How to Collect Native Spiderwort Seeds, by Krista De Cooke on YouTube. 1 min 8 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 8 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Watch the plant once the flowers fade. Small round seed pods form where the blooms were, and they turn from green to brown as the seed ripens.
Check the pods every few days. Pick them when they are brown and dry but before they split open and drop the seed.
Hold a small paper envelope or open container under each pod and pinch or snip it off. Paper lets any leftover moisture escape.
Open the dry pods over the container and tip out the small seeds. Shake gently so loose seed falls free.
Spread the seeds in a single layer on a plate or paper towel and leave them in a dry, airy room for a few days.
Label the envelope with the plant name and the date you collected the seed. Spiderwort seed from different species looks similar.
Seal the dry seed in a paper envelope or a small jar and store it somewhere cool, dry and out of direct sunlight.
Sow when you are ready. Scatter fresh seed outdoors in fall, winter sow it in containers, or press it into the soil surface in pots and cover it very lightly.
Tips and common mistakes
Collect pods on a dry day, since damp pods can go mouldy in storage.
Do not bury the seed deeply when sowing. Spiderwort seed needs light and only a light covering to germinate.
Fresh seed germinates best, so sow within a season rather than storing it for years.
Move seedlings on once they have several true leaves and a healthy root system, and keep them watered as they settle in.
Questions
How do I know when spiderwort seed is ready to pick?
The seed pods turn brown and dry after the flowers fade. Pick them at that stage, before they split and scatter the seed.
Do I need to dry spiderwort seeds before storing them?
Yes. Let them air dry for a few days in a dry room, then store them cool, dry and out of direct sunlight.
Can I just plant the seeds straight away?
Yes. You can direct sow outdoors in fall, winter sow in containers, or press fresh seed into the surface of potting soil and cover it very lightly.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
