How to Put Seeds in Water to Make Them Sprout
Some plant seeds require pretreatment to overcome dormancy. Scarification weakens the hard outer seed coat on the seeds so they can begin to absorb the moisture required for germination. Many tree seeds and some flowers, such as morning glories, require scarification to sprout quickly. Scarification methods include acid soaks, scratching the seed coating or water soaks. The water soaking method requires the least labor but it doesn't work for all seeds. Verify the specific scarification requirements for the plant you are growing before using water to sprout the seed. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Fill a bowl with 170 to 212 degree Fahrenheit water. Hot water weakens the outer seed coating more quickly than cold water, but boiling water may damage the seed.
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Submerge the seeds in the hot water. Soak the seeds overnight and up to 24 hours before planting. The seeds begin to double in size as they absorb the water.
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Inspect the seeds prior to planting. Those that didn't increase in size typically won't sprout after planting. Soak these seeds a second time or lightly scuff the outer seed coating with a metal file before you plant.
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Tips & Warnings
Some seeds may begin sprouting during the soaking process. Plant these as you would unsprouted seeds.
Plant soaked seeds immediately after the water treatment. The seeds quickly die if they aren't supplied with soil and moisture once dormancy is broken.
