FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

Lets tackle this like eating an elephant, one bite at a time.

Intheswamp wrote: ↑Fri Oct 21, 2022 3:50 pm Well, for some reason I've been under the impression that simply putting drosera seeds in the refrigerator (dry) would handle stratification needs. Today, in preparation for planting some sarracenia seeds that I've acquired through hook, crook, and masterful pleading from the seed bank (thank you Chef and donors!!!) I started reading that stratification, whether for sundews or pitcher seeds, is a moist process. Duuuhhhhh, ok, so I'm not the sharpest blade in the drawer, ok?

True, it needs to be moist, otherwise they would come stratified as I store them in my fridge at 38°F. You need to do some legwork, have some skin in the game. I'm not going to do all the work for you.

Intheswamp wrote:To make it simple for this daft, aging relic, is it safe to say that both sarracenia and drosera require stratification? I know that some tropical species of drosera are stated as not needing it, but...would it hurt them if they were stratified? Most of the drosera that I'm interested in are filiformis.

Sarracenia and cold temperate Drosera need the cold stratification. Subtropical versions of cold temperates, such as filiformis var. Floridana or intermedia "Cuba", do not need stratification, but are reported to have a greater germination rate with a two month strat. Some Drosera even need a warm stratification (which you could easily do in an Alabama summer), but I don't think you have any of those.

Intheswamp wrote:I've got some sarrs seeds needing stratification along with some D.filiformis "New Jersey" (NJ kinda strongly suggests they need stratification) and some D.filiformis "Dreamsicle OP". My understanding is that filiformis varieties *can* benefit from stratification although the parents of the "Dreamsicle OP" are probably ok without stratification.

Pretty much anything that grows naturally above the Florida/Georgia line, give it a strat. If it naturally grows in Florida, flip a coin.

Intheswamp wrote:I'm thinking of sowing the seeds on containers of peat:perlite that have a thin layer of chopped up sphagnum on top of it, bagging them, and throwing them in a refrigerator for a couple of months. The temperature here fluctuates a lot during the winter and can range from the low-80's at times going down into the 30's and 40's at night. So, no constant below-50F temperature.

That would work, but fridges dehydrate stuff, so keep an eye on it. For Sarrs, I have found it easier to fold the seeds into a few layers of damp to moist paper towel and place into a ziploc. maybe add a little more water so there is a small pool. Then take all the individual bags, after they've been labeled of course, and place into a bigger ziploc and seal. Easier to check as you just look for the small amount of water still moving around the little bag, also check for mold growth weekly. I have found that normal, white paper towels will grow mold more easily than the brown ones you find in bathrooms on a roll. Next time you're at a place with those on a brown roll, wave your hand in front of the sensor a few times and put some in your pocket.
For drosera, I go to the dollar store and buy the plastic shot glasses. Fill about halfway with distilled water, stir in seeds (that's the tricky part), cover with something (I use packing tape), and put in the fridge.
Both ways, protect them from freezing. If they freeze, the stratification process stops.

Intheswamp wrote:A couple of questions:

• Is there anything to gain by stratifying the seeds as long as three months, rather than two months?

I don't think so, but you could experiment.

Intheswamp wrote:

• Would it be better to wait until the first of January to start stratifying them so that the subsequent germination begins closer to "spring"?

The sarrs seeds I could do the moist paper towel stratification and save some room but the drosera seeds are so small I think I'd rather go ahead and have them where they'll be growing. The old trailer that I've got my plants stashed in right now (and where my grow lights are) has an old refrigerator in it...I could plug it in for a few months for the stratification time...it probably needs running, anyhow.

If you have the means to germinate them indoors while it's still cold outside, start them anytime. If you want to sow them and immediately put them outside, then start the strat about two months before you think they'll be able to stay outside.

Intheswamp wrote:I feel like I'm simply repeating questions that have been asked but...OCD-Me!!!

Yes, you are, but that's OK. We were all noobs once, just not as old as you. Old dogs, new tricks, you know.

Intheswamp wrote: ↑Fri Oct 21, 2022 5:33 pmSo moist paper towels for the sarrs and either the same or containers of water for the drosera?

Yes on the Sarrs, no paper towel on the Drosera seeds unless you want to be trying to remove dust sized seeds that decided to settle down in between the fibers of the paper towel.
The water strat allows you to pour them out onto the media, with a few rinses of water to wash them all out, or others swear by a small eyedropper. Suck up a seed or two and deposit it where you want, spreading them out vs they mostly get clumped up when pouring out.