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| to make this quick, i have never started a tree from seed, not to mention using the fridge for cold stratification. anyway, it says to use a damp "medium" and place in fridge for 90 days. i was wondering if sphagnum peat moss (damp) would be fine as a medium to place the seeds in? that and any tips you could pass along would be great! thanks! |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Mon, Jun 25, 12 at 12:01
| in my mineral sand yard.. seed falling on sand.. does just fine.. and.. i think a lot of the dudes.. [who i am sure will chime in].. use sand ... you want SOME dampness.. i would guess.. peat might hold more than you need.. that all said.. try both .. or any other suggested methods.. you dont have to throw all of one type in one bag ... eh?? and whatever you use.. sterilize it first ... see link .. i even sterilized perlite one time ... mostly because it was an open bag in the pole barn for 10 years ... ALWAYS.. better safe than sorry ... for the few mins in the microwave ... ken |
Here is a link that might be useful: link
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- Posted by mad_gallica Z5 Eastern NY (My Page) on Mon, Jun 25, 12 at 15:50
| The usual recommendation for refrigerator stratification is damp paper towels put in baggies. Then it is easy to unfold the paper towel to see if the seed is sprouting, then fold it back up if the seed isn't ready yet. |
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| I mostly use sterilized paper towels, myself. They are readily available, work with all sizes of seeds, can have their moisture content easily adjusted, etc. Coffee filters can also work well. Sterilized sand is a great choice for medium size and large seeds. The reasons I don't like sphagnum moss are that small seeds get lost and I find the medium more likely to encourage mold. Moisture isn't really a problem, because all you have to do is not add too much to start with. |
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| I just use slightly moist paper towels in a Ziploc bag in the vegetable crisper. If you're doing acorns, be aware that sometimes there's a little worm inside that eventually comes out and can chew through the plastic bag but doesn't get much farther. It's something to keep in mind if your crisper actually contains vegetables. |
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| Hurtle, The best way to avoid the "worm"-in-your-crisper problem (and have a greater success rate with acorns) is to heat-treat your acorns before stratification. To do this, drop your acorns in a glass/thermos of 120F water and let them soak for 20 minutes. This may seem extreme; it is for the weevils/larva, but not for the acorns. |
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| sunlicious, it would be helpful if you told us what species of tree you wanted to propagate. It is June 25 did you know that seed which ripens in the spring such as red and silver maple will germinate right away. Some oaks and buckeyes should be direct sown because they put out a root radicle in the fall shortly after the seed ripens. Seed such as Big Leaf Magnolia seen here is collected in September, cleaned and sown right away and put outside to germinate the following spring.  Many conifers such as this Monkey Puzzle Tree have no stratification requirement, these germinated less than a month after direct sowing in pots  I've never found it necessary to refridgerate seed of any member of the Heath family. Some seed such as fringe tree and most viburnums have a two state germination. Let us know what species you are working with. |
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- Posted by jocelynpei 5/6 (My Page) on Tue, Jun 26, 12 at 8:10
| Just about any media will do: slightly moist is important. If it's too wet, seeds go mouldy or drown and smother. If it's too dry, they wizen up and die of lack of water. Slightly moist will feel slightly cool in your open hand, but will not drip when squeezed hard. After that, any container will do, a small jar with a lid and about half full so there is air, a plastic baggie, again half full for air, a plastic tub with a lid...anything at all. Once every few weeks, check that it's still slightly damp and open the top for fresh air for a minute or two. I've used damp sand, damp peat moss, damp soil, damp compost and used tea bags. All are good, just be sure they are only slightly damp and check on the seeds from time to time. Assuming it is a species where the package of seed calls for stratification in cold conditions, then that is what they need. If you name the species I can look it up for you and post the recommendations for stratification. I have only grown the species around here myself, but would be happy to look up the requirements for something else for you. I have a copy of the seeds of woody plants manual. |
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