Best way to germinate seeds

[AndrewAustralia]

Hi everyone,

I did a quick search of this forum and found a post similar to this but I feel I need more of answer.

I have a handful of maple seeds i got from Japan. I understand that they need to 'germinate' before i put them in the soil. My question is, which is the best technique?
The instructions claim to just put them in the fridge for 1-3 months, but I've read online that you have to put them with soil in a plastic bag, keeping the soil damp as time goes by. I've also seen people soaking them for a day in water?

Also, should I put them in the fridge now? Considering 3 months from now is just the end of summer, perhaps it's best to wait a little while longer???


Little bit confused, and need some advice!!

[fredman]

Maple seeds needs stratification as part of their natural "cycle". How successful they will germinate without that I don't know. Seems to me yours weren't stratified in Japan or they would've started germinating already.
I left mine in the fridge for 4 months during winter....covered in a damp paper. They started germinating in their all by themselves...
Would be interesting to hear what the people in the know says about you situation...

[Blackfoot]

I've had great results with Japanese cedar, trident maple and shimpaku by doing a pretty standard wet paper towel for a week or so and then sowing the seeds in a seedling punnet and simply keeping it in the fridge UNTIL winter (a good couple months) then they get the cool season as a buffer to help transition. I've had a lot of luck this far, but I think it's mostly that, luck.

[dansai]

There has been a few discussions regarding the need, or lack there of, of stratification of seeds. Fresh Japanese maple seeds have done better without stratification. I did half with and half without and those without (direct sown into good potting mix) are growing well whereas those I stratified have had fungal problems and I have lost about half. My climate would be different to yours and they were fresh seeds. If you have got seeds from Japan there is a good chance they are not fresh so they may need stratification to break dormancy. The ones I did stratify only took a couple of weeks to germinate so you may still have time this year. Maybe try a few direct, some stratify and keep a few to do next winter and report back to let us know how you went.

[shibui]

Fresh maple seed will germinate without stratification. I just sow the seed in pots (seed raising mix or potting mix) as soon as they come off the tree. They will germinate in spring.

Maple seed that has been dried and stored tends to go into deep dormancy and it can be difficult to wake it up enough to get it to germinate. Maybe that's why stratification is recommended.
You will need moist stratification - put seed into damp sand, peat, perlite, etc - don't use soil or potting mix because it will have too many nasties that can attack the seed while it is stored in the fridge - keep it in the fridge for at least 6 weeks then take the seed out and plant it into potting mix or seed raising mix and .
Not sure whether to do that now. As you say they will be coming up just in time to go dormant for winter - probably not so good. I like Dansai's ideas - try some different methods and see what happens.

There will be lots of slightly different advice because there is never one right way to grow plants. Lots of different things can work so good luck with the seeds.

[treeman]

They will need to be stratified if they have dried out to any extent.
You cannot do that now as you need 3 months at 4 degrees C so it will be the end of summer then.
Place them in a paper bag and then inside a glass jar in the fridge. In June take them out and soak them over night in almost hot water. In the morning, remove (and use) those which have sunk to the bottom of the glass.
Place them in a clean pot half filled with vermiculite (the absolute best medium for stratifying) then cover with more vermiculite until the pot is full. Run the pot under a dripping tap until there is a reasonable amount of moisture in the mix but no where near wet or dripping. Place the pot into a plastic bag with a few small holes in it. Put it in the fridge for 3 months at 4C. (more or less) In spring carefully remove them from the vermiculite (some may have a root starting) and sow them into a good quality fresh seed raising mix. Cover the mix with 1cm vermiculite. Water in with Fongarid once. Keep JUST moist until germination occurs (if it does).
Let us know what happens.

[AndrewAustralia]

Well i can guarantee you these are not fresh. They look hard and are dark brown so definetely old. The kit they gave me had some soil in it. Not entirely sure what kind of 'mix' is in the pot.

I guess I have to keep checking these terms to full understand stratification and germination etc.

Perhaps I will put some in the fridge now either in a bag on their own or in some moist soil? Guess I just gotta try and see which one works.

[kcpoole]

Well i can guarantee you these are not fresh. They look hard and are dark brown so definetely old. The kit they gave me had some soil in it. Not entirely sure what kind of 'mix' is in the pot.

I guess I have to keep checking these terms to full understand stratification and germination etc.

Perhaps I will put some in the fridge now either in a bag on their own or in some moist soil? Guess I just gotta try and see which one works.

IMHO Keep it simple. in some conditions, seed will require stratification ( see the wiki https://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index. ... tification ), in order to germinate ( https://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index. ... ermination ) , Some will not.

As mentioned above, Do not use SOIL to stratify in, Get some moss, sharp propagating sand or as Treeman says just a paper bag.
Moisten them do make waterlogged.
Put in the fridge for 6 weeks - 4 months ( depending on whose post above you follow)

Check them every few days and if they start to throw roots then put them and keep in moist environment until established

while waiting for them to stratify, read this howto in the wiki
https://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index. ... _from_seed


Ken

[itsfullofstars]

Agreed don't use soil. It's a breeding ground for all sorts of things.

Perlite and peat moss has given me good success with Japanese Maples seed.

Germination time for dormant seeds has varied greatly for me!

Some time frames for me

In fridge 28/4/14 - Started sprouting 21/7/14. Were in greenhouse for rest of winter.
Autumn glory seeds in fridge 20/2/2015 - Sprouted 21/5/15
Osakazuki seeds in fridge 6/2/15 - First sprouted 29/4/15
Seiryu seeds in fridge 18/3/2015 - Sprouted 9/5/15. These were very quick.

I have some fresh sekimori seeds that i picked yesterday. Fresh and green, i've never tried to grow green fresh seeds? I will try and germinate these now, i wish had more!

[treeman]

Sometimes I don't know why I bother..... The question was THE BEST WAY to germinate maple seeds. Not what sorta kinda might work. They need to be properly stored until it's the correct time. They need to be soaked in hot water if they are old. They need MOIST straification for 3 months. They may not germinate if very old and dry.

[AndrewAustralia]

So many answers! I'll have to try a couple of methods. I only have about 6 so we'll see what happens..


Question if all six germinate for example... How many would I put in the pot? Just one? Two? Three? All? :/

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[kcpoole]

So many answers! I'll have to try a couple of methods. I only have about 6 so we'll see what happens..


Question if all six germinate for example... How many would I put in the pot? Just one? Two? Three? All? :/

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Put them all in. You can separate them later if they all shoot

Ken

[shibui]

I think, by the sound of it, Andrew means to wait until the seeds sprout in a bag or similar but even if you sow the seed in a community pot and wait till they come up it is best to transfer to individual pots as soon as you can.
Individual pots allow the seedlings to grow quicker because they don't compete for food or light. I prick out seedlings as soon as they are big enough to hold onto. Don't worry about breaking the root because it doesn't hurt them, just forces them to grow lateral roots quicker.
If you don't get time or are worried about hurting them they will still survive together in a community pot through the growing season and you can separate them at the next repotting opportunity - there's always more than one way to grow a plant.....

[AndrewAustralia]

Yep pretty much what I'm talking about shibui

Thanks. Heaps of information. I've been busy with work so I'm hoping Saturday or Sunday I can sort it out. I keep delaying it in the back of my mind because I don't want to stuff it up! I have it in my head that bonsais are so delicate. I dare not disturb them haha.

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