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Re: two simple questions

Jim,
I hope you don't mind if I make a suggestion-
It would be helpful if you spelled out the entire genus the first time
and then referred to it as V. fasciculata thereafter.  For me, this kind of designation means nothing-i cannot look up only the species name. So, I can only make some sweeping generalizations on your two questions.

Some plants-not all-but some have specific criteria for germination.  For example,
my sources indicate that the seeds of Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) require light to germinate.  But, the seeds of most Delphinium species require darkness in order to germinate.  Again, some plants prefer a poor soil as opposed to a richer soil, a period of cold, time to ripen....
It is not that you will not obtain any seedlings if you ignore these specific preferences-but you may very well have spotty, or lowered germination.

So, the advice of covering your flats, or providing poor soil may not have a
darn thing to do with your particular hillside in Wisconsin, or the species
you are trying to germinate.

We have a nifty handbook at work put out but our Ag University that outlines germination, soil, moisture....requiremnets for many Colorado native plants.
Call your state Ag University and see if they have a department of Range Science
or ask to speak to one of the Botany Professors.  They should be able to refer
you to some sources or perhaps give you more specific info.  Most are quite helpful.

Caron  8,000' on the side of Pikes Peak, Colorado



James MacDonald wrote:

> I have two questions and since I'm new to propagation and to this list they are probably pretty simple.
>
> For the last five months I've been working at germinating three prairie species (E corollata, S integrifolium, and V fasciculata).  I collected the seeds last fall in Wisconsin.  I've tried a few different ways with each species and have had mixed results.  It feels to me like the most successful attempts are the ones where I come closest to reproducing what's actually happening on the hillside where I collected these seeds.  This make sense to me.  In fact it feels sort of like I'm in a battle of wits with these conservative little guys in which I'm trying to convince them they are still on the hillside and it is spring.
>
> This leads me to my two questions.  In various books and comments on this list people talk about two things that I don't understand.  The first is the need to start seeds in a nutrient poor medium.  The second is the practice of covering the seeds with something opaque, like a folded newspaper, until they germinate.
>
> I don't disagree with these but I certainly don't see any connection between either of these things and the conditions on that hillside in Wisconsin.  Can someone please explain to me why these two things encourage germination?
>
> Jim MacDonald
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