Mine are since a few weeks outside. We do have a very mild winter, but it's still cold enough for the seeds, so no fridge needed here.

Maybe stratification for this species is over-rated? When I checked my pots on heat mats this morning looking for germinators, the only one of this group I placed on heat had germinated. It is Calycanthus floridus #2 on my log; a seed from one of the two that are of uncertain parentage. That is 34 days since I scarified and put them in a hot water soak.
Later today or tomorrow when some of the soil falls away from the seed capsule as the cotyledon continues to emerge I will take a photo and post it.
There is no sign of activity among the wintersown examples. I am wondering, JB, if they could have been pre-stratified naturally if you left them on the bush well into cold temperatures for your area?

That may well have been the case. Excellent thought. Thank you so much.

poisondartfrog said:Maybe stratification for this species is over-rated? When I checked my pots on heat mats this morning looking for germinators, the only one of this group I placed on heat had germinated. It is Calycanthus floridus #2 on my log; a seed from one of the two that are of uncertain parentage. That is 34 days since I scarified and put them in a hot water soak.
Later today or tomorrow when some of the soil falls away from the seed capsule as the cotyledon continues to emerge I will take a photo and post it.
There is no sign of activity among the wintersown examples. I am wondering, JB, if they could have been pre-stratified naturally if you left them on the bush well into cold temperatures for your area?

You might be right Alana. Really looking forward to your experiences.
But anyway, it's much too early to expect any germination in the winter sown containers here. Too cold.
If the Sweet shrub is really hardy to zone 6, it's not a problem to winter sow them.
I'm curious about how the seedlings will survive and grow further in different circumstances.
Which ones will grow better: the ones who were grown on heat or the ones who were winter sowed?
Very exciting to follow this experience

I must get mine out of the frig this week and plant them. The ones outside are full of snow again. This is very exciting and we will all learn from it.

Here is the promised photo.

Can you imagine that. How great.........oh my.........I am speechless. I pray it grows. Thanks so much for showing it to me. I am going to move it to my FB timeline to keep track of it. Thanks again.

Well done Alana

I planted mine today. Brain dead me, I forgot to see if #3 had any floaters, #2 had only 1 and Michael Lindsey had 8, so I planted the three good ones separate from the others because I forgot to ask if you even bother to plant the floaters. Do you plant the floaters?

I would like the answer to that question as well. I just put my 6 Michael Lindsey seeds in a cup of hot water. 3 are floating.

poisondartfrog said:Here is the promised photo.

How deep did you plant your seed ? Thanks, hope I get one to germinate ! Good job !

I did not plant them too deep but maybe 1/2 to 3/4 inch....just guessing since I really was thinking about how they grow outside.

I started an update on the sweet shrub experiment thread on the Seeds forum to keep those who showed interest in our experiment what is happening as we go along. If you have anything to add feel free to do so, I just am sure some of the people who were talking to us early when this was just in the discussion stage would be interested in knowing what is happening. I was not sure if they were able to see our thread we post on. I did not know how that works since it is just us posting on it. If they can see our thread it is not necessary and we can delete the new one. Please let me know.....I hate getting old and forgetting things like that, but it totally slipped my mind. Sorry.

Thanks JB. I never go on the Seed forum for some reason, will have to check it out. I think you do a wonderful job and are not 'too old'.

This is the seed forum we are on now. Do you mean you do not look at the other threads? I don't either because I can't grow them and it frustrates me.

I do know this is the seed forum, just never look at the other threads.

I have zinnia seeds coming up now and the Mammoth sunflower seeds. I usually can get seeds to grow just have to be careful not to keep the soil too moist once they come up so as not to get that damping off disease.

I am sure that is my problem too wet. Now if I can just figure out what to do next not to kill them I will be o k.
I had a Tree Mail from Rick saying he can see this thread, so I am going to try and cancel the other one. If I can. For some reason I thought no one could see it. Duh.

Thanks everyone. I will be interested in seeing how my hothouse baby stands up against the plants we will have with colder beginnings.
I planted the seeds about a half inch deep, no more, quietyard. The cotyledons have still not expanded, but once the plant starts into active growth I will post a new photo.

for the info Alana, I will do like wise.

The floating ones won't germinate, so I didn't sow them.

Thank you Jonna. I really appreciate learning that little trick. I think I told you that is how we check our chicken eggs to see if they are still good to eat. If they float, NO EAT. That of course does not mean they are not fertile, just rotten and not fit for human consumption.

When you buy seeds, no matter what size, do you always check them to see if they are o.k. by putting them in water?