Swampy Seeds

[BirchMan]

Hi All,

super quick one here, I've collected some swamp cypress seeds from both opened and unopened cones, mostly that had fallen to the ground.

is there any trick to getting a good rate of germination? I'm talking stratification etc. Here in Perth it's down to about 5-10 Celsius most nights and sub 20 days.

Cheers,
Birchman.

[Bougy Fan]

No need to do anything but they have a very low germination rate. I collect them when the pods have dried but not opened or fallen off - but off the ground works too. I store them in an airtight container and plant when it gets warmer - usually around October.

[Grant Bowie]

I also agree about not stratifying; a waste of time.

I would and have planted out earlier; say around early August.

Grant

[Bougy Fan]

That's interesting Grant - up here in some years I still haven't even collected the seed in August - the pods are still green and on the trees. I do find when the seed drops does depend on the season - although I am not sure what influences the timing.

[BirchMan]

Ok cool, probably won't bother stratifying but should I soak them or keep them dry til August? Also is there any benefit in washing them with bleach/alcohol or could this be harmful?

[Bougy Fan]

I searched a lot online about stratification a couple of years ago but came to the conclusion if you have heaps of seed it's a waste of time. As I said I just store it in an airtight container - that is sufficient for storing in one season. If you get 5 % germination rate you are lucky.

[Grant Bowie]

That's interesting Grant - up here in some years I still haven't even collected the seed in August - the pods are still green and on the trees. I do find when the seed drops does depend on the season - although I am not sure what influences the timing.

Yes down south I would collect the seed much earlier and with Taxodium and metasequoia I had to make sure I planted them late enough (after May) so they wouldn't germinate too early but not too late(say September October) as I got a poor germination rate.

Different climates.

Grant