Bonsai:Seed hydratation

Usually, at this time of the year, I prepare different types of seeds used in bonsai penjing for March and May germination. The first step of the seed germination is the hydratation. Seeds from temperate zone (Ulmus, Prunus, Pinus...ect.) are hydrated in the fridge temperature (3 to 5°C) from 48 to 72H. After the hydratation phase, the seeds are ready for the cold stratification from 1 to 8 months.


Nothofagus alpina, 0,5 gr ~~83seeds, 3 months cold stratification


Celtis sinensis, 5 gr. ~~187 seeds, 3 to 5 months cold stratification


Nandina dosmestica 'Nana', 10gr. ~~382 seeds, 3 to 4 months cold stratification


Zelkova serrata, 5gr.~~210 seeds, 2 to 4 months cold stratification


Pinus densiflora, 5gr.~~410 seeds, 3 to 5 months cold stratification


Acer burgerianum, 10gr.~~890 seeds, 3 to 4 months cold stratification.


Seed hydratation with fresh water


Fridge temperature hydratation from 48H to 72H


Regards,
Giang
___________________
www.lotus-bonsai.com

Hey Giang

I just did my Maples 2 days ago. In the hydration phase do you find the sinkers are the viable seeds and the floaters are infertile? I know that applies to some seeds. What has been your experience?
-Jay

Hi Jay,
During the hydratation phase, the sinker seeds do not mean that these seeds are viable. It shows that the seeds contain the protein reserves for the development of the embryo later. The viability of the seeds depends on many factors.

Giang,

giangus wrote:Hi Jay,
During the hydratation phase, the sinker seeds do not mean that these seeds are viable. It shows that the seeds contain the protein reserves for the development of the embryo later. The viability of the seeds depends on many factors.

Giang,

Interesting, so one shouldn't discard "floaters" for any reason?
-Jay

Hi, some seeds are pretty heavy such as the Celtis species, the seeds go down immediately. Then, you have some seeds like the chinese elm, they stay mostly at the surface of the water, when you hydrate them.

I often take the whole hydrated seeds for the stratification , in this way i give them a chance to germinate.
Giang

hi,
i must thank you for the recent posts on propogation - i have used your advice and have seeds in a mix of powdered charcoal, fresh sphagnum (and perlite). I have seeds of black, white and red pine from a very good seed supplier - the were hydrated in warm water and are now in the fridge in the charcoal mixture.

the seed packets said cold fridge for : red pine (densiflora) 6-8 weeks, then warm to grow, black pine (thumbergi) 6-8 weeks cold then warm to grow, and the white pine (pentaphylla) seeds are labeled deeply dormant so need a total of 36 weeks - 40% cold, 60% warm before germination.

I will be making the garlic tea for them one they grow too.

thanks again, Marcus

After the stratification, maples are being germinated in greenhouse. At this stage, the seedling are sensitive to micro organisms, I daily use garlic tea to water till the first pair of leaves.


Maples germination





In good conditions of cultivation, these seedlings can reach the height between 40 and 90 cm in November

regards,
giang
www.lotus-bonsai.com
www.figurinesbonsai.com

Would cold stratification be necessary for variants growing in warmer climates? I picked some Florida red maple sees off of the side of the road and just put them in some soil and they germinated in a few days.

Hi,
The gender Acer is from the temperate climate. Their seeds need a cold period to activate the proteins that control the germination. Imagine, the seeds of those trees fall and germinate immediately like tropical trees in autumn, the winter negative temerature will destroy the seedlings. It's a natural cycle. To improve the germination rate, we use fridge temperature to keep the seeds hydrated from 2 to 6 months. It depends on the species.

regards,
giang

Germination of Nothofagus, 5% germinated seeds.


Germination of Celtis sinensis, 80% germinated seeds


Acer palmatum, 40% germinated seeds

regards
giang