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Written by Kosta
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Growing cacti and succulents from seed is easier than most people think and very rewarding.
Many techniques exist that depend on the propagation setup you choose to employ.
The following comments are only suggestive of some of the techniques you may employ when germinating cactus and succulents from seed:
Begin with local seed whenever possible.
Imported seed is not as viable as seed from plants grown in and accustomed to your residential environment.
 Lithops in bloom
Seeds require high humidity to germinate as well as light to provide direction of growth.
Lack of light will not only produce atrophic seedlings but also problems with root exposure, as the root won't know which direction to grow towards.
When growing indoors, avoid using very strong lights, as it is likely to burn the tips of the seedlings and turn them to a red-brown colour.
Cactus seeds require higher temperatures for germination than most other succulents.
There is no rule of thumb for this, however we find that cactus seed germinates most successfully at temperatures between 28-35 Celcius, while succulent seed prefers lower temperatures (15-22 Celcius).
Temperature may be moderated with thermostat controlled heaters.
Lights and bottom heaters speed up the germination and growth of your seedlings, but they are not essential for propagation. Natural light and high temperatures will provide sufficient conditions for germination and cultivation.
 Propagation hot-box
Compost for germination may vary according to the area you live, funds available and the time you wish to dedicate into growing these plants. Again, the following compost is only suggestive of what may be used:
- Seed-raising mix
- Perlite (puffy, white volcanic rock)
- Crushed Scoria
Mix the ingredients and place them in seedling punnet/tray (make sure there are holes at the bottom of the punnet/tray for water absorption).
Soak the tray/punnet by sitting it in a bowl of water until all the compost is wet.
Sprinkle the seeds on the wet soil.
 6 month old seedlings
Spray the seeds with water (mist) so they sink into the soil (or merely attach themselves to the compost).
Place a lid (plastic or glass) on top of the punnet/tray so it's airtight.
Place the tray in your chosen germination environment.
Start airing the seedlings about three weeks following germination, and only do so for about half an hour per day.
As they grow older, decrease the frequency of watering and allow longer periods of aeration.
You may uncover most seedlings completely once they have reached 6 months of age.
For most cacti, seedlings should be left in their germination punnet/trays for one to two years.
Several succulents grow much faster than cacti, meaning that their re-potting age may be within a year.
In closing, the aforementioned techniques are only some of the methods you may wish to employ.
There are numerous books containing invaluable information on germination and cultivation of these plants.
We hope you find our information helpful. |
