Haworthia
An introduction to the Haworthia plant, a type of succulent. Let's learn about the sowing and seedling raising of Haworthia (Haworthia species) together.
Since I started learning to crossbreed and sow Haworthia plants in the past two years, I have collected relevant knowledge from various sources and combined it with my own experience and lessons to compile the following personal experiences and tips on sowing and seedling raising. However, writing this has also been a process of relearning and careful summarization for me. As I still have shortcomings in terms of experience and theory, if there are any mistakes in the following text, I hope that plant enthusiasts will communicate and correct them.
I. Concepts of Crossbreeding and Seedling Raising
Plant crossbreeding refers to the process of producing new breeds (Z species) by crossing plants with different hereditary traits through mutual pollination or fusion. It mainly involves interspecific and intergeneric hybridization. In artificial cultivation, crossbreeding is done through artificial means to obtain excellent hereditary traits, which is known as hybrid breeding. Crossbreeding is mainly carried out through sexual reproduction. The crossbreeding and cultivation of Haworthia plants is a systematic project, of which sowing and seedling raising are very important components. The various cultivation management measures carried out from the germination of seeds to the transplantation of seedlings are referred to as seedling raising.
II. Main Process and Steps of Sowing
(1) Timing of Sowing
The timing of sowing is very important. If the temperature is too low, the seeds' viability will be reduced, and they will not germinate easily. Generally, seeds will germinate at temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius, with 25 to 30 degrees Celsius being the best. Large day-night temperature differences also help seed germination, so spring and autumn are both suitable seasons for sowing. Opinions differ on the timing of sowing Haworthia plants. Some advocate immediate sowing, while others prefer autumn sowing. The main point of contention between these two viewpoints is the freshness of the seeds and the management of the seedling stage. It can be said that the suitable sowing temperature for Haworthia plants is roughly around 20-30 degrees Celsius, under which conditions seeds are easily germinated. However, due to different climatic conditions in various regions, especially for enthusiasts in the south, seeds sown immediately may soon face the intense summer, leading to mold growth and even spreading to the entire container after germination if temperatures remain too high. Moreover, high temperatures cause the stem and leaf growth rate to significantly exceed that of the roots, affecting root development and easily leading to seedling stretching. Autumn sowing does not have this difficulty in seedling management, so from the perspective of safety and seedling management, autumn is considered a more suitable season. Of course, many enthusiasts also practice immediate sowing, including myself in recent years, mainly because the temperature in the northeast is not as high as in the south. However, I still feel that autumn sowing is more suitable.
(2) Sowing Medium
There is no fixed pattern for the sowing medium. Although many enthusiasts ask me about the proportion of the sowing medium, I can only tell them to adjust it according to their own environmental conditions. This is because the sowing medium is not a major factor in sowing. The main conditions for seed germination are determined by factors such as moisture, temperature, gas, and light. Of course, having a good sowing medium will play a role in the future seedling raising process. Therefore, the principle of the sowing medium is that it must have good drainage and water retention. Usually, a mixture of small-particle akadama, langstone, perlite, and peat is used as the sowing medium. The specific ratio is sometimes very random, so here we can only talk about this principle roughly, and enthusiasts can adjust it themselves.
(3) Sterilization of Potting Soil
After selecting a suitable seedling pot, fill it with the sowing medium and spray or immerse the pot and medium with potassium permanganate or a fungicide to kill the bacteria in the seedling pot and medium. This is because higher sowing temperatures cause seeds to absorb water faster, leading to faster germination. However, high temperatures and excessive moisture can cause bacteria to繁殖 rapidly, inhibiting or greatly affecting seed germination. Therefore, this sterilization step is very important. Fungicides such as carbendazim or thiophanate-methyl, which can be easily obtained on the market, can be alternately used for sterilization.
(4) Sowing Methods
There are generally two sowing methods: point sowing and broadcasting. Depending on the number of seeds and individual circumstances, both methods are feasible. Point sowing involves arranging the seeds in an orderly manner according to the required growing space, which allows for the selection of sowing positions and avoids seeds clustering together. Broadcasting involves evenly spreading the seeds on the medium, which is convenient and quick but can lead to uneven sowing, with some seeds clumping together and others not germinating. Since Haworthia seeds are relatively large compared to those of the Aizoaceae family, I recommend that enthusiasts with the conditions adopt point sowing for easier future seedling management. The density of sowing depends on the time of transplantation. If you don't want to transplant too early, the sowing should be sparse, but not too sparse, to avoid having only a few seeds in a pot, which would not only waste space but also be unsuitable for subsequent management. Similarly, it should not be too dense, or the seedlings will挤 against each other as they grow, causing some to be pulled away from the medium and making it difficult for them to grow. The workload of point sowing and broadcasting is very different, with point sowing being more time-consuming and labor-intensive. Regardless of the sowing method chosen, it will not adversely affect seed germination, but it may make future seedling management more convenient.
(5) Sowing the Seeds
After the above steps are completed, sowing is actually a very simple task. After leveling the potting soil, the seeds are evenly distributed on the soil surface using either point sowing or broadcasting, and then covered with a thin layer of fine-particle medium (or soil can be left uncovered), with a thickness of only about 1-2 mm.
(6) Management After Sowing
After sowing, cover the seedling pot with a semi-transparent material and place it in a shaded area. Be careful not to let the seedling pot be exposed to direct sunlight, as rapid heating inside can cause the seeds or seedlings to become waterlogged. It is very important to maintain a certain amount of moisture in the medium during this period. Seed germination mainly occurs when seeds absorb enough moisture and the radicle breaks through the seed coat under suitable conditions. Therefore, it is necessary to supplement moisture regularly based on the moisture of the potting soil to create a favorable condition for seed germination. It is also necessary to regularly uncover the covering material to maintain fresh air, which will also help seed germination.
(7) Seed Germination
Depending on different environmental conditions and cultivation methods, the time for seed germination may vary. Generally, with the change of temperature and day-night temperature differences, germination can be seen in a few days, but the majority of seeds germinate within 10 to 20 days, which is the peak period of seed germination. A few may take a month or even several months, and some may even germinate after a few years, which is a form of self-protection for the plant. To briefly mention the external conditions required for seed germination, they are: seeds must have sufficient water, seeds must have a suitable temperature, and seeds must have enough oxygen. The absence of any of these conditions will prevent seed germination. In addition, light is also a necessary factor during seed germination.
III. Brief Discussion on Several Issues in Seedling Raising
The crossbreeding and cultivation of Haworthia plants mainly involves sexual reproduction. If the seedlings are weak, it is difficult to rejuvenate them in later care, which will directly affect the growth of the plants. Through practical experience over the years, I have deeply realized that "sowing is easy, but raising seedlings is difficult," because the sowing process is only a brief period in the entire seedling raising process and is relatively easy to control and manage. However, the period from seedling growth to mature plants is very long, sometimes taking several years to complete. During this long period of care, any careless mistake, a management or care failure, or a sudden change in environmental conditions can lead to irreversible losses. Therefore, seedling raising is a meticulous and systematic project, and among these components, the seedling raising stage is particularly important. I still lack more practical experience in this regard, so here I can only briefly discuss some key issues that need to be addressed in this process.
(1) Water
As mentioned above, after the seeds enter the peak period of germination at 10-20 days, it is still necessary to maintain a certain amount of moisture. After the seedlings have germinated, gradually uncover the covering material on the pot surface. This transition should not be too hasty and should be carried out step by step. At this time, the seedlings are very delicate, with weak roots and poor drought resistance, so it is necessary to maintain a certain humidity in the seedbed. Watering during this period is mainly done by喷壶雾喷, with a small amount of water multiple times, and the pressure of the water should not be too high to avoid seedling lodging. The seedlings are highly dependent on water during this period, so it is crucial to master the amount and degree of watering. Both over-wetting and over-drying are not desirable and can cause extreme damage to the seedlings, even leading to total loss.
(2) Light
After the seedlings emerge and the covering material is gradually removed, the seedlings are very fragile and cannot tolerate strong light. Excessive light can cause severe damage to the seedlings, even leading to death and wasting all previous efforts. Therefore, it is important to maintain diffused light and moderately increase ventilation to enhance the resistance of the seedlings, which is conducive to the deep growth of the roots and prevents the occurrence of diseases and pests. It is irrelevant if the seedlings' cotyledons are thin and long, as long as the seedlings are safe and their resistance is improved. The intensity of light should be moderate, allowing the seedlings to neither stretch excessively nor be sunburned. This point needs to be adjusted according to one's own environmental characteristics.
(3) Sterilization
Sterilization is a very important step in the seedling raising process. Although the potting soil has been sterilized before sowing, the sterilization work cannot be relaxed during the seedling raising stage after the seeds have germinated. Since the seedlings are highly dependent on water during this stage, improper watering can lead to excessive moisture in the seedbed and poor aeration of the medium, causing various types of fungi to occur. The sterilization work is mainly preventive, with fungicides such as carbendazim and thiophanate-methyl being added to the water during regular watering for喷灌. The types of fungicides should be alternated and changed. Enthusiasts often encounter seedlings that become waterlogged and mysteriously disappear, which are mainly caused by fungi. Therefore, it is important to focus on prevention rather than waiting to take remedial measures after the fungi have already erupted.
Epilogue:
Before this article was finalized, I consulted with an experienced enthusiast who has been raising plants for many years and asked him to comment on the views, expressions, and processes in the text. After he provided some opinions, I found a statement he made to be very reasonable: "Many cultivation methods are not rigid, and the key lies in the practitioner's grasp. Enthusiasts with a sense of touch can achieve good results with any method. Many details cannot be specified due to different regions and environments, so pursuing overly specific methods may yield completely opposite results." Therefore, I borrow this statement as a conclusion to remind all enthusiasts that in the process of plant cultivation, it is necessary to adapt to local conditions, combine one's own environmental characteristics and habits, and constantly summarize experiences and lessons. Only by continuously summarizing and exploring can we find the best method suitable for our own care.
The above comprehensive explanation of the sowing and seedling raising of Haworthia (Haworthia species) succulents is hoped to be helpful to you.