FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

Hello,

Recently, I used PAA to sterilize VFT seeds and I burned the heck outta them and none took, (never happened before) so until I can afford to experiment some more, I would like to know what Matt's and others protocol on VFT seeds are traditionally.

I just spent some good money on some large variety VFT packet of seeds that I can't afford to lose. I did a search and surprisingly couldn't find any info. here on the matter; for seeds anyway, so instead of P/M'ing You Guys, I thought I would make a public post for future benefit of Whomever.

p.s. I will take some updated pics of My cultures and post them soon.

Thanks!

Gary

Gary I have actually used PAA 1 day old 100ml water with 25ml 3%h202. I did first dip seeds in alcohol about 70% and then after that I did have them in the PAA for 30seconds no more is needed for me at least. But I guess that bleach is always safer for both explants and seeds PAA seem to be tricky sometimes..

Yea, I hear You, Xeno.

I don't know what I did wrong last time and will do it again, but I spent 80.00 on 260 seeds that I want to start, so I want to go back to tradition on these, then will resume with PAA.

I think I set the timer wrong or something, as the seeds bled all over the media; or I mixed it wrong.

I think on a few seeds I might try alcohol for a minute, rinse in sterile water, then PAA for 30 seconds followed by 3% h202 rinse and see how that does. Will know in a couple of weeks, I imagine.

Thanks for the input.

Gary

Sorry to hear about the burning of the seeds.

My protocol for Dionaea seed is:
1) 3 to 5 minutes in H2O2
2) 10 to 12 minutes in 10% bleach with 1 drop of Tween 20 per 100ml
3) Three 3 minute rinses in sterile H2O
4) Plate

Hope that helps.

VFT seeds are very easy to sterilize being so smooth. They are not like sarra or some other cp seed that have all sorts of crevices in them for 'bugs' to hide.
My method is:
A mild bleach solution, 20ml 10% bleach - 200ml water + a few drops surfactant for 20min. Wash under tap water then a 20min soak in 3% H2O2 with a rinse with sterile water is usually more than sufficient.
Geoff

Your 'Thanks' buttons are pushed, but I'll say it again.

THANKS !

Gary

Matt wrote:3) Three 3 minute rinses in sterile H2O2

Did You mean sterile H2O?

Gary

I am using only bleach.There is really no need to use peroxide at all.
BTW: 3% Peroxide is bad sterilant and i have no idea why to use it for explant or seed sterilization...Bleach will do much better job instead.

20% bleach +detergent for 20 minutes, then rinse in sterile water.


Milos

Milhaus wrote:I am using only bleach.There is really no need to use peroxide at all.
BTW: 3% Peroxide is bad sterilant and i have no idea why to use it for explant or seed sterilization...Bleach will do much better job instead.

20% bleach +detergent for 20 minutes, then rinse in sterile water.


Milos

So vft and small Drosera seeds survive that ?

goldslinger wrote:

Matt wrote:3) Three 3 minute rinses in sterile H2O2

Did You mean sterile H2O?

Gary

Oops, yes, that's what I meant.

For Drosera you can use 30% bleach + detergent for 5 - 10minutes.
For Dionaea you can also use 40%bleach + detergent for 10minutes or as i have mentioned before 20% bleach + detergent for 20 minutes

Here's my protocol for VFT seeds. Never had any contamination and 90% germination.

10 second dip in alcohol [70% isoprophyl]
10 minutes in 10% bleach
Rinse 3 times in sterile water.
Plate.

hb

I've done hb's method as well. It works great.

Thanks Hackerberry and All !

Gary

No worries, everyones input is really great too.

hb