For current prices and to buy this product download the ORDER FORM (.pdf file) or contact the Seed Room: Seed Room, Kirstenbosch NBG Private Bag X7, CLAREMONT, Cape Town . 7735. South Africa Tel +27 (021) 799 8899 Fax +27 (021) 762 8239 You cannot place your order via this website, but you can email, fax or post your completed order form to the above address:

About the Seed Primer

Seeds of many wild plants are dormant and require very specific conditions for germination. Fynbos, the vegetation of the winter-rainfall areas of southern Africa , is adapted to survive frequent fires. In 1990 it was discovered that in addition to the more obvious effect of heat, smoke from fynbos fires on its own was responsible for breaking dormancy and stimulating the germination of fynbos seed. The procedure for smoking seeds requires the use of a polythene tent. However, not every botanist, horticulturist or home gardener has a smoke tent or access to the right plant material to burn, nor is it always possible or desirable to light an open fire to obtain smoke.

Kirstenbosch researchers have gone a step further and developed "instant smoke" for growers who want to germinate the dormant seeds of wildflowers. In this invention absorbent paper is impregnated with fynbos-smoke-saturated water. The paper is then dried and sealed in a polythene packet. When dormant seeds require "smoking", a predetermined volume of water is added to the paper in a suitable container and the seeds are "smoke-primed" by soaking in the smoke-water solution for 24 hours. In order to have the maximum effect in breaking seed dormancy, a range of natural germination stimulators has been added to the smoke solution to overcome other forms of seed dormancy found in many species.

The Kirstenbosch Instant Smoke Plus Seed Primer solution contains a combination of natural substances that have been found to overcome dormancy and stimulate seed germination. The degree of response varies with the species, but on average, treated seed samples give at least double the number of seedlings when compared to untreated samples.

It is particularly recommended for treating seeds of proteas, leucospermums (pincushions), leucadendrons, ericas, Syncarpha, Helipterum & Phaenocoma (everlastings), restios (Cape grasses), mesembs (vygies), Lobelia, grasses, sedges, Geleznowia, Hibbertia, Stirlingia, Verticordia, Actinostrobus, Pimelea, Lechenaultia Anigozanthus and many other species.