant to sprout. Needs stratification and 41F degrees and surface sow. Can take several month to sprout, and very irregular. I have tried it several ways with baggies in the fridge, then room temp, then out of the fridge again on to my window sill where 2 finally sprouted. One is on its second leaves, yet still tiny. You bet I am babying it.

Here is a great seed germination site.

http://tomclothier.hort.net/

Thanks blomma,
I have looked at that site. I have found too that so many people have such different experiences/methods that gain from their advice.
I know what you mean about babying that ' one" plant that sprouted. I'm doing the same with Cerinthe ( blue shrimp plant)
Thanks again
mj

mjsponies Took a photo of my "baby" today ('Radar Love'). It is growing in a 3" pot and is 4" tall. Looks like it is trying to vine.

This message was edited Apr 20, 2009 11:40 PM

oh cool!! I put mine in the fridge, ( baggy) how long should I leave them there before taking them out? I was thinking they might do the same as the Bill Wallis cranesbill geranium and sprout in the fridge....
Yours looks like it wants a "baby trellis'!
mj

mj I would guess at least a month in the fridge. Don't use all your seeds up in germinating the same way. I have sprouted all kinds of seeds, but this one was the hardest variety to do. Takes lots patience.

Good luck and post when it sprouts.

opps, too late. I only had 10 seeds and used them. I traded some away before I decided to go ahead and try them....... )-:, well lets hope they take.