I need a seed glossary! I thought someone put one up on one of the threads but I can not find it. @Jonna, please? Where can I find one?

http://www.kew.org/ucm/groups/...

JB said:

When you buy seeds, no matter what size, do you always check them to see if they are o.k. by putting them in water?

Well, I almost never buy seeds, but I do trade a lot. I do check the bigger seeds, not the small ones. To be honest, I don't know if it works on all sizes of seeds. Besides that some seeds are small like dust, so I suppose they will never sink.

It's a good indicator, JB, but not infallible. Some seeds are naturally lighter and may not be able to absorb enough water to sink them, others have hairs that trap air and cause them to float. I've had plants from very large seeds that I discarded because they never sank come roaring out of whatever I discarded them in, defying the rule about floaters and sinkers.
If the only seeds I have of something I really want to grow float, I don't let that stop me, but I adjust my expectations accordingly.

I just planted the 6 Michael Lindsey seeds after soaking them for around 20 hours. I did not nick them and I did plant the floaters just to see what would happen. I labeled the cups as floaters so I will know for sure. They are sitting out in the warm sun right now.

Many seeds were designed to float - coconuts are one example; certain Iris seeds are another example.
It is one method of how they are dispersed during rain events. Here is a good explanation about floating seeds and germination.

http://answers.yahoo.com/quest...

In addition to coconut and some iris, others are:
palm
mango
apple
lotus
water lily
water mint
willow
silver birch
foxglove
harebell
sea bean
brooklime
(I'm sure there are many more.)
There is a cute little plant in the Okefenokee Swamp. It's called Ladies' Hatpin (an Eriocaulaceae). The seeds float in the ditches and are deposited at the 'high water' mark. When the water recedes, the seeds are in the correct place to thrive.

greene said:Many seeds were designed to float - coconuts are one example; certain Iris seeds are another example.
It is one method of how they are dispersed during rain events. Here is a good explanation about floating seeds and germination.

http://answers.yahoo.com/quest...

Well, another thing to investigate. I had a look at the link Greene sent and I must say I don't believe always anything published, so I threw some Iris setosa in water and they float all. Will have to see what they do the next few days.
To me it's clear, that there is no 'general' advice, just experience.

That is why I planted the floaters and non-floaters, best way to learn is to try it yourself, Jonna.

I planted the floaters in the Michael also. I only had 1 in the other and I threw that one away. Thank you all again.

I still think there is a difference if all seeds of a certain specie float, or some do or do not float.
Hope you marked the floaters, so we will really know if the floaters or the sinking ones do germinate at you Linda and Jacquie

I did mark them. No problem.

Yes Jonna my floaters are marked.

I'm sure you're right about that, Jonna. I did not cull the non-sinkers so I will have to rely on everyone else's research.

I put my seeds in three different pots, all numbered and marked. Today I saw Pot #3 has a sprout, which is the #3 Shrub and the oldest of all the three. This was the first one I purchased and was upset because it had no fragrance and was advertised that it did. Anyhow here is my first sprout.

Sweetshrub #3 = 3/19/14



Have not heard from Ella and am concerned. I sent her a post a week or more ago and never got a reply. Now I can not remember which seed thread I put it on. I had a question about some seeds. If you all know if she is o.k. please let me know. She has not checked in here either for some time.

I should add that my seeds are just on the East Window Sill and no bottom heat. Only get water when the soil is dry on top. The seed that sprouted was all but out of the soil. With my eye sight as poor as it is I may not have stuck it in the soil. I would not know for sure, but it is barely in the soil now. I am not moving it at this time. I wondered if there was a top and bottom to these seeds like there is to bulbs? I would not see it if there was with my eye.

Great news JB. Absolutely nothing is happening yet to the seeds I planted.

That's good news JB.
Ella is usually posting over on Cubits (is that the same Ella as Starlight?)

I have not posted any results because I have not seen any germination yet.
I did read that the seeds like to 'move' in the soil and work their way up to the surface. I keep checking every day for a sign of life.

Thanks Greene, yes Ella is Starlight! That is good to know that they work their way up. Thanks. Stay well and keep in touch.