Everything you need to know about sowing cactus seeds

To grow a cactus from seed is very troublesome, but it is incredibly interesting if you are fascinated by plant breeding. It is with this method of reproduction that beautiful and sturdy specimens are obtained. But we must be prepared for the fact that the signs of the variety are not always transmitted through the seeds. Although you can get very unexpected and interesting results in the form of new varieties.

When you need to sow cacti

Theoretically, the reproduction of cacti can be done all year round, if we manage to provide them with proper conditions. The main ones are light and heat. Therefore, it is recommended to sow them at the end of winter or at the beginning of spring. At this time, and the air temperature gradually rises, and the light day increases. The ideal period is March - April. With earlier sowing it is necessary to artificially provide seedlings with light.If the light is not enough, they are too stretched up. If, however, give them to germinate later, the plants may not become stronger in the winter.

Where to get seeds for sowing cacti

The first question that needs to be solved by a florist is where to get cactus seeds. You can get them in three ways. First, you can go to the nearest flower shop and buy a mixture seeds of the most unpretentious varieties: echinocactus, rebution, mammillaria and others. This is ideal for beginners kaktusovodov.

Secondly, you can find the seeds of certain types in specialized online stores. But in this case, you must be confident in the seller. Even with a detailed examination it is not always possible to distinguish the freshness of the planting material and the authenticity of the variety.

The third and most reliable way is to collect the seeds yourself. But it is available only to those who already have a cactus of the desired variety.

How to get seeds from their cacti

To independently propagate cacti with seeds, it is necessary to have two such plants that were grown by seed or cuttings. It is extremely important that the planting material from which they grew, was not collected from the same cactus.That is, plants should not be "blood relatives", although they belong to the same variety.

Cacti pollinated cross. The pollen is taken from a fully blooming flower, it should be easily separated and deposited on a brush or cotton ball. It is transferred to the flower of another plant and they are waiting for a berry to be tied in place of the flower.

To get germinating seeds, you have to wait until the berry has ripened. When it dries, it breaks open, takes out seeds and puts in a paper bag.

It must be signed with the name of the variety, as the seeds of the cacti are small and similar.

All about the germination of cacti seeds

So, you have purchased or received their own planting material. Now we need to figure out how to plant the seeds of cacti.

Conditions for germination

Before planting, seeds are recommended to soak for 12 hours, and preferably for a day. For this you can use a weak solution of potassium permanganate.It is dangerous to use growth stimulants for this, since their effect on cacti has not been fully studied. If you want to take a chance, soak a small amount of planting material in them and plant them separately from the entire collection.

Soaking procedure will help not only to awaken the seeds, but also to clean them from the remnants of the berry pulp. This will reduce the risk of mold in the planting pot and provide the plant with a healthy habitat. In order for the seeds to germinate, during the day they need an air temperature of about + 26 ... 30 ° С, and the night time should fall by ten degrees. The air should be humid and the soil should be moderately humid. As soon as it becomes noticeable that the seeds have germinated, they need to provide good coverage.

What, where and how to sow seeds

Cactus is a heat-loving plant, therefore its cultivation from seeds is recommended to be carried out in a special greenhouse.You can buy it at any specialty store, and you can build it yourself. But they sprout well and in the usual pot.

For planting, the bowl is filled for 1-2 cm with a drainage layer of expanded clay or small pebbles, which must first be boiled over with boiling water. Then pour out the soil, pre-calcined in the oven or microwave. It should consist of a part of sand with crushed charcoal, a part of sod land, two parts of deciduous humus. From above, one and a half centimeters of soil should be covered with river sand, which is also disinfected and dust free.

Sowing cacti seeds is carried out on the basis of recommendations for each variety. But as a general rule, small seeds, up to 3 mm, are sown directly on the surface, without sprinkling with soil.For larger ones, trenches are made to a depth of their size, placed at the same distance from each other, and sprinkled on top with soil. You can sow them with a pinch if the variety is not very valuable and it is not a pity to seed the seedlings. Otherwise, they are planted each separately.

The earth is not watered, but sprayed with a spray bottle. This is especially true for those who do not sprinkle with soil. The ground should be covered with glass and placed in a place with artificial heating. It is important that the earth warms to a temperature not lower than +30 ° С during the day and +20 ° С at night. For this, the dish is put on a central heating battery or heating pad. Alternatively, you can use a thermocord or thermocrypt for a terrarium. But in this case it is recommended to install a thermometer in the ground and follow its indications. The shoots are expected in two weeks, although they are rarely friendly. As a rule, the last seeds germinate in a month, but some varieties germinate in two or more months.Germination depends on the age of the seed. More fresh seeds germinate faster. As soon as the first seedlings appear, the glass should be removed, lighting should be added and the night temperature should be lowered to + 2 ... 5 ° C so that the shoots do not stretch out.

If all possible periods of seed germination have already passed, but nothing has happened, and the seeds themselves look healthy, use this method of awakening them. Ploshka clean in a cool place and do not water for about two weeks or more. It is important that the soil dries well. Then the dish is returned to a warm place and watering is resumed. Such stress should awaken the seeds. If it didn’t help either, they put the pot in a dry place and don’t touch it for six months or a year. Next spring, the procedure can be repeated, but germination will be lower than expected, and the plants will not be as strong.

Caring for cactus crops

It is important not only to know how to plant a cactus with seeds, but also how to care for seedlings. The first thing to think about is watering. You can find recommendations about immersing the bowl in water to moisten the soil. But this is a long-standing method, which was used before the appearance of small atomizers.Now for irrigation is recommended to spray the soil from a fine sprayer once or twice a day. An improvised greenhouse must also be regularly aired twice a day. During this procedure, be sure to remove the condensation that has formed from the walls of the bowl and covering material. Cacti dangerous 100% moisture, and if the lamp is still inside the greenhouse, it can lead to a short circuit.

In addition, high humidity leads to the appearance of blue-green algae on the ground and the walls of the bowl. The algae themselves do not carry any danger to the cacti, but their thick cover blocks the access of oxygen to the roots of the plant. It is completely unrealistic to get rid of them, therefore it is recommended, besides regular airing, to periodically loosen the aisles of crops. If there are too many algae, cacti better dive into the fresh land.

Seed multiplication is carried out in good light, as any variety of cacti is picky about light. If it is not enough, the plants are drawn out, weakened, start to hurt and eventually die. Even on the window sill from the south side of the world it is not enough for them, therefore it is necessary to purchase fluorescent lamps and fixtures in advance, preferably in the form of tubes. They are installed so that the lamp is above the ground at a distance of no more than 10 cm. The lighting must be maintained at least 8 hours a day.

In such conditions, seedlings must live the first two years. In the summer they can be taken out on a balcony, closing from the scorching sun and strong wind. In the third year in the winter, they are satisfied with the period of rest, keeping in a cool temperature. Then by next summer they will delight you with the first flowering.

Possible difficulties with crops

When sowing and growing crops of cacti may experience some difficulties characteristic of the cultivation of these plants. For example, it may be that the seedling sprouted sideways and part of the roots grows in the opposite direction from the ground. In this case, a thin wand under the seedling is carefully made a hole, the seedling itself is also gently lifted until the roots are laid in this hole. Press them with the ground can not, because they are fragile and can break.Over time, they themselves will attach to the ground.

Another common problem is the shells stuck to the seed, which it cannot dump. This happens often, but you need to deal with the problem immediately. At best, traces from the clamp will remain on the shoot from above. At worst, under a shell, a seedling will begin to rot or other diseases will develop there. Therefore, the remnants of the shell must be carefully removed with a soft brush. If this fails, the seedling will have to get out of the soil, slowly and carefully remove the cap with your fingers, and then plant the sprout again.

If the seedling is rotten, it is urgently necessary to remove it together with a lump of earth from the bowl and drop a drop of alcohol in the hole. It is also necessary to check the remaining shoots that surrounded him. Continue to follow them. In the event of a relapse, all cacti are endangered, and only a pick of seedlings can save them. An infection has clearly started in the plate, and the seedlings can die in just a couple of days.

As already mentioned, in a humid environment, algae or mold fungi can appear.They should be removed as far as possible, and they should be covered with ashes. The following year, plants from this environment dive into fresh ground.

It happens that one or several seedlings simply die for no apparent reason. In this case, they are removed along with a lump of earth, and alcohol is dripped into the well.

Picked up cacti seedlings

Among those who grow cacti from seeds, there is no consensus when to swoop down plants. Some cacti operators recommend starting this procedure when the first spines appear on cacti, others strictly after a year or two of plant life. It should be understood that different varieties of these plants develop in different ways. Some are forming at a high pace, others take years. In addition, the speed of development is influenced by the quality of their care: heat, lighting, temperature, humidity. Another important factor is the skills of the cacti player himself in the treatment of soil and plants. This is a very delicate work, since the sprouts of cacti are fragile and, if not properly handled, can be easily injured after losing some of the crops. Therefore, it is sometimes better to refrain from picking until the plants are strong.

Experienced cacti operators claim that frequent picks have a positive effect on the formation of the root system and the growth of cacti. Sprouts are recommended to replant in the first year of life, even every month and a half. Then by the second year they will noticeably get stronger. Remember that the appearance of blue algae in the bowl usually forces you to do unplanned transplants. The pick is done with a pick peg. Plants are seated at a centimeter distance from each other. The procedure should be carried out, adhering to certain rules.

In no case can not pull out seedlings from the ground for the shoots. They must first gently undermine, so that the sprout is easily separated from the ground with a lump of earth on the roots. It is really better to take it out with your hands, not with metal objects. In extreme cases, rubber caps from the dropper are put on the tweezers. Seedlings are very fragile, and even a small wound can be disastrous.

The new soil where the plant will be dived is moistened in advance. In it make a groove about the size of a clump of earth with roots of a seedling. After inserting it into the hole, the earth is not pressed and sprayed from a spray bottle. Then the bowl is closed with a film or glass and provide the same conditions as before. When it is time to remove the seedlings from heating, please note that this can only be done two weeks after the picking, otherwise they may die.

Reproduction of cacti by seeds is simple if you know the nuances of this process and adhere to the basic rules of cultivation. It is only important to remember that cacti do not like high humidity at low temperatures, and their seedlings are very fragile and tender. If you have knowledge and patience, in three or four years the plant grown from seed will give you first flowers.