AusBonsai

Hey Darren, I'll race you. I planted 4 seeds the day you replied on this thread (15th June) ... see who has any luck first?

I purchased seed from Neil a few weeks ago and as in Sydney, it is supposed to get real cold next week, I figured now is a good time to put them in.

I purchased a few more seedling trays for a few bucks and mixed up a batch of fine Pumice, Blended Spag moss, Diatomite and Akadama and loaded up the trays.
Seeds scattered around them and topped off with a light sprinkling of mix to hold the seeds down

In a nice sunny spot and hope to see in a few weeks time some new seedlings of Acer palmatum, Acer palmatum weepeing variety? Acer Palmatum (special selected ones ) Dwarf Acer palmatum and some Chinese Quince that Neil chucked in too

Thanks Neil fpr the variety and, lets see how they all go

Ken

I have about 30 that I picked off a weeping maple sitting in my fridge in a damp vermiculite medium. I'll be sowing them in early spring.

I have never had mould issues with vermiculite.

I bought seeds from shibui a couple of months ago, put them straight into their mix without stratification, and they've all popped up so well I've already pricked a lot out and put them into tiny pots. Admittedly the Japanese maple seeds took longest to shoot, but they're doing fine.

I bought seeds from shibui a couple of months ago, put them straight into their mix without stratification, and they've all popped up so well I've already pricked a lot out and put them into tiny pots

That's a very valuable bit of feedback from Mel.
Fresh maple seeds germinate in Brisbane without stratification
Something I have long suspected but did not have any evidence for.
Thanks for posting Mel.
stratification is a waste of time and effort when germinating fresh maple seed and sometimes even counterproductive. Even though Granite does not have problems I have seen plenty of cases where seed starts to rot during stratification.

Fresh maple seeds germinate in Brisbane without stratification
Something I have long suspected but did not have any evidence for.

I'm very happy I didn't have to faff around with stratification, Neil.

Seedlings from Japanese Maple seeds that I received from shibui mid June.

Just a quick follow up on the fresh shibui maple seed not needing stratification....I'd grabbed some seeds from a maple in Tasmania in April, but didn't plant them til September, and not one of them came up. Treated them exactly the same as the ones I'd received in June, so no stratification.

So...not fresh, and/or possibly not ready to be harvested? Oh well, happy with the ones I did get to come up.

Will see if I can get some more next year, and plant them straight away this time...

of the ones I got from Neil this year, Only about 6 or so have sprouted.
No stratification on these ones and it was a warm winter here.

Next year I will try again and Stratify them to see how that lot compares.

Ken

I stratified Japanese maple seed that I collected from a couple of gardens for 3 months and got almost 100% germination. Non-stratified seed did not germinate. Probably doesn’t get cold enough on the Adelaide plains anyway.
“The reference manual of woody plant propagation” suggests that seed should be collected before it dries on the tree and planted immediately, although it obviously needs to be left long enough to mature. Once the seed is dry, they recommend soaking for 2 day’s and then cold stratification for 3-5 months.

There's no doubt that experience will show stratification works, in my case non stratification worked too. Clearly when generalising for the gardening public, manuals would tend to go for the option that the writer has found works, in their climate, with their seed.... In the sub-tropics there is very little *actual* information from locals, so I tend to just try things that may or may not be according to the manuals....

As an example, yesterday I was reading about tropical Rhododendrons, of which I have one. Had it for many years, in a pot, and it's growing happily out in the full sun, surrounded by concrete and other plants, whereas the books all say they need shade and lots of other pampering... Sure I have plants die because of the treatment they get here, but I also grow many things that are supposed to not be doing what they're doing...

By trying things that aren't according to the manual, I take what comes, if it fails, I don't bother whinging that "I did what they said to do," I just try something else....lol.

/shrug

melbrackstone wrote: By trying things that aren't according to the manual, I take what comes, if it fails, I don't bother whinging that "I did what they said to do," I just try something else....lol.

Totally agree with you melbrackstone. I think it is equally important to know what “not to do” and how far things can be pushed before they break. I have also lost many plants in learning this for species that are not necessarily suited to my environment. We learn by building on knowledge. as long as that knowledge and experience is recorded, this serves as a better foundation to start than no knowledge at all. That is what makes this site awesome

hat is what makes this site awesome

agree wholeheartedly!

Mmm ... been over a year. My maple seeds not popped up yet, thinking if they haven't sprung by spring, time to give up on them?

I just saw this thread for the first time and I'm not trying to hijack it, but here's some more to the stratification v. straight out planting. While in Adelaide in April I collected acorns freshly dropped under a row of large english oaks in the Adelaide Hills. I took them home to the Gold Coast and planted them a seed raising tray and kept them in my backyard. In the last couple of days two have sprouted even though we have had no really cold nights, the coldest was about 6 degrees. Still waiting for more to start . I think most plants are far more adaptable than we think.