Re: Sarracenia seeds

John Taylor [The Banshee] (rphjt@minyos.xx.rmit.OZ.AU)
Fri, 17 Sep 93 09:39:39 +0000

>I'm interested to see the Sarracenia seed discussion. The two lots I
>sowed over the past few years were frozen in the ice-cube compartment
>of the 'fridge for a few weeks, following instructions from Chiltern
>Seeds which said EITHER freeze or just keep cool for a while. Both
>lots germinated, although one lot was supposed to be mixed species
>and I'll never know if some didn't grow - what I got were some that
>look like psittacina and tall thin green with bits of red/white
>(leucophylla?). The other batch were supposed to be leucophylla.
>
>After reading contributions to the list, I guess I won't freeze them
>in future - it sounds like its not necessary, and may even be
>harmful.

The very first batch of Sarracenia seeds I ever bought (a mixed packet from
a commercial seed producer, normally know for selling vege seeds, etc) was
"stratified" in the freezer and never grew. Whether this was due to old seed
or the freezing, I'll never know. Since then, I've always cooled the seed in
the regular part of the fridge, normally in small "zip-lock" plastic bags, or
in 35mm film containers (very handy "boxes" these - I also use them for VFTs
in winter, when I remember...). In spring, you revive the seeds by soaking
them in luke-warm water (not too hot!) overnight (shake the seeds down into
the water occasionally, as they tend to stick on the surface). The seeds that
sink are then planted, and those that don't are either soaked longer or
discarded. This method was suggested by the VCPS some years ago, and is quite
successful.

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| John Taylor [The Banshee] | Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology |
| rphjt@minyos.xx.rmit.oz.au | Department of Applied Physics |
| MOKING IS A HEALTH HAZARD. | Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA |
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