How to plant succulent plant seeds
The editor answers your questions about succulent plant knowledge, how to plant succulent plant seeds, and welcome corrections if there are any mistakes!
Planting succulent plant seeds is the dream of many succulent enthusiasts, but it is a bit challenging. Moreover, succulent plants include cacti, Crassulaceae, and others, with slightly different planting methods for different types of seeds. Here, I will only talk about the general sowing process and precautions.
Sowing seeds of Crassulaceae succulent plants
Since Crassulaceae seeds are very small, sowing is an extremely detailed and patient task. The main process is as follows:
1. Sowing time and temperature: This is a concern for many people. Basically, I sow in autumn or spring, with autumn sowing being more recommended because most Crassulaceae are winter types, which makes it easier to care for young seedlings. Sowing in spring in the south is risky due to the challenge of surviving the summer. The best sowing temperature is between 15-25 degrees Celsius, which is suitable for A genus, AI genus, E genus stone lotus, S genus, with a special mention of the Sedum genus, which is a special case. I had no success with germination before, but after consulting information, it needs to be vernalized, which means it needs to be refrigerated for about 3 weeks.
2. Disinfection: Level and compact the surface of the potting soil and spray it with broad-spectrum disinfectants such as carbendazim, thiophanate-methyl, mancozeb, and chlorothalonil.
3. Sowing: Since Crassulaceae seeds are very small, it is almost impossible to sow them by spot sowing, so it is usually done by broadcasting. Use a piece of sturdy white paper folded in half to form a paper trough. Carefully place the seeds on the white paper and gently tap the back of the paper, allowing the seeds to spread evenly and smoothly into the sowing area. The key to successful broadcasting is the angle of the white paper and the force of the tapping, which requires continuous exploration and practice. It is best to choose the same variety for sowing in a pot to ensure that the seeds germinate at about the same time, making it easier for future management.
4. Surface mulching: Opinions vary on whether to cover the surface with soil after sowing. I do not cover the surface with soil after sowing.
5. Disinfection: Spray the surface of the pot with a broad-spectrum disinfectant again, which not only helps the seeds to better adhere to the surface soil but also serves as a disinfection process for the seeds.
6. Labeling: Insert a label on the seedling tray according to the sequence of the seeds to avoid confusion and facilitate future management.
Sowing seeds of cacti succulent plants
The sowing substrate has no significance for seed germination, but it helps the young seedlings continue to grow. Cacti are light-germinating plants, and their germination requires ample scattered light, not direct sunlight. For the first 4-8 weeks, the sowing container should be shaded with thick paper to create scattered light conditions and effectively prevent the growth of moss (the more light, the less likely it is to grow). The most suitable sowing preparation temperature is between 15-30 degrees Celsius. For some varieties, especially some American varieties, they require frost germination (I guess it's something like white-red mountain and fan-shaped). Also, the Cactus Society in Germany has reported in several articles about the difficulty of germination in some mutated varieties. To prevent the growth of harmful mold, a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius is more suitable, with short-term cooling at night.
Sulfur hydroxyquinoline (an antibiotic and antiseptic) has been proven to inhibit germination in various seeds and should be avoided. In terms of antibacterial effects, captan (cyclohexeneimide) is quite good. In the first two weeks, keep the surface of the sowing medium moist but not wet, and under no circumstances should the surface dry out completely. After disinfection, I keep the medium sealed for at least 4 weeks without ventilation to effectively prevent mold and moss from entering from the air and to avoid drying out. In the first four weeks, I should check daily to prevent unforeseen events. Soft water should be given, and the water should be soaked from the bottom up to prevent surface over-wetting and subsequent "caking" phenomenon. Regarding the medium, as long as it can drain well, you can feel free to try various combinations. After trying various methods, I use finely sieved volcanic stone, which can drain and does not accumulate water.
Of course, finely sieved grass flower culture soil mixed with 10% sand can also be used. Later on, the seedlings can be transplanted to another medium to adapt to the new environment. After transplanting, the seedlings should be planted a little further apart, gently pressing the surrounding soil, and never covering the seedlings with soil. The new seedling spacing should be 2-3 times the root growth range of the seedlings before transplanting.
The above[] introduces the complete content of how to plant succulent plant seeds, which green plant enthusiasts can refer to.