Ways to maintain proper seed moisture levels?

[S Botsford]

Many conifer seeds to best at 6-8% moisture levels.  At lower levels than this, oxygen damage becomes more significant.

 

For large quantities of seeds (jars) once you have the seed at a specific moisture level, the jar will keep it at that level.  Moisture exchange can be minimized by keeping the open time of the jar short.

 

But how do you do it for small seed packets?  E.g. If I want to distribute seed, I prefer to make up a thousand packets at once, then distribute them on demand.  I’d like a way to do that so that if recipients keep it lying around for a year, the seeds are still likely to be viable.

 

Some commercial seed is in a foil packet inside the paper envelope.    Are these packets moisture and oxygen proof?

[Katharine Hogan]

Hello,

I think perhaps simple silica dessicant beads could be an option for keeping moisture levels low? They’re at least quasi-reusable, you can dry them in an oven. If you stuck small paper packets into a bin full of the beads and kept the bin sealed, that might work. I haven’t done that myself admittedly but I’ve heard of people doing similar things.

 

Katharine

[Author]

Posts