Best way to germinate plumeria seeds?

15 years ago

What do you guys and gals think is the best way to germinate plumeria seeds? I just bought some online, but last time i got some they didn't grow. I dont think it was my fault tho, because the seeds were smashed when I got them :-(. I've heard to soak them in water for 24 hours, then put them in potting soil/mix with bottom heat. The little "wing" should be sticking up out of the soil. Is this the right way? I'd appreciate any tips, tricks or suggestions! Thanks

Brian

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Comments (5)

s_p8987
15 years ago
I got some to grow in a mixture of peat moss and perlite - probably 50:50. I used a container that was 4-5 inches deep and I gave them bottom heat from a muscle heating pad (I don't have a seed starting mat) I also kept them under a fluorescent bulb most of the time (just a regular fluorescent bulb from the grocery store, not a plant light or anything) I also kept them moist. I've had success both from soaking them in water over night, and by putting them in moist soil and keeping the seed moist.

I hope this helps!
dpolson37
15 years ago
I've had good luck with soaking the seeds in warm water for a few hours. Then I fill a 4 inch clay pot with potting soil and get it nice and moist. Take a knife to spread the dirt apart enough to put the seed with the wing pointing up. Pack the wet soil around the seed leaving the wing above the dirt. Spray/mist with warm water to settle the soil around the seed and place in a warm sunny window. I found using potting soil makes for less watering because the soil retains moisture better than cactus mix or perlite mixed soils. The key for me is keeping the soil moist and so far it's worked. My seeds took about a week to 10 days till I saw green pushing the wing up. Good luck.
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I had miraculous results with lillikoi (P. edulis flavicarpa) seeds my friend gave me from Hawaii that were a year and a half old and stored encased in some masking tape :) I scraped one long edge of each seed with fine sandpaper (220 or so) several times until I felt like I had almost scraped all the way through the outer shell. I then soaked the seeds in a small amount (1.5 tablespoons or so of each ) of fresh squeezed orange juice and strong black tea. I placed them in a small plastic souffle cup on a heat mat in a sunny window where the liquid proceeded to evaporate. After about 24 hours the liquid had been reduced to almost a syrup, and I added enough water to get it back to the original amount. After 48 hours I planted the seeds about a half inch deep in half miracle grow seedling starter mix and half perlite, and encased the container in a large bag with the top slightly open to trap the humidity, and placed this on the heat mat in the sunny window. Because it was so hot over the week (sunny, humid and around high of 95F) I checked the soil temp and it was around 97F so I stopped putting the heat mat on during the day, and only put it on at night. Then over the weekend, I went on vacation and accidentally left the heat mat on during the day. When I came back from vacation, one of the seeds (a year and a half old!) had already sprouted.... this was only 7 days after planting!!! Within 3 days, two more had sprouted. I am not sure if these results were because flavicarpa is particularly hardy and vigorous, if there is something about storing them stuck between masking tape that preserves viability, or if it was the pre-treatment effects and warm soil that made them so viable, but whatever the factor, I am pretty pleased with this ultra fast germination and wanted to share in case anyone else can use this info :)
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karyn1
15 years ago
I soak the seeds anywhere from a few hours to overnight. The seeds will sprout in just about any type of mix. I keep the soil lightly moist and use bottom heat unless it's summer, then I just stick the tray outside. I just put the seed head below the soil and keep the wing exposed. I occasionally get seedlings that won't shed their seed coat. First I try misting to see if that will loosen it. If that's unsuccessful I take two straight pins and carefully peel the seed coat away. Sometimes I end up decapitating the seedling but it usually works if you're careful. If the seeds are fresh I get almost 100% germination. That number goes down for older seeds though I've had decent germination with year old seeds that weren't stored in the best conditions. Most viable seeds will sprout within 2 weeks.
Karyn
masanchez00
15 years ago
So dpolson,karyn; any kind of soil with work to grow seeds? Regular potting soil will work? At least until they are big enough to transplant then go with a cactus mix right? I too as starting some seeds and read they need to stay moist so potting soil will retain more water then a lose cactus mix I assume. Good info guys! Will definatly help us new guys out.
piranha338
Original Author
15 years ago
My seeds are still in the mix in a pot, it is heated to about 85Âº. They still haven't popped up or anything, so I'm wondering if they were bad seeds. I just checked them and they weren't mushy or anything, so do they just take a while to sprout? Thanks again everybody, I really appreciate your help!
Brian

Best way to germinate plumeria seeds?

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s_p8987

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Best way to germinate plumeria seeds?

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s_p8987

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piranha338Original Author

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