Pretreating Seeds in Tea

[Dazed_Lily]

Yep, that's the first time I ever heard that one. Soak in diluted room temp tea. The tannic acid breaks down the natural growth inhibitors that keep the seeds from all sprouting at the same time, so they sprout. OK, I buy the acid part--not sure of the underlying mechanism--though I believe one is there.

[MichiganDave]

Cathy,

Have you tried the tea thing? Did it work?

I read recently (but I forgot where) about someone using tea for regular seed starting (not daylily). The person brewed the tea, strain it, then brewed for the second time. His reasoning is to wash off the tannic acid which might be too strong in the first brew.

His reasoning was not for breaking the inihibitor, however. His reasoning was the diluted tea has some property to prevent damping off.

Anyway, did you try to tea pretreatment?


Thanks,

[sue salley]

I have read that chamomile tea is also good for damping off disease. Also good just to drink. I haven't tried plain tea for soaking but the tannic acid makes sense to me. Might be just the thing for harder seeds such as tree seeds. Let me know if anyone tries it.
I don't presoak my day lily seeds unless they are really shriveled up. I just plant and make sure they stay moist.

[Dazed_Lily]

Haven't tried tea.
I have sprinkled cinnamon on seedlings and misted seedlings with camomille. A small fan works really good in preventing damp off and it strengthens the sdlgs.
Cool and damp = damp off. A room with a southern exposure is a good start.