As for the bat---the 6 seeds I've had on the heat mat in high humidity and lights for about a week or so has done nothing. So, today I'm trying Plans B, C & D while those take their time.
Trying 2 seeds each:
* Soaking 24 hours in 3% peroxide, then will plant in Pro-Mix starter mix
* Soaking overnight in straight lemon juice, then same as above
* Soaking overnight in really hot water, then same as above
Explanation for those processes:
I've never diluted my 3% peroxide when using it on plants. Originally didn't know you should and haven't had any ill effects using it straight.
I've used the straight (or sometimes diluted) lemon or lime juice soak to germinate seeds with hard coats. I'd first heard it suggested for iris seeds as those apparently contain a germination inhibitor that is dissolved when it passes through the digestive process of a bird that has eaten and then expelled the seed. I will experiment in a heartbeat so I tried it last year with a few wild iris seeds, passion flowers, clitorea, vigna caracalla and phaseolus. Had a high rate of fast germination. The wild iris is overwintering in the fridge. The passion flowers got cut back and are overwintering in my guest bedroom. The clitoreas I've given up on. I've germinated them three years in a row. They are happy in the garage with lights and warmth, then they do a very slow decline outside in the summer. The vignas all grew to cover a trellis, but again, I don't think it gets warm enough or long enough to get blooms from the clitoreas or the vignas...Bottom line,the acidic juices made a tremendous difference in germination so I'm trying it with bat seeds and Arabica coffee beans.
And last...I'm reading the bat needs a really hot soak. A thermos bottle was suggested to keep the water hot for 12-24 hours. My "creative alternative"? I've got them in water in a little glass jar (uncovered) on one of those electric candle warmers. They want hot? I'll give 'em hot.
Only have a few seeds left, but I'm determined, so if none of these work, I'll order another batch from a different source. Once I'm on a mission, I get a little obsessed...we'll see what If anything works. I'll have 6 bat plants or NONE!
