Basic artificial stratification example.

If the desire is to start plants indoors, first consider the date you want to plant in spring.

If you want to transplant plugs that you've grown under lights inside, you'll want to count back from your planting date by 6-8 weeks, then add the 30-60-90 days required for the individual species as marked on each packet, and start Cold-Moist Stratification then.

For example:

I want to plant rooted plugs I've grown indoors after Germination on May 24th, 2024.

I want the plants to be 8 weeks strong, so I count back 8 weeks to April 5th, 2024.

April 5th is when I want to start the stratified seed in soil under lilights.

For this example, we’ll use Milkweed all of our milkweeds need 30 days Cold Stratification so we will use this species as the example.

Count back 30 days from April 5th, 2024 and you'll land on March 6th, 2024.

On March 6th, 2024 you'll want to start the Stratification process with a coffee filter, a zip lock baggie for each individual species.

On the baggie mark the species and the date started, and the date to pull out (April 5th in thus example)

Then make the filter damp but not soaking, fold the filter to trap the seed and place in the baggie, zip it up, and place it in your crisper drawer of your refrigerator (where it is dark and consistently cold but above freezing).

Using a calender or your phone to remind you, mark the day April 5th as transplant to plug tray day.

Set a reminder 5-7 days before 30 days is up to see if Germination had already begun. If it has, transplant to trays immediately, if not, transplant on the date previously set.

When growing native plants indoors it is important to keep the soil moist, but not soaking. Only plant the seed as deep as it is wide. And the lighting should mimic the intensity and length of the sun desired by each species.

Keep the light as close as possible without burning the leaves, a light fan will help circulate air, and stiffen the stems to prepare them for their final environment outdoors.

When it comes time to bring them outdoors, the plant's will need a week of hardening off.

This means a gradual exposure to the elements and full sun as they will have in their final location over a period of 5-7 days. This will help avoid shock and sunburn, and is the best way to get native plants started with artificial cold Stratification.

Alternately if you wish to skip all the planning, scatter the seed in late fall in an area you've only scalped but not tilled, and will not cut or weed until you can identify the seedlings in spring.

Winter will do all the Stratification for you!