FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

I looked at my pots with fts vft seeds in them and I noticed lots of germination. How is everyone else doing with them?

Only got to actually planting mine a week or so ago, but looking forward to when they sprout!

I'd wager something like 40-50% as they originally claimed. I'll say that LFS seemed to do better with germination though, maybe it's a moisture or contact thing. I tried both, LFS germination was up by at least 50% compared to the other pots.

I have about 15 sprouts out of 50(?) seeds. They popped up quick after I turned the heat mat up to 85 degrees.

(edit: these are seed bank seeds)

I have gotten ~100 percent, although it was a bit of an experiment:

30 typical seeds, three pots:

1. Ga3 0.001M solution soak 1H. Next, sow on chopped sphagnum, temps at 78 *F (petiolaris tank). Germ rate: 70% (7/10)
2. Scarification with sand paper, 120*F water soak 10 mins, temps at 70 (Room temp). Germ rate: 100% (10/10)
3. Maxsea rinse, sowed on peat/perlite, temps 85*F, (LL minitank). Germ rate: 40% (4/10)

You make your own conclusion

elaineo wrote: ↑Sun Nov 29, 2020 6:43 pm I have about 15 sprouts out of 50(?) seeds. They popped up quick after I turned the heat mat up to 85 degrees.

I have around 15 too. Maybe I should try using my heating mat.

hungry carnivores wrote:I have gotten ~100 percent, although it was a bit of an experiment:

30 typical seeds, three pots:

1. Ga3 0.001M solution soak 1H. Next, sow on chopped sphagnum, temps at 78 *F (petiolaris tank). Germ rate: 70% (7/10)
2. Scarification with sand paper, 120*F water soak 10 mins, temps at 70 (Room temp). Germ rate: 100% (10/10)
3. Maxsea rinse, sowed on peat/perlite, temps 85*F, (LL minitank). Germ rate: 40% (4/10)

You make your own conclusion

I can see how scarification would be effective. Hard shell coated seeds always do better with that method. Sometimes we convince ourselves that CPs are its own entity. What I wonder is how you went about actually doing it. Those seeds are so small lol. Did you use forceps or something?

Apollyon wrote: ↑Sun Nov 29, 2020 9:01 pmI can see how scarification would be effective. Hard shell coated seeds always do better with that method. Sometimes we convince ourselves that CPs are its own entity. What I wonder is how you went about actually doing it. Those seeds are so small lol. Did you use forceps or something?

I'm a little curious myself. I've tried to get good contact between seeds and moss (both peat and chopped lfsm), but have never had greater than about a 30% germination rate.
Time for this old dog to perhaps learn a new trick.

Apollyon wrote:What I wonder is how you went about actually doing it. Those seeds are so small lol. Did you use forceps or something?

That's what I was wondering too. I was thinking maybe forceps or tweezers, and fine-grained sandpaper?

hungry carnivores wrote:I have gotten ~100 percent, although it was a bit of an experiment:

1. Ga3 0.001M solution soak 1H.

I would think that a GA3 soak would dramatically increase the germination rate for those older seeds. Glad to hear people are getting some germination with them though!

oval wrote: ↑Sun Nov 29, 2020 11:49 pm

Apollyon wrote:What I wonder is how you went about actually doing it. Those seeds are so small lol. Did you use forceps or something?

That's what I was wondering too. I was thinking maybe forceps or tweezers, and fine-grained sandpaper?

Forceps, a loupe (for soldering tiny things), and a razor blade. you use it to gently peel off a little seed coat.

hungry carnivores wrote: ↑Mon Nov 30, 2020 2:47 am Forceps, a loupe (for soldering tiny things), and a razor blade. you use it to gently peel off a little seed coat.

You said sandpaper in your original comment, not a razor blade.

hungry carnivores wrote:2. Scarification with sand paper, 120*F water soak 10 mins, temps at 70 (Room temp). Germ rate: 100% (10/10)

Pretty different methods. People looking for help might get confused by the changing story. Which is correct?

ChefDean wrote: ↑Mon Nov 30, 2020 3:23 am

hungry carnivores wrote: ↑Mon Nov 30, 2020 2:47 am Forceps, a loupe (for soldering tiny things), and a razor blade. you use it to gently peel off a little seed coat.

You said sandpaper in your original comment, not a razor blade.

hungry carnivores wrote:2. Scarification with sand paper, 120*F water soak 10 mins, temps at 70 (Room temp). Germ rate: 100% (10/10)

Pretty different methods. People looking for help might get confused by the changing story. Which is correct?

Oops. Razor blade was correct. A little absentminded during writing. Sorry, will edit.

hungry carnivores wrote: ↑Sun Nov 29, 2020 6:53 pm I have gotten ~100 percent, although it was a bit of an experiment:

30 typical seeds, three pots:

1. Ga3 0.001M solution soak 1H. Next, sow on chopped sphagnum, temps at 78 *F (petiolaris tank). Germ rate: 70% (7/10)
2. Scarification with Razor blade/Lame, 120*F water soak 10 mins, temps at 70 (Room temp). Germ rate: 100% (10/10)
3. Maxsea rinse, sowed on peat/perlite, temps 85*F, (LL minitank). Germ rate: 40% (4/10)

You make your own conclusion

Updated to reflect correct methods.