Thank you Mike.
Ray.
I was pretty amazed. I have had seed of geometricus before with no luck.
This time:
5 different geometricus. Only one has not shown any germination. The others are around 60% up
2 different alexanderii - superb germination of both
Fiambalensis and another species are up.
Opuntia distans inermis from the BCSS. - a few seedlings.
Also a couple of cylindropuntia have popped up this week after the same treatment.
Only tephrocactus failures so far are one of the geometricus packs and daniellii.
Germination
-
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Re: Germination
Darren nr Lancaster UK. Growing Conophytum, Lobivia, Sulcorebutia, bulbs etc.
- Mike P
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Re: Germination
Seed quality is also a factor here I believe. The T alexanderii and mollinensis seed I brought back in 2008 germinated very well with nothing other than my usual sowing methods (as did the Tunilla seed) but over the years a lot of purchased seed has provided very mixed (or zero) results. I have one geometricus left from a sowing three years ago but other sowings have produced nothing. I regret not keeping better records but had no time in the past.
I got good Pterocactus and Austrocactus germination from Elisabeth and Norbert’s seed two years ago (again without any special treatment) and put that down to the quality of the seed.
Next time I have geometricus seed I will try the method outlined above!
I got good Pterocactus and Austrocactus germination from Elisabeth and Norbert’s seed two years ago (again without any special treatment) and put that down to the quality of the seed.
Next time I have geometricus seed I will try the method outlined above!
Mike
Secretary Bromley Branch
Secretary Bromley Branch
- RAYWOODBRIDGE
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Re: Germination
I presume seed blow over the gravel and then frozen in habitat give a similar effect to the system mentioned above, but I will certainly give it a go.
Ray
BCSS member 50155
DKG member 311605
Echinocereenfreund member 100
Cactus only collection mainly from seed.
BCSS member 50155
DKG member 311605
Echinocereenfreund member 100
Cactus only collection mainly from seed.
Re: Germination
I presume the stones in a bird's gizzard abrade the seedcoat and the digestive acids and enzymes then soften it more before the seeds are deposited with a strong fertiliser to germinate in their new, possibly distant, location.RAYWOODBRIDGE wrote: ↑Thu Mar 18, 2021 9:58 pm I presume seed blow over the gravel and then frozen in habitat give a similar effect to the system mentioned above, but I will certainly give it a go.
https://natuurtijdschriften.nl/pub/5406 ... 003007.pdf
Asclepiomaniac. Armchair ethnobotanist.
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Re: Germination
I struggle to believe that true Tephrocactus fruits are eaten by birds. Or that they/the seeds blow very far.
Phil Crewe, BCSS 38143. Mostly S. American cacti, esp. Lobivia, Sulcorebutia and little Opuntia
Re: Germination
They were mentioned specifically in that paper that I linked. Don't the fruit capsules split open when ripe to reveal bright red juicy sweet grains like a pomegranate? Classic form for bird-dispersed fruit.
Asclepiomaniac. Armchair ethnobotanist.
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- Diane
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Re: Germination
Highly unlikely for T. geometricus - the seed capsules are hard and dry, so not attractive to birds, I imagine.
Diane - member of Kingston branch
Growing cacti - balm to the soul!
Growing cacti - balm to the soul!
- Mike P
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Re: Germination
And with mollinensis with the bonus that it’s fruits are packed with glochids as I found to my cost.
Mike
Secretary Bromley Branch
Secretary Bromley Branch
Re: Germination
Ah, I just looked for the fruit I remembered as a Tephrocactus and it was a Tunilla. I had misremembered because it was on the tephro.com site.
Asclepiomaniac. Armchair ethnobotanist.
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- Mike P
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Re: Germination
The Tunillas I get to set seeds in the UK do have juicy fruits which split open to reveal seeds in a red jelly. I think I posted a photo of one last year.
Mike
Secretary Bromley Branch
Secretary Bromley Branch