"Michael Bell" wrote in message
. uk...

I am growing alder seeds (specially selected from wild populations,
and quite a bit bigger) in wetted compost under lights. I pressed the
seeds in in their sides, they are too small for my big fingers to push
end -down. I have covered them with cling film and droplets of water
have condensed on the underside of the clingfilm. Temperature is about
25°C

After 2 days some of the seeds have white fungus around them. I
understand that this can be a normal part of the germination process.
But just to be on the safe side I have taken the clingfilm off for a
few hours to kill the fungus off by drying it out, the seeds haven't
sprouted yet - it has only been 2 days.

Am I doing right? Any helpful hints?

Michael Bell

--
Personally, I think you're mollycoddling them - they're hardy trees and
would probably do better treated as such. Most tree seeds and anything else
that might need a spell of chilling I stratify outside against a north
facing wall and forget about them until spring, if anything fails to
germinate with this treatment don't write it off, wait 'til next spring.
(this is because some plants have a kind of 'molecular clock' and need X no
of days below y degrees and if they don't get all of that in the first
winter they should get the rest of the chill the following winter)
By stratify I just mean sowing in pots plunged in something like peat and
protected from voles and mice. A wooden box with a bottom made of 1/4"
weldmesh and a secure lid of the same is my stratifying facilities. It's a
no fuss method and the watching and waiting in spring is fascinating.

Rod