I have 0 germinations this year so far and I ususally have close to 1000 by now. I had 0 germinations from the seeds I put in the frige late last year but thought maybe it was just the weather of something and was going to reprosses them this year. Well it has continued this year with 0 germinations. I have done everything exactly like I have always done them. I had over 2,000 seedlings last year from the early germinations. I used the same petri dishes, the same sand from the same bag, the same distilled water from the same store, the same brand Hydrogen peroxide 3%. the same 5% hydrogen peroxide soultion with distilled water for my 24 hour soak and the same soulation to wet the sand in the petri dishes. I used the same fridge which is used soley for seed germination and thats all I have in there. It is kept at 40 degrees F. The sand in the petri dishes seem to have dirid out much faster than in the past, I did not check them til about two months after the seeds were in the fridge to check for germinations. Could this have cause the 0 germinations? And then if so what caused the sand to dry out so fast. I never had this problem before. I am keeping a close eye on the seeds I have recently put in the fridge for drying sand but so far so good. Will have to wait and see it the second batch of seeds germinate. If not I am at a complete loss. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Patrick
“The sand in the petri dishes seem to have dirid out much faster than in the past, I did not check them til about two months after the seeds were in the fridge to check for germinations. Could this have cause the 0 germinations?”
Yes, it certainly could have. If seeds dry out, they can go into a deep dormancy that can take much longer to escape. Perhaps you were lucky the first time and from now on you need to check moisture levels more often. That’s what I’d do.
Also, I personally think that anything less than three to four months of cold stratification is verging on too little for effective germination. My seeds stay in the fridge from October to March, and I don’t sow seeds till March 1st (or later), and I expect seeds to take 4 to 6 weeks (on average) to germinate.
Paul
Hi Pocajun,
Are these seeds from the same crosses as you had last year? I think you have your temperature set too low in your frig for germinations, I would boost it up to about 48-52. Are your lids tight on your petri dishes? I use sand and had a few problems with it drying out also until I changed from a petri dish to plastic baby food containers. The plastic is softer and hold moisture much better. My daughter had a baby so I was well supplied with them. I only soak my seeds for about 1/2 hour instead of 24, I really believe keeping seeds in water too long can damage them and I would not use hydrogen peroxide on sand, plain purified water is fine.
I hope this has helped you, good luck!
" Perhaps you were lucky the first time and from now on you need to check moisture levels more often. That’s what I’d do. "
Thanks Paul, I have been doing it this way for about 10 years and never had any problem with the sand drying out. Thats why I ususally don’t check them til after two months because I have had germinations after two months, like last year all my midnight blue seeds germinated after two months in the fridge. I usually keep them in for three months and then start taking them out for 12 hours a day til they germinate. I have thought about planting them outside but don’t know if we have enough chill time. But I suppose If I do like you do and chill them in the fridge and then plant them it would work. I may just try that next year. Do you shell them before you chill them or wait til right before you plant?
Thanks Jeanie,
I think part of the problem is that I had too much sand in the petri dishes and you are right, the lids were not closed tightly. I don’t know why I did this, just not too bright I suppose 
. I have ordered and received some deeper petri dishes and will see how this works. I often wondered if putting hydrogen peroxide on the sand might inhibit germination but never had any problems before.
Patrick
Hi Patrick,
I don’t know why I did this, just not too bright I suppose
LOL I’ve done some crazy things myself, instead of turning the thermastat down in the frig I turned it up and almost froze my seeds, and I accidently threw some hips away that were wrapped in a paper towel and this was all in one day…geez!
I often wondered if putting hydrogen peroxide on the sand might inhibit germination but never had any problems before.
I just thought the hydrogen peroxide would make the sand turn a funny color. <|:~)
If you are in that down south part of the country you might have enough cool outside to plant directly, and so little frost the seeds won’t be damaged, but depending on the parents you can’t count on it being cold enough and not too cold. As for refrigerator temp, the large majority of papers I could find that compared temps found that right about 40 F (4C) is near optimum. See the review on the articles list of RHA homepage. I get 25-75 % at that temp, but with 3-6 mo in cold. I never take them out until they sprout…