I tried the vermiculite too and no go

About a year ago I came up with an idea for germinating large, rot prone & stubborn seeds using a humidifier ... essentially build a closed box and plug in a humidifier with someway to drain the water and place the seeds on a screen mesh or something similar .. That's a project I'll work on this winter. I've got everything I need to do it, including the humidifier.

About 4 years ago I made a contraption for seeds with germination inhibitors in the coats like passiflora. It didn't work on the passies but other seeds actually started germinating. I might dig it out and try some of the canary bird seeds and wash them with an acidic wash - perhaps some Sorrel Tea, Hibiscus sabdariffa.

I'm determined this year! I bought 3 packets of seeds. I'm going to soak 10 seeds in GA3 overnight, 10 seeds in plain water for 3 days changing the water daily as directed on the seed packet and try a mild acid bath as described above . I'll keep everyone posted!

Good luck Anne I'm not taking up the prime seed space for them this year

Good luck, Anne.

I nicked and soaked 3 seeds- just last week , nothing yet.

Thanks! Good luck to you too!

Well, I've gotten as far as finding last year's packet of seeds.

Is it possible that we may be over-thinking this? When the gardening bug bit me this was one of the first plants that I grew from seed and even though I cannot remember exactly how I germinated them it is safe to assume that I just followed the instructions on the packet (13mm deep in a pot on a windowsill at 13 to 18°c).
I bought a packet of seeds a few weeks ago and have just sown half of them (nine seeds). The use by date is March 2019 so although they don't have a massively long period of viability it is not overly short either. In the wild the seed will just drop, maybe get covered by falling leaves and then germinate in its own good time. Lack of space now means that the pot method is not an option so here's how I've done it this time - in a ziploc bag with lightly moistened vermiculite which is placed in a cool room away from the window as the temperature is more stable.
This plant can be grown and bloomed by a novice here in the UK so maybe it is our experience that has become the germination inhibitor. Anyway, I've gone public so I'll let you know how I get on but in the meantime here is a couple of photos of some blooms that the novice me got all those years ago...........

longk said:Is it possible that we may be over-thinking this? When the gardening bug bit me this was one of the first plants that I grew from seed and even though I cannot remember exactly how I germinated them it is safe to assume that I just followed the instructions on the packet (13mm deep in a pot on a windowsill at 13 to 18°c).
I bought a packet of seeds a few weeks ago and have just sown half of them (nine seeds). The use by date is March 2019 so although they don't have a massively long period of viability it is not overly short either. In the wild the seed will just drop, maybe get covered by falling leaves and then germinate in its own good time. Lack of space now means that the pot method is not an option so here's how I've done it this time - in a ziploc bag with lightly moistened vermiculite which is placed in a cool room away from the window as the temperature is more stable.
This plant can be grown and bloomed by a novice here in the UK so maybe it is our experience that has become the germination inhibitor. Anyway, I've gone public so I'll let you know how I get on but in the meantime here is a couple of photos of some blooms that the novice me got all those years ago...........

This is valuable information, thank you for sharing it!

Indeed! Thanks for sharing!

This is a bit embarrassing. One of the best things about the baggy method is that it is easy to check for rotting or mouldy seed on a regular basis. I tipped the bag out this morning and five of the nine seeds have started to germinate..........


Basically I'm just relieved that my wee deviation from the instructions on the packet hasn't made me look foolish!

Wow! I checked all of mine yesterday and they had all rotted! Doing the baggy method today!

Would you recommend a vendor who sells viable seeds, longk?

Mine are from Suttons Seeds. I don't know if they have a US presence but they probably ship if they don't. I would assume that they buy in the seeds.

Thanks!!

They do have this species but unfortunately they were quick to state they did not ship seeds to the USA.

I got some new seeds from OutsidePride - 100 seeds - all the ones from Swallowtail rotted no matter what I did to them .. I'll be trying to OutsidePride seeds today using @longk 's method.

Here is what OutsidePride says about germinating them:

Canary Creeper seeds should be soaked in water overnight to help break down the tough outer seed coat. Sow the Nasturium seeds directly outside and cover the flower seed 1/4 inch with soil. Canary Creeper care includes watering deeply, but letting the roots dry out in-between waterings. There is no need to either fertilize or deadhead the vine.

http://www.outsidepride.com/se...

I just put a few in to soak, with a little bit of H202 added. I rubbed them between 2 pieces of sandpaper for good measure. I notice that the seeds I have (from last year) are also from Outside Pride. I was going to try the vermiculite, too. But remember that they want darkness to germinate. I'm going to put mine in a tub and put it somewhere dark.

You talked me into it!!

Once I transfer to the damp paper towel I think I'll stick them in the cutlery drawer .. that way I won't forget where they are.