Re: HYB-seed germination questions
- To: iris-talk@onelist.com
- Subject: Re: [iris-talk] HYB-seed germination questions
- From: w*
- Date: Tue, 25 May 1999 07:12:11 -0500
- Priority: normal
From: "wmoores" <wmoores@watervalley.net>
From HIPSource@aol.com
>
> I think that while good hygeine is necessary, for many seeds sterile media
> are not as critical as we are often lead to believe. Also there is some
> suggestion in the literature that some seeds benefit from the effects of
> chemicals present in decomposing vegetable matter such as they would
> encounter in the wild. Thus for all seeds which require the effects of
> winter, and which I leave outside over the winter, I use an organic medium.
>
Naturally, when a thunderstorm occurs, there is going to be
splashing of dirt into your pots which will also corrupt the sterile
soil medium.
> I have not had any problems with damping off of iris seeds, although I'll
> occasionally get a problematical one which fails to thrive. I don't use
> garden soil in my pots. Perhaps that makes a difference. But I basically
> don't expect any organic medium to be sterile, or remain sterile for long if
> exposed to the air.
>
Damping off was unknown to me until I moved to MS. It may or may not
strike here in the early spring. It is dependent upon the weather...rain, humidity, and
warm weather coming too quickly.
I use the same soil mix for sprouting all kinds of iris seeds and
couldn't hope for better germination. The only other differences
involve stratification and lining out. The bearded seed get frozen,
and the seedlings are lined out in early May and most bloom the
following spring.. The beardless seed are not frozen and stay in
the pots in the shade until September and are lined out when the
weather cools off. With JI's, I have bloom the second year from
seed. Other beardless seedlings take longer.
Walter Moores
Enid Lake, MS 7/8
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