Starting Seeds

[ColdCactus]

Well I just got my seeds from Mesa Garden, and I'm hoping for some advice. I want to know if there are any of the seeds that need special propagation methods, other than just the simple plant the seed, just deep enough to cover it, and keep moist, with a bag (I use plastic wrap.) I just built an amazing propagator, and will post pics of it when I get some progress with the seeds. Okay here's the list:
Cephalocereus quadricentralis
Cereus aethiops
Cleistocactus strausii
Corypantha pseudechinus
Discocactus crystallophilus
Discocactus placentiformis
Mammillaria bombycina
Mammillaria candida
Mammillaria hahniana
Mammillaria longimamma
Rebutia heliosa
Rebutia muscula
Thelocactus tulensis

Haworthia comptoniana
Haworthia cooperi
Haworthia cymbiformis
Haworthia Truncata
Lithops bromfieldii

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[ColdCactus]

anyone

[CoronaCactus]

MG suggests an 8 for the Cory, Disco and Thelo (remove from humidity soon after germination) but pretty sure the others are straight forward, nothing special.

Haven't grown any succs from seed yet, so can't comment on those. I'm sure Ian will know about the Lithops

[ColdCactus]

What do you mean by suggests an 8? And lithops need light to germinate I think right?

[CoronaCactus]

MG has a numbering system, each genus has numbers next to it on their list (some species have specific numbers as well) those numbers correlate to their Cultivation guide list.

Guide to germination-cultivation tips
Use the numbers or letters below between the slash marks // to find the tips.

Temperature for optimum germination: night minimum to day maximum:

1. 60's to mid 70's F (approx 17 to low 20's C)
2. 60's to mid 80's F (approx 17 to upper 20's C)
3. 70's to mid 80's F (approx 20 to low 30's C)
4. 60's to near 105F (approx 17 to near 40 C)
5. 70's to near 100F (approx 20 to upper 30's C)

Time to plant seeds:

6. any time of year with proper temperatures and daylength (ca.13-14 hours); you can extend day length with artificial lights.
7. fall and winter are best time, avoid heat of summer, short day length (ca. 11 hours)

Special notes:

8. remove from closed humid atmosphere soon after germination (ca.3 days)

9. slow to germinate, scarification and stratification help, freeze and thaw both wet and dry. Don't keep wet, but alternate wet and dry with changing temperature. No luck? Save pot and try again next year.

10. closed humid atmosphere important, distilled water useful with tiny seeds.

11. rot easily, right after germination: not too wet, dry air and stronger light.

12. soak in warm (approx 80F, 27C) distilled water about 12 hours before planting the seeds; do not allow to dry between soaking and planting.

13. needs soil with basic pH when first transplanted (add limestone), especially in areas with acidic water.
Hardiness of strong seedlings or adults in good

health and culture:

14. no frost at all, fatal, keep above approx 40F (approx 5C)
15. occasional light frost, above 28F (-2C)
16. frequent moderate frost, above approx 20F (-7C)
18. very frost hardy, above approx 10F (-12C)
19. often snow-covered, safe easily to -10F (-23C)

[ihc6480]

#9 must be for Opuntia seeds

[iann]

I don't cover Lithops seed, its tiny.

[Tony]

#9 must be for Opuntia seeds

Except for the, throw away in the wife's flower bed part.

[parrotsheaven]

Haworthia I do with the baggy method and they do well. So should do well in a propogator, I did not cover them. Gave them some sifted sand once they germinated.

[ColdCactus]

Planted on Saturday, and have germinations in all pots but one. I'll post pics when they get a little more mature.