Seed? Here's a Closer Look
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By Joanna Gaelic Miramar, Wellington, New Zealand
Email: joanna.gaelic@hotmail.com |
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I got bit by the African violet bug in 2018 but got serious about hybridizing them when I moved back home to New Zealand last year.
I bought several leaves off another grower, but my impatience got the better of me, and before my leaf babies had even grown out, I asked around on our New Zealand African Violet Facebook group for spare seeds. Another New Zealand hybridizer said they had some excess to share, so I immediately bought them. I just happen to have a handheld microscope (20x-60x zoom) as I raise monarch butterflies and need a way to check them for parasites. So, I thought, well, if I’ve got it, why not use it! I decided to do a little experiment: germinating African violet seeds on damp paper towels in a sealed container so I could capture the process of the tiny seedlings breaking out with my microscope. And what a fascinating process it is. |
There were some real benefits to germinating seeds with this method. It’s a great way to keep track of the seeds so none “disappear” into the soil. This provides a better idea of the ratio of viable seeds in a pod. A paper towel is pathogen free, and it’s easy to control the amount of moisture on it. Using a paper towel also uses less space than lining up pots or containers.
On the other hand, growing seeds this way takes a little more time because it adds the extra step of moving the tiny seedlings into pots. I used a wetted skewer (a toothpick would work too), as the seed coat will stick easily to it, to gently move each sprouting seed into potting mix.
Ideally, you want to move it before the primary root gets too long and embeds itself in the paper towel. However, if the seedlings grow out on the paper towel, just cut out and place the paper towel in the potting mix along with the seedlings. The paper will break down before long.
Based upon my observations, it takes roughly a week for the seedlings to fully break free of the seed coat. Like most other seeds, they have their primary root come through and secure themselves before the stem and cotyledons follow. |
 Joanna Gaelic Miramar
I also noticed that a round hole seems to form in the side of the seed coat prior to the primary root breaking out, perhaps to let light onto the cotyledons.
I’ve read articles on vegetable and other seeds that say this method of germinating on paper towels can be three times faster. So far, it’s taken mine about two weeks to fully germinate, which is pretty standard for African violets. However, I started this experiment in the middle of winter, so I’d like to do it again in the summer and see if germination happens faster. I encourage all to try this method at home, whether you have a microscope or not. It was so much fun to watch these tiny specks come to life, especially since I know they will grow into beautiful violets over time. |
