Date: Thu, 26 Oct 2000 09:56:07 -0400 From: "Tom Massey" <massey@fmhi.usf.edu> To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg3116$foo@default> Subject: RE: Cold treating Sarracenia seed
FWIW- I have always stratified seed. And yes this can be annoying - at
least to family members who loose space in the frig for things like milk,
beer, etc for the sake of more CP's! I believe there was a conversation
awhile back about the need to stratify at around 40 degrees F (and not
colder). Anyway, I have more Sarr seed than I can stand, so I will split
some of my different seed sets in half and try the freezer method along with
standard stratifying. This has probably already been done, but since I
don't remember the results I'll pretend this is a new idea.
As for fresh seed germinating without stratifying, For my set of
circumstances, I think the opposite tends to be true. I have most of my
Sarrs. outside, and all kinds of seed spills around my plants. Typically, I
have one or two seedlings sprout within several weeks~month of being
dropped. However, the vast majority of this seed sprouts the following
spring. In fact, that's usually how I discover that I dropped it. Of
course, here in Florida my situation is different. This far south we don't
have much winter, our minimum temps are about Canberra's max, so that may be
part of the explanantion.
And, just in case somebody is wondering, yes the very mild winters here seem
to be sufficient for dormancy of all the Sarrs. We seldom have a high in
the Winter less than about 65~ F and even less often a true freeze. We might
typically have a week or ten days with nightime lows below 50F. (Just to
prove me wrong this year we will probably have snow!)
Tom in Fl.
-
My experience has been:
1. Stratification for 6 weeks in the fridge is a waste of time and
space compared to 36 hours in the freezer. Put the seed in paper
packets, immerse in a container of water and freeze, defrost, allow
packet to dry out for easy separation of the seed and sow.
Germination is excellent, fuss is minimal. Works the same for
Darlingtonia. Obtained similar results soaking the seed overnight in
10% solution of gibberelic acid instead of stratifying/freezing.
2. fresh seed germinates well without stratification (a few stragglers
appear the following spring). The context is an unheated glasshouse that
does not freeze - external temps of minimum c. -6 degrees C, max day
temps 10-15 during winter. The seedlings are well ahead of waiting for
germination the following spring.
Ross
Canberra, Australia
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