Delphinium seed stratification at home is the secret of friendly seedlings

Tell me how the stratification of delphinium seeds occurs at home? Once I tried to grow this flower by sowing it on seedlings, but only a couple of things emerged, and even those died soon. A neighbor who grows a perennial delphinium says that she does not specifically breed it at all. The plant "plants itself" by self-seeding and there are no difficulties. We came with her to the conclusion that this was due to the wintering of seeds in the open field. And how to make them such conditions at home?

Seed reproduction of the delphinium has its own characteristics and, above all, this is due to a sufficiently low germination rate. Stratification of delphinium seeds at home can increase it to 80% against the existing 60%. Thanks to this procedure, the planting material undergoes preparation as close as possible to natural conditions. In nature, after flowering, the delphinium sets seeds that fall to the ground. They hibernate in the soil and are "preserved" until the arrival of heat. This saves the seeds and therefore increases the chances of success.

The already low germination rate is generally reduced to zero if the seeds are improperly stored. Having folded them simply in a paper bag and placing them in a closet in a warm room, it makes no sense to expect shoots next year. But if you pour the seeds into a glass jar, seal it tightly and refrigerate, they will remain suitable for a good ten years.

Delphinium seed stratification at home

In order for a sprout to hatch from a dry seed, at the first stage, three conditions are needed: air, coolness and moisture. Surprisingly, if the seedlings need warmth, then the growth processes in the seeds themselves are activated precisely at low temperatures. The stratification procedure itself is simple:

1. Place the seeds in a cloth bag.
2. Pour some water on the bottom of the glass.
3. Place a bag of seeds in a glass so that only its lower part is in the water. This leaves the air at the top for germination.
4. Put the glass in the refrigerator for two weeks.

You can maintain a humid environment with sphagnum... In this case, you do not need to pour water, it is enough just to overlay the bag with abundantly moistened moss.

How to know when seeds are ready to be sown

Checking the fabric for moisture, adding water or sprinkling moss, you need to at the same time look at what is happening inside the bag after a while. After about two weeks, the seeds should increase in volume (swell). This means they are ready to be sown. The already outlined roots serve as a signal for immediate disembarkation. You can not overexpose the seeds in the refrigerator, and not because they "freeze". On the contrary, in such conditions, the delphinium grows well and begins to grow roots. However, they are so fragile and thin that they will inevitably break when landing. If it is not possible to sow a delphinium, it is necessary to lower the temperature even more to slow down the growth processes.

Stratification of already sown delphinium seeds - video