RE:Re: HYB: TB my experiences with germination

A few additional thoughts.
as Chuck noted, the seeds surely would die if I hadn't agitated the containers
adding oxygen into the mix. Chaging the water daily would do the same thing
and add more oxygen than agitating the old water over and over. It only
makes sense that the water change rinses the old inhibitors out and provides
oxygen.
It makes sense that all the biological processes slowed with the cold temps of
the fridge.
I'd assumed that if I had these seeds in too much warmer conditions after the
chilling process, even agitating the water to 'create Oxygen' wouldn't have
helped give the seeds enough O2. maybe, maybe not.
 
If the seeds started to germinate with the 'water root' developing, I could
get them to grow after placing them in peat pots with potting soil and lots of
water and light.
Warming up the seeds after 2.5 to 4 months didn't seem to help too much. A few
more seeds would germinate, but not too many more.
seeds in damp paper towels placed in baggies would work after the chilling
period too.
Seeds in potting soil would germinate about as well after the chilling
period.
I'd have to make sure to open up any seed trays (i.e. open the lids of my
tupperware containers) or unzip the plastic baggies from time to time. As
Chuck noted oxygen is a must.
 I forgot to further note that too damp in potting soil, as seeds warm up
isn't too great either. Rot and fungus develop pretty quickly if you're not
watching closely.
Checking for fungal or other rotting debris on the seeds during the 2.5 to 4
month chilling process and rerinsing is a must with some of the baggies too.
If the potting soil is not sterile, it's easy enough to get growth of unwanted
stuff when the trays are warmed up too.
I have used a light mix of clorox and water to rinse seeds if they developed
fungus on them. Make sure to not soak them with this mixture, I'm pretty sure
that would kill the seeds. The clorox used this way doesn't seem to affect
seeds prior to germination.
 
Failing to agitate for the oxygen is sure to result in killing the seeds.
I am a bit afraid to experiment with warmer methods as this seems to not work
so well for me.
I'd be very happy if I could speed certain things up here too.
This season I plan to experiment some with peat moss. It seems to be working
better than the baggies.
I started using the baggies because it saved a lot of room over using small
containers with soil while awiting the chilling period.
 
steve zone 4b minnesota
 
 
 

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