Dormancy

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• To: "'hosta-open@mallorn.com'" <hosta-open@mallorn.com>
• Subject: Dormancy
• From: "* N* A* <n*@missi.ncsc.mil>
• Date: Wed, 3 Feb 1999 08:13:33 -0500

Jim,

I had two seedlings that appeared to go dormant last spring. After putting out about 4 leaves they stopped growing. After about a month of no new growth I put them in the refridgerator for 4 weeks. When I pulled them out, they resumed growing normally for the rest of the season.

I have tried a similar trick this year with seeds that didn't germinate after 6 weeks. The seeds appeared viable, plump and hard. I put them in the refridgerator for 2 weeks. I then took them out and put them in a warm, moist environment where I germinate all my seeds. Nearly all of them had sprouted within a week. I'm not sure if dormancy of seeds is at play as I know hosta seeds do not require a cold period before germinating.

Observations:

None of the seeds had been stored in the refridgerator or freezer prior to planting. They went from pod to soil.

The seeds that didn't sprout were from the same pod as others that sprouted normally.

Some of the seeds that germinated after the cooling period were from fragrant pod parents: H. 'Iron Gate Supreme' and H. 'Invincible'.

I guess the lesson is not to be too hasty to give up on seeds, especially if they are ones that you really want to grow. Give them a chance to "chill out".

Thanks!

Norm Lesch
Manchester, MD

----------
From:   Jim Hawes[SMTP:hawesj@gcnet.net]
Sent:   Wednesday, February 03, 1999 6:11 AM
To:     Meum71@aol.com
Cc:     hosta-open@mallorn.com
Subject:        Re: Hormones

>
> Paul,
>
>
> Your comments about small tc plantlets that "just sit there" without
> growing and your feeling that some kind of cellular rest is responsible,
> are also apropos. I think you are right...that dormancy is in progress.
>
> The principles discussed would apply to small tc liners which "just sit
> there" and don't grow because they have gone dormant due to only a brief
> period of cold weather at an inappropriate time (in the spring).  After
> 300 to 600 hours of cold temperatures below 40 degrees or so, then they
> usually begin growth again when placed in warm, moist environments for
> about two weeks.
>
> Jim Hawes

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