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Growing from Seed

Stratification of flower seed methods

14 years ago

Can someone please explain the correct method of stratification to me? I've read different ideas: stick them in the fridge, the freezer, add a few drops of water, a little moist soil or sand, and frankly I'm a little confused. I realize the idea is to stimulate the natural elements they would experience outdoors. Is it different for different plants? I'm so confused! Have some very valuable seeds, money is tight, and I don't want to make a costly mistake. I started tomato, cucumber, corn, watermelons, bush beans all from seed. However, I have some flowers that I'd like to start.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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Comments (3)

karyn1
14 years ago
I use either moist sphagnum or sand in a covered container when I am stratifying seed and I put them in the veggie crisper part of the fridge.
morz8 - Washington Coast
14 years ago
novice, it would help to know which seeds too, different plants have different requirements and maybe some of us have tried those you'd like to grow. And if we don't have our own experience, some of us have a stack of propagation books next to our computers that may well describe which process for that particular plant, has a lot to do with their climate of origin, which region they are native to.

I use a bit of sterile moist (like a squeezed out sponge) sand or moist vermiculite in a 2x3" zip lock for stratifying in my refrigerator during those months when I'm not getting a 40F average between day and night temps outdoors...just a teaspoon or so of either will do. When the appropriate number of days have passed and I'm ready to sow, I can sow the contents of the bag, sand and all, and not have to extract the seeds. Your freezer is too cold.
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Just like in soils, if the medium (or paper towel) is too wet, seeds may not germinate. (Swelling is not necessarily germinating.) If there is free water inside the baggie, I would drain it out. I also recommend using ziplock types since the plastic used is thicker. Bags you use a twist tie with are water tight but not completely water vapor tight. If it is stratification you're going after (not just germination) this can be critical, since they may be left in the fridge for months and fogotten about. My long term stratification is done with sphagnum moss, which has antiseptic qualities of its own. Again, too wet and you're asking for trouble. 95% of the time, I never have problems. I am a bit puzzled as to what the quality of water might have to do with fungal growth, unless it might be damaging the seed and the fungal growth is on the seed (and not the towel). Still, I am concerned with water quality for dry seed absorbtion. When I soak seeds (morning glories, for instance) I do use rain water or distilled water, because I know my tap water is crappy. That would be virgin rain water, and not of a roof that might contaminate it. A metal roof would be fine, but I just don't know what might be in water from a tar shingle roof. Might be fine for seeds, might not be for some. When I stratify in sphagnum moss, I usually use the "crappy" water. Rick
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ryan_tree
14 years ago
I simply take a wet coffee filter or wet paper towel and place the seeds in between two of either the wet coffee filter or wet paper towel and stick that into a plastic sandwich bag. And stick that into the freezer.

Easy as that.

Ryan

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