I'm so happy! Ugh I hope it will not die while I'm writing!

The one and only seed I got from crossing lightning strike x awakening spirit was elected to my test seed. I put it in damp kitchen paper in a ziplock bag in the fride for 13 days; then put it in a solution of water and peroxide and now, day 4, while changing the solution I noticed a little opening and something white is peeking!

I was ready to lose it, instead it's seems it's sprouting!
Now I don't know where to plant it. I have vermiculite coming in three days (bought it online) could it work? Or should I get a good germinating soil?

I would put it in a good potting mix and keep it damp.

thanks! what should I look for in a good potting mix? I'm really new to this!

Sabrina - What you are seeing is the root developing. The seed shell will stay on until it develops the stem and leaves enough to push the seed shell off.

Here is an idea of what makes a good seed starting mix:

http://www.rodalesorganiclife....

Becky! So when shoul I take it off from the solution and plant it? I guess it should not emit leaves while soaking. Maybe it even can't

I would plant it right away but I don't think it would hurt to leave it in the solution for a few days (depends on how strong the peroxide is). You should be able to purchase a small bag of commercial seed starting mix, it's probably not worth mixing your own for one seedling. You could also plant it temporarily in the vermiculite when it arrives but in a few weeks you'd have to start fertilizing it with a complete fertilizer (including micronutrients) or else transplant it into a potting medium with fertilizer.

Sabrina - I would omit the compost and lime in the above mix. You can plant your seed at any time. I use a pencil to poke a hole down into the potting mix about 1 inch. It should not be a deep hole.

Everyone here sows and germinates seeds differently. Rather than write everything I do, read the article I wrote about growing daylilies from seeds:

http://garden.org/ideas/view/b...

I've personally had very good luck with my method, but there are many other ways to grow seeds as well. The trick with seeds is not to let the soil stay too moist. It can cause a fungus that will kill the seedling, which is why I add a couple of drops of hydrogen peroxide to any water I use to water the seedling with. I also don't water but once a week unless the soil dries out faster.

I agree with Sue. I purchase a seed starting potting mix from a garden nursery. I posted that link to give you an idea of what makes a good seed mix.

beckygardener said:You can plant your seed at any time. I use a pencil to poke a hole down into the potting mix about 1 inch. It should not be a deep hole.

Is that an inch for dropping in the seed? The usual rule of thumb is twice the diameter of the seed. Given that daylily seeds aren't half an inch across, that, to me, is too deep. Remember that the seedling is using food storage from within the seed to get to the surface before it can start photosynthesizing and making its own and that food is limited. The further it has to grow to get to the light the more stored food it will use, and this can cause a seedling to be weaker by the time it can start photosynthesizing and making its own food for growth.

I personally do use an inch but no more than an inch. I am also thinking of the bigger daylily seeds which seems to be what I have most of the time. If the seed is smaller, then not as deep of a hole.

The reason I use an inch is because the new seedling doesn't fall over if I accidentally bump it or brush up against it. I've had that happen a number of times, so I started planting them an inch deep. It has never been a problem for me and I get good germination rates from daylily seeds that do not seem to be affected by that depth of planting. I do understand what you are saying though, Sue.

Thank you both! It happens I have a bag of compost originated soil (no peat in it) could I use that? Maybe mixed with vermiculite?

When I say planting, I mean dropping the seeds into a small hole 1 inch deep.

beckygardener said:When I say planting, I mean dropping the seeds into a small hole 1 inch deep.

Dropping without covering?

beckygardener said: It has never been a problem for me and I get good germination rates from daylily seeds that do not seem to be affected by that depth of planting. I do understand what you are saying though, Sue.

Just to clarify, I'm not talking about germination rate being affected but the vigor of the seedlings by the time they get up there. Outdoors an inch would be more appropriate because of other factors, but how are you managing to knock them over if you plant them half an inch deep?

Sabrina, you fill in the hole after you've dropped in the seed. It's hard to say whether your compost originated soil would work without seeing it. Vermiculite may be safer to start with. If the bag of soil has been previously opened then I would not use it for starting seeds (higher risk of damping off and/or fungus gnats).

Yes, definitely cover the seed!

Thanks again. So I need a bag of sterilized soil every time I plant seeds? Yes the bag I have is already opened!

Sue - I grow mine in cups, so if I bump the cup or accidentally brush across the leaves of the seedling when they first sprout, the root(s) have not had a chance to get a good hold down into the soil and they sometimes fall over. Planting them back into the soil is a real challenge without damaging them. (At least for me.)

The biggest issue I have found is watering them. What works best for me is to make sure you have enough holes in the bottom of the cup/pot and water them from the bottom. I put my cups/pots in a small plastic bin and add water to the bin so the soil (in the cup/pots) can soak up the water through the holes in the bottom of the cup/pot. This also helps the roots grow deeper instead of growing near the surface of the soil if watering from the top of the cup/pot. I always add hydrogen peroxide to the water and then pour off any excess water after about an hour of the cups soaking in the plastic bin, to prevent damping off.

I totally agree with Sue ... If the potting mix bag has been opened or not completely sealed, then contamination is possible. Gnat larvae and damping off fungus are the two biggest killers of seedlings.

Your seedling will need light. Sunlight coming through a window is good, but remember that glass windows can magnify the sunlight coming through it and can get too hot which may burn/fry you seedling. Make sure that your plant isn't right up against the window. Mine are right next to my glass window, so I put a sheer curtain panel between my window and the seedlings on the windowsill. That seems to diffuse the heat and magnified light coming through the window.

Congratulations! I hope your little seed thrives!

I have never sterilized soil, but this link tells you different ways you could sterilize your already opened potting mix:

http://www.gardeningknowhow.co...

I have heard it can stink when sterilizing any soil mix. Hopefully someone here can give you more info about that!

Sue - Have you ever sterilized potting mix?

Also Michele (tink3472) mentioned last year that she puts a layer of sand on top of the soil in her pots to keep the gnats from laying eggs in the potting mix.

Probably a 1/3 inch layer of sand. I have done that, but AFTER they sprouted above the soil line.