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Re: CULT: Stratifying seeds

From: "Patrick Orr" <PatrickJOrr@hotmail.com>

Yes, Lowell...you are right.  The watering of the seeds is for the leeching effect.  I had forgotten that was why. 
 
I was also thinking the reason the seeds are kept outside was for the expansion/contraction that some seeds need in order to germinate.  The change in temperature from cold to warm and back to cold again over a period of time contracts and expands the seeds.  Now that I think of it, I kind of remember that I was reading about black walnut seeds needing that treatment prior to growing.  Their shell is so hard and thick, that in order for moisture to get into it, there must be some cracking caused from expanding and contracting. (I think I remember that correctly).
 
I was thinking this method was what the iris seed was going through by being kept outside.  Not that it has a hard shell, but perhaps it will crack through whatever layer of skin is around it that inhibits germination. I am not sure how true that is, but that was my crazy thinking at the time when I watered in the morning when the seeds were cold with luke warm water.  
 
I think a controlled experiment would be in order unless someone else knows something we don't regarding this and would like to share.  We'll see how many seeds I get over the next spring to do this with.   
 
Patrick Orr
P*@Hotmail.com
Zone 9 Region 15
Member: AIS, TBIS, SDIS (local)
----- Original Message -----
From: L*@aol.com
To: i*@onelist.com
Sent: Monday, January 10, 2000 9:45 AM
Subject: Re: [iris-talk] CULT: Stratifying seeds

From: L*@aol.com

In a message dated 1/9/00 11:01:03 AM Mountain Standard Time,
H*@aol.com writes:

<< I've never watered them at all after initially watering the pot. >>

For Patrick,

The wisdom is that at least in our drier climates the seeds benefit from the
leaching of certain elements from the seed cover during the winter before
germination.  When we (as usual) don't get much precipitation during the
winter, I water them regularly.

As for warm water in the morning, that's an interesting idea.  Why don't you
try a controlled experiment to see what you can learn?

Lowell Baumunk
Colorado

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