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Re: Unsucessful germination

Gibberellins are a naturally present substance.  While what you buy was
probably produced at Abbot Labs, Norm Deno relates the story of the
Viola in the arid and windswept Chilean Andes.

The seeds must fall into a crevice where there is a small pocket of leaf
mold.  The leaf mold produces gibberellins which trigger the
germination.

And let's get past the idea that synthetic chemicals are ipso facto
harmful.  25 years ago, that false prophet Jerry Baker had us all
pouring coffee grounds and crushed eggshells into the pots of
houseplants.  Many a Ficus succumbed to this "organic religion."

In re Duncan's question regarding specific soils for germination:  I
don't know of any requirements since the cotyledon has everything
necessary for survival in the first weeks.  Gibberellic acid only
improves the germ rate.  A certain percentage of seed will germinate
without all the requirements being present.  Even in a Genus with a hard
seedcoat, a certain percentage will imbibe water without scarification.  

Most germ tests, including those done by Norm Deno and in commercial
seed production, are done in moist paper towels and baggies.  So it's
not important to have either an inert or fertile medium.  It's typically
only moisture that's the last inhibitor.
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