germination issues

[psi_chemie]

I'm having trouble forcing germination on some showy milkweed seeds I got with my tag kit from last year. Of course, I should have left them outside over the winter but yeah I never plan that far ahead..

I thought soaking in water would have at least a few % germinate. But so far.. zero. Now i'm putting the container of water they're floating in into the freezer and out, alternating freezing them in ice block and thawing.. Don't know if this will simulate winter or not.

Also, I went and found some vine milkweed pods outside. Now these were exposed to winter. These seeds are also soaking in water and not germinating.

How can you get milkweed seeds to germinate??

[Keith Petrosky]

I heard that after the cold period, let them soak in hot water for 24 hrs, then after that plant them. Sometimes they dont need a cold period,and sprout, but I guess in your case this wasnt true.

[psi_chemie]

I guess that Showy Milkweed seeds absolutely need the cold period.

Of my entire bag I got with last years tagging kit, I had zero germinate. I left them in water until fungus started growing, then I knew there was no hope.

What really suprised me was that the seeds from the wild pods I found also didn't germinate.

[Chip]

The following is from: http://www.rainkc.com/resources/BLOG.ASP

See next to last paragraph in particular.

Monarchs & Rain Gardens

by Dr. Chip Taylor, University of Kansas

In addition to serving as catchments for runoff, rain gardens can be designed as habitats for wildlife. I work with monarch butterflies and direct a program known as Monarch Watch (http://www.MonarchWatch.org). We have recently developed the Monarch Waystation Program, a new conservation initiative aimed at creating habitats for monarch butterflies. The justification for this program, largely the loss of habitats in the U.S., and additional information can be found at:

http://www.MonarchWatch.org/ws/

Rain gardens can be ideal habitats for monarchs if they incorporate the host plants needed for monarch larvae and the nectar bearing flowers for the adults. In this short entry, I will describe 6 milkweed species that serve as hosts for monarch caterpillars. All are native to this portion of the Midwest and are suitable for rain gardens. In addition, each is known to have colorful flowers that attract numerous butterflies and other pollinators.

Milkweeds can be started from seeds or can be planted as plugs. The latter is preferable as the plants will get a better start but starting plants from seeds or growing young plants indoors and planting the seedlings can be quite rewarding. General texts describing milkweeds and their propagation can be found at:

http://www.MonarchWatch.org/milkweed/

[The above referenced propagation text describes stratification as a necessary condition for germination of seeds of most milkweed species; however, germination can also be induced by soaking seeds in hot water. To do this, place seeds in a jar, add hot water, let them sit for a day and then drain off the water and add more hot water each day for the next two days. On the fourth day place the seeds in flats with potting soil - making sure to cover the seeds with 1/4 to 1/2 inch of the soil.]

The milkweed species are arranged below on the basis for their tolerance of wet conditions or need for well-drained soils. The first species, Swamp Milkweed, is tolerant of wet conditions while at the bottom of the list, Butterfly Weed, requires well-drained soils. If I were to plant these species in the typical rain garden, I’d plant the Swamp Milkweeds in the center followed by each of the other species as I moved upslope with the Butterfly Weeds planted around the outer edge of the rain garden.

[Teresa]

I'm curious, just how hot should the water be? I'm sure it shouldn't be boiling but luke warm? as hot as your tap can get?

[Chip]

Most tap water at its highest comes out at 160F - scaldingly hot. That is too hot and could kill the embryos within the seed. Use water with a temp that is as hot as you can tolerate with you hands - probably close to 140F.

[psi_chemie]

Thanks!

I'm out of seeds so I'll probably swing buy the open house and just buy some :)