It's too early to throw them away: these methods will help revive even expired seeds
The expiration date on the seed packets is the first thing you should pay attention to.
However, even if the seed material has already expired, you should not despair and immediately throw it in the trash.
Let's figure out how you can try to revive an overdue payment at home.
How to Breathe Life into Expired Seeds
The first thing to do is to determine which seeds still have a chance to germinate.
To do this, inspect them visually, and then place them in a glass of water with 1 teaspoon of salt dissolved in it. Those that float can be safely disposed of, as they are most likely empty.
The seeds you decide to fight for need to be revived. This can be done by:
- hydrogen peroxide;
- aloe juice;
- succinic acid;
- honey;
- camphor alcohol.
Before soaking the seeds in any of these substances, it is first recommended to soak them in settled water for a couple of hours so that they are saturated with liquid and swell.
You can also try to stimulate germination through temperature stress.
Prepare two mugs of water: pour water into one and add a couple of ice cubes, and pour water at a temperature of up to 60 degrees into the second.
Tie the seeds in a bag made of natural fabric and dip them in hot water for a couple of seconds, then in cold water for the same amount of time. Repeat the procedure 6-7 times, then place the seeds in warm water for 12 hours.
