This is a generic set of instructions for those seeds which do not
require specific handling. Most seeds I sell will grow given the
following treatment.
Pretreatments.
Larger
seeds (over 2mm) may be soaked in hand hot water overnight to speed up
germination. Very hard coated seeds may be soaked in a dilute solution
of Saltpetre made up as per the directions given under the pretreatment
leaflet.
Smaller seeds need no pretreatment.
Sowing (Traditional Method)
Sow
in a moist (not wet - a test is to squeeze a handful and if more than a
few drops of water come out, then it is too wet), good quality seed
compost, barely covering the seed in the case of large seeds and with
small seeds sow on the surface and, if able, press them in (but no
more). Place in a propagator or seal in a plastic bag and keep at 18 –
28 Deg C (Air Temp), soil temps need to be warmer by about 10 Deg C or so. Germination for most types should be fairly rapid (3 – 4 weeks
or so), although it can take some time for all of the seeds to
germinate. The following types can take up to 8 weeks to germinate –
Aralia, Cussonia,Fatsia & Ficus. Some types, with very hard seeds, may take several months to germinate - these include Gardenia, Rothmannia and Tabernaemontana.
Above all else, unless you are
certain that the seeds are not going to show (mould, algae or thick moss
on the surface of the pot), persevere. Seeds have inbuilt survival
mechanisms that will prevent germination unless conditions are right and
may wait months before doing anything if sown at the wrong time. With
modern advances in lighting, heating etc for plant raising, seeds may be
sown at any time with these aids BUT there is no getting round the time
of year - some seeds have a 'clock' and if it is the wrong time of year
they just will not come up until it is the right time of year... Just
keep the soil from drying out completely and keep going.
Sowing (Alternative Method)
This
method uses no soil in the initial stages, but it should be cautioned
that the seedlings will need transferring to soil very soon after
germination. To do this with small seeds, simply place a paper kitchen
roll sheet (folded as necessary) into a plastic container which has a
lid. Soak the kitchen roll until it is wet, but no excess water is in
the bottom of the tray. An easy way to do this is to add too much
water, let the excess collect in the bottom of the pot and then pour it
away. Sow the seeds onto the moist paper and then seal the lid. Place at
germination temperatures and then just wait until the seeds sprout. If
condensation forms on the lid, tap it to let it fall onto the seeds.
This method does require scrupulous hygiene as if fungal infections get
hold, you will lose the batch and you cannot really use fungicide. When
the seeds sprout, you should get them in soil as soon as possible,
still in controlled conditions and then allow them to root and grow on.
Huge batches of seeds can be sown this way in small spaces, we have
stacked containers one on top of each other on the propagators using
this method with those seeds needing most heat on the bottom. This is
especially suitable for seeds that get soaked before sowing, as well as
very small seeds that cannot be soaked in case you lose them.
Growing on.
Grow
on, maintaining a close atmosphere opening the bag or propagator every
few days to freshen the air. Once 2 or 3 true leaves appear the
seedlings can be gently transplanted in order to grow on. Use any good
quality houseplant compost for the potting on – garden soil should never
be used as it is very variable in quality and may contain many weed seeds and pests.
Continue
to pot on as required, some vigorous species may need 3 – 6 re-pottings
per year, whereas slower growers may need potting on every other year.
Let your plants tell you when they need to be potted on (they will slow
down in growth or just ‘look’ unhappy)
If you have any
questions please contact me at robert.boatman@gmail.com or
bob_b@bsquared.ndonet.com and I will be happy to help out with any
specific tips I am aware of or I can share my experiences.
