SMOKE AND HEAT TREATMENT

For those guys who grow Australian shrub plants like Banksia sp, you should already be familiar with this method of germiantion-induction.

Smoke treatment had originally been used on only Byblis gigantea to stimulate after-bush-fire smokiness, but has recently also been used to stimulate others like B.liniflora and tuberous Droseras. There are several methods to do this :

Use smoke pads -- some people sell "smoke pads", which are actually pieces of blotting paper saturated with chemicals found in smoke. Soak the Smoke Pads in some water to dissolve the chemicals, then float your seeds on top. Alternatively, you can bubble smoke into water and use it, but this method is somewhat tedious.

Heat treatment serves 2 ourposes : to warm the seeds to a suitable temperature, and to provide the smoke (as above) to enhance germination. To do this, sow the seeds on the substrate, then pile some straw or paper on top. Ignite a fire, but do not let a flame burn. Instead, blow it out, and let the glowing cinders slowly burn their way down to the seeds. Make sure the seeds aren't charred, or else your germination rate wil be 0% !! :)

After that, leave the seeds to germinate as per normal.

Back to HOW TO GROW CARNIVOROUS PLANTS

Back to CP EXTRAVAGALORE