How To Use Ga3 Paper

Gibberellic acid (Ga3)

is a hormone found in plants and fungi. It helps to germinate seeds by activating the genome of dormant cells that are in a repressed state and is suggested the possibility that GA3 breaks seed dormancy by a mechanism of gene derepression. Gibberellic Acid is commonly used with carnivorous plant seeds that are very hard to germinate because they are imposed by the seed coats, which form a significant barrier to water uptake. The dormant embryo can be activated either by removal of the seed coat, which increases 02 supply and leaching of endogenous inhibitors or by treatment with a high concentration of GA3. The effect of GA3 is correlated with a very small increase in the respiration rate, therefore, growth is not limited by the low internal 02 concentration.

In short, seeds have a protective outer layer that keeps seeds from germinating too soon. Typically, seeds are formed in the fall and need to survive the winter months without germinating, otherwise, the cold and dry season will prevent the seedling from surviving. When spring arrives, warmer temperatures and heavy rainfall tend to arrive as well. This gradual change begins to break down that protective layer which then allows water to penetrate into the seeds. The moisture and oxygen water gives activates the seed and germination begins. 

There are many reasons why some seeds have a very hard preservative outer layer. The reasons depend on the region from which the seeds populated. Some seeds need extreme weather fluctuations, most of the time they even need a couple of season changes before the outer layer is broken down. There are even seeds that need natural fires for the seeds to have that layer broken down, and the most common are seeds that need to be digested by an animal for their stomach acid to break down this layer. They later excrete the seeds elsewhere. So, Ga3 prevents the need for those conditions which aid in faster germination for seeds that are very hard to sprout. It is even proven that it helps in bettering a seedling’s root system. 

Our Ga3 Paper

As many of you have noticed, we specialize in growing Drosera petiolaris complex. All of our plants are grown from seeds. The seeds from that complex can sometimes be very difficult to germinate, especially if they are a couple of years old, and since they’re so hard to find, very old seeds can be the only thing obtainable. That is why we started using Ga3. We have had great success with it and want to now offer it to our customers so they can have greater success with our seeds or any other seeds. We have made transportation and use very easy by dissolving the perfect mixture of 90% Gibberellic Acid with deionized water and then infusing an exact needed amount into paper. Just add water and wait 24 hours. That is it, No fess, no mess. 

One square of our Ga3 paper produces 1,000 ppm when mixed with 6 ml of water. That is the amount we have found to be very successful with our Drosera petiolaris complex seeds. If seeds requiring a much lower ppm are needed, then dilution is suggested. The solution will drop 100 ppm for every extra ml of distilled water added. So 7 ml of water to one square will produce 900 ppm. You can also cut the squares to better fit an amount you need. One half will produce 500 ppm. One quarter will produce 250. It usually takes twelve hours or less for the Ga3 to fully seep out of the paper. TDS meters can not measure Ga3 ppm. TDS meters work by measuring the conductivity between two probes. This works well for electrolytic solutions such as salt water, however this does not work on non-ionized solutions such as pharmaceuticals, pesticides, gasoline, Giberellic Acid, and so on. The only real way to measure total concentration in this case (without very expensive equipment) is to boil off the water and extract the Gib back into it’s powder form. 

Store any unused squares in a dark area at room temp. Do not add water to the squares until use. Water will activate the Ga3 and will cause it to be useless after a few days