Germination

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Darren S
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Germination

Post by Darren S »

This year. 9 out of 11 packets up, mostly Tephrocactus from Succseed but also the sole Opuntia on this year's BCSS list. 60-70% germination across the board.
tephro.jpg
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Re: Germination

Post by NickHitchcock »

That's excellent. Did you do anything to the seeds before sowing? What temperatures have you been keeping them?
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Darren S
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Re: Germination

Post by Darren S »

Hi Nick. Found a scientific paper comparing treatments of opuntia seed. They found that scarifying followed by a 24 hour soak in 3% hydrogen peroxide was the only reliable method. So tried this with them:

Scarified with sandpaper, soaked 24 hours 3% hydrogen peroxide ( this is easily available online as a sterilant). Then I put them in the same propagator in daylight as my austrocactus seeds - two weeks at 24C then temp increased to 32C.
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Tony R
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Re: Germination

Post by Tony R »

Well done, Darren (tu)
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Re: Germination

Post by Darren S »

Thank you Tony.
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ralphrmartin
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Re: Germination

Post by ralphrmartin »

Well done. Pterocactus seedlings can grow really quickly...
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Re: Germination

Post by Christian »

That's impressive! I'd given up on Tephro seeds, but will keep you method in mind when I next see some offered. Have you tried hydrogen peroxide on your Austrocactus seed as well? I find them not quite so impossible to germinate, but germination rates for most species tend to be quite poor even with repeated attempts to germinate the same seeds.
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Darren S
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Re: Germination

Post by Darren S »

Thank you Ralph. No pterocactus in this lot -seed seems hard to get.

Hi Christian.

I tried the Sarnes method with most of the Austros. No pretreatment. Sown end Jan under same temp regime as above. Everything (24 packets) has some germination - around 30-50% except bertinii -and is still ongoing.

I did as they suggest and kept back half the seeds from each pack of the hard-to-germinate A. Bertiniii. Then gave them 5 minutes in concentrated sulphuric acid (I am a lab chemist by profession) before washing and sowing at 32C daytime and 26C night time. Germination so far is about 20% but I only sowed them 10 days ago. Far better than the untreated seeds which have only popped up a couple of little ones.

Here is A. Nobilis:
nobilis.jpg
Darren nr Lancaster UK. Growing Conophytum, Lobivia, Sulcorebutia, bulbs etc.
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Mike P
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Re: Germination

Post by Mike P »

Good work.
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Re: Germination

Post by RAYWOODBRIDGE »

Darren; I think you may have tempted me back to sowing Tephrocactus again. :welb:
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