Cactiseed and frost?
Cactiseed and frost?
This may be a dumb question but.. Looking at the seedlists I started to wonder about the frosttolerance in cactiseed? I would assume that this would vary from species to species, depending on their natural habitats temperatures, or I am wrong? Is it safe to send seed in the post, even though the temperature is -20 degrees celsius in my area , when the seed arrives?
Re: Cactiseed and frost?
I think that all seeds (not only cactus ones) are cold tolerant. Because of very low water content of their tissues. That is the thing they are designed for: to withstand harsh unfavourable conditions until time to germinate and grow comes. Even some of them may pass the scarification process needed for those living in cold habitats.
If your cacti mess in your job just forget about the job.
°C = (°F - 32)/1.8
°C = (°F - 32)/1.8
Re: Cactiseed and frost?
Thank you 7george I am tempted to try then. Funny, less than a year ago I was sure that sowing cacti wasn’t for me at all! After trying sowing the seeds from a H.setispinus fruit , I changed my mind about sowing. I may be overly confident , its my understanding that H.setispinus is an easy species when it comes to sowing? So an attempt with other species may be a dissapointment :p
- greenknight
- Posts: 4819
- Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2013 4:18 am
- Location: SW Washington State zone 8b
Re: Cactiseed and frost?
H.setispinus is an easy one, but there are plenty of others that aren't difficult. Opuntias are generally very easy after germination, getting them to break out of their hard seed coat is the only difficulty, thus chipping and soaking the seeds is recommended.
Spence
Re: Cactiseed and frost?
Thank you Greenknight As mentioned in my own ‘blog’ here, I think I will try without the chipping part first..One thing is chipping big seeds like sunflower or something similar ..I see a lot of possibilities for injuries in both ends here.. Hopefully at least a couple of seed will sprout without any sharp instruments involved?greenknight wrote: ↑Mon Jan 03, 2022 6:14 am H.setispinus is an easy one, but there are plenty of others that aren't difficult. Opuntias are generally very easy after germination, getting them to break out of their hard seed coat is the only difficulty, thus chipping and soaking the seeds is recommended.
Re: Cactiseed and frost?
Thank you Luddhus Then there should be no problems sending seed in the post during the winter.
- greenknight
- Posts: 4819
- Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2013 4:18 am
- Location: SW Washington State zone 8b
Re: Cactiseed and frost?
There are other methods, as shown in this video:Mrs.Green wrote: ↑Mon Jan 03, 2022 10:41 amThank you Greenknight As mentioned in my own ‘blog’ here, I think I will try without the chipping part first..One thing is chipping big seeds like sunflower or something similar ..I see a lot of possibilities for injuries in both ends here.. Hopefully at least a couple of seed will sprout without any sharp instruments involved?greenknight wrote: ↑Mon Jan 03, 2022 6:14 am H.setispinus is an easy one, but there are plenty of others that aren't difficult. Opuntias are generally very easy after germination, getting them to break out of their hard seed coat is the only difficulty, thus chipping and soaking the seeds is recommended.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GP6QUuE2JQ&t=135s
In nature, fungi help to weaken the seed coat, as shown in this study: https://www.researchgate.net/publicatio ... ral_Mexico
Trichoderma harzianum, one of the fungi that was found to be effective, is available as an inoculant.
Spence
Re: Cactiseed and frost?
Thank you very much Greenknight! You always provide a lot of interesting info!