Pollination, Seed Collection, and Simple Introduction to Sowing of Succulent Plants
Today, the editor will explain the experience of succulent plants, a simple introduction to the pollination, seed collection, and sowing of succulent plants, followed by a comprehensive introduction.
By sowing, a large number of seedlings of succulent plants can be obtained at one time. Moreover, some succulent plants can also discover seedlings without pigmentation through sowing, commonly known as "white seeds." Early grafting of seedlings can result in beautifully colored variegated varieties. Conventional hybrid breeding also requires sowing seedlings, directional cultivation, and screening valuable cultivated varieties. To date, many excellent cultivated varieties have been hybridized in the genus Aloe and the genus Gasteria of the Liliaceae family, the genus Haworthia, the genus Crassula and the genus Sempervivum of the Crassulaceae family, and the genus Euphorbia of the Euphorbiaceae family.
Most succulent plants in nature are pollinated by insects or birds, except for some genera of the Aizoaceae family, the Asclepiadaceae family, and a few species of the Crassulaceae family. Many species of the Euphorbiaceae family are dioecious and must be pollinated by birds or insects to bear fruit and reproduce.
To improve the fruiting rate of succulent plants and obtain plump seeds, artificial pollination can be used, especially for those with a low success rate of pollination. For example, in the genera Aloe, Gasteria, Haworthia, Stapelia, and Ceropegia, the petals should be pulled apart to expose the stigma for artificial pollination. Artificial pollination should be performed on sunny days when the flowers are fully open. Generally, when the stigma lobes are completely separated and the stigma has villi and secretes a sticky fluid, it is the best time for pollination. To increase the chances of success, pollinate once on the first day and once again on the second day.
After pollination, the plants can be placed in a warm, well-ventilated area for normal management. When the ovary swells, it indicates successful pollination. The fruits should be covered with paper bags when they are about to mature, as in the case of the follicles of succulent plants in the Asclepiadaceae family, which easily crack open when mature. Some seeds have appendages that can easily disperse, and bagging can prevent seeds from being lost after the fruit matures and breaks open. Many types of succulent plants produce berries, which must be cleaned after maturity. If not cleaned properly, organic substances like tannins in the fruit flesh can adhere to the seed coat, affecting normal germination. After cleaning, dry the seeds and store them in clean paper bags or small dark glass bottles, placed in a cool and dry place.
The seeds of most succulent plant species are tiny and mainly sown indoors in pots. For larger seeds, such as those of the Agave, Aloe, and Pachyphytum genera, the soil should be covered twice the height of the seeds after sowing, while the rest do not need to be covered, just pressed lightly to ensure close contact with the potting soil. Since succulent plants are native to tropical highlands or rainforests, their seed germination temperatures are 25-30°C during the day and 15-20°C at night, with a soil temperature of 24°C. Therefore, it is best to sow in May-June under natural conditions, or in March-April under greenhouse facilities. If seeds are collected in the summer and autumn, they can also be sown in September-October.
Proper preparation should be made before sowing succulent plants. The best soil for sowing is a cultivation soil or a mixture of leaf mold, peat, and fine sand in equal parts, and it should be sterilized and disinfected. The trays or pots for sowing should be clean and preferably new. For hard or difficult-to-germinate seeds, place them in a petri dish or porcelain plate lined with 2-3 layers of gauze or消毒纱布, add an appropriate amount of distilled water or cool boiled water to thoroughly wet the lining, and then sow the seeds evenly on the lining for germination.
After sowing the seeds, they should be covered with plastic wrap and managed carefully, ensuring the potting soil remains moist and avoiding direct sunlight. If there are signs of moisture deficiency on the soil surface, it should be sprayed with water to moisten. Generally, most succulent plants germinate 5-16 days after sowing, while a few species may take more than 20 days or even longer.
Overall, the seeds of succulent plants have a shorter lifespan than those of cacti, such as the seeds of the Nerium oleander, which only live for a few weeks, and the seeds of the Baobab tree, which also have a very short lifespan. Generally, the germination rate of succulent plant seeds decreases rapidly when stored at room temperature for one year. Therefore, many succulent plants are sown immediately after the seeds mature or stored for sowing in the following spring. Usually, the seeds of the Aizoaceae family begin to germinate within one week and finish germination within two weeks, such as the genus Mesembryanthemum in 6-10 days, the genus舌叶花属 in 8-10 days, the genus 日中花属 in 7-10 days, the genus肉锥花属 in 12-15 days, the genus 快刀乱麻树 in 5-10 days, and the genus 生石花属 in 7-10 days; the seeds of the Crassulaceae family begin to germinate within two weeks and finish within three weeks. For example, the genus Echeveria in 12-16 days, the genus 石莲花属 in 20-25 days, the genus 长生草属 in 10-12 days, and the genus 天锦章城 in 14-21 days. The genus雀舌兰属 of the Bromeliaceae family germinates after 15-20 days, and the genus 国章属 (Stapelia) of the Asclepiadaceae family germinates in just 2 days, which is the fastest among all succulent plant seeds. A few Euphorbiaceae species require several months to germinate.
Even after the seeds of succulent plants have germinated, it's not too early to celebrate, as slight carelessness can result in failure. The seedlings of succulent plants are very delicate, with shallow roots and slow growth, so management must be cautious. The soil in the sowing pot should not be too dry or too wet, as high humidity in summer or low temperatures in winter are very unfavorable for seedling growth. When moistening the soil surface with a spray, the spray pressure should not be too high, and the water quality must be clean to avoid contamination or moss growth, which can affect seedling growth.
Have you understood the detailed introduction to the pollination, seed collection, and sowing of succulent plants mentioned above?