Sarracenia Seed Viability
 

Hi would like to ask about possibility of finding out if sarracenia seeds are viable or not.

A few months ago, you guys helped me try out an experiment with self pollenation of my S. Flava x ? (people say it might be a hybrid). The flower was pollenated by myself and it lasted several months without wilting, last month it started to finally dry out, and I already got the dried out flower, shaking it produced light brown seeds. (I am used to seeing black sarra seeds) and when I soaked them in water, they float, heck even after putting a dab of soap which usually makes the seeds sink, they still float. Wondering if this is an indication of non viability?

Another Sarra of mine is now flowering and luckily my brother's is also flowering, so I have done artificial cross pollenation now, hopefully this will be more sucessful, if the self pollenated one isn't.

Please feedback/comment :)

TTFN
Arvin

Re: Sarracenia Seed Viability
 

Well why not try out those seeds..

Ken

Re: Sarracenia Seed Viability
 

It sound like you got fertile seeds. Are they around 1 - 2mm long? If I got black sarracenia seeds I would be rather upset because they are dead. VFT seeds are black.

Re: Sarracenia Seed Viability
 

Hmm...I just went through the savage garden book and it said sarra seeds are a brown to reddish tan. The seeds can last about two months without refrigeration too. Maybe your seeds have problems. Well, no results can be gained without trying, so might as well try sowing the seeds. No pain no gain! :laugh:

Cheers

Re: Sarracenia Seed Viability
 

Sar seeds are hydrophobic. They will repel water until they are given a cold wet period.

Re: Sarracenia Seed Viability
 

Thanks guys. I feel better now. Yes I am surely going to try to sow them no matter what, but your posts have given me more confidence. I will try a few techniques, I am soaking some in water, but as I reported and as Alcran pointed out they are hydrophobic. I will also try to put some in some peat and then put them in a ref. I actually have 2 sarracenia seedlings from seeds that were bought from a "toy store". Dunecraft. Only 2 has germinated so far.

Thanks again!
TTFN
Arvin