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

--

In message , Michael
Bell writes
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

You should have researched this prior to attempting propagation by seed.

For example

http://www.jstor.org/pss/3565103

Try combinations of the keywords propagation germination stratification
alder Alnus.
--
Stewart Robert Hinsley

On Nov 19, 8:31*pm, Michael Bell wrote:
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

--

Germination time for seeds is very variable. Some seeds can take
years. Some only hours. Some have to pass through the gut of birds or
animals. Some even have to be subjected to fire. Most seeds though
are a lot less fussy but all have ideal conditions which vary.
Growing seeds under clingfilm is always a bit dodgy for the reasons
you now know. It's only done for idleness, people can't be bothered to
water.
The problem can be partially overcome by giving the soil surface a
spray with "Cheshunt Compound" a traditional copper based fungicide.
Available in virtually any garden centre.

In message
Stewart Robert Hinsley wrote:

In message , Michael
Bell writes
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

You should have researched this prior to attempting propagation by seed.

For example

http://www.jstor.org/pss/3565103

Try combinations of the keywords propagation germination stratification
alder Alnus.

I had been following

http://forestry.oxfordjournals.org/c.../82/5/573.full

which got results storing the seeds at 4°C, and I kept mine in the
lower compartment of my fridge, which I think is near enough. It makes
no mention of what it grew the seeds ON.

The one you quote chilled the seeds to - 20°C, (but these are FINNISH
seeds) and says that once germinated, seeds survive better on mineral
soil than on compost. Yes, I had too lazily assumed that "compost is
best for everything".

I wonder if the most productive way forward would be to germinate the
seeds on wetted towelling and transplant them onto soil by hand?

I have spent a lot of time getting these seeds and I am willing to do
that extra work.

Michael Bell



--

In message
Stewart Robert Hinsley wrote:

In message , Michael
Bell writes
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

You should have researched this prior to attempting propagation by seed.

For example

http://www.jstor.org/pss/3565103

Try combinations of the keywords propagation germination stratification
alder Alnus.

I had been following

http://forestry.oxfordjournals.org/c.../82/5/573.full

which got results storing the seeds at 4°C, and I kept mine in the
lower compartment of my fridge, which I think is near enough. It makes
no mention of what it grew the seeds ON.

The one you quote chilled the seeds to - 20°C, (but these are FINNISH
seeds) and says that once germinated, seeds survive better on mineral
soil than on compost. Yes, I had too lazily assumed that "compost is
best for everything".

I wonder if the most productive way forward would be to germinate the
seeds on wetted towelling and transplant them onto soil by hand?

I have spent a lot of time getting these seeds and I am willing to do
that extra work.

Michael Bell



--

On Nov 20, 12:08*pm, Michael Bell wrote:
In message
* * * * * Stewart Robert Hinsley wrote:





In message , Michael
Bell writes
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

You should have researched this prior to attempting propagation by seed..
For example
* * *http://www.jstor.org/pss/3565103
Try combinations of the keywords propagation germination stratification
alder Alnus.

I had been following

http://forestry.oxfordjournals.org/c.../82/5/573.full

which got results storing the seeds at 4 C, and I kept mine in the
lower compartment of my fridge, which I think is near enough. It makes
no mention of what it grew the seeds ON.

The one you quote chilled the seeds to - 20 C, (but these are FINNISH
seeds) and says that once germinated, seeds survive better on mineral
soil than on compost. Yes, I had too lazily assumed that "compost is
best for everything".

I wonder if the most productive way forward would be to germinate the
seeds on wetted towelling and transplant them onto soil by hand?

I have spent a lot of time getting these seeds and I am willing to do
that extra work.

Michael Bell

--- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Lots of seeds from temperate plants need to be subjected to low
temperatures for a while
before they will germinate. But then they will need to come to a
higher temperature
for actual germination. You need to get all this information before
you start.
It simulates Winter and Spring.
Also

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarification_(botany)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seed_dormancy

Michael Bell wrote:
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?


In the past I've had little bits of mycelium form and attach themselves
to tomato seeds, but they germinated and sprouted fine. So my guess is
there's nothing to worry about. Damping off fungus is a bigger problem,
but I don't think that has anything to do with the fungus you can see.

"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

In message
ps.com
harry wrote:

On Nov 20, 12:08*pm, Michael Bell wrote:
In message
* * * * * Stewart Robert Hinsley wrote:





In message , Michael
Bell writes
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

You should have researched this prior to attempting propagation by seed.
For example
* * *http://www.jstor.org/pss/3565103
Try combinations of the keywords propagation germination stratification
alder Alnus.

I had been following

http://forestry.oxfordjournals.org/c.../82/5/573.full

which got results storing the seeds at 4 C, and I kept mine in the
lower compartment of my fridge, which I think is near enough. It makes
no mention of what it grew the seeds ON.

The one you quote chilled the seeds to - 20 C, (but these are FINNISH
seeds) and says that once germinated, seeds survive better on mineral
soil than on compost. Yes, I had too lazily assumed that "compost is
best for everything".

I wonder if the most productive way forward would be to germinate the
seeds on wetted towelling and transplant them onto soil by hand?

I have spent a lot of time getting these seeds and I am willing to do
that extra work.

Michael Bell

--- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Lots of seeds from temperate plants need to be subjected to low
temperatures for a while
before they will germinate. But then they will need to come to a
higher temperature
for actual germination. You need to get all this information before
you start.
It simulates Winter and Spring.
Also

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarification_(botany)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seed_dormancy

I had stored the seeds in the chiller part of the fridge for at least
a fortnight, so I am not sure that pre-chilling is a problem. The
reason I am starting them off under light now is that I want them to
grow to a stem diameter of 3 mm by may so that I can graft them onto
fruting spurs then. The next year's cones and catkins form in June.

Michael Bell

--