Forced Germination - preparing onco seed

[David Nicholson]

Yes, I'd like to try. The problem, as I've said before, is that I currently have a full set of fingers and I'm pretty certain I would land in the finger deficient department after Stage 1.

[Hans A.]

David, better use a scalpel instead of a razor blade - I still have all fingers (I am sure I would not have if I would use razor blades )

[PeterT]

Thankyou Hans, the wetter bags have had a lot of failures, in total I have lost perhaps 40% of the seeds but fortunately not so many of the more special species. Definately better not to put too much water in the bags! and probably better to put the cut seeds on a dish of perlite in the bags to avoid them touching the wet polythene.
The first green leaves are now showing

[arillady]

Peter am I right in thinking you don't have cats or little children nearby?
I must think about preparing my seeds soon for the fridge.

[PeterT]

Definately Pat, what a dreadfull thought!

[Janis Ruksans]

I'm cutting in same way after soaking of seeds for 24 hours, but after that I saw them in layer of coarse sand and bring to unheated greenhouse. I'm doing so with all onco's, regelia's, juno's and reticulata's.
Janis

[PeterT]

do you sterilise the sand Janis? What time of year do you do cut the seeds?

[Janis Ruksans]

When I have own collected seeds, I'm not cutting them but sowing immediately after harvesting - they germinates very well. I'm soaking and cutting only seeds received from other people which usually are kept for some time. I'm not sterilizing sand - my sand comes from gravel-pit, it is graded but as coming from quite deep layers, I regard it as sterile.
Janis

[ian mcenery]

I am delighted - a few weeks ago I got some seed of Iris acutiloba lineolata, saw this thread and thought I would give Peters method a try even though the thought of chopping the end off seeds seemed counter intuitive. Today I looked in the fridge and low and behold some shoots are appearing . I suppose now comes the difficult part

[PeterT]

Good luck Ian I got some a bit too wet and they rotted fairly quick  , too dry and they shrivel,
got a few coming along though.

[Janis Ruksans]

I am delighted - a few weeks ago I got some seed of Iris acutiloba lineolata, saw this thread and thought I would give Peters method a try even though the thought of chopping the end off seeds seemed counter intuitive. Today I looked in the fridge and low and behold some shoots are appearing . I suppose now comes the difficult part

I would take forceps and to sow immediately those seeds where shoots appeared - it is much safer against possible ropt or overdrying.
Janis

[ian mcenery]

Good luck Ian I got some a bit too wet and they rotted fairly quick  , too dry and they shrivel,
got a few coming along though.

I am delighted - a few weeks ago I got some seed of Iris acutiloba lineolata, saw this thread and thought I would give Peters method a try even though the thought of chopping the end off seeds seemed counter intuitive. Today I looked in the fridge and low and behold some shoots are appearing . I suppose now comes the difficult part

I would take forceps and to sow immediately those seeds where shoots appeared - it is much safer against possible ropt or overdrying.
Janis

Thanks Peter and Janis I will pot them up today

[udo]

Peter,
many thanks for your implementation to the sowing of Onco Iris.
Here a three days old plant of Iris schelkownikowii, 25 days after him cut.
My first seedling of this species and this shortly before Christmas.

[PeterT]

Happy Christmas Dirk!

[udo]

Happy Christmas Dirk!

Many thanks, Peter.