using saltpeter when germinating ensete seeds

[fieldfest]

bought some off ebay and they have sent some saltpeter to assist, anyone else tried this to soften the casing?

[Dave Brown]

Making your own gunpowder to blast the cases off the seed

[redsquirrel]

same as what i was thinking Dave, FF will be sniffing his roses one day and BOOM

[Steady]

Tried it but found it made no difference to seeds after soaking for 3 days in tepid water. Seeds still inactive too!

[griphuz]

If the seeds with treatment and the seeds without treatment are still inactive,....then there is no conclusion to be drawn,....that seems obvious to me,...

I've read several times this is claimed to help germination, but never tested it myself.

Kind regards,
Remko.

[fieldfest]

got to build myself a lightbulb based incubator tonight to keep them 30c+

[Adrian]

These are so easy, bag them up in damp MP and pop them on a standard propagator base, if they are fresh and viable they will pop in a few weeks.
A Chinese take away plastic box with damp MP or Perlite is also ideal.

[Conifers]

... damp MP ....

Member of Parliament?

[Adrian]

good job I didnt say moist MP

[flounder]

Most of them are wet already
Never used an additive with ensetes....plus, if they're not too old, they'll germinate readily mid 20s c