Re: CULT: Germination Follow-up

Hi Lowell

I use toilet tank treatment.

I place the seeds in Panty Hose (stockings) with a plastic label and twist
of tightly with a plastic twist tie after each variety. Can get about 20
varieties per leg. I then place them in the cistern for 3 days, Got to be
careful how you put them in so it doesn't get caught on the fill/empty
mechanism. Remove, drain and proceed with planting, chilling etc. In our
climate getting enough chilling is the problem.

Colleen Modra
Adelaide Hills
South Australia  Zone 8/9

www.impressiveirises.com.au
colleen@impressiveirises.com.au

----- Original Message -----
From: <Lbaumunk@aol.com>
To: <iris@hort.net>
Sent: Sunday, January 12, 2003 2:09 AM
Subject: [iris] 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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