Question about older datura seeds

16 years ago

When I say older, I mean LOTS older. I found some white datura seeds (not inoxia, the other one with large flowers) that must be at least 4 years old when I was cleaning out my garage. I put them in water to soak, and they all immediately sunk to the bottom. They've plumped up, and none have risen to the top. Do you think they'll sprout? I'm going to try anyway, because dat seeds are so strange about sprouting a year or two later, but these are really old.

Someone suggested I put a little vinegar in the water to get them to sprout. Never heard of that, so I didn't do it.

BTW, anyone have the name of that dat?

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Comments (14)

karmahappytoes
16 years ago
Are you talking about D. wrightii? If so you should be okay, we dump everything after 6 years here. Matter of fact the yard recyclers are going to get a huge surprise as I spent all day yesterday going through our seeds and I bet I dumped a few gallon of seeds in the bin. Tons of datura seeds!! Love to share with them!
sibhskylvr
16 years ago
Karma

What a waste! :) I could have used TONS of Datura seeds!

Mike
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The main concern with "old seed" is viability. Once the seed has germinated the plant's genetics kick in and the production should be as good as "fresh seed". SeedSavers and other such places grow out their seed about every 10 years,at Svaalbard in Norway, the seed is intended to be stored for tens if not hundreds of years. But they have the ideal conditions to maintain viability. Steve
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Hi HS, My guess as to why the plants got leggy in the first place is because they simply were not getting enough light; they had to reach for more light. Most folks leave their fluorescent lights on at least 16 hours a day and probably more often 18 hours a day. The distance of the lights (3 to 4 inches above the seedlings) was probably okay, but a little closer (2 to 3 inches) may have been better. I just don't think 12 hours of light was enough. Regarding your thoughts about trying to "simulate the same daylight they will get when moved outdoors in April", you really can't compare artificial lighting to the amount of sunlight they'll get when you put them outside. When moved outside, it's true the amount of time they will receive light will be reduced (from say 18 hours to 12). However, the amount of light will be increased. The sun will supply more light in 12 hours than your lights can do in 18 hours. Blooming and fruiting, of course, will be influenced by whether the plants are short-day or long-day plants, but I'd leave that to the plants once they're outside. They know exactly what they're doing :-) My suggestion is to increase the length of time you leave your lights on. But whatever you end up doing, I wish you the best of luck with starting your seeds indoors for the first time. Sounds like you're off to a good start! Art
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I only grow a few of the types of Datura so I can only tell you about my plants. They are considered annuals here in NC. Some people have mentioned that the root will send up new babies in the spring if we have a mild winter (this has never happened to me). They like rich soil with lots of regular fertilizer feedings. They like to dry out a little between watering. The white ones with the silver/blue leaves can survive severe drought and will suffer if watered too much. Most often, if they bloom they will also set fruit and you can just keep the seeds to use next year for more plants. Don't bother sowing the seeds early - they will only grow in warm weather. Brugmansias are now pretty common in the Raleigh area. You can overwinter them if you get them in the ground early enough. The root mass must reach a certain size for them to survive winter here. It helps to bury them in mulch to help shed winter rains away from the sleeping roots (though plenty of them survive with no winter care at all). They grow best in fluffy soil that is extremely rich in nutrients. The best way to provide that is to mix fine textured mulch with straight compost. Build it up into a mound and plant your brug on the top. They want it to rain everyday but they hate to sit in water. If the weather is warm (hot) and they are actively growing, you cannot over feed them. The more you feed them the more branches they will make and the more flower buds they will have. Both plants are toxic and used to make narcotics (atropene) so don't handle them without gloves or at least wash your hands after you're exposed to the juices in the stems.
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Hi DarkLadySlipper, It is indeed worth the effort, particularly if the seed is from a special plant. Otherwise, you may be just as well off to obtain some fresh seed in a few months from now. Fresh seed is certainly best, but a year or so old is not a significant time to give up hope. Your germination results may still be good, particularly if the seed was stored properly. Even dry stored seed may remain viable for this length of time. I frequently have some seed that germinate the second year after planting. Of course, in this situation, the seeds have gone through a double stratification process and have been kept moist for much of that time. It is commonly (and properly) assumed that seed should be kept moist and sown as fresh as possible, but this is not the only possible method (keep in mind that in the wild seed may be in very dry conditions for a significant portion of the year prior to germination). Good luck. Joseph
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gee8ch
16 years ago
KHT: ME, TOO!! Where Mike goes so it seems go I!!! lol Gloria
junkyardgirl
Original Author
16 years ago
Ah, Karma, you're breaking my heart! Please let me know next time you're tossing out "tons" of seeds. Although, I too either toss out or "lose" tons of seeds every year that I know people would love to have, because I just don't have time to mail them. Maybe we could start a "seed train" where Karma mails all her tons of seeds to me, and I get what I want, and mail the rest on to someone else, who puts in their unwanted seeds, and on and on. Naw, we tried that before, I think and someone ended up keeping all the good seeds and sending out trash. Never mind.
sibhskylvr
16 years ago
lol@junkyardgirl! Cute post! (keeping all the good seeds and sending out trash.)

Mike
karmahappytoes
16 years ago
Folks, I saved the good seeds!! These are ones that I have had for 5 years, ya know the junk stuff. I sent off some years back a truck load of Datura seeds to a college guy and I'm sure he about fainted when they arrived.
I keep a 25 gallon container of seeds that we collect from the yard or others. DH is to the point no more seed keeping when he saw all that went out! But again he sure doesn't want me to plant them all back in the yard either!!
sibhskylvr
16 years ago
Karma

Plant them in my yard!! Plant them in my yard!! And I'm sure Gloria would say the same thing! lol!

Mike
gee8ch
16 years ago
Mike that's scary that you seem to know me so well!!! Just pull the string and make my mouth move!! lol Gloria
fool4flowers
16 years ago
Lol, Lucy if you read this and want some datura I have a bunch of seedlings sprouted in my bed too and some of them are going to have to go. These are the white ones and I wanted to plant some other kinds there.
givelittle_getlots
16 years ago
SAVE THE SEEDLINGS I am on my way! lol
fool4flowers
16 years ago
Come on over tomorrow if you want. I have some unusual looking color marigold seedlings you can have too. I'll try to email you my cell phone number.
givelittle_getlots
16 years ago
oh is it possible you can hold them till beginning of next week PLEASE? We want to start painting the house tomorrow all WE long. But if you need the space I WILL COME of course!
you are so nice
fool4flowers
16 years ago
If you don't make it I can pot some up for you. I want to redo some things in that bed tomorrow now that the dog is leaving things alone better.
givelittle_getlots
16 years ago
I will be there after we talk about the time and direction.......ohhhhhhhhhh my ........directions......I am just as bad with THAT lol

Question about older datura seeds

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karmahappytoes

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