Betulus pendula,weeping white birch seed propagation experience?? Need info please :)

[Sean Walker]

I’m trying my hand at JM seeds this year and just got done moving a couple that broke out from their fridge stratification bags to the grow rack, came upstairs and was looking out my window at the birch in my front yard and guess what they have seeds also so I want to try growing them but wow they are tiny and the instructions Sheffield’s has on how to grow them is a bit confusing to me (remember I’m a novice) . Here’s what it reads.....

Growing Info, follow in order:
Scarification: none required.
Stratification: cold stratify for 60 days.
Germination: requires light for germination, surface sow and keep moist.
Other: stratification may be used instread of surface sowing, it is better to surface sow if possible.

I understand the 60 day stratification but the germination requiring light and the “Other” also is confusing?
Does it mean after stratification just sow them on top of the “soil” and put under a grow light? But as I mentioned the other makes me pause?
If you’ve grown these let me know your process please and with them being so small what medium did you use if any to cold stratify.

 

[rodeolthr]

For me, the easiest approach would be to seed them directly on top of the growing material in some sort of seed flat and stratify in that manner, outside. The seed is so small that it might prove problematic to move them once they begin to germinate. I germinate all my trees this way.....just let nature do the work. Of course you're in a different climate, but you should have good luck. FWIW, these come up all over my garden......to the point of being weedy. Of course that hasn't kept me from throwing them into training pots.

 

[Shibui]

Birch seed germinates readily in all my pots without any treatment. Seed that requires light to germinate should have just the very thinnest covering of sand or vermiculite so some sun can reach the seed. Normal sunlight is what these have used for millions of years but I assume that grow light will also work.
As above, easiest is to sow the seeds in a pot or flat and keep them outside protected from birds and animals until spring. They will get light and stratification and germinate when the time is right in spring.