BCSS - Forum

I was having a sort out today in my seed store (basically an airtight jar with lots of drying agent at the bottom) and found a surprising number of packets of half sown and unsown cactus and succulent seed, up to 8 years old. Much of it is half packets of mesemb seed from Mesa garden, so I reckon they will still be viable. But what about the cactus seed? Anyone have any experience of sowing seed that has been in storage for a few years? The jars are kept at 5C.

Hi Alan,
In my experience some cacti seeds seem to be viable after a decade or more, Mamm. louisae and Cleisto. strausii are two that I sow regularly from old seed. Others of course, like Fraileas, seem to need to be very fresh. For the sake of a few extra pots of seed compost, it's always worth trying (if you have space). Good luck!

I sowed my own fresh Echinocereus seed this year but was very disappointed with the results so I read up a bit on them. Found this in a fairly new book.

Sometimes it seems that older seed germinates better, so it is a good idea to sow left over seed portions too. The best results are obtained by sowing at the new moon.

How weird is that?

Thanks that’s encouraging . Time to sow that Discocactus horstii seed from the one time I got fruit in 2016!

Years ago I got some seed sent to me from Harry Middleditch (The Chilean's organiser). I am sure some of that must have been at least 10 years old judging by the packets. Some of it might have been 15+ years old.

I got some germination, but sadly most of them struggled to survive and I don't think I've actually got any left. Probably more down to my less good growing technique at the time.

Always worth a try if you've got the room. If nothing shows after a few weeks then not much is lost only a bit of compost.

Gymnocalyciums should still be fine. From Succulenta I got a bunch of mixed cacti seeds from 2008. Everything that came up a year ago and I still have growing, is Gymnocalycium.

Some years ago, I was given some Echinopsis x Lobivia seed over 20 years old (originally from Gordon Rowley) - and it germinated like cress. The chap who gave it me kept his house fairly cold in winter, mind.

ralphrmartin wrote: ↑Wed Jul 28, 2021 6:20 pm Some years ago, I was given some Echinopsis x Lobivia seed over 20 years old (originally from Gordon Rowley) - and it germinated like cress. The chap who gave it me kept his house fairly cold in winter, mind.

I have quite a bit of interesting Rebutia seed so that is encouraging

Some 5 or 6 weeks ago I planted some 2015 Sedum Society seed that had been stuck in the seed box rather too long. I now have 2 different Rosularias growing so thickly that they're in need of transplanting.

It's always worth trying old seed. There are some exceptions; I wouldn't bother with old Frailea seed, as Tony said.

Discussion so far has centered on sowing seed that's been in the packet for a long time. Sometimes seed that's sown doesn't germinate - how long should you keep the pot? With Opuntias I routinely keep for a few years, it often takes more than 1 year for germination. I don't usually keep other failed germination pots. Maybe I should. This Crassula coccinea was the sole seed to germinate when sown last year. If there had been good germination, it would probably have been transplanted by now. Recently I noticed something else in the pot. It's taken its time, but the overall germination rate has now doubled. Bit of catching up to do with its older sibling.