Max time for seeds soaking in sucrose water?

[doodlekitty]

Help!!! I'm hoping for some advice for the seeds I have been soaking in a 5% sucrose solution. I started them yesterday at 3 pm est. In the meantime, I've come down with a horrible cold and don't want to deal with them. Can they stay there for more than 24 hrs? Will I lose them if I do not proceed today?

[Korxi]

I have no idea, actually I'm assuming you are soaking them to wake up dormant bacteria or fungus spores, so my initital thought is that you might risk fungus or bacteria multipling in the favorable environment to a point where their by-products could harm the embryo in the seed. Actually I don't believe this my self, but it's a thought
Another side-effect could be that the sugar water starts the germination of the seed prematurely which perhaps could make it vulnerable to peroxide or bleach - whatever you chose to sterilize with. On the other hand protocorms are usually only visible after a month or so, so 24hrs probably doesn't do much..

I'd say let them soak if you don't feel up to sowing What's the cross?? And did you check the seeds under at microscope to see if they are viable?

Christian

[doodlekitty]

Hi and thanks for responding. Yes I am soaking to wake dormant bacteria. My plan was to let them soak for 24 hrs and then sterilize with peroxide and then flask. I have several different crosses soaking....dends, phals, epidendrums and laelias. (I got a little seed crazy when I was ordering). Anyway....I've gotten so sick...really can't imagine going in and getting all cloroxed up (glove box)...I think I'm damned if I do and damned if I dont. God only knows how many "bugs" I've got going on with ME right now.

This is only my 2nd flasking adventure...I flasked green pod last Saturday and think I stripped all my mucus membranes out of my nose and throat ....who knew flasking could be so dangerous??????

[Korxi]

hehehe good luck with it Be sure to post pics!