The Basics of Sowing Succulents
The core content of this article: experiences with succulents, the basics of sowing succulents, let's take a look together.
About sowing succulents, many gardening enthusiasts have encountered various challenges. Lately, many friends have been constantly asking Kite, why after half a month of sowing succulents, only a few seeds have germinated. The process of sowing propagation is actually related to many factors, such as the temperature, humidity, regional differences, and temperature differences of the sowing, as well as the sowing material.
It should be noted here that there are many sowing materials, and there is no absolutely good sowing material. Sowing mainly relies on experience. Generally, the material should be permeable and breathable, while also having water retention properties, such as peat, vermiculite, river sand, small coal slag particles, fine particle akadama soil, etc. The sowing soil should be disinfected and sterilized as much as possible, otherwise the soil is prone to grow moss and easily attract pests. Pests can be prevented, but moss is indeed difficult to prevent. One of the factors that cause moss growth is the water source. If water containing a lot of algae is used, it is easy to grow moss. Although rainwater is good, due to environmental issues, the dust contained in the air is different, and due to industrial pollution, rainwater may not be the best choice. Natural water sources are best, with relatively low costs, such as purified water and filtered water, which are more expensive. Tap water must be exposed to sunlight or left for 24 hours before use.
When all the preliminary conditions are well prepared, it's time for the seeds. Different varieties have different germination times, even seeds from the same pod can germinate at different times. Understanding these, sowing seems simple. However, in the actual sowing process, even the most experienced sowers will encounter issues with germination rates. Whether or not seeds germinate depends not only on reliable sources (such as seeds from previous years and fresh seeds of the current year), but also on the sowing environment temperature and the sowing material. The same variety from different regions will have different germination times. Each seed has its own way of reproducing the next generation, some seeds have a post-ripening period, and some seeds can be sown immediately after harvest. Climate and environment determine whether they will germinate and start a new round of growth. Only when humidity and temperature meet the requirements will seeds start to germinate, otherwise they will continue to dormant until suitable temperature and humidity conditions are met.
Many gardening friends do not understand this point and complain about the seeds being bad when they don't germinate. In fact, as long as the seeds are plump, they can basically develop into plump embryos and will germinate under suitable conditions. Therefore, seeds not germinating doesn't necessarily mean they are bad.
For seeds to germinate, the first requirement is that the seed coat absorbs water, allowing oxygen to easily pass through the seed coat into the seed interior. Then, under certain temperature conditions, enzymes in the embryo will become active, catalyzing the insoluble organic nutrients stored in the cotyledons or endosperm, transforming them into soluble organic nutrients and transporting them to the embryo, providing nutrients for the development of the plumule and radicle into stems and leaves. Here, oxygen, water, and temperature are the necessary conditions for enzymes to function and cause seed germination. Among them, water is essential for the transport of substances in plants, as substances must dissolve in water to be transported. A large amount of oxygen entering the seed strengthens respiration, thereby releasing more energy for life activities, which is what is commonly referred to as germination. Enzymes must function at a certain temperature, which is why many gardening friends fail to germinate seeds.
Therefore, seeds that do not germinate are in a dormant state, while germinated seeds have a strong respiratory function. The recently germinated seed embryos are very tender and require scattered light. As for photosynthesis, it must wait until the seedlings are gradually stronger, and light should be increased step by step. Young seedlings are fragile, and strong light can easily cause僵苗 (dwarf seedlings). Speaking of dwarf seedlings, let's briefly mention the types. Transparent yellow or light green dwarf seedlings often only have a relatively normal growth point color, with the seedling epidermis wrinkled or water-soaked. The size is similar to when they first emerged or only grow taller without thickening, with weak or almost non-existent roots. The cause of this type of dwarf seedling is unknown, and they will gradually die after a few months. This is what gardening friends often call genetic issues, which fall outside the scope of Kite's knowledge. In such cases, it is basically not transplanted and only given scattered light and normal watering. A small amount of hormones, such as 920, can be added to the water, which can slightly alleviate this innate problem.
There is also the后天红僵苗 (postnatal red dwarf seedlings), with a red or brown surface, which can occur in seedlings of any size. This type of dwarf seedling usually has good roots and does not respond to watering. It is the most common type of dwarf seedling among beginners, caused by long-term water shortage or too much sunlight. This type of dwarf seedling generally does not rot and will gradually recover growth after watering and shading. Sometimes, due to variety differences, it may remain dormant for several months or even years. Keeping the potting soil moist at suitable temperatures, with appropriate shading to avoid direct sunlight, scattered light is sufficient. Seedlings can be placed outdoors to be rained on occasionally, but not every day, as excessive rain can cause rot. Generally, after one to two rains, visible signs of growth can be seen. Using collected rainwater may not necessarily wake up the plants, but rain can awaken such a dormant state. Nature is truly amazing. In heavily polluted areas, it's best not to let seedlings be rained on, as it may make things worse. Kite's home is in the mountains with good air quality, so rain is relatively effective. Red dwarf seedlings can also be encouraged to restart growth using hormones like 920.
After discussing the issue of dwarf seedlings, the next topic is still about seed germination. After many years of sowing and propagation, the same sowing temperature and humidity, seeds from the same pod, some germinate and grow well in the same year, while others need to wait until the next year to grow again. These academic issues are beyond the scope of Kite's limited knowledge. What Kite wants to say here is that in the current year's sowing tray, regardless of the germination rate, regardless of how many seeds were sown, we should not discard the empty seedling tray due to poor or no germination. The seedlings can be moved or left in the tray for a year. Do not throw away the empty tray soil. The next year, many seeds that did not germinate may grow into seedlings again. The empty tray should be watered thoroughly when dry. Some seeds can survive in the soil for 1 to 3 years. Kite's habit has always been that regardless of whether there are seedlings or not in the current year's seedling tray, the tray is generally not cleaned, with the interval between the first and second germination being 12 to 15 months. After this, the tray that does not germinate can be cleaned and used for other purposes. The sowing soil can be sterilized and used as growing soil. Below, Kite uses pictures to illustrate the situation of seedlings germinating in the next year's tray.
The seedling tray in the above picture was sown at the end of August 2013. The seedlings in the tray were not transplanted. After normal management, around October this year, the tray germinated new seedlings from seeds that did not germinate in time last year, naturally. No covering was used, and quite a few seedlings emerged. It can be seen that friends who did not have seedlings or had few seedlings in their trays should not discard or redo them. After waiting a year, seeds that can germinate will germinate again. Moreover, the newly germinated seedlings are明显健壮 (obviously robust).
So, friends should not rush to judge that the seeds are bad or will not germinate and dispose of the soil in the seedling tray. Patience is key, and many ungerminated seeds will start to germinate again next year. The newly germinated seedlings, together with the seedlings that have grown for a year, should be given appropriate light and watered thoroughly when dry. Kite usually uses a spray, not often watering thoroughly, otherwise the plants may become tall after a year. Less water can not only meet the growth needs of new seedlings but also meet the growth needs of one-year-old plants. After several light waterings, it is necessary to water thoroughly once to prevent the one-year-old plants from becoming dormant due to lack of water for too long. Friends with space can also move the one-year-old seedlings and leave the newly germinated small plants to continue growing in the seedling tray.
After rambling on, I hope to provide some help to beginners and grow together in the world of succulents.
The comprehensive method explanation of the basics of sowing succulents provided above is hoped to be a starting point to solve your green plant problems.