Stratification - what is it? Stratification of seeds in the refrigerator

Often, beginners gardening and florists, buying seeds, see on the packaging an unfamiliar word "stratification". What is the process, what species are there, which plants need stratification?

The concept of stratification

What is stratification? The definition of stratification is as follows: it is an artificially created period of natural winter dormancy. Creating conditions for low temperatures and high humidity for seeds. Under such natural conditions, the seeds are in autumn and winter in the soil.

Seeds of some plants fall into the ground in the fall and should not rise until spring, as cold shoots will destroy young. The shell of such seeds is denser and harder. Only special conditions deplete the shell, complex organic substances in the seed pass into a simple form and the seeds grow.

These special conditions include the alternation of low and high temperatures, along with high humidity.

Stratification can be carried out in natural and at home.

Natural stratification. What is "podzimnius sowing"

Stratification of seeds in natural conditions is simple and less labor-intensive. Gardeners call the process "podzimnius sowing". For natural stratification it is necessary:

1. Sow seeds in pots or special boxes, be sure to apply drainage.
2. Cover the ground with lutrasil from the weeds and evaporate the moisture.
3. Put in a shaded place.

Gardeners with experience consider natural stratification better than artificial, domestic. Some seeds sow in late autumn. Wintering under the snow, on warm spring days, they themselves will sprout.

Home Stratification

At home, seeds need to create an environment that is similar to the natural. To do this, the seeds are mixed with coarse earth or sand, peat, moisten the soil, sift, remove the silt particles from the sand.

Experienced gardeners wrap the seeds in a moistened cloth, bind them with a wire and put them in a container with a limited amount of water. Such rolls must necessarily be marked: a label is labeled on the wire, indicating the type of seeds, the date of the beginning of stratification.

The water in the tank should be at the very bottom, in no case can the fabric rolls be completely immersed in water. From the tissue will escape air and seeds, which during the period of growing acute need of oxygen, will perish.

The method of stratification of seeds at home involves the need to inspect, remove the damaged or rotted, moisturize. This is done until the seeds appear in the primordia of rootlets.

After the end of the stratification period, swollen seeds are sown in the ground and kept in a room at a temperature of 22-24 degrees.

Home stratification. What is "refrigerant deception"?

Another simple way: stratification of seeds in the refrigerator. It is necessary to sow the seeds in a moist soil, wrap in a film with a hole and put in a refrigerator or a cellar with a low temperature regime - up to ⁺ 7 degrees. At the end of stratification, bring a box of seeds to the room.

Important: before placing the seeds in the refrigerator or basement, they must be kept at room temperature for swelling.

The duration of stratification

The term of seed stratification depends on the type of plant. This information, as a rule, is written on the package. The average term of stratification is one to two months. There are seeds that require stratification from one week to four months.

Which plants need stratification?

In a short stratification from one to two weeks need such plants as:

• Libya;
• Mekonopsis;
• Edraitanthus.

Long-term stratification is necessary for:

• Most types of ornamental bows;
• Wormwood;
• Clementines;
• Crimson;
• Dryads;
• Milkweed;
• Geranium;
• Irises.

There are plants that will germinate in the second year after stratification, they include:

• hellebore;
• arum;
• Adonis;
• Peonies.

Stratification of the seed of a tree

A simple example is the stratification of apple seeds. Before preparing the seeds you need to choose the ripe and large apple. Extract the seeds and rinse with water to rinse the inhibitor substances that inhibit the growth process. Then for 3 days soak the seeds in water.

On the third day in the water add a growth stimulant, for example, "Epin".

We prepare the substrate from sand, vermiculite and activated carbon. Coal is necessary to prevent the appearance of mold. Moisturize and mix prepared soil with swollen seeds. We pour the soil with the seeds into a container and put it in the refrigerator. You can use a flower pot or a small box. The tank should have large drainage holes for the removal of excess moisture.

In apple trees, the process of stratification takes a considerable time - about 90 days. All this time it is necessary to check the soil, if necessary, moisten from the sprayer.

If you start stratification of apple seeds in early February, in May the seeds will be prepared for sowing.

Stratification of flower seeds

Many colors are characterized by low germination, as a result of which without the process of stratification they can not be grown. Such flowers include peonies, buttercups, irises, lavender, aconites, anemones.

With a small number of seeds, stratification can be carried out using simplified options:

1. Seed the seeds in cups, place them in plastic bags, after making holes and put in the bottom of the refrigerator.
2. Cut a cloth with a size of 15x50 cm, and evenly distribute the seeds along the canvas. Bend the edges of the blade, fixing the ends. Put the rolls in a bowl, put a little water on the bottom and put it in the lower section of the refrigerator.

The process of stratification is simple, having tried the first time, you can grow a variety of flowers.

What does successful stratification depend on?

The main factors that influence the success of stratification:

• Quality of seeds. Seeds should be harvested recently. Otherwise, some seeds will completely lose their germination and disappear.
• Lowering and raising the temperature should be smooth.
• Compliance with the timeframe of the process. If the stratification is not completed, the seed germination will be limited.
• Determining the duration of periods. For some plants, the cold period should be longer than warm and vice versa.
• Observance of the temperature regime, which varies from 0 to -5 degrees. This kind of plant, like the buttercup, must be frozen at minus temperature.
• Determine the need for the process of scarification. Seeds of some plants and trees have a very thick shell, before sowing they are shaken with sand or rubbed with sandpaper.

Why do we need seed stratification? What is nature has not provided, once a person has a need to interfere in the natural process of growth? The ability to control the time and the progress of the seed germ, obtaining a healthy and effective seedling will make from a simple gardener a true breeder. Stratification makes it possible to grow resistant to winter storage varieties of vegetables. For example, artificial stratification of carrots allows you to store grown roots in the winter.

In addition, there are seeds of rare plants, counting which goes to units. Save their number just allows the process of stratification.