Gwai Hua / Sweet Olive seeds germination

Stratification (mimicking winter to encourage germination for certain types of seeds)  is necessary for Sweet Olive seeds.

Here are the steps for stratification:

Preparation for Stratification:

1. Zip loc bag

2. Some moist kitchen paper

3. Plant labels

4. 10% Hydrogen peroxide solution(common bleach) *optional but recommended

5. Sieve

6. A pair of gardening gloves 

7. A pair of Tweezers

Steps for Stratification:

1. Soak the Sweet Olive seeds in water for 36-48  hours. Rinse the Sweet Olive seeds gently in a sieve.

2. Use a gardening gloves and soak the Sweet Olive seeds into the 10% hydrogen peroxide solution for about 10 minutes.* This step is optional but it helps prevent possible molding drastically.

3. Pick up the seeds with a pair of tweezers and put them into a moist kitchen paper, then put them into a zip loc bag. Finish by labeling  them and then refrigerate them. (Do not put into a freezer. Let them stay in the lower part of a refrigerator - the part where you usually store vegetables or fruit will be fine.)

4. Sprouting should start in 2-12 weeks, depending on the variety. Some variety takes up to months to start germination. Check for germination once a week and if necessary ,moisturize the kitchen paper to maintain humidity.   

Here are the steps for transferring of seedlings after stratification:


Preparation:

1. Potting mix (detailed in the product listing information and on the seed package).Basically,ask the nursery for a compost for Rose should fits well. The compost should be acidic and sandy. To minimize possible molding problem, make sure the compost you bought is sterile (most commercial compost are). Preferably, buy a new pack instead of using an already opened one.

2. Seed Tray.

3. 10% Hydrogen peroxide solution(common bleach) *optional but recommended

4. Gardening glove

5. A pair of Tweezers

6. Copper based fungicide
7. Sieve

Steps:

1. Transfer the seedlings with a pair of tweezers and plant them into the soil. 

2. After transferring seedlings from stratification,use a Copper based fungicide to prevent molding problems. Follow instruction on the fungicide label for amount and frequency of application.
3. Provide sufficient light for the seedlings. Try putting the seed tray or pot under moderate sunlight - 4-8 hours a day is enough. *Avoid prolonged strong light for seedlings. 

Notes:

1. Do not plant the seeds or seedlings under extremely temperature. Temperature below 15 degree Celcius or above 30 degree Celcius normally guarantee a poor result.