Re: Germinating seeds in paper towels?
- To: propagation@mallorn.com
- Subject: Re: Germinating seeds in paper towels?
- From: J*@aol.com
- Date: Sun, 14 Feb 1999 13:01:22 EST
Barb...
There are no "dumb" questions...especially when we are all trying to learn
from one another and save all that "trial and error" time!
Depending on the seeds you have in the refrigerator...some seeds do germinate
at 40 degrees (Lewisia always germinates alittle for me while in the refrig.)
but most seeds needing stratification (cold treatment) don't germinate until
the temperature rises (either naturally, if you have them ourtside or
"artificially" when you take them out of the refrig.). The germination at
warmer temperatures may be anything from a very short period of time (2-3
days) to a very long time (3-8 wks.) and some seeds need TWO (!!) periods of
warm and cold in order to germinate.
Seeds sown on paper towels should be sown on the surface of the towel (wring
it out really good), put into a plastic bag with the seeds visable through the
plastic and ALL the air expressed out of the bag as you seal it. That way you
can watch the progress of the seeds and snatch them off the paper towels as
soon as they germinate. People do use clear glass petri dishes for
germinating on paper towels or cotton but who has petri dishes hanging around?
Joan Hoeffel
Naples, NY Zone 5
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