@vick ind I love "AAAAAAAGES"! I'm going to borrow that trick ;)

@Loomy Grows Do let us know whether they take - I hope they do!

I think this is a really useful thread, because I learn so much from the (many) mistakes I make. One of the most common, is emptying out a seed tray before it has germinated, because I think its not going to germinate. Its silly, but I have had things growing out of my compost so often - which I then prick out and pot up! I always note down how long it took for that particular batch of seeds to germinate, so I have a reference point for next time!

I've heard of honey for cuttings too! In India, traditional gardeners use it for rooting rose cuttings - but I'm guessing that would extend to all woody cuttings.... I think it has something to do with honey's anti-fungal properties, but I'm not sure ....

Thanks for your insight, Georgia! That's very interesting... Theoretically stratification should happen even while the seeds are still on the plant, since it is dependent only on the action of temperature. Maybe that was the case with your seeds? But I do know that Thuja is one of the easier conifers (my first as well, as it happens) and is known to germinate even without treatment when the seeds are fresh. My seeds are now in the fridge (since it doesn't get very cold in New Delhi), and I'm planning to sow them on the 10th of Feb... I'll post an update here perhaps!