The sowing of immortal plant seeds
The editor answers questions for netizens about succulent plants and cacti, the sowing of immortal plant seeds. Let's follow the editor to see the specific content!
Seed Treatment: After harvesting, clean, air-dry, and store. Seeds can be sown after the post-ripening period. Different methods are used depending on the difficulty of seed germination for cacti, with most seeds suitable for direct sowing. However, seeds like牡丹 (Peony) and 太平丸 (Taiping Pill) can undergo certain pretreatments, such as soaking in a deep purple potassium permanganate solution for several hours, using nitric acid to soften the seeds, or using hormones, etc. (For specifics, refer to "The biological mechanism of sowing and seed priming").
Pots: Choose pots according to the plant variety. Generally, in home conditions, the choice of pot is not very important, and a plastic pot may be sufficient for most varieties. Choose a sturdy and non-deformable plastic pot, and the color should be dark (this can absorb light energy to increase the potting soil temperature, which is beneficial for germination and growth).
Soil Quality: Generally divided into three layers (from bottom to top): large particle drainage layer; nutrient soil layer; water retention layer. The particle size also decreases gradually. The first layer can be volcanic rock, pumice, or even Styrofoam. The nutrient soil layer can be rice husk ash, peat, vermiculite, etc. I often use a mixture of particle vermiculite and rice husk ash (or peat) in a ratio of 3:2 or 3:1, sieving to remove dust. The top layer can use sieved vermiculite, with particle size selected according to seed size. Generally, soil particle size should be less than half the size of the seed, especially for 菊水 (Jushui) and 花笼 (Hualong), fine soil should be chosen to benefit seedling root growth, fixation, and water absorption. If the matrix is a porous material like vermiculite or perlite, the matrix particles can be slightly larger, which will not affect seed root growth and water absorption. Soil material disinfection can be done using a microwave or pressure cooker, usually 5-10 minutes in a microwave, or 20-30 minutes in a pressure cooker to meet the requirements.
First Layer: Large particle pumice
Second Layer: Lower nutrient soil (larger particles)
Second Layer: Upper nutrient soil
Third Layer: Water retention layer (can use pure vermiculite)
Watering: It is recommended to use a potassium permanganate solution, with the solution color determined by the thickness of the seed coat. Generally, a light purple solution is sufficient for most seeds. Watering can be done immediately after laying down the soil, allowing the potassium permanganate solution to soak the entire potting soil.
Significance of Potassium Permanganate:
1. Disinfection and sterilization;
2. Softening the seed coat;
3. Releasing oxygen, promoting seed germination;
4. Potassium permanganate decomposes quickly and does not have a negative effect on seedlings;
5. Other alternatives: Hydrogen peroxide (hydrogen peroxide), antibiotics, etc.
Sowing: Choose sowing techniques based on seed size: large particles can be sown with forceps, such as Peony, Taiping Pill, Lophophora, and Coryphantha; small particles can use the paper trough method, placing seeds on the paper trough and gently tapping the back with forceps or a pencil, such as Jushui and Hualong. Cap-shaped seeds should face the concave side towards the soil and the convex side upwards (this is because cap-shaped seeds absorb water from the edge of the concave side, not the convex side). Some very large particle seeds can be covered with sand appropriately, such as Xiaobudai, Qixiang Tianwai, etc.
Illustration of the paper trough method for sowing:
Paper trough method sowing —— gently tap the back of the paper trough with forceps or a pencil, evenly spreading the seeds on the soil surface. Segregation and labeling
Use plastic sheets to separate different seeds, and it's best to soak the plastic sheets in potassium permanganate for a while. Labels should indicate the variety code — sowing date, etc. And be sure to record the detailed information in a notebook for future reference and summary.
Don't forget to take good notes!
Germination process treatment: There are two key points —— temperature and humidity, with these two factors guaranteed, seed germination is very easy. Practice has proven that for most cacti seeds, excessive day-night temperature differences are not recommended for sowing, and there should be a conscious effort to ensure night-time temperatures. Humidity can be maintained using a sealed method, with humidity being more important than ventilation during the germination period. Light is not essential for germination, but appropriate lighting can increase the temperature in the sealed environment and inhibit the growth of pathogens, so it can be used appropriately, with recommendations for fluorescent lights and scattered sunlight.
This is the specific process, very simple and easy to follow! As long as everyone remembers the secrets of simple sowing.
Simple sowing secret:
“Three highs”: High temperature, high humidity, potassium permanganate.
Below is the germination situation 5 days after sowing: there is a layer of water mist on the plastic bag.
The above () introduces the specific details of the sowing of immortal plant seeds (Rock鸣 San Gao method), hoping to bring some flower knowledge to flower enthusiasts.