[Stratification] How to Save Plant Genetics (Part 1 of 3)

If it's too late to take cuttings, keep your cool. You can still save your plant's genetics.

There are 3 ways to do it.

Part 1: Stratification (this article)
Part 2: Clone in Flowering
Part 3: Overwintering

This is part 1 of a 3 part series. Here you learn about stratification - a handy way to germinate seeds.

It's a handy way to start off seeds - if your plant has produced fruit or flowers.

In nature, stratification occurs during winter. Seeds get buried under fallen leaves or soil that's been disturbed by animals.

Exposure to cold, moist surroundings triggers the seed's embryo. When spring finally arrives, the seed's hard, outer shell has softened and the seed is able to germinate.

This is what we're mimicking.

It's a pretty simple process - not much equipment's needed.

We used:

• Scalpel
• Kitchen roll
• Sealable plastic bags
• Oxy-Plus 11.9%
• Vinyl gloves
• Measuring syringe
• Media (or just more kitchen role!)

We did it with a Dorset Naga - it's one of the world's hottest chillies. As long as your plant has fruit or flowers, you can follow the same steps.

First, you need to harvest the seeds.

Carefully cut open fruit or your flower's seed pod with a scalpel to reveal seeds.

Gently prod individual seeds out. Be as careful as you can be. Slow and steady really wins the race here.

Place the seeds on a sheet of kitchen roll and remove any debris - this'll reduce the likelihood of getting mould.

Leave the seeds to dry for a few days, then remove more debris.

Mositen your kitchen roll. We soaked a few pieces of kitchen role in an Oxy-Plus solution (10ml to 500ml).

Gently squeeze excess water out of your kitchen roll or media - it just needs to be damp.

Lie out the towels and place the seeds on one side - give each seed a lot of space.

Fold over the kitchen roll and ease the whole lot into a plastic bag.

If stratifying seeds from multiple plants, put each variety in their own labelled bag.

Seal the bag and pop it in the fridge, ideally with the temperature between 1 - 5oC.

It depends on the strain of seed, but the bag will need to stay here for 4 - 12 weeks.

When you're ready, move your seeds into a warmer environment to mimick spring, and germinate as normal.

If stratification doesn't do it for you, don't give up! There are two other methods to try.

Since both involve chopping at your plant, you'll want to do both at the same time.

Part 2: Clone in Flowering
Part 3: Overwintering