Smoking seed ....work in progress

Discussion in 'Gardening Discussions' started by Purple Streaks, Feb 15, 2021.

  1. Purple Streaks

    Purple Streaks Gardener

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    Have any members used the smoke method for seed germination?
    Smoke germination is a method which is used for some tropical seed such as Protea.
    Apparently crushed charcoal from bonfires,or bought ready to use.

    Or this .........outside in a safe container to light some sheets of newspaper(if it's still in production,)
    The burnt ashes /charcoal are added to a small amount of cooled boiled water.
    The seeds are then added for X number of days. I have some protea seed from a few years back.
    I. shall give it a go .
     
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    • flounder

      flounder Super Gardener

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      I've tried in the past with protea, banksia and grevillea. I used bonfire ash mixed with butt water.....that's rain water from water butt:nonofinger:
      Germination was very good, even with fairly old seed....keeping them alive past the seedling stage is where I really struggled
       
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      • john558

        john558 Total Gardener

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        Oh I misread the title of this thread, damn, could do with a pick-me-up:biggrin:
         
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        • pete

          pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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          The ones I am trying now,

          I put some straw in a 6in clay pot, set light to it, then put another pot the same size over it inverted.
          I put the seeds around the edge of the drainage hole and covered with a jam jar.
          I left it for half an hour, then put the seeds in the smoke filled jam jar and left them overnight in the smoke filled jar with the lid on.

          Sowed the next day in a bark and sand mix with bonfire ash.
          Hope it works.:biggrin:

          DSC00790.JPG
           
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          • Purple Streaks

            Purple Streaks Gardener

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            John 558
            :campfire::sorry:
            Don't despair I will change title if someone shows me how. :shocked:
            just for you

            What bout this .........Smoking WEED is effective!:cheerup:
            :music::music::yahoo:
             
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              Last edited: Feb 15, 2021
            • Purple Streaks

              Purple Streaks Gardener

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              On reading your Post Pete this sounds a good way of getting smoked seed.I'm interested to see how this works.

              can I pick your brains further please , ........Would you try the scarify method of rubbing with sandpaper first or even after?

              My protea seed has like a couple of fluffy bits on top of the seed .would you remove these?
               
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              • Purple Streaks

                Purple Streaks Gardener

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                Thanks flounder any idea what time of year did you start the germination. Maybe I could start in a few weeks or when it starts to get warmer .??????
                 
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                • pete

                  pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                  I've not tried scarifying, and I've not removed the fluffy bit.:biggrin:

                  But who knows, I dont.:biggrin:
                   
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                  • pete

                    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                    I haven't sown all the Protea seed that I bought, only half of each packet, I'm hoping for a second chance later in the summer when I can give them normal greenhouse temperatures.

                    Thinking the highs and lows, in temperature, might make a difference.
                     
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                    • flounder

                      flounder Super Gardener

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                      I started them in the greenhouse somewhere between March and June, can't exactly remember as it was nearly twenty years ago......I have difficulty remembering what I did twenty minutes ago!:dunno:
                       
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