Soaking – humidifying
Soaking the seeds for 24 hours or more softens the seed coat (surrounding shell) of the seed and therefore allows water to penetrate deep inside the seed. This technique is not compulsory but strongly recommended to accelerate germination.
Soaking the seeds should be done in a container of water at room temperature in a room and ideally above a background heat source in order to obtain lukewarm water (+ – 25 ° C) .
The general idea is that the viable seeds sink to the bottom of the container, but a floating seed is not necessarily dead because in the natural environment this allows them to be transported by waterways.
Substrate
The substrate is very important. The use of a substrate for seedlings and cuttings is recommended but a mixture of garden soil and river sand (50/50) is perfect.
In all cases, the substrate must be fine in order to promote the adhesion of the seeds (essential condition to allow the seeds to soak up water and germinate). It will allow the emergence of young seedlings and root growth will be favored.
Substrates based on peat, coconut fiber, perlite or vermiculite are suitable for seedlings.
The use of fertilizers is not recommended as they may inhibit germination and cause burns to seedlings.
Planting
Simple but essential step to obtain uniform seed emergence.
Place the substrate in pots, terrines or mini greenhouses for example. Be sure to use sufficient depth to allow the roots to develop.
Moisten the substrate sufficiently and then tamp it down. The seeds can now be placed on the substrate. Then they must be covered with the substrate but up to 1 to 2 times the thickness of the seeds. Tamp lightly so that the substrate sticks well to the seeds.
Water preferably with a spray bottle if the seeds are small so as not to dig them up.
Watering
The substrate should remain moist until the seeds germinate, but it should not be soggy, as this may cause the seeds to rot and the appearance of disease or fungi.
Think about drainage: there should never be stagnant water after watering.
Temperature
The seeds of exotic plants need heat to germinate.
An average temperature of 28°C is indicated, so it is important to place your seedling in a warm place but not in direct sunlight as this will cause the substrate to dry out quickly. Example of location: behind a window, near a heat source (radiator).
Place a cover or plastic film on your seedling to create a micro climate and this will increase the heat.
Germination times
It depends on all of the generalities described above but as a general rule the seeds will germinate between 1 and 6 weeks. Nature is so made that in a batch of seeds some can germinate very quickly, others take their time and germinate only after several weeks. Do not be discouraged and save your seedlings.