![]() The most important fact in growing from seed is that during this first three months the soil should be evenly moist, but not wet. This is the most delicate stage, when the seedlings are most vulnerable to fungus “damping-off" diseases. Regular misting should be carried out, as the seedlings must not dry out for the first three months. A muslin cover to the propagator is ideal at this stage as it provides shade and allows good air circulation. Once the majority of seedlings in the pan have germinated, the glass needs to be removed to reduce the humidity a little, but still continue to shade. C) and then returned once again to the propagator. Pots can be wrapped in polythene and placed in the ice compartment of the refrigerator for one or two weeks (at minus 5 to minus 8 deg. These will be varieties such as Opuntia, Tephrocactus and Pediocactus. Some varieties which come from areas experiencing very cold winters may need to go through a cold spell before they will germinate. If still no success, leave the pot dry for twelve months and try again. This can be repeated several times, to imitate alternate wetting and drying cycles in nature. If, say after six weeks, nothing has appeared, remove the pot from the propagator, dry it out for two or three weeks, then soak it and pop it back into the propagator again. Most cactus and other succulent seed will germinate well and you should expect an average of 60% germination.ĭon't throw pots away if nothing comes up the first time. Most seedlings will germinate between two days and three weeks although some erratic varieties can take up to six months or more. For this reason, even if you have a propagator, it is perhaps best to delay sowing until April, when advantage can be taken from the natural diurnal temperature fluctuations. C) during the heat of the day, falling to 60 deg. It can be allowed to rise to over 100 deg. I have found from experience that with or without a propagator, the best germination is always obtained if the temperature is allowed to fluctuate. Seeds can be sown on a sunny window-sill from April onwards without any artificial heat, but with a propagator, sowing can commence in January. ![]() A germinating temperature of 60 to 70 deg. Place the seed pan in a warm place, with shade from direct sunlight. Recent research has suggested that the vast majority of succulents do not require darkness to germinate in fact some must have light, so it is not really necessary to cover with brown paper as is so often advised. Remove the seed pan from the water and cover with a sheet of glass. Rainwater is best whenever possible as it is slightly acid, which aids germination.įor this first soaking, adding a fungicide, such as Cheshunt Compound or copper fungicide to the water, will help to prevent fungal attack. Extremely small seeds such as Parodia and Echeveria are best sown on top of this grit and then gently misted to wash them down into it.Īfter sowing, stand the seed pan in half an inch of water and leave until the surface is thoroughly moist. The grit for this top dressing should be sieved to give a particle size of 1-2 mm. To discourage moss and attack by peat fly, a top dressing of 1/8 th inch (3 mm) deep grit can be given. Very large seeds such as Opuntia and Aloe can be buried with a little of the soil mix. This is to ensure that the seeds are in close contact with the soil and just held in position. Sprinkle the seed evenly over the surface and press lightly into the soil with a flat surface e.g. The seed pan should be filled to within 1/4' (0.5 cm) of the top and lightly firmed to give a level surface. Christmas and orchid cacti, the mixture needs to be more acid and I would use - 50% coarse grit and 50% moss peat. If you prefer to mix your own compost, a good general mix would be - 60% coarse grit, 30% sieved sandy loam (topsoil), 10% moss peat. it should not become hard and compacted with age.Ī good general mixture to use is John Innes Seed compost with 30%. The seed compost should be light and airy and should remain that way i.e. I would recommend a 2 inch (5 cm) pot for a packet of around 30 seeds, a 2 3/4" (7 cm) pot for 100 seeds or a standard seed tray for 1,000 seeds. SEED SOWING METHOD A shallow pot or pan will be needed.
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