newbie germination update

Hi Folks,

I'm finding this seed starting adventure quite interesting and 
bewildering.  I removed all my SIGNA seeds from the toilet tank on 2/
19 after a full month of soaking.  I then wrapped each seed lot in a 
damp, black paper napkin (I figured white roots would be easier to 
spot against a black background) and placed each napkin in a plastic 
sandwich bag.  I am keeping the bags in a warm spot near a window 
where they get plenty of indirect light but won't overheat in direct 
sun.

As I was wrapping the seeds in their napkins, I found two more 
germinants: one typhifolia and one sanguinea. After two days in the 
napkins, I found two more germinants: one sibirica alba and one 
versicolor.  Today (four days post-toilet), I have found more 
germinants: one "affinity to reichenbachii" and one pseudacorus.

The only seeds which have demonstrated any consistency in terms of 
germination so far are the yellow attica, all of which germinated in 
the toilet within a week or two of each other.  Everything else is 
germinating one seed at a time, and all germinants so far have done
so 
without benefit of any cold stratification other than what they 
received in the toilet tank.  Fascinating from a newbie point of view.

I intend to pot up any non-germinated seeds in mid-March when our 
outdoor temps start to go reliably above freezing during the daytime 
hours and place all the pots outside for natural cold stratification 
till spring.  It'll be interesting to see how many more germinate 
before I do that potting in mid-March.

A few of my earlier germinants have finally broken ground with top 
growth, and I'm enjoying watching their little leaves inching up. 
Meanwhile, my herd of basement ladybugs are maintaining aphid watch 
over the iris babies.

Laurie
                                     





 
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