BCSS - Forum

If you still have some seeds treat these for 5 minutes with 96% sulfuric acid (handle with care) and you will see 60-80 % germination. Don't ask why but it works.
This was the result after 8 month and ~ 50 seeds (5 seeds had been grafted before and they are still living).
Good success
Nobby

What did you graft on Nobby? Austrocactus?

Here are my post-sulphuric seedlings - lots of chances to perfect grafting, having only managed one Eriosyce laui so far. But what stock?

A thick Echinopsis seems to be a good stock for the future.

Nobby

Interesting you say you had a plant scorched Ian. I had a plant about 2 inches across from Roger that dried up in summer a couple of years ago, in fact previously it seemed to do far better under the benching. I think it is one of those cacti that does not like the high summer temperatures in our greenhouses and lack of air movement. They would probably do better outside in summer along with many other cacti that don't like our summer greenhouse conditions, even with all vents open. In Chile, in places, it was really windy at times even when the sun was shining, a few computer fans in a greenhouse do not reproduce this, you would need a fan about 18 inches across at least to produce such air movement.

Do you was the acid off the seeds afterwards Norbert, or just set them straight away with any remaining acid still on them?

It is better to wash the seeds before sowing.
I can't believe that the seedlings love the acid.
Greetings Nobby

That was really interesting advice Nobby, I would never have thought of that, maybe I shall try obtaining some seed next year. Thanks for the information.

Yes I thought the seeds probably needed washing afterwards Norbert, but if not did not know if the tiny amount of remaining acid on them after they had been dried would have more or less depleted before they germinated.

I friend of mine who has sown many P. umadeave collected seeds over the years says this:-

"Tried this various times using acid, as suggested by different people online. Recommendation includes a thorough wash of the seed afterwards otherwise the acid will continue to eat the seed coating. My experiments did not bring any marked success. Similarly I have tried cracking the seed but not convinced by this either.

Sowings in 2017 and again in 2018 have produced better success, probably around 25% success.
No acid used but do spray seed with hydrogen peroxide after sowing. I use a 3% solution on all seed now and happy with germination. This is not like acid that with eat into the seed coat but will kill any fungus on the seed coat. Well known process and used by many alpine specialists."

Yes, hydrogen peroxid is a good choice to kill many fungi on the seeds.
Using acid it is important to have the correct concentration (96%) - the often used lower concentration for car batteries does not help - and the chosen period must be effective (too short - it will not work, too long - the embryo is killed). I tested five different periods with 10 seeds respectively and found that 5 minutes were perfect.
Nobby

I took the seeds that didnt germinate by itself and put them in a cup filled with water. They waited in this cup 2days. Then put the seeds into water-bleach solution. Chip the hilums and put them into bag. 3days after first germination observed, today 3 more seeds germinated.

Hello nobby !
Thank you for sharing this method of germination. I hope you don’t mind me asking, did you use a baggy method ? Did you keep the seeds in a humidity dome or bag and if so, for how long ? How did you care for the seedlings once they germinated??
Hoping you can help me out.
Thank you !