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Puna from seed - any advice?
Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2020 1:19 pm
by MaciejW
Hi all,
I have managed to buy some Puna seeds this autumn for the next year's sowing. The species are
PUNA bonnieae
PUNA clavarioides (Maihueniopsis)
PUNA subterranea (Cumulopuntia)
PUNA subterranea ssp. pulcherrima (Cumulopuntia)
Any tips or advice you may have from your experience in getting these started? Normal 'cacti' from seed treatment or different approach?
Thanks, Maciej
Re: Puna from seed - any advice?
Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2020 1:42 pm
by Aiko
Are the seeds big (and beige in colour)?
I reckon they like heath and a lot of patience. I would not be surprised it might take a few months for them to germinate.
Re: Puna from seed - any advice?
Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2020 3:43 pm
by Tony R
Aiko wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 1:42 pm
I would not be surprised it might take a few months for them to germinate.
Or even a few years (several goes).
C. subterranea (and ssp.) is this easiest in my limited experience of these from seed.
Re: Puna from seed - any advice?
Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2020 5:49 pm
by MaciejW
Aiko wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 1:42 pm
Are the seeds big (and beige in colour)?
I reckon they like heath and a lot of patience. I would not be surprised it might take a few months for them to germinate.
I have not received them yet - they are on their way as we speak.
Re: Puna from seed - any advice?
Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2020 5:51 pm
by MaciejW
Tony R wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 3:43 pm
Aiko wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 1:42 pm
I would not be surprised it might take a few months for them to germinate.
Or even a few years (several goes).
C. subterranea (and ssp.) is this easiest in my limited experience of these from seed.
Thanks Tony. Any luck with pre-treatment of the seeds? Luckily I am a patient person
Re: Puna from seed - any advice?
Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2020 1:01 pm
by RAYWOODBRIDGE
Firstly all four species are easy from cuttings, so you are going the hard way.
I agree with what everyone has said above and you will do well to get one or two to germinate in each pot the first year ( 2021 ) with maybe a few more in each pot the second year ( 2022 ).
The main problem I found was that the first year the seedlings need or can be kept moist, but the second year of their life they like to be a lot dryer, so you end up watering one side of the pot and trying to keep the other side fairly dry, but they do start to grow quite quickly the second year. I have no experience of growing clavarioiodes from seed ( only cuttings ) so this advice only applies to the other three.
Best of luck with the project and keep us informed next summer to how things are going, no pretreatment needed and yes you will need to be patient.
Re: Puna from seed - any advice?
Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2020 2:03 pm
by MaciejW
RAYWOODBRIDGE wrote: ↑Wed Nov 25, 2020 1:01 pm
Firstly all four species are easy from cuttings, so you are going the hard way.
I agree with what everyone has said above and you will do well to get one or two to germinate in each pot the first year ( 2021 ) with maybe a few more in each pot the second year ( 2022 ).
The main problem I found was that the first year the seedlings need or can be kept moist, but the second year of their life they like to be a lot dryer, so you end up watering one side of the pot and trying to keep the other side fairly dry, but they do start to grow quite quickly the second year. I have no experience of growing clavarioiodes from seed ( only cuttings ) so this advice only applies to the other three.
Best of luck with the project and keep us informed next summer to how things are going, no pretreatment needed and yes you will need to be patient.
Thanks Ray. My intention was to get some cuttings this year, but the pandemic made it impossible to attend any events where I was hoping to obtain them. Seeds became the only option.
I will give it a go and we will see!