Starting from seed

[Backwardsvg]

I plucked a bunch or bald cypress seeds from a local monster and I’m wondering do they need more cold strat? They have been on the tree for months in the cold so couldn’t you in theory just pluck them off and pot them up?

I guess on the tree they weren’t moist but you’d think that it’s been 60 days of colder weather so it might satisfy the strat. And if you put in a moist media it should kick start it?

 

[Pixar]

Plant half and stick half in the fridge . See what happens

 

[Backwardsvg]

That’s what I think I’m going to do for an experiment but I didn’t know if anyone had done it before hah. Trying not to reinvent the wheel

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

The cold doesn't care if a seed is on a tree or not, it'll be cold and it will get in there.
So I guess you've had the cold part of the stratification, but not the moist part. I think the two can be apart from each other, at least.. I didn't need extra stratification for seeds that were stored dry in the freezer.

 

[Backwardsvg]

I’m gonna plant some out and see what happens. Also threw some in the fridge. I’ll report back

 

[Damart81]

Interested in doing the same, excited to see update in a couple of months!

 

[leatherback]

plant them in a pot and keep them outside. Wait for spring. Get germination.

 

[Backwardsvg]

Ya I was thinking that but with bald cypress I hear in my northern climate they take a long time to sprout since they need a higher heat so I want to get a jump on it so I can grow them outside longer. I have hundreds of seeds I collected so its more for the fun of the experiment than anything


I did do some Montmorency cherry seeds in the fridge and planted them out and they are growing very well

 

[LittleDingus]

My cold stratification process is damp paper towel in a ziplock in the refrigerator. After the first month, I take them out every 2 weeks and set them on the table overnight to warm up. Sometimes I forget and they sit 2 or 3 nights on the table.

But then I check them. I can deal with any mold then if needed. but mostly what I'm looking for are splits and roots or other signs of germination. If they've germinated...they get a pot! If not, they go back in the refrigerator for two more weeks.

This lets me pull out everything that has broken dormancy and continue of with everything that hasn't. After 3 months I start leaving them out overnight to warm every week.

When I've done this with bald cypress, I've used sphagnum moss instead of napkins...I'm actually trying with napkins for the first time right now. But historically, I've used sphagnum because it can be kept wetter without mold issue. Long strand sphagnum has weak anti-fungal properties.

 

[W3rk]

My cold stratification process is damp paper towel in a ziplock in the refrigerator. After the first month, I take them out every 2 weeks and set them on the table overnight to warm up. Sometimes I forget and they sit 2 or 3 nights on the table.

But then I check them. I can deal with any mold then if needed. but mostly what I'm looking for are splits and roots or other signs of germination. If they've germinated...they get a pot! If not, they go back in the refrigerator for two more weeks.

This lets me pull out everything that has broken dormancy and continue of with everything that hasn't. After 3 months I start leaving them out overnight to warm every week.

When I've done this with bald cypress, I've used sphagnum moss instead of napkins...I'm actually trying with napkins for the first time right now. But historically, I've used sphagnum because it can be kept wetter without mold issue. Long strand sphagnum has weak anti-fungal properties.

I've used both paper towels and sphagnum. I usually spray them with a diluted hydrogen peroxide mix which is good for killing/cleaning unwanted things.

Specifically for BC I grew a good batch from seed a year ago. I just let them cold stratify for a month or two in the fridge. I potted up half of them inside and early to get a head start. Overall I had a good 50% germination rate and all of them that grew grew very well.

 

[cmeg1]

I was just looking at BC Seeds today and on the fence whether I should get some and then I decided I don’t have the money at the time ,but I read 60 to 90 days stratification they do look like ……quite an interesting tree especially when the branches get thick and start building tertiary branching…..such a nice exciting green coloring to themalso

 

[Backwardsvg]

I was just looking at BC Seeds today and on the fence whether I should get some and then I decided I don’t have the money at the time ,but I read 60 to 90 days stratification they do look like ……quite an interesting tree especially when the branches get thick and start building tertiary branching…..such a nice exciting green coloring to themalso

I collected a huge plastic bag full if you want me to send ya some! @cmeg1

 

[cmeg1]

I collected a huge plastic bag full if you want me to send ya some! @cmeg1

Sure….pm me please

I was trying to source ezo spruce…picea glehnii for almost 3 hours…..just ain’t happening.