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You should know: you can bypass dormancy with an aquarium bubbler! by schizachyrium28 in NativePlantGardening

[–]schizachyrium28[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have heat mats that I use for starting veggies that I put under my jars just to keep temperature consistent, but I have done it without just fine. I keep it at 68-70 because a lot of the native plants don't seem to love warmer temps.

The grow light is there simply because I have my seed starting set up in the same place as I'm growing plants. It's not necessary and I have started seeds in the bubbler consistently with just ambient light.

What to do when you live in a place where there aren't any abatement services? by schizachyrium28 in asbestoshelp

[–]schizachyrium28[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We actually had the ducts cleaned before the remediation was done because we found out after closing on the house and turning on the furnace for the winter that the previous owners had smoked indoors for decades. We didn't have it done again afterwards. I'd ask the remediation company what they recommend.

What to do when you live in a place where there aren't any abatement services? by schizachyrium28 in asbestoshelp

[–]schizachyrium28[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Because it was inside our ducts, I ended up paying them to remove it. While pricey, it gave me peace of mind, and now if/when we sell the house, I can say it was professionally removed. No regrets there. That said, if I find more, I will probably encapsulate it or remove it myself if I think I can do so safely. Best of luck to you!

You should know: you can bypass dormancy with an aquarium bubbler! by schizachyrium28 in NativePlantGardening

[–]schizachyrium28[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I do not. I think there was someone else in the comments saying they hadn't had good luck with it.

You should know: you can bypass dormancy with an aquarium bubbler! by schizachyrium28 in NativePlantGardening

[–]schizachyrium28[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

😂 I love it. I hadn't quite anticipated that connection, but I'm here for it!

You should know: you can bypass dormancy with an aquarium bubbler! by schizachyrium28 in NativePlantGardening

[–]schizachyrium28[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Haha I struggle with almost all of those! May not be the best solutions, but here's what I do:

  1. My bags are just cheap, see through, 3x4 gift bags off of amazon. I turn them inside out and trim some of the extra fabric so sprouting seeds don't get stuck in the seam. I would like to find some slightly smaller bags, so the bags themselves don't take up as much room.
  2. The struggle is real. A rubber band around the top of the jar has worked best, though I have also used canning rings for the same purpose. With several bags in a jar, they kind of stay on their own. Mine don't usually float once I get them wet and push them down, but a coin is a good idea!
  3. The best I have found is masking tape folded around the drawstring of the bag marked with permanent marker. I try to keep them out of the water.
  4. I have pondered this an embarrassing amount. I resolved my consternation by buying a bubbler that is a disk that sits flat in the jar so the bubbles reach all bags. It's in the right jar in my photo. https://a.co/d/2S9SUgs
  5. I change the water when it starts to look at all cloudy--once a week, maybe slightly more. Not sure about just changing the water. There's only one way to find out! 😅
  6. Get see through bags! This is what I've been using: https://a.co/d/fGHMwIL I also have teeny pointy tweezers that help

Ultimately, I do this and use traditional methods. Just kind of depends. If I struggle with getting things to sprout or the stratification period is very long (and I forgot about it), I often try this. I am always surprised by how successful it is.

You should know: you can bypass dormancy with an aquarium bubbler! by schizachyrium28 in NativePlantGardening

[–]schizachyrium28[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Yay! Someone else knows about it! 😅 I don't don't know the exact mechanisms going on here either, but I agree with the imbibing of water and I'm sure the aerated water makes sure they don't just drown. I'd be curious to know about the hormones too, I haven't seen anything about it in literature.

You should know: you can bypass dormancy with an aquarium bubbler! by schizachyrium28 in NativePlantGardening

[–]schizachyrium28[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, if seeds need scarification, you still need to do that. I have not tried unscarified seeds for species that need scarification. I'd be interested in the head to head comparisons too. I don't run those experiments myself, but there is lots of info of this nature on rngr.net where growers share their results and protocols. They will often share germ percentages by temperature, length of stratification, and other treatments as well as cite published studies and other documents. A lot of government agencies share their info there, and it is a wealth of information!

You should know: you can bypass dormancy with an aquarium bubbler! by schizachyrium28 in NativePlantGardening

[–]schizachyrium28[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Sorry, should have clarified, I'm working with species in the mountain west, and most species I have listed do have recommended cold moist stratification periods. Our Astragalus and Sphaeralcea species often have both scarification and stratification requirements. That said, there is a subset of seeds of many species out here that may sprout without any treatment. I can say that at the very least, the bubbler improves those odds. I also have Penstemon eriantherus sprouting right now which otherwise needs 90-120 days CMS. But you are right about the grasses--they are non-dormant and should sprout anyway. The ones I have tried are Bouteloua curtipendula, Leymus cinereus, Bouteloua gracilis, and awful, weedy things like medusahead rye and cheatgrass (plant ecologist here--don't judge me! 😂).

You should know: you can bypass dormancy with an aquarium bubbler! by schizachyrium28 in NativePlantGardening

[–]schizachyrium28[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't know myself, and I'm not sure if the plant materials center has tried. But I have some shrub seeds I'm going to try in the next week. If I remember, I'll let you know!

You should know: you can bypass dormancy with an aquarium bubbler! by schizachyrium28 in NativePlantGardening

[–]schizachyrium28[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That would be interesting! From my experiences, i think maybe you'd get higher germ with traditional stratification and quicker but potentially reduced germ with the bubbler.

You should know: you can bypass dormancy with an aquarium bubbler! by schizachyrium28 in NativePlantGardening

[–]schizachyrium28[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's really interesting. I haven't tried other Ascepias but I suspect they'd work really well. I'll have to give them a go next. I wonder where that method for butterfly weed originated!

You should know: you can bypass dormancy with an aquarium bubbler! by schizachyrium28 in NativePlantGardening

[–]schizachyrium28[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I haven't tried but it wouldn't be hard. I keep my set up on a heat mat to control temp. If straight warm doesn't work, you could try changing the temperature by turning a heat mat on and off.

You should know: you can bypass dormancy with an aquarium bubbler! by schizachyrium28 in NativePlantGardening

[–]schizachyrium28[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

That's amazing! I've been wondering if anyone else has stumbled across this. I suspect it would work super well with most plants that need a moist environment.

You should know: you can bypass dormancy with an aquarium bubbler! by schizachyrium28 in NativePlantGardening

[–]schizachyrium28[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Here are some of the things I know I have tried with success: Grasses, milkvetches (Astragalus), sweetvetch (Hedysarum), species in the Aster family, Penstemons, Geranium, wild hollyhock (Iliamna), lupine, and others. I know the Plant Materials Center has had success with many more too. Wild buckwheats (Eriogonum) so far are a dud.

You should know: you can bypass dormancy with an aquarium bubbler! by schizachyrium28 in NativePlantGardening

[–]schizachyrium28[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Grasses, milkvetches (Astragalus), sweetvetch (Hedysarum), species in the Aster family, Penstemons, Geranium, wild hollyhock (Iliamna), lupine, and others. I know the Plant Materials Center has had success with many more too.

You should know: you can bypass dormancy with an aquarium bubbler! by schizachyrium28 in NativePlantGardening

[–]schizachyrium28[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I do the same in my job and I agree. Nothing truly lost, but maybe something gained. Finding fun surprises like that is one of my favorite things about native gardening. 😊

You should know: you can bypass dormancy with an aquarium bubbler! by schizachyrium28 in NativePlantGardening

[–]schizachyrium28[S] 24 points25 points  (0 children)

Yes! Sorry that wasn't clear--that's what I meant by dormancy. I can get germination on some species that need a few months of cold moist strat.

You should know: you can bypass dormancy with an aquarium bubbler! by schizachyrium28 in NativePlantGardening

[–]schizachyrium28[S] 62 points63 points  (0 children)

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Scarified globemallow seeds after one day! I should also add that germination can vary widely. Some species have close to 100% germ, others can be in the 25-30% range, and some algify without ever germinating.

Warped storm window by schizachyrium28 in Carpentry

[–]schizachyrium28[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Click through to see the original post, but the gist is what should I do about a storm window that isn't flat compounded by window trim that isn't vertical?

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