I soak my seeds for atleast 1/2 - 1 hr. previous to sowing. This is only to enduce quicker germination. The soaking softens the outer seed coat allowing it to break through the casing quicker. If not done, then a moister and longer time is to see seeds heave the soil. I have not concerned myself with "floaters". I plant everything and what ever germinates, is what I get. Most of the soaking process will depend as to how old the seed is.

Rick

Thinking about seed, Rob. I have some Mark D. seeds for crosses hybrids. If you would like them. You can have them, just want postage cost? I will not be planting them. Send me a note (PM).

Rick

I soak mine for two hours, not much longer and usually get good results but it depends on the seed source a lot.

I usually soak mine for 1.5 - 2.5 hours, in warm water (no additives) only.

With the last batch (130 of one pod) I separated the ones that kept floating from the ones that had sunk to see if there was any difference in germination: the answer was no.

I soak mine for around two hours and got good results with that. Also during the germination process I sprinkle some water drops over the seeds when they are about to lose the capsule.

Hi Rob, coming from Australia, we grow almost everything from seed. This is what we do - if the seed is fresh (eg: our own seed) we do not soak at all. If the seed was purchased (eg: KO's) then we usually soak for 2 hours in warm water. No additives or treatments in water or on seed. We do not soak overnight. (That's too long IMO.) Have had no problem with floaters, they usually germinate.

We have found that our fresh seed germinate in 2/3 days & bought seed between 2/5 days. We do not use heat mats or lights. Our seed is placed in either coco peat or a soil mix & then placed in a domed greenhouse with the vents closed, & a piece of shade cloth over the top to protect the seed from direct sun. It is then placed outside in the sun. This is the only heat our seed gets.

I also soak 2 hours....

Marie

Thanks for your input everyone.

I was going to start another thread (and perhaps I will) on seed sowing. Germination methods, sowing depth etc... Any thoughts?

Rob

Adenium seeds are surface sown, meaning barely covered. They need to see light to trigger "standing up" during germination. I germinate under direct sunlight and get very good results.

Maria Elena

Yeah, my first attempt at planting Adeniums went very badly. Due to the lack of research; I went ahead & treated them like a Tomato seed or something, burying them about an inch deep. Looking back; I'm surprised any of them were able to break the soil surface.

My rule of thumb now; is no deeper than 2cm. However, I will usually push the seed down to where it makes barely more than an indention, and cover it as if the soil came out of a pepper shaker.

I've got 96 seeds soaking right now; which I'll plant in about another 1/2 hour.

Maria - What do the numbers mean on the KO seeds? Example: 87 KO 49.

i think it means it is the k'os auction/lot/listing number [89], followed by the name of the cross [ko_49]. He has not always used the first number. And he usually has over 200 auctions going.

here is my arbitrary kist of the ko seeds i have purchased, with a feeble attempt at me describing what the flower should look like ...

1 [x2] yellow/red stripe

11 salmon w/ red fringe x3

16 white w/ red fringe

30 white w/ red stripes

24 white w/ thick red stripes/pinwheel

35 white w/ thick red fringe

36 white w/ med red stripes

37 yellow w/ med red stripes

x38 white w/ pink/salmon frill

40 red w/ yellow

42 maroon w. red stripes

47 dark purple w/ red center

48 red/white pinwheel

49 pink w/ dk purple fringe x2

52 red w. whit throat

56 salmon w/ red pinwheel

57 yellow w/ thin red stripes

59 salmon, with red pinwheel

62 pink w/ med red stripes

63 [x2] salmon w/ orangish fringe

64 white/pink picotee fringe

67 purple w/ yellow throat and red pinwheels

69 white w/ thick red fringe/yellow throat

dunno if that helps ...

oops, sorry, not maria

Rob

Rob, I actually asked Mr. KO what the numbers mean. The 1st number is a stock/reference number and the 2nd number is the actual number or name of his seed, i.e., KO_49, KO_Touching Hearts. The numbered ones are just his unnamed crosses.

Maria Elena

I've been thinking of using a similar system for my plant watering schedule.

I soaked mine for a few hours, then a brief 10 minutes or so in a 10% bleach solution. I started mine with the paper towel method and usually have germination in less than 48 hours (in the right temps). I top sow into the flat with the seeds right on top of the soil and dome it. I can literally watch the seeds stand themselves up within a few hours once the tap roots are out, if it's warm and sunny. Many of my batches I had 100% germination, most of the rest were about 90%, and I had a couple of small batches that were stinkers. I started about 400 seeds but last year was my first time.

I have a couple of seeds left; and I think I'll try sowing them on top of the soil. The ones I did last night are just barely covered. (Pics later.)

For starter soil; I use 3 parts "Pro-Mix HP", 1 part "Fox Farm Ocean Forest Potting Soil", and 2%-5% activated Biochar.

Rob

Only caution I have about starting them on top of the soil is they need to stay very damp and not dry out. So a dome or plastic wrap to seal in the humidity until they are started is good, not touching the seeds.

Here's my set up for the seeds I planted last night.

Rob

Good vibes for great results, Rob. Jerry (Jedoba TX) wrote last summer that he just lays them flat & uncovered with great germination results.

I've not soaked my last 2 batches of seeds and have had almost 100% germination.

It's been 4 days, and I just checked my prop tray. There are 7-8 soil bulges, so the excitement grows. (Pun intended.) ;-)

Rob

Day 5, just overnight..... I didn't get around to looking at my prop tray until around 3:00pm, but I was quite surprised!! Now there are 28 seedlings! It's hard to get good group photos at this age, but here ya go.

I soaked mine for four hours in rain water or tap water with good results. A few times in diluted nitrozyme .

Yay! They are looking great, Rob. Especially nice macro shots. ;)

58 to date. Day 6

Rob

Hi all,

Final count; 64 (actually 65, one damped off) out of 96, not great. However, almost half of the failures were of one type, "Golden Crown".

How long do you all continue using a heat pad?

Rob

I've heard that some of the Thai soco like Golden Crown tend to have a low germination rate due to low fertility of seed. I have no idea if that is true but I got seed last year from what was supposed to be a good source and I also had very low germination on my socos. I've heard several people mention it however.

How about soaking for over 24 hours?

This method is for DHA but I have tried it with a few variegated Somalenses and it worked too.

A method from Comsankan and a few others Thai growers.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10211086273905458&id=1614392619

My 100% DHA Medusa and Variegated Somalenses seeds.

Yeah, I hear Ram soaks his DHA at least overnight or 24 hours and then hand peels off the seed coats because they tend to be so much thicker than other adeniums. I had no idea until he posted that video on Facebook about it, and the comments that ensued to explain.

I wouldn't soak for more than about an hour, if at all. I've had pretty bad experience with overnight soaks, but that's just my personal experience.

I assume you mean with seeds then rotting rapidly? If you do a brief 10% bleach solution soak first, you won't have issues. The few I didn't do the bleach soak for first kept trying to mold or rot, but sterilizing the seeds briefly first made a big difference and stopped that in it's tracks. It's a standard phyto laboratory precaution and doesn't hurt the seed.

I soak all seeds at least 4-5 hours. In filtered water. It is not true that floaters germinate less than sinkers. I tested that theory several times last year, zero difference. I put the covered trays on heat mats , set the thermostats at 87. I usually begin to see some heaving the soil in 48 hours. I use Pro Mi HP and sometimes a handful of worm castings mixed in and wet it from the bottom up with seaweed extract before I plant them. If I wet it from the top all the perlite floats to the top and I have to remix the soil before planting. No lights at all until 50% of the seeds are up. They don't need light to germinate and with the heat mat and covered trays lights can make it too hot. Sun and covered trays is a disaster, it cooks them.

38 Days

GC-

RCN- Ra chi nee

DK- Dino King

DA- Dwarf Arabicum

BM- Big Mama

MSTRO- Maestro

Rob

How are these doing, Rob?

I soak my seeds for 3-4 hours on average. Seeds are from my plants, insect pollinated. The first picture are seedlings 3weeks old, second is 2 1/2 months old

Hi everyone!

I bought some seeds from KO, so how true are they to the "parents" (pictures posted) in the site?

Did someone here already have a plant with flowers?

Thanks!

Simone