CULT: Germination Follow-up

Many thanks for the thoughtful responses to my query about iris seed 
germination.  

Keith has caused me to highly suspect that insufficient leaching may be the 
reason for my relatively low germination percentages.  I do leave the seeds 
out all winter and water them regularly to keep damp, but I am guessing that 
the fact that the pots are frozen much of the time here in Colorado prevents 
a lot of the actual leaching from occurring.  

Thanks to Linda for showing the way with systematic experimentation.  I am 
resolved next year to experiment with a different means of leaching the 
seeds.  Linda: Can you remind me what the toilet tank treatment is?  I think 
I need to try something like that, combined with cold stratification, perhaps 
in the fridge.  In my experiment, I will divide some of my seed lots in half 
and treat one half in my usual way and the other with inside leaching and 
refrigeration before planting out in the spring.  I will attempt to eliminate 
any other variables.

A few years ago, I did another experiment involving soaking seeds before 
planting.  Unfortunately, I no longer seem to have the data I collected, but 
they showed conclusively that the soaked seeds (five days, changing the water 
daily) germinated better than those planted dry.  These were comparisons of 
two halves of the same seed lot, applied to about 40 different crosses, 
planted in identical circumstances.  I interpret this as another indication 
of the importance of leaching.

I stumbled upon the Fafard planting mix this fall, and have used it in all my 
pots this year.

Lowell Baumunk
Colorado

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