Start seeds in a ziplock bag??

[rprimbs]

I have some Dypsis, and Chamaerops seeds that i want to start and I am considering the ziplock bag method. But I have never tried it before.

What are the advantages? Should I seal the ziplock bag? Or do the seeds need air? Should I put peat moss, perlite, vermiculite, or a wet paper towel in the bag?

I have soaked the seeds now for about 24 hours. Should I also dip the seeds in some diluted chlorothalonil before placing them in the bags?

[colibri82]

Using ziploc bags is my speciality !

However I never used this method with Chamaerops as they grow easy outside here.

I use ziploc bags for tropical palmtrees and also for Brahea, Sabal...

You'll have to seal them to hold air inside and to avoid humidity.

Here I use only vermiculite just wet: when you clench your fist (with vermiculite and water inside) you would have 2 drops of water, no more.

As usual seeds have to be perfectely washed before to put them inside the bag.

I hope I could have helped you.

[rprimbs]

Using ziploc bags is my speciality !

However I never used this method with Chamaerops as they grow easy outside here.

I use ziploc bags for tropical palmtrees and also for Brahea, Sabal...

You'll have to seal them to hold air inside and to avoid humidity.

Here I use only vermiculite just wet: when you clench your fist (with vermiculite and water inside) you would have 2 drops of water, no more.

As usual seeds have to be perfectely washed before to put them inside the bag.

I hope I could have helped you.

Thank you, that is exactly what I was looking for. I am going to try it!

[PalmatierMeg]

I start seeds in zip-loc bags with damp orchid moss. Works great.

[awkonradi]

I've had good luck dipping seeds in 0.25 - 0.5% chloranthonil in acetone. Really stops mold. Barely damp paper towel or sponge works for me. I like Tupperware instead of plastic bags.

[_Keith]

There once was a PT member named Kris.

[sarasota alex]

There once was a PT member named Kris.

Not to hijack the thread, but what happened to Kris?

[colibri82]

Just for information, the system I use at home with ziploc bags:

[Oliver K.]

This looks cool! Quite some effort, but some (rare) seeds are sure worth it. Do you put a lid on top of the aquarium?

I put mine on electric heat mats, which causes the problem of easily drying out the substrate on the bottom, gathering all humidity on top of the bag. Anybody has a clever solution for this?

[colibri82]

Yes Oliver: I put a lit on the of the aquarium, it's a glass

With this system humidity is OK, everywhere in the bag.

[Grasswing]

My germination ratio was smaller in plastic bag than in normal seedbed. In plastic bag i had problems with mold much earlier than in flowerpot.

[colibri82]

My germination ratio was smaller in plastic bag than in normal seedbed. In plastic bag i had problems with mold much earlier than in flowerpot.

Certainly you employed to much water.

In my first message in this topic I wrote:

Here I use only vermiculite just wet: when you clench your fist (with vermiculite and water inside) you would have 2 drops of water, no more.

It's not a lot and it's enought.

In the begining I used to make this error of employing to much water, my results were also very bad with a lot of mold also.

Edited February 20, 2013 by colibri82