Methods for Sowing Multi肉 Light Bulb Seeds
The editor brings you knowledge about multi肉 plants, specifically the sowing method for multi肉 light bulb seeds. Let's take a look together.
This article is suitable for gardening enthusiasts with some sowing experience, as the sowing method for multi肉 light bulb seeds mainly summarizes some personal insights. Basic sowing steps are not introduced, and enthusiasts can combine the experience in this article with other multi肉 sowing methods.
The first time I sowed light bulbs was last spring. I also sowed some living stones at the same time. The living stones germinated quickly, but the light bulbs did not. I didn't check the relevant information carefully at the time and waited for a long time without any results. Later, I just threw them aside. Unexpectedly, they germinated later. I remember it seemed to rain and they were splashed with water. That's when the miracle happened. Out of 10 seeds, seven or eight came out. It felt magical, but unfortunately, these small light bulbs became a delicacy for small black flies (the evil small black flies).
With the lessons learned last year, I started trying to sow light bulbs again this spring. After searching online and summarizing the scattered advice left by gardening experts, I found that there are several special points about sowing light bulbs:
1. Light bulbs germinate slowly, usually taking 15-30 days (some say it's very fast, which should be considered a miracle)
2. The germination rate of light bulbs is low, with some not germinating for more than a month or failing to germinate
3. Light bulb seeds have a post-ripening period, so it's recommended to keep fresh seeds for a year or so before sowing. For example, if harvested in spring, sow in autumn. By post-ripening period, I mean that after the seeds are harvested, their internal structure is not fully developed. This post-ripening period seems to be quite common in the plant world (I seem to have read about it in botany books before)
4. The temperature for sowing light bulbs is relatively lower compared to living stones and Crassulaceae. For Crassulaceae and living stones, the temperature is usually between 15-25 degrees, while for light bulbs, it's generally between 5-20 degrees, and there seems to be a recommendation for temperature differences.
Overall, these are the mainstream opinions online. Of course, learning from others, the most important thing is to apply it in practice. Following these guidelines, I have sown light bulbs three times since the beginning of 2017.
The first batch of light bulbs was sown during the lunar New Year, when the temperature was mostly between 5-15 degrees. The weather was particularly good this New Year, so it felt very suitable for sowing. I sowed 50 seeds, using a mix of peat and stone. I'm quite lazy, so the soil wasn't disinfected much, and I broadcast the seeds. The播种 box was placed on a south-facing enclosed balcony, with the room temperature around 15 degrees. After about 15 days of sowing, the light bulbs finally started to germinate. The waiting process was full of anticipation and worry because I was afraid of buying fake seeds. During this process, I折腾ed a lot, always feeling that the temperature was not enough. Because I often sow Crassulaceae, I would place the播种 box near the glass where it could get sunlight. So, my personal summary this time is that the temperature is actually not too low, and I think the germination temperature for light bulbs should also be around 25 degrees, because the internal temperature should rise quite high under sunlight.
After germination started, about three days later, most of them germinated. Out of 50 seeds, about 27 germinated. Overall, it felt about the same as what is said online. Overall, I am quite satisfied.
For the second sowing, I wanted to test the idea that light bulbs can also germinate at high temperatures. I used a very small heating greenhouse, where the temperature was raised to 25 degrees during the day and stayed at 20 degrees at night. This time, I specially microwaved the soil because I thought that with the small size of light bulb seeds and the long germination period, they could easily rot. After this折腾, nothing much happened with the light bulbs after about two weeks, while at the same time, some 'mao cuo di yu' I sowed germinated in five days. It seems that too high a temperature is not suitable for light bulbs. Later, I moved the light bulbs outside and after a week of折腾, about 20 out of 50 germinated.
For the third sowing, it was because a friend of mine had a奇迹 where light bulbs germinated in just five days. They germinated continuously, and out of 50 seeds, more than 40 germinated. She even thought she bought fake seeds because she had failed to germinate them before. And the pictures were of real light bulbs. This completely overturned the claims that light bulbs are difficult to sow and have a low germination rate. I asked her carefully about her sowing conditions.
Temperature: 4-15 degrees, Location: Qingdao, the播种 box was placed indoors, with the indoor temperature usually around 15 degrees, but she opened the window at night. This may have created a large temperature difference. I think the large temperature difference may be the most critical factor for sowing light bulbs. Other aspects, such as闷 and disinfection, are just normal methods. Placed near the window, the light should have some scattered light. This should increase the internal humidity.
Following her experience, I started sowing 20 seeds on March 24th, and I found one germinated today, April 1st, which is a total of 7 days. During this time, I placed the seeds inside the enclosed balcony during the day and outside at night. The local temperature recently has been between 6-19 degrees, and I intentionally created a large temperature difference for the seeds. Therefore, a large temperature difference should definitely promote the germination of light bulb seeds.
Of course, other factors are also indispensable. Here's a summary for reference, personal opinions, and not necessarily all correct.
1. Temperature: A large temperature difference is recommended, generally between 5-25 degrees, preferably 5-20 degrees. Personally, I think too high a temperature may damage the seeds because they are small. So, when sowing, it's recommended to place the seeds in a room with scattered light during the day and in a cool, well-ventilated place at night.
2. Humidity: For humidity, it's generally recommended to keep it fully enclosed and闷. Seed germination requires a certain level of humidity, so after sowing, it's best not to open it for the first few days. High humidity allows the seeds to absorb enough water.
3. Disinfection: It's recommended to disinfect the sowing soil because light bulb seeds are small and can easily become infected. I usually put it in the microwave for 2 minutes.
4. Soil: I recommend using peat as the main component, and even pure peat is fine. The peat should be the finest kind. I particularly sieve it because the roots of light bulbs are very fine, and fine soil is easier for them to take root.
The most important thing, in my opinion, is to create large temperature differences. Perhaps large temperature differences can cause the seeds to expand and contract, absorb enough water, and promote germination. The creation of temperature differences is also recommended to be sudden, with temperatures having a certain curve. Now that the weather is gradually getting warmer, I feel that light bulbs can be sown on north-facing balconies, which also meet the conditions for germination.
The above-sharing methods for sowing multi肉 light bulb seeds are for reference only.