Re: CULT: Germination Follow-up


While not scientific by any means, I have noticed a few things with
the iris seeds planted here in Ohio. Some of the best germination
I have ever had was in shallow soil. I have planted them in nursery flats,
just 3" deep, and the round 3 quart mum pots (shallower and wider)
with decent results. Maybe the water passes thru better?

Another observation is that I get more seed rot with heavy soil mixes.
Maybe because the mix really retains water. One year I tried a pro mix
with wetting agents in it. It was a fluffy mix and light, but it did retain
moisture.
The seeds that germinated early thrived (they were in the open and
only recieved the rain from mother nature) but the seeds that sprouted
late damped off and those that didnt sprout rotted. I suppose the late
germinators were done in by the heat/moisture combo at a tender growth
time.

The other factor I suggest that may cause poor germination, at least here,
is
temperature fluctuation. The last few years we have gone from winter to
summer
with spring lasting about two weeks. Perhaps the temps went from too cold to
germinate to too hot to germinate too quickly?

I don't know anything for sure except that we have good years and bad years
for
germination, and some do really well while others fail in the same year.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
John Bruce  jbruce1@cinci.rr.com
Hidden Acres Iris Gardens
http://home.cinci.rr.com/hiddenacres
SW Ohio,USDA Zone 5b
h*@cinci.rr.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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