never cultivated a cactus from seed

greenbaron · Post by **greenbaron** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 7:16 pm

So the seedpod on this little guy eventually changed color, got fuzzier and dried up. It finally fell off the plant, but for no reason really I'd just left it in the tray...

I noticed today it had split and inside were 17 viable-looking seeds... hadn't really considered the possibility, but how hard is it to start a cactus seed? Can anyone point me to a basic "how to" thread that might help me get started?

iann · Post by **iann** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 11:28 pm

Germinating fresh Frailea seed is easier than falling off a log. All it needs is warmth and moisture. Plenty of moisture, quite a bit of warmth.

Growing on the tiny seedlings takes practice, but you have free seed to practice on

Post by **CoronaCactus** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 12:57 am

Once the fleshy fruit starts to dry up and the outer skin starts to get flakey and somewhat transparent, it can be picked and sown.

As Ian said, very easy to germinate and pretty easy to grow. In a year they'll be the size of your pinky finger, in 2 years the size of your thumb and probably flowering.

Moonbeam · Post by **Moonbeam** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 1:32 am

I fall off logs every easily...so hopefully my frailea will make me some seeds to grow, as at the moment it is doing something. No sure what but it's growing something fuzzy from the center and I'm sooooooooooooo excited!!! $\:D/$

greenbaron · Post by **greenbaron** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 3:34 pm

wow, only two years! that's great! I've sown them this morning, will update if anything happens for me!
good luck with yours moonbeam, glad to hear you found one (or more?). if i can grow some out, i'll save one for you

greenbaron · Post by **greenbaron** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 11:29 pm

so after they've all germinated I guess they don't need a lot of humidity?

iann · Post by **iann** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 11:47 pm

so after they've all germinated I guess they don't need a lot of humidity?

You'd think that, wouldn't you. But you'd be wrong

Cactus seedlings need fairly high humidity and protection from direct sun. Weird, huh? In habitat they would get this by growing partially buried between stones or under other plants.

With low humidity, the tiny roots will struggle to keep the plant hydrated. Either you will need more water which runs the risk of rotting the seedling, or the plant won't grow very fast.

Direct sun will burn most cactus seedlings, so you'll need artificial lights or some type of shading. Full shade is generally too dark so shade cloth or perhaps morning sun.

Opuntias and a few other species will take sun and dry air much better than other cacti.

greenbaron · Post by **greenbaron** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 11:52 pm

hm, interesting. they are in a bonsai pot and the pot's in a glass terrarium (sp?) under fluorescents... just thought they might like fresh air after germination. what about letting them out after dark?

Moonbeam · Post by **Moonbeam** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 12:50 am

greenbaron wrote:good luck with yours moonbeam, glad to hear you found one (or more?). if i can grow some out, i'll save one for you

I've decided that I need about a hundred of them, I will place them all over everywhere; and in the end maybe I'll get one to fruit or flower that doesn't get swiped.

Post by **CoronaCactus** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 5:25 am

My 2 latest spring sowings have been in baggies the whole time, ~60 and ~120 days.

It's amazing i've been able to resist leaving them in for that long and not opening them at all! Being really busy helps

greenbaron · Post by **greenbaron** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 12:04 pm

I agree, that is an accomplishment. I did take mine out this morning to count the little balls... 16 of 17 germinated, but that last seed still looks good so maybe it is just slow. Back into the terrarium, and I will leave them alone for as long as possible!

greenbaron · Post by **greenbaron** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 3:57 pm

...that last seed has germinated, so i'm 17 for 17. now the hard part...
about 3 are light purple coloured, the rest light green. move closer to the lights? and just how long do they need to stay in these conditions of nearly 100% humidity? a few pieces of perlite are growing algae! TIA

greenbaron · Post by **greenbaron** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 7:54 pm

Well, this is a hard thing to take a picture of! Anyway, of the original 17, I lost just 1 (damping off?), and here are the rest:

I think I may move them to where they can get more light. They're still locked up in a jar for humidity...

Post by **CoronaCactus** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 7:57 pm

Nice!
Good job.

Post by **daiv** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 2:59 pm

Looking good thus far!

never cultivated a cactus from seed

never cultivated a cactus from seed

about a month old...