Why do some seeds sprout immediately with little or no help, while others need some type of assistance to sprout?
The seeds of all plants have some type of dormancy period. Dormancy is one of a plant’s mechanisms to propagate itself.
There are many plants which produce seeds in the fall. But for some plants, the fall is not the best time to germinate. So many plants have built-in mechanisms to make the seed wait until the time is right.
The seed has a time clock inside of it, which permits the seed to germinate only when conditions are best not only for germination but also for the survival of the plant.
Seeds that do not germinate immediately when sown (either intentionally by a human) or when it falls from the plant are called dormant.
Some seeds require enough moisture, the right soil and air temperature, the proper amount of oxygen, and the proper amount of light in some plants, to germinate. Seeds that need these requirements to germinate are dependent on favorable outside conditions.
However, some seeds contain chemicals, special coatings or other internal factors that prevent them from germinating.
