Succulent Plant Sowing
Let me tell you about the explanation of succulent plants. The details of succulent plant sowing are as follows:
Succulent plant sowing seems simple, but it can actually be subdivided into several different situations. Although they are all succulent plants, the sowing conditions for different families such as Aizoaceae, Crassulaceae, and Cactaceae are slightly different. This article is a summary and compilation of the differences and precautions in sowing succulent plants based on the sowing experience of flower friends, which is very helpful for新手 flower friends.
Note: The temperatures mentioned below refer to the daily range of lowest to highest temperatures. If it is difficult to have a temperature difference, try to choose the sowing time according to the highest temperature. For example, if Crassulaceae is suitable for 15-25 degrees, try to keep the daytime temperature close to 25 degrees (floating between 23-28 degrees), and if the temperature can drop to 15 degrees at night, it is best to have a temperature difference. It's okay if there's not much temperature difference. It's not that it's okay if the daytime temperature drops to 15 degrees sometimes. I've found it quite difficult to germinate Sedum when the temperature is too low.
I. Crassulaceae Sowing
Sowing Season: Spring and Autumn, with autumn sowing being the best.
Sowing Temperature: 15-25 degrees (some say that temperatures below 30 degrees can also be tolerated, usually after November in Xiamen).
Sowing Soil: Moderate peat mixed with 1-2mm particle soil, with the particles as small as possible.
Covering Soil: The seeds are too small and cannot be covered with soil.
Germination Speed: Sedum seeds can germinate from 5 days to more than one month, and the germination rate is also variable.
Ventilation: Fear of humid heat. After the seedlings have germinated uniformly, uncover the film and ventilate.
Watering: Do not let the soil surface dry out during the germination period, and water when the soil surface dries out after the seedlings have germinated uniformly.
Transplanting Time: Transplant after about one or two months when the seedlings are crowded.
II. Aizoaceae Sowing
Season: Spring and Autumn, with autumn sowing being the best.
Temperature: Lithops and other common genera 15-25 degrees (can tolerate a little higher, no more than 2 or 3 degrees, otherwise it will affect the germination rate and speed), Conophytum 10-20 degrees (do not exceed 20 degrees).
Sowing Soil: Moderate peat mixed with 1-2mm particle soil, with the particles as small as possible.
Covering Soil: The seeds are too small and cannot be covered with soil, although some foreign masters will sprinkle a very thin layer of sand, the common safe method is to wait until the seedlings are almost out before sprinkling small particles to support the seedlings, because the thickness is hard to grasp, and if you shake too much and apply too thick, it's easy to bury the seedlings and prevent them from sprouting.
Germination Speed: Although most Lithops varieties start to germinate in 3 or 4 days, it often takes a month to germinate completely, and some numbered ones may start to germinate after two weeks or even a month, and there may still be a small number of seeds germinating after 2 or 3 months. Conophytum is unknown.
Ventilation: Fear of humid heat. After the seedlings have germinated uniformly, uncover the film and ventilate.
Watering: Do not let the soil surface dry out during the germination period, and water when the soil surface dries out after the seedlings have germinated uniformly. For some species that easily rot and are accustomed to supplementing moisture from the air in their native habitats, such as Hongdainei and Dengpao, it is suitable to spray water.
Time for Sloughing: It is generally about 3 months after sowing, but it can vary from 2 to 5 months depending on the climate. It should be noted that if the seedlings have not sloughed off before the summer after spring sowing, they will not slough off in the summer and have to wait until the autumn growing season to do so, which may delay it by half a year or even 9 months, wasting several months. Therefore, autumn sowing is especially recommended to allow enough time to safely slough off before the summer.
How to Tell if It Has Sloughed Off: The base of the stone seedlings will swell. A safe method is to shine a small desk lamp on the seedlings from the opposite side, and if there is a shadow inside, it means that a new leaf is being formed and the seedling is preparing to slough off.
Sloughing Precautions: If the seedlings have been stretching due to insufficient light, they may have difficulty sloughing off, and the new leaves may slough off in very strange ways, such as wearing the old skin like a hat on their heads or coming out from the waist or roots of the old skin. Some are wrapped tightly by the old leaves and cannot break through, and the seedlings will stretch inside the old leaves. In this case, you can tear the old leaves to help slough off. Be careful that if the whole thing is torn open before a new leaf has formed, the young seedlings often die because the wound is too large; if torn too early, the new leaves inside are still very small and the nutrients have not yet been transferred to the new leaves, and the seedlings will be very small and difficult to recover, and easily become僵. So if it can dare to break through the old skin itself, it's best not to tear it open.
Transplanting Time: Lithops can be transplanted after sloughing off. Conophytum: Unknown, to be supplemented (species like Dengpao and Mahani that are not resistant to transplanting should be transplanted as little as possible?)
Seed Storage: It is generally believed that Lithops seeds have a post-ripening period, and it is recommended to sow half a year after harvesting, with the best time being 1-2 years after harvesting. (Personal practice, Lithops seeds sown 1.5 years after harvesting still have a high germination rate. Most of the seeds harvested in spring and sown in autumn half a year later also have a high germination rate, but a few are very poor.)
(PS: The spring peach jade genus is notoriously difficult to sow, with very unstable germination rates. Unlike stones, they cannot be kept airtight until full moon, and ventilation must be provided immediately after germination, otherwise it will be a rhythm of germinating on one side and rotting on the other. This stuff is afraid of being airtight and easy to rot, and the roots are fragile and easy to dry out. I speculate that frequent spraying and补水 is more suitable. It is recommended to scatter seeds by the hundreds, otherwise they won't be enough to die.)
III. Haworthia Sowing
Season: Spring and Autumn, with autumn sowing being the best (usually in November in Xiamen).
Temperature: 15-28 degrees.
Sowing Soil: A small amount of peat mixed with 1-3mm particle soil, or 1-3mm fully particle soil with nutrients (such as particle peat). However, it is still recommended to add a little peat.
Covering Soil: Thin covering or no covering.
Germination Speed: About two weeks?
Ventilation: Not picky about ventilation, likes high humidity, suitable for airtight cultivation. (If disinfection is thorough and there is a good grasp of temperature and light, it can be kept sealed from sowing without ventilation and watering for one year.)
Watering: Water when the soil surface is dry, or keep the soil slightly moist (airtight cultivation).
Transplanting Time: After three leaves, or when the seedlings are crowded in the seedling tray.
Seed Storage: Unknown. Some say to sow fresh seeds as soon as possible for higher germination rates, and others say to sow half a year later in autumn for safety. Most are harvested in spring and sown half a year later in autumn.
IV. Cactus Sowing
(There are many types of cacti, some with very different habits, and the method of sowing and raising seedlings should also be different. Here I have only written about the common mass varieties. Generally, rare and expensive varieties tend to have some strange temperaments and need attention.)
Season: Spring and Summer, ensuring enough warmth and stability, with early summer being the best.
Temperature: 20-40 degrees. The highest temperature should be above 30 degrees (usually in June and July in Xiamen).
Sowing Soil: A small amount of peat mixed with particles, or all particles (nutrient-free soil needs to be fertilized after a full moon). Choose particle soil the same size as the seeds, usually 1-3mm particle soil, and if the seeds are small and grow slowly, you can choose even smaller particles. The soil should not be too acidic, and the牡丹 genus should add some limestone (or old wall skin).
Covering Soil: Generally, cacti need light to germinate, so even if the seeds are large, do not cover them with soil.
Germination Speed: Most cacti germinate very quickly. Shitoushu 1, 2 days to germinate, fish, Dou 2, 3 days to start breaking the shell. Many varieties can germinate in 1-2 weeks, and then there is no hope. But I've had a播白星 that only started to germinate in large numbers after more than a month, and it took two months to germinate completely.
Peeling: After the seed coat of Feibiao and Xizhiye, it needs to be peeled before sowing to make germination easier.
Ventilation: Not picky about ventilation, likes high humidity, suitable for airtight cultivation, grows fast. But there is a greater risk. It can also be open, grows slowly but sturdy. (If disinfection is thorough and there is a good grasp of temperature and light, it can be kept sealed from sowing without ventilation and watering for one year.)
Watering: Water when the soil surface is dry, or keep the soil slightly moist (airtight cultivation). Reduce watering gradually before entering winter, keep warm in winter and water less.
Transplanting Time: Most varieties can be transplanted in the second spring after the temperature warms up and stabilizes (usually at the beginning of April in Xiamen). But for some very slow-growing, fragile-rooted varieties like Lao Hualong and Jushui, try not to transplant within one or two years.
Seed Storage: Many cacti seeds are not resistant to storage, it is best to buy fresh seeds harvested in the same year and sow them within the year. It is said that the germination rate of Jushui seeds starts to decline after one month of harvest. It is said that there are also very few varieties that need several years of post-ripening? However, the seeds of fish and Dou do not need post-ripening, and the germination rate of fresh harvested seeds is very high.
(PS1: If the seeds are sticking to the fruit flesh, it is easy to mold, especially the seeds of Dou. It is best to soak for a few hours and shake to remove the fruit flesh before sowing.)
(PS2: Feibiao is an exception, afraid of heat, afraid of airtight, afraid of decay,耐寒. Sowing needs low humus (peat soil, etc.) or no humus, and ventilation after germination, cannot be airtight. It is said to be difficult to survive the summer, probably more suitable in autumn.)
V. Other (The following except for the cliff have not been sown, collected information and speculation.)
Bat Flower: Sow in spring and autumn.
Cliff Queen: Sow in spring and autumn. It is also said that the seeds are very intolerant of storage and should be sown as soon as possible.
Spring Grass: Sow in spring and autumn. The germination speed can be one week or one month, the slowest I've heard of is two months.
Coagulated Jade: Sow in summer. A very cold-resistant and heat-loving variety, pay attention to keeping warm and heating in winter.
The above is all about the sowing of succulent plants (differences and precautions) for your comprehensive understanding and reference!