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Jan 24, 2016 3:02 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: David Laderoute
Zone 5B/6 - NW MO (Zone 5b)
Ignoring Zones altogether
Seed Starter Avid Green Pages Reviewer Garden Ideas: Level 1
January 12 - experiment with Canna seeds. I used a mix of seeds from 3 different plants and mixed them randomly. I planted 6 seeds for each test - 24 total.

Control - soak overnight in H2O2/water solution
Test 1 - scarified on sandpaper and soak overnight in H2O2/water solution
Test 2 - chemical scarification in Potassium Nitrate
Test 3 - Boiling water over seed - scarified

Control & Tests 1 & 2 did overnight 12th. I did the boiling water 1/13.

Planted 1/13 on heat mats and under lights.

I intentionally did not do a control or test by just planting the seed. Have done that before and my and others experience is - FOREVER.

I also did not do one with just soaking in water. I only do H2O2 and water now. 1/2 cup H2O2 per gallon on the mixture.

My first seed popped up on 1/21 - nine days. I was a bit surprised that it was Test 1. I have read that the boiling treatment is the only way to go. As of today, no others have germinated.
Seeking Feng Shui with my plants since 1976
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Jan 24, 2016 6:03 PM CST
Name: Caroline Scott
Calgary (Zone 4a)
Bulbs Winter Sowing Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Peonies Lilies Charter ATP Member
Region: Canadian Enjoys or suffers cold winters Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Garden Ideas: Master Level
I have always done scarify, soak, and then plant with good results under lights.
Last year I did a winter sow which gave germination, but they did not grow very large.
I did not scarify or soak ---just planted outdoors in jugs.
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Jan 24, 2016 6:12 PM CST
Name: KadieD
Oceania, Mariana Islands (Zone 11b)
Wet Tropical AHS Zone 12
Adeniums Tropicals Morning Glories Container Gardener Seed Starter Garden Ideas: Level 1
Dog Lover Cat Lover Bee Lover Vegetable Grower Butterflies Permaculture
David,
Your seed starter media/mix is also soaked with H2O2/water solution, right?
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Jan 24, 2016 6:14 PM CST
Name: Karen
Valencia, Pa (Zone 6a)
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Cut Flowers Winter Sowing Charter ATP Member Seed Starter Echinacea
Plant and/or Seed Trader Region: Ohio Region: United States of America Butterflies Hummingbirder Celebrating Gardening: 2015
I never tried them, but when I belonged to GadenWeb, a lot of people wintersowed them.

Karen
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Jan 24, 2016 6:15 PM CST
Name: Caroline Scott
Calgary (Zone 4a)
Bulbs Winter Sowing Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Peonies Lilies Charter ATP Member
Region: Canadian Enjoys or suffers cold winters Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Garden Ideas: Master Level
That is probably where I got the idea!
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Jan 24, 2016 6:51 PM CST
Name: Sherry
Northern California
Sunset Zone 17
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Region: Pacific Northwest Seed Starter Region: California Plant Identifier
Okay, I do have some older seeds of canna 'Firecracker' that I brought up here with me and I was thinking that I might want to grow some here, see how they do, or give them to neighbors...so I'll experiment also....
I could be wrong...
and.....
"maybe I should have kept my mouth shut....."
The Urge for Seeds is Strong in This One.....
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Jan 24, 2016 7:24 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: David Laderoute
Zone 5B/6 - NW MO (Zone 5b)
Ignoring Zones altogether
Seed Starter Avid Green Pages Reviewer Garden Ideas: Level 1
Rainbow said:David,
Your seed starter media/mix is also soaked with H2O2/water solution, right?


Yep.

And when I moisten the surcface, or spray seedlings or add water under my cell trays, I use the H2O2 mixture.
Seeking Feng Shui with my plants since 1976
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Jan 24, 2016 7:26 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: David Laderoute
Zone 5B/6 - NW MO (Zone 5b)
Ignoring Zones altogether
Seed Starter Avid Green Pages Reviewer Garden Ideas: Level 1
kqcrna said:I never tried them, but when I belonged to GadenWeb, a lot of people wintersowed them.

Karen


Won't work in my Zone - only where they are hardy - which ain't here. Big Grin
I do leave some in the ground that are very near my house and heavily mulched.
Seeking Feng Shui with my plants since 1976
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Jan 25, 2016 6:09 AM CST
Name: Karen
Valencia, Pa (Zone 6a)
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Cut Flowers Winter Sowing Charter ATP Member Seed Starter Echinacea
Plant and/or Seed Trader Region: Ohio Region: United States of America Butterflies Hummingbirder Celebrating Gardening: 2015
No David, people all over the country wintersowed them. I have been wintersowing for years and use the method for lots of annuals and things that are not hardy in my zone. (i.e. tender perennials)

Karen
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Jan 25, 2016 6:28 AM CST
Name: Karen
Valencia, Pa (Zone 6a)
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Cut Flowers Winter Sowing Charter ATP Member Seed Starter Echinacea
Plant and/or Seed Trader Region: Ohio Region: United States of America Butterflies Hummingbirder Celebrating Gardening: 2015
It's hard to find anything since houzz took over GardenWeb, not here's one old entry
http://forums.gardenweb.com/di...

Karen
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Jan 25, 2016 9:26 AM CST
Name: Caroline Scott
Calgary (Zone 4a)
Bulbs Winter Sowing Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Peonies Lilies Charter ATP Member
Region: Canadian Enjoys or suffers cold winters Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Garden Ideas: Master Level
The seeds will wintersow here, but the tubers would not be left in ground here.
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Jan 25, 2016 10:02 AM CST
Name: Ken
East S.F. Bay Area (Zone 9a)
Region: California
DavidLMO said:And when I moisten the surface, or spray seedlings or add water under my cell trays, I use the H2O2 mixture.


Interesting experiment, David. I'll be eager to see the followups. The only time I ever planted Canna seed, I touched them lightly to a bench grinder, just enough to see the color of the inner seed coat, then soaked in water overnight. It was a long time ago, and I didn't keep records, but I do remember that a whole bunch of them came up.

At what point do you switch to plain water? When moving to large containers? Transplanting to beds?
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Jan 25, 2016 5:17 PM CST
Name: Dee Moore
Arroyo Grande, CA (Zone 9a)
Seller of Garden Stuff Seed Starter Garden Art Butterflies Annuals Cactus and Succulents
Greenhouse Container Gardener Region: California Winter Sowing Garden Photography I helped beta test the first seed swap
I've never had any problem getting canna to germinate. I sand the seed coat in one spot until I can see the inner seed and then just plant and water them. I do usually put them in pots in the greenhouse initially. It's warmer in there and canna like the heat. Is H202 Hydrogen Peroxide? I thought that was for damping off?
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Jan 25, 2016 5:23 PM CST
Name: woofie
NE WA (Zone 5a)
Charter ATP Member Garden Procrastinator Greenhouse Dragonflies Plays in the sandbox I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
The WITWIT Badge I helped plan and beta test the plant database. Dog Lover Enjoys or suffers cold winters Container Gardener Seed Starter
I've only grown them once. I had some OLD seeds and figured what the heck. I just sanded them enough to break the outer seed coat, soaked them overnight in plain water and planted them (on heat mats). Nearly all of them germinated and grew well for me. Poor babies deserved better, because I didn't lift them before everything froze here (we generally don't get much warning), so I only had them that one year.
Confidence is that feeling you have right before you do something really stupid.
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Jan 25, 2016 5:43 PM CST
Name: Sherry
Northern California
Sunset Zone 17
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Region: Pacific Northwest Seed Starter Region: California Plant Identifier
Hydrogen peroxide is good for using a few drops in the water of plants being rooted in water, it also adds oxygen to the soil or water. I've not used it in seed starting but will now check into this idea....
I could be wrong...
and.....
"maybe I should have kept my mouth shut....."
The Urge for Seeds is Strong in This One.....
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Jan 25, 2016 8:23 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: David Laderoute
Zone 5B/6 - NW MO (Zone 5b)
Ignoring Zones altogether
Seed Starter Avid Green Pages Reviewer Garden Ideas: Level 1
kqcrna said:No David, people all over the country wintersowed them. I have been wintersowing for years and use the method for lots of annuals and things that are not hardy in my zone. (i.e. tender perennials)

Karen


Canna seed? In Zone 5? I would never believe it, but if you have done it, then I guess it can be done.
I won't try.
Seeking Feng Shui with my plants since 1976
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Jan 25, 2016 8:25 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: David Laderoute
Zone 5B/6 - NW MO (Zone 5b)
Ignoring Zones altogether
Seed Starter Avid Green Pages Reviewer Garden Ideas: Level 1
CaliFlowers said:
At what point do you switch to plain water? When moving to large containers? Transplanting to beds?


Yes and yes.
Seeking Feng Shui with my plants since 1976
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Jan 25, 2016 8:33 PM CST
Name: Sherry
Northern California
Sunset Zone 17
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Region: Pacific Northwest Seed Starter Region: California Plant Identifier
Well, I will scarify my old seeds and wintersow, see what happens...
I could be wrong...
and.....
"maybe I should have kept my mouth shut....."
The Urge for Seeds is Strong in This One.....
Image
Jan 25, 2016 8:38 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: David Laderoute
Zone 5B/6 - NW MO (Zone 5b)
Ignoring Zones altogether
Seed Starter Avid Green Pages Reviewer Garden Ideas: Level 1
You actually have Winter there Sherry? Big Grin
Seeking Feng Shui with my plants since 1976
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Jan 25, 2016 8:44 PM CST
Name: Sherry
Northern California
Sunset Zone 17
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Region: Pacific Northwest Seed Starter Region: California Plant Identifier
Big Surprise...yes, we have Winter.....LOL....last Winter was mild here. Last month we were getting down to 28 degrees and I just realized that now I live where I have Winter....LOL...this is all new to me and I'm learning much. I've learned what plants get smacked down by ice and come Spring I'll get to learn which plants come back. I've also learned that wearing two sweatshirts and double sweatpants is not too bulky, but maybe I should lose some weight......
I could be wrong...
and.....
"maybe I should have kept my mouth shut....."
The Urge for Seeds is Strong in This One.....

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