Germination

This forum is for discussion about small Opuntias, open to all.
Darren S
BCSS Member
Posts: 458
https://www.behance.net/kuchnie-warszawa
Joined: 14 Aug 2009
Branch: None
Country: UK
Role within the BCSS: Member
Location: Lancaster UK

Re: Germination

Post by Darren S »

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.
Darren nr Lancaster UK. Growing Conophytum, Lobivia, Sulcorebutia, bulbs etc.
User avatar
Mike P
BCSS Member
Posts: 2794
Joined: 26 Nov 2007
Branch: BROMLEY
Country: UK
Role within the BCSS: Branch Secretary
Location: Forest Hill

Re: Germination

Post by Mike P »

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!
Mike
Secretary Bromley Branch
User avatar
RAYWOODBRIDGE
BCSS Member
Posts: 1134
Joined: 10 Mar 2012
Branch: None
Country: United Kingdom
Role within the BCSS: Member
Location: North West England
Contact:

Re: Germination

Post by RAYWOODBRIDGE »

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.
User avatar
Pattock
BCSS Member
Posts: 1069
Joined: 07 Nov 2020
Branch: None
Country: United Kingdom

Re: Germination

Post by Pattock »

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.
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.

https://natuurtijdschriften.nl/pub/5406 ... 003007.pdf
Asclepiomaniac. Armchair ethnobotanist.
Occasional, eclectic blogger:
http://pattheplants.blogspot.com/
User avatar
Phil_SK
Moderator
Posts: 5442
Joined: 11 Jan 2007
Branch: MACCLESFIELD & EAST CHESHIRE
Country: UK
Role within the BCSS: Forum Moderator
Location: Stockport, UK

Re: Germination

Post by Phil_SK »

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
User avatar
Pattock
BCSS Member
Posts: 1069
Joined: 07 Nov 2020
Branch: None
Country: United Kingdom

Re: Germination

Post by Pattock »

Phil_SK wrote: Fri Mar 19, 2021 5:57 am I struggle to believe that true Tephrocactus fruits are eaten by birds.
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.
Occasional, eclectic blogger:
http://pattheplants.blogspot.com/
User avatar
Diane
BCSS Member
Posts: 5574
Joined: 15 Jun 2007
Branch: None
Country: UK
Role within the BCSS: Member

Re: Germination

Post by Diane »

Pattock wrote: Fri Mar 19, 2021 9:30 am
Phil_SK wrote: Fri Mar 19, 2021 5:57 am I struggle to believe that true Tephrocactus fruits are eaten by birds.
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.
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!
User avatar
Mike P
BCSS Member
Posts: 2794
Joined: 26 Nov 2007
Branch: BROMLEY
Country: UK
Role within the BCSS: Branch Secretary
Location: Forest Hill

Re: Germination

Post by Mike P »

And with mollinensis with the bonus that it’s fruits are packed with glochids as I found to my cost.
Mike
Secretary Bromley Branch
User avatar
Pattock
BCSS Member
Posts: 1069
Joined: 07 Nov 2020
Branch: None
Country: United Kingdom

Re: Germination

Post by Pattock »

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.
Occasional, eclectic blogger:
http://pattheplants.blogspot.com/
User avatar
Mike P
BCSS Member
Posts: 2794
Joined: 26 Nov 2007
Branch: BROMLEY
Country: UK
Role within the BCSS: Branch Secretary
Location: Forest Hill

Re: Germination

Post by Mike P »

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
Post Reply