Hi,
I started a batch of seedlings outdoors on the 9th of this month. They are in cell trays with undertrays and were covered with domes until the first ones started sprouting.

I haven't done seeds this time of year before. I think something is wrong. Only a small number of them have sprouted. They don't have the covers now. Some were developing algae. They are overhead watered about every other day.

Do you think the ones that are missing will germinate more than 3 weeks later?


Note: I DID learn that they seem to like the cheap soil conditioner type of medium (pictured) better than the more expensive seed soil.

I just planted some in sponges last week... Im shocked, but they are sprouting really fast. I think it is because it is so hot. I wanted a head start, and they were just hanging out in the fridge anyway. Thought thinking of all the work to plant them, would keep me off the LA and seeds this fall.

No way. You're STILL using sponges??? LOL I shouldn't knock them if they're working.

lol...I thought you would appreciate that. I just dont plant anywhere near as many seeds as you tho. Its really a lazy thing, they are so darn easy, and pretty foolproof for me.

Pam - Sponges? Please elaborate how you are germinating your seeds!

Park seeds has the sponges that you can buy Becky. I have used them and they do work good.

I use the small, 120 count size, it is big enough, and the roots are down in the water anyway. I did have some of the next size up, those are what the seeds I just planted in are in, I figured they would be in their longer, so we shall see. I have used my trays for at least 6 or 7 years without any replacement issues. I seem to be the only one who cant seem to grow a good seedling, and need the sponges, but they work for me, and they are so EASY.

I'm happy to say that I see more sprouts everyday on mine outside. I guess I just need to be patient.

I used to start them, or try to, and just planted in flats they seemed to take forever--chilling in a refridgerator fo three weeks might help. I had better luck planting in the Fall. Weedy

LOL, Weedy, most of them were in the fridge for 2 years.

If they germinate sporadically over several weeks (or months sometimes) it means a percentage of them have seed dormancy. That's where refrigeration comes in but dry refrigeration isn't effective. They need to be refrigerated damp, such as in damp vemiculite, damp sand, damp perlite, damp coffee filters or other media for a few weeks before being started at room temperature. If you do that they should all germinate together within a week or two after coming out of the fridge. Not everyone has seed dormancy in their daylily seeds which is why there are always conflicting opinions on this but basically if they sprout erratically over weeks or months then you do have seed dormancy. You can either put up with it if you don't mind waiting, or damp chill them prior to starting to avoid the delay.

We bought a new refrigerator and I had an entire crisper drawer full of seeds dating back to the nineties in the old one, must be thousands, I'm starting on the new one as She who thinks she must be listened to lets me use an entire frig drawer for my seeds and or plants or a shelf if I chill a whole flat-this works better if you soak, plant, water,, chill for weeks then move to a warm spot. I already have two years of seeds in the new frig, including phlox seeds i learned to pollinate for in 2014. I have some species crosses flava X minor that I may yet plant, and some Ed Murray seedlings X Wild Horses however my procrastination caught up with me this last week and I think I caught lyme disease. Years of just pulling the ticks off and I should have known better but at least I think I caught a new infection in time-doxycycline for two weeks-hope it does it.

Thanks so much. Sue, I've been breeding for dormancy so I'm glad they're coming up sporatically. I'm in no hurry. I'm still seeing new ones every day.

Dormancy in seeds isn't necessarily related to dormancy in the whole plant, but it's not something that has actually been studied. Some people do (inadvertently?) select for lack of seed dormancy if they don't wait for the stragglers, though, and only keep the first ones that come up.

Lalambchop1,
Can you go into more detail by what is meant by "breeding for dormancy" , and why you would be happy they are coming up sporadically? I am just curious, don't know much about hybridizing.

Hi Larry,
Come on over to the new thread on hybridizing and I'll tell you.

The thread "Hybridizer Questions" in Daylilies forum