TerraForums Venus Flytrap, Nepenthes, Drosera and more talk
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I'm not so much asking about storing seed in the refrigerator or anything along those lines...I'm wondering more so if there is a time table between a flower closing up and say cutting the stalk that determines whether the seed still inside the "pods" are still viable?
I'm wondering more so if there is a time table between a flower closing up and say cutting the stalk that determines whether the seed still inside the "pods" are still viable?
Length of seed viability depends on several factors: species, temperature, light and humidity. Seeds kept at temperatures 40°F and above will lose viability in a few weeks. However some species if the seed are sown can remain viable for several years. Seeds should be dry stored in an air/watertight container in the refrigerator between 33°F and 39°F. Properly stored seed can remain viable for decades, perhaps even centuries - some grain found in Egyptian tombs was able to germinate.
Viability is normally measured from the time the seed capsules split open.
You should refer to Dr. Norman C. Deno's Seed Germination Theory and Practice and supplements from which you can glean some data of viability lengths for several Drosera species. These are in the public domain and can be found on the USDA online library for download.
Seed should be removed from the capsules and cleaned as much as possible from flower parts. These can be a source of mold and fungus during storage and germination.
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Is it possible to just use the seed pods as a natural storage compartment when shipping? I've seen the posts I think from the ICPS about making the origami envelopes but I think it would be easier to just not have to deal with getting seeds out of their pods in the first place...thoughts?
Just to clarify I want to be sending them out not storing them for myself.
Do what you want. Seems to me not to be a very good storage container that's likely to split open during transport or being thicker than paper bindles, get crushed in the letter sorting machines. Just my opinion.
And I can't tell you how many times I've split open seed capsules to find no seed in them. And the few times I've found mold or something with legs in there.
Just touching most drosera stalks when ready will scatter the seeds. I remove them veeeery carefully then shake them in an envelope to release the seeds.
I don't remove the stalks until the seed heads are brown and crunchy.
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