JBP Seeds Stratifying

[nurvbonsai]

greetings,

I was wondering if someone could tell me what this white spot is that I noticed this morning on some seeds I was trying to stratify?

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Fungus, and quite spread too.
That's not always a problem, by far most fungi don't eat seeds. But plenty of them do.
I'd pick this patch of mycelium out and air the bag more often.
That.. Or put it in the freezer instead. Fungus doesn't grow at subzero temps.

JBP doesn't require much stratification by the way, mine always germinated perfectly fine without.

 

[Wulfskaar]

I've had nearly a 100% germination rate without stratification and only an overnight soak in warm water.

 

[nurvbonsai]

Fungus, and quite spread too.
That's not always a problem, by far most fungi don't eat seeds. But plenty of them do.
I'd pick this patch of mycelium out and air the bag more often.
That.. Or put it in the freezer instead. Fungus doesn't grow at subzero temps.

JBP doesn't require much stratification by the way, mine always germinated perfectly fine without.

I pulled it out and stuck in freezer.

I've had nearly a 100% germination rate without stratification and only an overnight soak in warm water.

I was told three months. The plan was to try and grow them in a grow house during winter. Is this good?

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

What is a grow house?
A cannabis like setup would work cmeg is doing it like that. A cold greenhouse is less ideal, dependant on your temperatures. If it gets too cold, best to keep the seeds frozen until spring.
Young seedlings tend to not do very great in cold winters, especially JBP. Which is why I dubbed them the spoiled prince of bonsai; out of all the 14 or so pine species I have owned, JBP was the easiest to kill.
I gave up trying.

 

[nurvbonsai]

What is a grow house?
A cannabis like setup would work cmeg is doing it like that. A cold greenhouse is less ideal, dependant on your temperatures. If it gets too cold, best to keep the seeds frozen until spring.
Young seedlings tend to not do very great in cold winters, especially JBP. Which is why I dubbed them the spoiled prince of bonsai; out of all the 14 or so pine species I have owned, JBP was the easiest to kill.
I gave up trying.

I meant grow tent: ie my bathroom

 

[Wulfskaar]

I grew my first JBP seeds in fall, but we have super mild winters. I started another batch the following spring.

I don't think having that extra few months did much for them and the later spring ones caught up easily.

While it's probably possible to grow them now in a grow tent, I'd probably just wait a few more months. Also, like I said, don't sweat having to cold stratify the seeds for 3 months. They simply don't require it, although it shouldn't hurt either.

 

[nurvbonsai]

I grew my first JBP seeds in fall, but we have super mild winters. I started another batch the following spring.

I don't think having that extra few months did much for them and the later spring ones caught up easily.

While it's probably possible to grow them now in a grow tent, I'd probably just wait a few more months. Also, like I said, don't sweat having to cold stratify the seeds for 3 months. They simply don't require it, although it shouldn't hurt either.

What about any longer? If they are in freezer can I plant them next spring (April 1) Or order more in January?

 

[Wulfskaar]

What about any longer? If they are in freezer can I plant them next spring (April 1) Or order more in January?

I'm not sure, as I've never frozen seeds before. It's probably fine.

Also, I usually sow mine more like March 1 or even late Feb, but when you do so depends on your climate. I would do it as soon as you think there won't be any more frosts. Or even start them in the tent in Feb/Mar and put them outside once it warms up a bit.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

I meant grow tent: ie my bathroom

I think it could work but they'd be weak and require time to adjust to the outdoors, about as much time as it would take for them to germinate in spring when you take them out of the freezer.
I've started a couple indoors for fun, it works but it aint great.

 

[Shibui]

What about any longer? If they are in freezer can I plant them next spring (April 1) Or order more in January?

I suspect this depends on what stage they seeds were up to.
No problem storing fresh seeds in the freezer. It actually prolongs their life but if your seeds have already begun to germinate the freezing might kill that developing embryo.
I can confirm that stratification is not necessary for JBP seed.
I can also confirm that JBP seed will lie dormant while temps are too cold. Seedlings only emerge when temps warm in Spring.
Not sure what your best option for these seeds now.

Fungus, and quite spread too.
That's not always a problem, by far most fungi don't eat seeds. But plenty of them do.
I'd pick this patch of mycelium out and air the bag more often.
That.. Or put it in the freezer instead. Fungus doesn't grow at subzero temps.

Hydrogen peroxide is another alternative treatment. Seeds often carry fungal spores so a rinse in H2O2 before stratifying will sanitize the seeds. Also treat the substrate at the same time. I've also used H2O2 to rinse stratified seeds that developed fungus during stratification.

I don't think having that extra few months did much for them and the later spring ones caught up easily.

This is also my findings. Germinating indoors has lots of drawbacks - fungal disease, low light + long, etoiliated stems and you'll rarely end up with any advantage long term.

 

[NashsMan]

What is a grow house?
A cannabis like setup would work cmeg is doing it like that. A cold greenhouse is less ideal, dependant on your temperatures. If it gets too cold, best to keep the seeds frozen until spring.
Young seedlings tend to not do very great in cold winters, especially JBP. Which is why I dubbed them the spoiled prince of bonsai; out of all the 14 or so pine species I have owned, JBP was the easiest to kill.
I gave up trying.

Well, I have that experience with Japanese White Pines! My JBP seem to thrive but I've managed to kill off 50% of the JWP I've owned. Red pines are also doing well; but JWP has been an expensive lesson.

 

[Russ1]

Planted my JBP seeds (from one growing in a barrel in my yard) in Mid Feb in my cold poly Greenhouse and they started sprouting in March thru April.. They did great..
Re-potted from community pot to separate pots this April.
Here they are 1-1/2 yrs later (last week).

Something has changed here, can't upload images as taken and even rotated sideways it still is wrong..

 

[BrightsideB]

Like others say don’t worry about stratification. You could have planted those seeds and as long as they were viable they’d of sprouted within a week or two.

 

[BrightsideB]

Planted my JBP seeds (from one growing in a barrel in my yard) in Mid Feb in my cold poly Greenhouse and they started sprouting in March thru April.. They did great..
Re-potted from community pot to separate pots this April.
Here they are 1-1/2 yrs later (last week).

Something has changed here, can't upload images as taken and even rotated sideways it still is wrong..View attachment 616450

Add some random bends !

 

[Russ1]

Add some random bends !

Already started wiring, mostly for Shohin and Mame.