Re: RE: HYB: Second Chance Germination

In a message dated 3/24/2006 10:21:52 P.M. Central Standard Time,  
jgcrump@erols.com writes:

<<I would sometimes get germination in 2 or 3-year-old pans which  had sat 
out in the extremes of weather all that time.>
Griff, this has happened to me also.  When I lived at Alvaton, I had  this 
spot where old pots went to die.  <vbg> It was not uncommon to  get germination 
in the old pots. I don't recall ever watering through the  very hot summers.   
 
But I would like to address variations in weather and conditions.  
 
At Alvaton those pots were in an area that had shade from several old and  
leafy trees until about 1 pm.  They were in the drain field to my  pond, and 
they were placed on the bare ground.  They experienced little  wind.  All 
conditions that lead to hydration of both soil and seed.   Seedlings that sprouted 
sent roots through the holes in the bottom of the pots  and into the ground 
below.  Iris are survivors!  
 
Seeds held over in an air-conditioned house for extended periods of time  do 
NOT sprout for me.  They dry so completely that the embryo dries out and  
dies.  The 'essence' of the seed is lost.  I think this is due to the  AC pulling 
humidity from the air.  The seed coat seems able to protect the  embryo from 
total dehydration within certain limits. 
 
Seed held outside in a shed or unheated garage have a much better chance of  
surviving over extended periods.  
 
It's hard to tell exactly what happens within a seed outside laboratory  
conditions, and it's true mine are not laboratory conditions.  But . .  .  here is 
my 'theory.'  
 
Example to display theory:
1) pot holds 25 seed.  
2) 15 sprout 1st year (Hurrah!)

3)  (10 seed left)
    A.  5 seed didn't break dormancy (protection  too strong) and could 
sprout next year.
    B.  5 seed have broken dormancy and are in  various stages of sprouting.  
At this point in the process water is very  important.  All will die if water 
is withheld.  
 
Right or wrong, this is my theory and my reasoning for trying to insure I  
water at the end of the sprouting cycle.  If this were not the case, we  
wouldn't get 2nd year germination unless we watered the pots all year round  .
 
Water treatments are to remove the dormancy factors?  Rather than to  hydrate 
the embryo? 
 




________________________________________________________
If you  don't cross them, you can't  plant them! 
Betty W. in South-central  KY Zone 6 ---
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