Experiment on Neps seed germination

[alpiner]

This is to share my notes and learning from germinating seeds. Form of contributing back to this community. It may already be a known knowledge to most of you, so do chip in if you’ve additional info.

First experiment on media
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Environment: Non direct morning sun + 2hrs of 2xT5 FL (2x14W)
Species: N. Mirabilis var Globosa (30 seeds)
Sowed: Jan 31 2011
Watering method: Water tray, covered with air holes.
Comparing: Coco peat vs Sphagnum moss

Feb 13 (Day13): First checked, alerted by Harris
4 of 15 in coco peat germinated. 2 of them has >2mm sprout.
1 of 15 in sphagnum moss just started to germinate.

Day 15:
6 of 15 in coco peat germinated.
1 of 15 in sphagnum moss

Day 17:
6 of 15 in coco peat germinated.
2 of 15 in sphagnum moss germinated.

Day 19:
6 of 15 in coco peat germinated.
5 of 15 in sphagnum moss germinated.

Day 21:
6 of 15 in coco peat germinated.
7 of 15 in sphagnum moss germinated.

Day 23:
6 of 15 in coco peat germinated.
7 of 15 in sphagnum moss germinated.
Stopped recording as I think no further germination will happen.

Conclusion:-
- I won’t make correlation btw no of germinated seed to media used. Sample size is small, and I think it relates more to the potency of seed itself + other factors. I’m happy that both give ~40-50% germination rate.
- One interesting observation: Coco peat seems to germinate seeds faster. In addition, coco peat seems to be lazyman's choice, i.e. no chopping of sm, which sometimes takes hours to do without proper tools.
- Somewhat confirm the theory of freshness of seed to speed of germination, comparing with N.Mirabilis seeds that I sow 2 days apart.
- In future I won’t make such disclaimer and presumed it’s understandable: The conclusion is drawn based on Vikings only, and to the environment I setup, weather of Penang, chi at my place etc.
Next steps:
- Watering method (Water tray, spray) vs media (SM, coco peat) vs covered. (Already on the way, inspired by the poll setup by bactrus)
- Increase sample size on successful methods. Different species. Hugely dependant on seeds that I can get my hand on, time and space.

[alpiner]

Second experiment on Watering method vs media vs cover.
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Objective: Find a relatively simple and straightforward way of germinating seeds, with high/acceptable success rate of germination
Environment: Non direct morning sun + 2hrs of 2xT5 FL (2x14W)
Species: N. Mirabilis (50 seeds)
Sowed: Feb 2 2011
Comparing: Watering method (Water tray, spray) vs media (SM, coco peat) vs covered.

Feb 20 (Day 18) First germination
0 of 10 in covered sphagnum moss(water tray)
0 of 10 in covered coco peat(water tray)
0 of 10 in covered sphagnum moss(spray)
1 of 10 in covered coco peat(spray)
0 of 10 in not-covered sphagnum moss(water tray)
0 of 10 in not-covered coco peat(water tray)

[Harris Azariel]

a good experiment indeed!
others can have a guide on germinating this guys with various of methods which confirmed working :D

mine around 15-20seeds germinated outta 30seeds

[alpiner]

Good job in getting ~60%. Care to share your germinating method?
Watering method:
Media:
Cover/Uncovered:
Lighting:

Thx.

[alpiner]

24/2 Update: Second experiment on Watering method vs media vs cover.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Objective: Find a relatively simple and straightforward way of germinating seeds, with high/acceptable success rate of germination
Environment: Non direct morning sun + 2hrs of 2xT5 FL (2x14W)
Species: N. Mirabilis (50 seeds)
Sowed: Feb 2 2011
Comparing: Watering method (Water tray, spray) vs media (SM, coco peat) vs covered.

Feb 20 (Day 18) First germination
0 of 10 in covered sphagnum moss(water tray)
0 of 10 in covered coco peat(water tray)
0 of 10 in covered sphagnum moss(spray)
1 of 10 in covered coco peat(spray)
0 of 10 in not-covered sphagnum moss(water tray)
0 of 10 in not-covered coco peat(water tray)

Feb 22 (Day 20)
1 of 10 in covered sphagnum moss(water tray)
0 of 10 in covered coco peat(water tray)
0 of 10 in covered sphagnum moss(spray)
1 of 10 in covered coco peat(spray)
0 of 10 in not-covered sphagnum moss(water tray)
0 of 10 in not-covered coco peat(water tray)

Feb 24 (Day 22)
1 of 10 in covered sphagnum moss(water tray)
0 of 10 in covered coco peat(water tray)
0 of 10 in covered sphagnum moss(spray)
1 of 10 in covered coco peat(spray)
0 of 10 in not-covered sphagnum moss(water tray)
2 of 10 in not-covered coco peat(water tray)

[alpiner]

My DIY rig with 2 14W 2' T5 FL, using packaging foam for my computer. Able to put 6 seedboxes inside, each box can be segmented into 2, so 12 compartments. Original concept using D.Adalae to capture any insects that lurks around the lights. Until I kill most of the D.Adalae... That's another story for another day.


Setup for second experiment: 3x2 variants