Seed Mystery

16 years ago

Hello All,

I planted 12 different seed packets from two different suppliers on Aug.16th with varied results (0 to 100% germination rates). I used 6 oz styrofoam cups set in a recycled cupcake holder from the store bakery to keep the moisture in. I used a pin to punch holes in the bottom of the cups so I could bottom water.

I spray them everyday and bottom water once a week. Yesterday I noticed that I must have forgotten to punch holes in the bottom of one of the cups because it wasn't pulling up water. I don't know why it wasn't apparent the previous weeks, but the cup was a lot lighter so that's what made me notice.

The mystery to me is that cup had the only 100% germination rate. Is it a coincidence? Or was I keeping the rest of them too wet? The seeds in the 100% cup were Trichocereus lobivioides "grandiflorus". The cup of the same type from the different supplier had about a 50% germination rate.

I also planted Echinopsis, Echinocereus, and Notocactus.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Doris

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Comments (6)

tjicken
16 years ago
Is it a coincidence?

Maybe, maybe not. It is difficult to tell as the seeds came from different suppliers.
norma_2006
16 years ago
Too much water, the seeds may have rotted. Would be the obvious answer to me. Or seeds could be too old. Or species have different requirment, time of year to plant or moisture. ? ? TJicken is probly correct. Norma
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notolover
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks to you both for the replies.

I'm thinking you are right: The only way to have known for sure is if I planted more than 1 cup of the same seeds from the same supplier.

I have room under my lights for 6 more cups so maybe I will order more seeds and experiment.
land3499
16 years ago
It seems the opposite of what you might think, but most cactus seeds germinate, and the seedlings do best, in 100% humidity.

I'm pretty sure that despite the germination rate on your "dry" Trichocereus seedlings, they are probably pretty thirsty by now. Be sure to water them from the bottom for the first couple of months.

-R
norma_2006
16 years ago
Doris, hi
I think the only pot of seeds that actually grew gave you the clue what is needed to make them grow. Try another package of seed and see if you get the same results from the pot of seeds. Norma
notolover
Original Author
16 years ago
It's been a month and the little darlings are still geminating. There are still 3 cups with no "action", but I'm not giving up on them yet.

From everything I read I thought that the seeds like high humidity that's why that one cup was such a mystery. It defied common sense. There must have been just enough moisture in the holder to get them going.

As soon as I saw the cup didn't have holes, I put some in the bottom and watered immediately. The seedlings are still doing well. I can already see spines on some of them :-) I really want to be successful this time, but I don't think I'd ever make it as a wholesale grower!

Thanks everyone!