Comparing Cold and Bleach Treatments to Improve Germination Rates of Seven Shade-Tolerant Species

Comparing Cold and Bleach Treatments to Improve Germination Rates of Seven Shade-Tolerant Species

Pollinator gardens are beneficial in protecting our pollinator populations. However, growing these gardens can be challenging, as the seeds of some native plant species are difficult to germinate. In nature, seeds often undergo natural processes that break their dormancy. Native seeds provided by local nurseries do not experience these same processes, but
these processes may be mimicked artificially to improve germination rates. Cold stratification of seeds has been replicated using
varying lengths of time in refrigerators. Chemical and physical scarification can also be replicated using techniques such as sanding and
treatment with various chemicals. To examine how such techniques may affect the germination rates of seeds acquired for planting at Rider University, cold stratification in a refrigerator was performed for various lengths of time for seven native plant species. Treatment with household bleach was also performed with three of those species. These methods were chosen to best allow the average citizen and amateur gardeners to improve germination rates of their seeds at home.

Ritter, Angela
Sendall, Kerrie

Poster

English