JBP Seeds

[nurvbonsai]

Greetings,

I received approx 50 seeds from Sheffields. Just put them to soak in water. Cold stratify for 60 days in ziplock bags, fridged. I’m trying to follow Jonas’ guidelines. Plan was Jan 1 - - April 1. Anything to look out for?

 

[Wulfskaar]

3 months seems like too long for JBP (???). You don't really need to cold stratify at all, but I read it can help. I have had a nearly 100% germination rate without any cold.

FYI, I got some as well, and I plan to do 2 months of cold stratification just for the heck of it.

 

[Shibui]

I also get good germination without stratification so it is not really required for JBP. I also use natural stratification. Sow seeds in trays and leave them outside through Winter. Seems to be less problems and germination is excellent.
Now that you have soaked you probably need to keep going. 3 months should be no problem for the seed. JBP seems to sit dormant while it is cold. They only start to germinate when the weather gets warmer.
I would sanitise both seeds and stratification media before putting them in the fridge. Mould and other fungi seem to grow well while seed is sealed in bags in the fridge. Soak in H2O2 before they go into the bags seems to be effective and harmless to the seeds.

 

[nurvbonsai]

I also get good germination without stratification so it is not really required for JBP. I also use natural stratification. Sow seeds in trays and leave them outside through Winter. Seems to be less problems and germination is excellent.
Now that you have soaked you probably need to keep going. 3 months should be no problem for the seed. JBP seems to sit dormant while it is cold. They only start to germinate when the weather gets warmer.
I would sanitise both seeds and stratification media before putting them in the fridge. Mould and other fungi seem to grow well while seed is sealed in bags in the fridge. Soak in H2O2 before they go into the bags seems to be effective and harmless to the seeds.

Jonas talks about using spagnum moss or moist paper towel. What is better? The time I tried before I immediately saw fungi in a week or so. I also lost my dime sized bags but someone else told me I could use regular sandwhich bags.

Happy new year!

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

While sphagnum can inhibit some fungi from growing, it's not an end all be all solution to prevent seedlings from rotting. Neither is paper.
Perlite on the other hand, has no organic content and thus can't act as a fungus substrate for very long; it can grow into it, but not feed off of it. Same goes for sand when properly washed.

My advice is to spread the seeds over multiple bags anyways, so that if one goes bad, the rest might make it. But closed bags containing organic material in any environment, will become a breeding ground for fungi. If I soak seeds too early, or my schedule doesn't match with the seasons, I just freeze everything. Happens in nature too.
Then straight to the soil with ample protection against animals.
After two decades of trying to battle the calendar, I've just decided to make use of natural dormancy so I don't have to worry about it anymore. Sure, I might get a 20% drop in germination. But if they germinate too soon, or mold takes over, I'm at a 100% loss anyways.
It's not that the world doesn't know autumn rains followed by deep frosts. See it as a much needed culling of weak material.

 

[nurvbonsai]

While sphagnum can inhibit some fungi from growing, it's not an end all be all solution to prevent seedlings from rotting. Neither is paper.
Perlite on the other hand, has no organic content and thus can't act as a fungus substrate for very long; it can grow into it, but not feed off of it. Same goes for sand when properly washed.

My advice is to spread the seeds over multiple bags anyways, so that if one goes bad, the rest might make it. But closed bags containing organic material in any environment, will become a breeding ground for fungi. If I soak seeds too early, or my schedule doesn't match with the seasons, I just freeze everything. Happens in nature too.
Then straight to the soil with ample protection against animals.
After two decades of trying to battle the calendar, I've just decided to make use of natural dormancy so I don't have to worry about it anymore. Sure, I might get a 20% drop in germination. But if they germinate too soon, or mold takes over, I'm at a 100% loss anyways.
It's not that the world doesn't know autumn rains followed by deep frosts. See it as a much needed culling of weak material.

So in the bags with perlite?

 

[nurvbonsai]

I also have sand so I wonder if that would be better?

 

[cmeg1]

Orchid spahgnum is always better for me.........also I would get a whole Oz. Of seed..... This only happens once a year!

 

[nurvbonsai]

Orchid spahgnum is always better for me.........also I would get a whole Oz. Of seed..... This only happens once a year!

I believe I ordered exactly 1oz it was actually closer to 54

 

[nurvbonsai]

I believe I ordered exactly 1oz it was actually closer to 54

 

[nurvbonsai]

Last bit of business. I’ll check on it later to see if moisture is coming.