Helping seedlings

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Kees
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Helping seedlings

Post by Kees »

Do you guys and gals help seedlings? Or is it survival of the fittest in your seedtrays?

I help seedlings' roots by covering them with soil when they seem to need help and remove seed coats when seedlings seem to have a hard time shedding them.
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ralphrmartin
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Re: Helping seedlings

Post by ralphrmartin »

If I see one with its roots up in the air, I will gently reorient it to bury the roots. Removing seed coats is only needed for larger succulent seed, and I do it for ones that are stuck (stapeliads in particular seem prone to the problem).

I've just started potting this year's cactus seedlings on, which is another way to help them - they seem to grow faster once placed into "normal conditions". Anyone else started yet?
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edds
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Re: Helping seedlings

Post by edds »

ralphrmartin wrote: Tue Jun 08, 2021 5:07 pm I've just started potting this year's cactus seedlings on, which is another way to help them - they seem to grow faster once placed into "normal conditions". Anyone else started yet?
Just about to start mine. Was going to at the weekend but didn't get time!
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Pattock
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Re: Helping seedlings

Post by Pattock »

ralphrmartin wrote: Tue Jun 08, 2021 5:07 pm Removing seed coats is only needed for larger succulent seed, and I do it for ones that are stuck (stapeliads in particular seem prone to the problem).
I've done that a few times for stapeliads and various periplocoids. I drip a little water on the seed coat and leave it for half an hour or so to soak before gently using tweezers to see if it is loose enough.
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Herts Mike
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Re: Helping seedlings

Post by Herts Mike »

Wossa periplocoid?
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Pattock
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Re: Helping seedlings

Post by Pattock »

Herts Mike wrote: Tue Jun 08, 2021 7:28 pm Wossa periplocoid?
Sorry, plants related to Periploca. I have a Periploca laevigata, a couple of struggling Raphionacme species, two so far very easy Baseonema gregorii.

They have sometimes been placed in their own family Periplocaceae, sometimes Asclepiadaceae but are now generally regarded as the subfamily Periplocoideae within the Apocynaceae. They have some of the more derived features of the asclepiads but not so extreme.

The most famous among caudex-lovers is probably Fockea edulis which is easy to chew and juicy but not terribly exciting. "Nice aftertaste", I recorded.

I used to have a Mondia whitei, the roots of which are famed across East and Southern Africa as a digestive and aphrodisiac. Very, very nice flavour but I now use commercial nannari (Hemidesmus indica) root from India instead.

A flower on my Fockea, apparently seven years ago. Very delightful fragrance.
Fockea 2b.jpg
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Tony R
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Re: Helping seedlings

Post by Tony R »

ralphrmartin wrote: Tue Jun 08, 2021 5:07 pm I've just started potting this year's cactus seedlings on, which is another way to help them - they seem to grow faster once placed into "normal conditions". Anyone else started yet?

I'm a little bit behind this year!
Reminder to Me - I must remember to sow this year's seeds soon! :duh: :bangh:
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