Preconditioning seed to stimulate germination is receiving special attention at the University of Natal and the Protea Research Unit. Based on this research are the following suggestions on how to break seed dormancy. Scarification, a process of breaking the seed-coat, promotes germination to a limited extent. Scarification by mechanical means, for example, by rubbing individual seeds with sandpaper or cutting away part of the seed-coat, is effective but laborious. Soaking seeds in concentrated sulphuric acid for ten minutes, on the other hand, is equally successful, easier, and is therefore recommended.
None upholds consistent good results when repeated.
However, every prerequisite for germination leaching, adequate watering, good drainage, good air circulation, to name some - point to the basic need for oxygen to stimulate germination. Leucospermum seeds, for example, which can be very erratic, react remarkably well to soaking in a hydrogen peroxide solution of one per cent strength for 24 hours prior to sowing, and it appears that species of other genera also respond favorably to such treatment. Sowing in situ is often very satisfactory in the garden. Leave the three strongest seedlings to grow together and they will form a single, dense and very attractive shrub. For plantations, direct sowing into the permanent locality is not recommended, as special attention to watering and weeding is time-consuming over a large area and growers must provide protection against birds, field mice and other rodents.