How important is sowing depth?

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Ava
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How important is sowing depth?

Post by Ava »

When I've bought non-cactus/succulent seeds they tend to come with instructions on how deep to sow them. With cactus/succulent seeds I just usually scatter very small seeds on the surface and make very small holes for larger seeds. I'm wondering this year if I ought to look up guidelines for each species instead and do it properly?
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Diane
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Re: How important is sowing depth?

Post by Diane »

Just carry on as you have been doing. In habitat, cactus seeds generally would not be buried, I don't think there are any guide lines for individual species. I just press seeds into the surface of the compost mix, with larger seeds pushed a bit deeper. No need to overthink this!
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Chris L
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Re: How important is sowing depth?

Post by Chris L »

What always bugs me is when you thinly sow 10 seeds in a 2" pot you get 6 germinating and they are all in one quarter of the pot and they are all "cheek by jowl" and the rest of the pot is empty..... :???: :roll:
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DaveW
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Re: How important is sowing depth?

Post by DaveW »

Cactus seedlings also seems to grow better "cheek by jowl" anyway rather than as isolated seedlings. Problem is we usually have only from 5-10 seeds of any species to set, unlike nurserymen often setting by the hundred which then come up like cress!
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Chris L
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Re: How important is sowing depth?

Post by Chris L »

My Espostoas baumannii are all in a line and an unknown Notocactus sp I get a pot full....... :roll:
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Ava
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Re: How important is sowing depth?

Post by Ava »

Thanks, Diane :) That does make things easier.

Chris, I know what you mean - I can't spread those tiny seeds evenly at all. With the finest I've been concerned they might not have gone in the pot at all :???: My repotting attempts aren't that much better, either, though that's improving at least.
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Re: How important is sowing depth?

Post by iann »

Most cactus seeds need light to germinate, at least the small ones we mostly like. Foesn't have to be particularly bright, but some light. Down a crevice between stones is fine, but definitely don't make any effort to bury them. Same for most mesembs. Other succulents, I'm not so sure, but certainly Anacampseros and co. do fine sown on the surface.

Some larger cactus species, mostly with larger seeds, can be buried but don't go mad. A very few species have been identified as only germinating in the dark, not anything you're likely t come across but worth bearing in mind if things aren't working otherwise.
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