First attempt at nicking a seed...

_MaX_

Hello!

There is not much information on propagation of Adansonia gregorii around... (australian baobab) So I'm trying to write some at the same time!

I've searched about nicking seeds and it's quite simple as a concept, but in practice it might get harder.

Adansonia seeds are ... tough ones I think. No idea what other seeds can be like, but I hardly imagine worse.
At first I was like yay, it's easy enough, using my swiss knife I was scratching the back of one of these seeds. Then I though it might be a good idea to go deeper... I was only removing the air thin coating.
Surprise!! That dark coating is like a rock! Totally. Couln't do nothing with the knife, not even a little scratch. My father handed me some little metal files... It worked, obviously. But now I'd like to know from people who already did some of that nicking job if I did something good... See the picture please!

I stopped when I saw a change in the matter color... when it got brown.

Thanks

Max

Attached Images

HPIM2442.JPG (33.0 KB, 25 views)

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it will disappear when the tree will no longer be."
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Mcspeed

Hold it and rub on sandpaper works too, still have all your fingers, that must have been a little tense.

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_MaX_

Yup, just wondering if it's enough, too much, not enough, shoud I denude it more? Or is it just okay.. so that water can find it's way in, no matter how hard it will be to break the shell after that?...

Thanks
Max

__________________
"Eternal companions!
The human being appeared
because the tree was already there;
it will disappear when the tree will no longer be."
-Edgar Cayce

Camay123

With Ginkgo seeds, I have tried nicking the seeds coat, till one day I tried without any seedcoat. They all germinated. 8/8.

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_MaX_

You completely removed the hard shell?!?.. and it didn't break the "eye" of the seed!? That's interesting...

And before you tried that, about what was the ratio of successful germinations?

Thx!
Max

__________________
"Eternal companions!
The human being appeared
because the tree was already there;
it will disappear when the tree will no longer be."
-Edgar Cayce

AndyWilson

Hey Max,

I have never had trouble with some of the harder coated species. the Baobab (adansonai digitata) and dwarf coral (lucky bean)also have pretty tough coats, but soaking in warm water has given me great results. the softened coats make nicking the seed easier or not at all necessary as the warm water will soften the coats enough for the seedling to push through.

Hope this helps
Andy

lafster

I used sandpaper on several different species of adansonia. I sanded one little spot through the hard coat and then soaked them in hot water over night. Germination rate was close to 100%.
lynn

Camay123

With hard shell I had close to 85% germination.

I think sandpaper would be your best method and that way you dont risk of damaging the inner seeds.

I must admit that by trying to remove the hardshell of ginkgo, I damage a few of them before I found the trick to remove the coating without damaging.

__________________
Selling Bonsai tree seeds.
Flat rate shipping fee worldwide
Over 50 species in stock
Germination instructions