Giant Sequoia seeds not sinking?

[JoeR]

I have 100 or so Sequoia Giganteum seeds that I soaked in hot water for a few days, as per my normal process. Normally they all sink after a couple days. But the issue is that most of them are still floating, only 20 or so have sunken after 5 days.


Is this a sign the seeds are bad or old? Should I put them in the fridge anyway?


I had many trident maple seeds float like this as well from the same source.

 

[0soyoung]

Floating/sinking isn't necessarily a reliable test. I suggest you cut open a few floaters and a few sinkers to see if there are any embryos. See if, in fact, floaters = no embryos, sinkers = yes embryo.

 

[JoeR]

Floating/sinking isn't necessarily a reliable test. I suggest you cut open a few floaters and a few sinkers to see if there are any embryos. See if, in fact, floaters = no embryos, sinkers = yes embryo.

Thanks, I will try it

 

[JoeR]

@0soyoung ,

So I cut three floaters open, one had a very intact embryo (so I think) and the other two sort of turned into a red mush when I cut them open?


So I dont really know what to expect with them.

 

[0soyoung]

@0soyoung ,
So I cut three floaters open, one had a very intact embryo (so I think) and the other two sort of turned into a red mush when I cut them open?
So I dont really know what to expect with them.

Turning to mush doesn't sound good, but lets say that didn't have an embryo - you've shown that being a floater isn't definitive (I suggest you also check a few sinkers just for completeness of your investigation).
I often play with seeds of local trees, just for the fun of it. If this is all you are up to, I think you should just stratify them all and see what you get (you may want to keep floaters and sinkers separated, so you will know first-hand if there is any validity to the 'float test'). But, if you are really intent on growing some seedlings now, finding some more seeds might be a good idea.

 

[JoeR]

Turning to mush doesn't sound good, but lets say that didn't have an embryo - you've shown that being a floater isn't definitive (I suggest you also check a few sinkers just for completeness of your investigation).
I often play with seeds of local trees, just for the fun of it. If this is all you are up to, I think you should just stratify them all and see what you get (you may want to keep floaters and sinkers separated, so you will know first-hand if there is any validity to the 'float test'). But, if you are really intent on growing some seedlings now, finding some more seeds might be a good idea.

I think I will do as you said and cold stratify them now, keeping them seperated; I did the same thing with my trident maples. If I get around 20/100 I will be happy.


I shall check some sinkers too.

 

[Redwood Ryan]

What's your plan for germinating them?

 

[JoeR]

What's your plan for germinating them?

Not sure exactly what youre asking, but they are going to be put in a bag with damp paper towels until march 15th and then sown.

 

[Redwood Ryan]

That's what I mean, that's what germination is.

 

[JoeR]

That's what I mean, that's what germination is.

Do you have a better method?

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Do you have a better method?

Nope, that's the one I'd use. Except I would only soak the seeds for 48 hours at most. They get mushy after that.

 

[Vance Wood]

Plant them all. If you don't have that many what do you have to lose. The good ones will germinate and the bad ones wont.

 

[Tieball]

Why hot water? Sounds like you're cooking them. I didn't think the hot water treatment was good for seeds.

 

[Starfox]

Hot water treatment is great for certain seeds but not all, it tends to work best for trees that are in an harsh dry environment that rely on the occasional bush fire for germination.
But yeah it is definitely not for all seeds.

 

[sorce]

paper towels

Coffee filters.

One thing....you get some of those to grow....build you a new Titanic!

Call that tree Molly Brown!

Sorce

 

[JoeR]

Nope, that's the one I'd use. Except I would only soak the seeds for 48 hours at most. They get mushy after that.

Note taken, most of the time they all sink sink within 2 days so Its normally not an issue.