By Agedswill
Limousin,
France 
This got hidden behind another question so here it is again.
I'm trying to grow trees from seed without much success. I have an electric propagator which keeps a pretty steady temperature (20-25c), sits in a light position (not direct sunlight) and the trays are filled with good seed compost and sit on a layer of sand which I water a little every day. I also give the suface a daily light spray. Before sowing I gave half of the seeds a 24 hour soak in warm water, the rest were sown dry.
A month has passed and practically nothing has happened. Treewise there are Empress, Crape Myrtle, and Acer Japonica. There are also Trumpet creepers and Ricin.
Out of 25 Ricin I got 4 plants. There are no Acers though I previously managed to get 2 out of 25 or so seeds. No Crape Myrtles at all. There may be one trumpet creeper (out of about 50), this looks a bit like a basil seedling on a long stalk, is that one?
The only possible succes may be the Empress trees but they are tiny sedlings (about 10 or so) which at least all look the same, so suck it and see.
Where am I going wrong?
Ged Wallis
10 Jul, 2011
Answers
I don't know all these trees but I think that you are being too fussy with them. The temperature is much too high to germinate these seeds. I would have sown them in pans and left these out of doors in the shade.
10 Jul, 2011
Apologies but what does ' so go suck it and see' mean in relation to the answers to your question?
10 Jul, 2011
Trees and shrubs can take months to germinate. The Acers would probably prefer not to be in a warm propagator. I'd put them outside in a cool, sheltered spot.Ricinus often rot if overwatered before they emerge. Poke around in the compost, gently, to see if the seed is still there.
10 Jul, 2011
Your original Q wasn't hidden. If we haven't responded it is because none of us has an answer for you.
10 Jul, 2011