GERMINATION
Morning glory seeds tend to stay viable for a long time when stored correctly. They are usually pretty easy to germinate. Most problems tend to occur right after the embryo emerges. Still it's very important to pay close attention to the germination process. Japanese morning glory seeds can be expensive as well which is why it's important to provide optimal conditions so we can ensure the highest success rate possible.
There are several methods to germinate morning glory seeds. Below are three common methods explained step by step.
Method 1
Sowing Directly In Soil
What you'll need:
- seeds
- soil
- water
- a pot or container (optional)
- small file or scalpel (optional)
Sowing directly in soil is just as easy as it sounds. First prepare a flower bed, small pot or seed tray with some fresh soil or soilless mix.
If you're sowing in a flower bed you'll want to clear the surrounding area of weeds and competing growth. Make sure the top layer of soil is nice and loose before sowing.
Moisten the soil thoroughly with (rain)water but make sure not to make the soil too soggy (roots need air!).
Finally, plant the seed about 1-1,5cm (1/2 inch) into the damp soil. It may be advised to nick the seed coat with a small file or scalpel for better germination but be careful not to damage the embryo inside the hard seed shell.
The sprouts should start coming up after a couple days to two weeks.
Pros:
- easy
- quick
- certain varieties don't react well to being transplanted
Cons:
- no visual confirmation of germination until they pop above the soil
Method 2
Wet Paper Towel
What you'll need:
- seeds
- paper towels or coffee filter
- container or ziplock bag
- water
- small file or scalpel (optional)
Fold a paper tower several times and moisten it with water. Make sure it's thoroughly wet but not completely saturated. Preferably nick the seed coat with a small file or scalpel to help water penetrate the hard outer seed layer.
Put the seeds in between the wet paper towel and fold it one last time. Put the paper towel in ziplock baggie or other container to prevent it from drying out. Refresh the paper towel every couple of days if the seeds haven't sprouted yet.
Check on the seeds daily and once the seed swell or show the first sign of a taproot plant them into soil or soilless mix the same way as in method 1. Be very careful not to damage the young taproot as it is very fragile.
Pros:
- easy
- you have visual confirmation of the seed being viable before planting
Cons:
- freshly sprouted seeds are very fragile while transplanting
- we have found this method to be more susceptible to damping off problems
Method 3
Peroxide Soak
What you'll need:
- seeds
- container
- water
- hydrogen peroxide solution
- small file or scalpel (optional)
In this method we'll soak the seeds in a hydrogen peroxide solution in order to kill off any (pre-)emergent bacteria or fungal spores which could possibly spoil the seed during the germination process.
Prepare a small container and fill it with seeds and a 1,5 - 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. Be aware that hydrogen peroxide can often come in higher concentrations when bought from a store so you may have to dilute it with water. Fill the container just far enough to cover the seeds you'll be germinating. Refresh the solution daily as the peroxide will degrade back to water and oxygen over time.
Again you can nick the seed coat with a small file or scalpel to help water penetrate the hard outer seed layer although many people feel it is not necessary when using this method as the peroxide will help soften the outer seed layer.
Plant the seeds about 1-1,5cm (1/2 inch) into moist soil or soilless mix when they start to swell or show the first sign of a taproot. The seeds should come up in a couple of days.
Pros:
- high success rate
- risk of unwanted pathogens significantly reduced
- best method to use for hard to germinate varieties
Cons:
- hydrogen peroxide can be a strong corrosive agent depending on the strength of the solution so caution when handling and safety goggles are advised.
