Germination begins

[Stuart]

Germination is usually the easiest part of seed-raising. Most of the species will germinate in much less that a fortnight. Lithops usually in about four or five days, Cacti should show signs in about a week. I'm assuming they are in contact with moist compost?

Stuart

[iann]

Warmer days might help, and perhaps cooler nights, but your setup looks basically OK. I wouldn't worry at this stage, give it another week and then maybe take them out to let them dry. Try again after a few weeks dry. I usually expect germination in 10-14 days at those sort of temperatures, although like this year I can still be surprised.

[el48tel]

Germination is usually the easiest part of seed-raising. Most of the species will germinate in much less that a fortnight. Lithops usually in about four or five days, Cacti should show signs in about a week. I'm assuming they are in contact with moist compost?

Stuart

Yes they are

[el48tel]

Warmer days might help, and perhaps cooler nights, but your setup looks basically OK. I wouldn't worry at this stage, give it another week and then maybe take them out to let them dry. Try again after a few weeks dry. I usually expect germination in 10-14 days at those sort of temperatures, although like this year I can still be surprised.

I think I know what you mean. A couple of seeds in a pot which were sown last year but had not germinated sitting in the same location seem to have germinated this past few weeks.

So if I understand you. Leave alone. Monitor. Rescue. Remove from baggy. Leave. Try again.

[Aiko]

So if I understand you. Leave alone. Monitor. Rescue. Remove from baggy. Leave. Try again.

And retry and retry again, if needed. Mesembs and bulbs can take a few cycles before they finally start to germinate.

[el48tel]

So if I understand you. Leave alone. Monitor. Rescue. Remove from baggy. Leave. Try again.

And retry and retry again, if needed. Mesembs and bulbs can take a few cycles before they finally start to germinate.

Aiko
Thanks for your kind encouragement. I am new to this. Some seeds I set last year I was told that they were too late. I wanted an early start this year. I will persevere!

[conolady]

In case it's of any interest....I sowed 12 pots of BCSS mesemb seed 10 days ago, and there is something up in each pot, lots in some of them. Even the two Cono pellucidum are germinating...I sowed 20 pots of other mesemb seed on December 28th and they are all up and growing well, bar one pot of Cono brunneum, for which the seller has refunded me. One other pot of Gibbaeum shandii only has two seedlings, compared to lots from the BCSS (Terry S's) later sowing. I used Terry's method and substrate, as detailed on his website and on this forum, the only difference being that I pasteurised/sterilised the substrate in the Rayburn for several hours and used distilled water for initial waterings. I've added Rhizotonic at quarter strength to that now.

I'll sow the lithops and cacti in March, I think, using the same method but slightly warmer temps.

[el48tel]

In case it's of any interest....I sowed 12 pots of BCSS mesemb seed 10 days ago, and there is something up in each pot, lots in some of them. Even the two Cono pellucidum are germinating...I sowed 20 pots of other mesemb seed on December 28th and they are all up and growing well, bar one pot of Cono brunneum, for which the seller has refunded me. One other pot of Gibbaeum shandii only has two seedlings, compared to lots from the BCSS (Terry S's) later sowing. I used Terry's method and substrate, as detailed on his website and on this forum, the only difference being that I pasteurised/sterilised the substrate in the Rayburn for several hours and used distilled water for initial waterings. I've added Rhizotonic at quarter strength to that now.

I'll sow the lithops and cacti in March, I think, using the same method but slightly warmer temps.

Yes it is of interest! The source could be important as the compost as the moisture as the temperature etc
Mine were all BCSS seeds - so awaiting progress - no intention of a trip to the greenhouse until the ice has melted - came a cropper on it last evening.

[conolady]

In case it's of any interest....I sowed 12 pots of BCSS mesemb seed 10 days ago, and there is something up in each pot, lots in some of them. Even the two Cono pellucidum are germinating...I sowed 20 pots of other mesemb seed on December 28th and they are all up and growing well, bar one pot of Cono brunneum, for which the seller has refunded me. One other pot of Gibbaeum shandii only has two seedlings, compared to lots from the BCSS (Terry S's) later sowing. I used Terry's method and substrate, as detailed on his website and on this forum, the only difference being that I pasteurised/sterilised the substrate in the Rayburn for several hours and used distilled water for initial waterings. I've added Rhizotonic at quarter strength to that now.

I'll sow the lithops and cacti in March, I think, using the same method but slightly warmer temps.

Yes it is of interest! The source could be important as the compost as the moisture as the temperature etc
Mine were all BCSS seeds - so awaiting progress - no intention of a trip to the greenhouse until the ice has melted - came a cropper on it last evening.

The source is of paramount importance. If you have useless seed, nothing you do will work! BTW, the seed from atomic-plant.de was super. Wonderful germination, I'm tempted to say 100% but I haven't counted every seedling. It was all conophytums, but I see no reason why his other seed would not be as good.

[el48tel]

In case it's of any interest....I sowed 12 pots of BCSS mesemb seed 10 days ago, and there is something up in each pot, lots in some of them. Even the two Cono pellucidum are germinating...I sowed 20 pots of other mesemb seed on December 28th and they are all up and growing well, bar one pot of Cono brunneum, for which the seller has refunded me. One other pot of Gibbaeum shandii only has two seedlings, compared to lots from the BCSS (Terry S's) later sowing. I used Terry's method and substrate, as detailed on his website and on this forum, the only difference being that I pasteurised/sterilised the substrate in the Rayburn for several hours and used distilled water for initial waterings. I've added Rhizotonic at quarter strength to that now.

I'll sow the lithops and cacti in March, I think, using the same method but slightly warmer temps.

Yes it is of interest! The source could be important as the compost as the moisture as the temperature etc
Mine were all BCSS seeds - so awaiting progress - no intention of a trip to the greenhouse until the ice has melted - came a cropper on it last evening.

The source is of paramount importance. If you have useless seed, nothing you do will work! BTW, the seed from atomic-plant.de was super. Wonderful germination, I'm tempted to say 100% but I haven't counted every seedling. It was all conophytums, but I see no reason why his other seed would not be as good.

Had an interesting email chat with Mesagarden last week and they may be getting a repeat order from me soon.