Share The Seeds

Gardening Area => Seeds and Germination => Topic started by: rhythmspring on June 27, 2015, 07:20:16 AM

Title: What's the best way to keep Iboga seeds?
Post by: rhythmspring on June 27, 2015, 07:20:16 AM
So that they remain viable for a long, long time?
Title: Re: What's the best way to keep Iboga seeds?
Post by: nobody on June 27, 2015, 08:21:59 AM
Since Iboga seeds are recalcitrant seed they can not be stored for a long time and keep their viability. If the seeds are dried the viability drops to 1 - 3% at most, in as little as 3 months the seed viability can drop to 0%.

nobody
Title: Re: What's the best way to keep Iboga seeds?
Post by: BubbleCat on June 27, 2015, 01:53:25 PM
In my experience, contrary to common belief, "dry" Iboga and Voacanga seeds do work. If you cut one open you will either find a colorless jelly inside, thats a viable seed, or you find nothing but dust inside, thats a dead seed. Now if you cut 10 open you can approximate your percentage or live seeds pretty close, obviously you need a bigger batch to do that.

Mind: They are desication intolerant, means you can not fully dry them, I think if you dont want them to germinate the best might be to clean them well and then keep them in an environment humid enough to slow down desication but not humid enough to propagate mold. Maybe ~70% :)
Title: Re: What's the best way to keep Iboga seeds?
Post by: rhythmspring on June 27, 2015, 04:45:04 PM
In my experience, contrary to common belief, "dry" Iboga and Voacanga seeds do work. If you cut one open you will either find a colorless jelly inside, thats a viable seed, or you find nothing but dust inside, thats a dead seed. Now if you cut 10 open you can approximate your percentage or live seeds pretty close, obviously you need a bigger batch to do that.

Good to know.

Mind: They are desication intolerant, means you can not fully dry them, I think if you dont want them to germinate the best might be to clean them well and then keep them in an environment humid enough to slow down desication but not humid enough to propagate mold. Maybe ~70% :)

And how do you propose one does that? I don't have a greenhouse that I can keep at 70%.
Title: Re: What's the best way to keep Iboga seeds?
Post by: BubbleCat on June 27, 2015, 11:30:22 PM


Mind: They are desication intolerant, means you can not fully dry them, I think if you dont want them to germinate the best might be to clean them well and then keep them in an environment humid enough to slow down desication but not humid enough to propagate mold. Maybe ~70% :)

And how do you propose one does that? I don't have a greenhouse that I can keep at 70%.

This is a funny one. I simply assumed 70% should be fine as cigars are kept at 70% for years and dont rot. So store them with your cigars. :D
Otherwise, coming closest to 70% with little effort: Make a saturated salt solution (~40g NaCl + 100g H2O) in a pot or glass and put that in a sealed bag together with the seeds. At ~20 C the humidity in your bag should be roughly ~75% rel. :P
Title: Re: What's the best way to keep Iboga seeds?
Post by: rhythmspring on June 28, 2015, 07:32:58 PM
Hmm, okay, just did that.

But if I want to transport them easily, I'll likely have to take them out of the bag with the little glass of salt water... maybe they'll retain their 70% humidity? I want to store them for years.
Title: Re: What's the best way to keep Iboga seeds?
Post by: ONandONandON on June 28, 2015, 09:42:05 PM
Sharing the seeds with others who would grow them into trees, and so creating a new source of fresh seeds for all.  ;)
Title: Re: What's the best way to keep Iboga seeds?
Post by: BubbleCat on June 28, 2015, 09:51:27 PM
Hmm, okay, just did that.

But if I want to transport them easily, I'll likely have to take them out of the bag with the little glass of salt water... maybe they'll retain their 70% humidity? I want to store them for years.

Years is not likely to happen at all. ONandONandON is tight, If you share them maybe in a few years you can simply request some seeds and will be given your seeds children. Thats exactly my strategy if I worry about loosing or not establishing a population, especially if I already am low on seeds I share them rather than throw all at one attempt, hoping maybe someone else will make it and later I can ask some back.