Since I live in the countryside and have well water, I find it necessary to add a few drops of Clorox. Tim On Fri, Nov 8, 2019 at 11:36 PM Mike Rummerfield <mikerumm@gmail.com> wrote: > Re: "I have tested thIs water method side by side with the same seed lot > using clean pre-moistened seed starting mix in a clean small pot and a > clean plastic baggie over top. The water method is far superior with very > little rot, Except for old dead seed will rot." > > Thank you, Rimmer, for the review of the water germination method. Very > helpful. > > Regards, > Mike > > On Fri, Nov 8, 2019 at 5:22 AM Rimmer deVries <rdevries@comcast.net> > wrote: > > > > > I have asked about starting rain lily seeds in water. This has been > > covered on this list in the past. It works for most flat papery seeds. > Like > > lilies and amarylids with flat papery seeds. > > > > Method > > > > i use deli containers with lods from deli. You can also use the small > > ketchup cups at fast food places for small lots. Punch a small hole in > lid > > with an awl pr nail. Use cool tap water and dump in the seeds and cover > > with lid. Fish out any non seed pieces- these typically rot. > > > > Put containers in light but not direct sun. I have found Temp is not an > > issue for rain lilies other than not too hot or too cold. I start mine on > > the shaded porch in summer, garage or in house in winter. If the water > > turns color or if you see mold, flush and replace the water and remove > the > > mold. > > > > Rain lily Germination takes a few days to 2 weeks, some longer. Fresh > seed > > is faster than old seed. When you see a radical or even later when true > > leaf you can plant in your medium. I water in with a mist bottle on med > > flow stream and keep up the humidity (mist or place a plastic baggie over > > the pot) until they seem to have taken root. Then take off baggie and > grow > > on. In a year or two the rain lilies will outgrow the 4” pot and bloom. > > Some will bloom faster like Habranthus tubispathus and show up when you > > don't expect it > > > > I have tested thIs water method side by side with the same seed lot using > > clean pre-moistened seed starting mix in a clean small pot and a clean > > plastic baggie over top. The water method is far superior with very > little > > rot, Except for old dead seed will rot. > > > > Many flat papery seed just rot on the seed mix. (Unless you don't want > > the seed in that pot, than they germinate fine). I have also tried side > by > > side with papery seed set on edge with the pointy side individually > > inserted slightly into medium, this is a lot of fine work and not as easy > > as the water method. > > > > Some flat paper seed like tulips fritilaries and some lilies (Martagons, > > Caucasians, Japanese, Korean, Chinese mountain lilies, and American > native > > and hybrids need cool to cold or fluctuating temps to germinate so these > > should be started in water in the fall and left in a place that gets > colder > > at night and warms up in the day, but not in direct sun. Some don't even > > need or want light to germinate. You can use the refrigerator for 3-4 > > months for a cold period any time of the year but don't put seed near > > fruit, the fruit gas will kill the seed. > > > > Moist paper towels in a ziplock bag in the refrigerator also works but > you > > need to monitor them so they don't grow through the paper or start leaves > > without light. > > > > I am sure many readers will have alternative germination methods. I love > > to hear about these methods. > > > > Rimmer de Vries > > SCent Kentucky > > Zone 6b > > > > >> On Nov 8, 2019, at 6:20 AM, BarkingDogWoods < > barkingdogwoods@gmail.com> > > wrote: > > > > > > I also meant to ask you – in your post you said you start them in water > > – do you just float the seeds in water till the radical emerges? Does > this > > work with other seeds, like Formosa lily? > > > > > > TIA! > > > > > > Lin > > _______________________________________________ > > pbs mailing list > > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > > http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/…