Warm/Cold stratification

[Demosouthpaw]

Hi guys,

I was recently given some "Japanese Maple" (Acer palmatum) seeds from my grandma (she is trying to teach me how to take things slower in life lol). She told me that the seeds must undergo a stratification process before they can germinate. I am familiar with stratification but, she is telling me to put them in a plastic tote with peat moss, some charcoal, and a tiny amount of water and let it sit under my sink for 4months; THEN i must do the same but in my refrigerator for another 4months, AND then and only then may I sow the seeds. Now 8 months is a long time to wait for seeds to grow, and even then she only gave me 5 seeds. I soaked them in water for 24hours (as she instructed) and all sank to the bottom. So I guess all 5 have life in em. Ive done some research but still have some questions;

1) So I guess my question is; does the stratification process for these seeds really take that long to break its dormancy?

2) And if so do the seeds need both warm and cold stratification?

3) Which method should I employ first if both types of stratification are required?

Any response will be greatly appreciated. =)

 

[milehigh_7]

Dirr and Heuser (a book you will want if you plan on doing much propagating) says the following. If the seeds are dry they should be soaked at 110F for two days then dusted with fungicide and stratified in moist peat at 40F for 3-5 months.


Here is a link to the book, it is fairly inexpensive. http://www.amazon.com/Reference-Man...e+reference+manual+of+woody+plant+propagation

 

[Demosouthpaw]

Okay I will see if I can get a pdf version of the book. Thanks for the info.

 

[Zone10Stratifier]

Hi guys,

I was recently given some "Japanese Maple" (Acer palmatum) seeds from my grandma (she is trying to teach me how to take things slower in life lol). She told me that the seeds must undergo a stratification process before they can germinate. I am familiar with stratification but, she is telling me to put them in a plastic tote with peat moss, some charcoal, and a tiny amount of water and let it sit under my sink for 4months; THEN i must do the same but in my refrigerator for another 4months, AND then and only then may I sow the seeds. Now 8 months is a long time to wait for seeds to grow, and even then she only gave me 5 seeds. I soaked them in water for 24hours (as she instructed) and all sank to the bottom. So I guess all 5 have life in em. Ive done some research but still have some questions;

1) So I guess my question is; does the stratification process for these seeds really take that long to break its dormancy?

2) And if so do the seeds need both warm and cold stratification?

3) Which method should I employ first if both types of stratification are required?

Any response will be greatly appreciated. =)

What I’ve seen and read, some maples require only cold stratification (40F in fridge for 60-90-120 day) I recently got seeds that need warm and cold stratification. Warm means room temp to about 70F.

Cold strat I placed in ziplock bag with moist medium, warm strat I have heating pads I can place the ziplock on top of or sit in the laundry room lol.
Please look up Sheffields.com Sheffield seed co, they have explanations on how to sow seed and what strat and germination techniques are required per genus. Hope that helped a bit.

 

[doc spring _work]

Hi guys,

I was recently given some "Japanese Maple" (Acer palmatum) seeds from my grandma (she is trying to teach me how to take things slower in life lol). She told me that the seeds must undergo a stratification process before they can germinate. I am familiar with stratification but, she is telling me to put them in a plastic tote with peat moss, some charcoal, and a tiny amount of water and let it sit under my sink for 4months; THEN i must do the same but in my refrigerator for another 4months, AND then and only then may I sow the seeds. Now 8 months is a long time to wait for seeds to grow, and even then she only gave me 5 seeds. I soaked them in water for 24hours (as she instructed) and all sank to the bottom. So I guess all 5 have life in em. Ive done some research but still have some questions;

1) So I guess my question is; does the stratification process for these seeds really take that long to break its dormancy?

2) And if so do the seeds need both warm and cold stratification?

3) Which method should I employ first if both types of stratification are required?

Any response will be greatly appreciated. =)

Cool to see an older thread popping up! Do you have any updates? Did they take?