Hints:

Temperature: The temperatures aren't set in stone, as most annuals should pop up at any temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees, while some tropicals will prefer the higher end of that range. Perennials and hardy annuals, which tend to like cooler conditions, usually will sprout at any temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees.

Moisture: To keep the seed starting mix moist for your seeds, cover their containers with plastic wrap until the seeds begin to sprout. Use aluminum foil instead for those which prefer darkness for germination.

Chipping or Sanding Seeds: These processes are only ncessary for seeds that have very hard coats, which water won't penetrate. To protect your fingers, hold each seed between the "jaws" of needle-nose pliers on top of a cutting board as you nick it with the tip of a utility knife. To sand the seed instead, rub it against an emery board or sandpaper until you break through the seed coat.

Soaking Seeds: You easily can soak seeds overnight in Styrofoam cups, writing the name of each seed on the side of its cup. If you need to heat the soak-ing water to a certain temperature, use a candy thermometer to measure that temper-ature. Otherwise, use lukewarm (room temperature) water.

Gibberellic Acid: If you need to use gibberellic acid, dissolve a 100 mg packet of the white powder in about 1/2 cup of water overnight. Then add an equal amount of water to the mix to make a 500 ppm solution, which is best for most species, before soaking your seeds in the solution overnight.

Smoke Treatment: For seeds that require smoke treatment, add 1 teaspoon commercial smoke flavoring to every 3 tablespoons of water you are using. For the best results, find a flavoring that contains only smoke and water in its ingredients list.

Cold or Warm Treatment: When seeds need to be kept damp and either warm or cold for a certain number of months, fold a paper towel into a card shape. After writing the name of the seeds and the date on front of the "card" with an indelible marker, soak the paper towel in water, squeeze out the excess water, and place the seeds inside the card.

You can keep several such cards inside a folded-over sandwich bag to help preserve their moisture.

Keep in mind that, when a seed begins to sprout inside the towels, the first thing to emerge usually is a radicle (main root). So, if you pot up the seed at that point, be sure that you position it with the root underground and lower than the seed from which it is protruding.

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Plants Beginning with Z

Zamia: Soak the seeds for 2 days before pressing them partway into damp and sterilized cactus and citrus potting mix, so that they are lying on their sides. Keep them at 77 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit (25 to 30 degrees Celsius) until each seed sprouts a radicle from one end. That radicle first will turn downward to make more roots. Eventually it will split near the seed to send up a leafy shoot as well, but that may not occur until weeks or months later.

Zantedeschia (calla lily): Soak the seeds overnight before sowing them 1/4 inch deep in damp and sterile seed starting mix. Keep them at 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) until they sprout. Fresh seeds can do so within 4 days, but older ones may take as long as 1 to 3 months.

Zinnia: Sow the seeds 1/16-inch (1.5 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed-starting mix. Keep their container at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout in 7 to 10 days.

 

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