Thank You for your response, now I have more questions, where do you get all your supplies I'm in Ga. and I prefer using pumice but I have to order it from Ca. and shipping is high, also where can I get the sand that you use and are those clear plastic storage bins? I like your pots that's a good idea, I can't seem to get started I need to narrow down what I want for the containers, I have several gro lights but I don't have a heating mat and I'm trying to stay within my budget so it's slow going. I'm already addicted to plants this just adds to it and of course, I have to pick rare seeds Cleistocactus winteri ssp. cola de mono (Monkey Tail Cactus) so it's taken me 2 weeks to get 50 seeds (I got lucky) and I don't want to totally screw them up I may need to practice on some other seeds?? But if successful I could share with friends right now they are so expensive and rare

I get pumice on line from General Pumice (I live in CT and can't find it locally). I haven't used perlite, but I imagine you could substitute perlite (as long as it was fine enough) for pumice. You just want a mix that drains quickly, but isn't too coarse for the seeds. I got the sand off Amazon. Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Coarse-Succulent-Bonsai-Carnivorous-Plant/dp/B079W6H954/ref=sr_1_49?keywords=horticultural+sand&qid=1582634667&sr=8-49

My plastic bins started life as sweater boxes long ago. I don't think those exact ones are made any more, but any clear plastic boxes with clear lids would work. I have a few smaller ones that are somewhat less clear (think they came from Ikea) and they work fine, too.

https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/ikea-365-food-container-square-plastic-60452174/

Heating mats aren't necessary. Ideally, the seeds will germinate better and more quickly if the temperature is in the mid 70's or so. Lights will help keep the area warm, and if you can find a warmish spot so much the better.

Don't keep the lights too close, Cactus seedlings do well with quite a bit of moisture/humidity (as long as the mix isn't too heavy) and do not want full sun. If you find the seedlings turning reddish, move the lights further away.

Good luck!

I also sterilize the potting mix by microwaving it for 10 minutes. Let it cool before planting seeds. When you plant the seeds, make sure the mix is damp, not sopping wet. Barely cover them with mix; if the seeds are really tiny, you don't really have to cover them at all. Spray the top very lightly with water, put them in the boxes with lids on, and you're good to go :-)

I made up a quick-drain mix with potting soil/perlite/crusned stone-fine about 1/3/2 ratio and compacted it into 3-inch plastic pots. Taking an idea from an online source I sterilized these by pouring about 2 cups of boiling water through each, let them drain and then placed them in clear box to cool. When cool I sprinkled seed on and covered with saran closed the box and placed under lights. Removed the Saran when sprouting started but left them in box for humidity. When big enough I removed hem from box and as hey grew bigger began to transplant.

11 varieties all supposedly Rebutias. all sprouted from 3 to many per type.

After7 months 9 are still alive, Largest shown is about 3cm and is supposedly Rebutia violaciflora. Others varieties range down from about 1.5cm to about 2mm and smallest are still too small to transplant.

Here are some of my cactus babies...

Last April at about 10 months old, still in the plastic box, but with the lid off.

And this morning...

Don't be discouraged if some cactus seeds don't germinate. Some are known to be very stubborn and others are said to be easy but I've had trouble germinating them. I'm not sure if that was because of something I did or didn't do or if the seeds weren't good. Ordering and germinating seeds is a bit of a gamble.

Hopefully it's fine that I add to this older post?

I managed to germinate a few dozen seeds that I harvested from my late cactus, Fluffy.

I followed a YouTube tutorial, using an old Gladware container, cactus mix from a bag, and a cheap light designed to go under a kitchen cabinet.

Janky, yes, but 8 months later I have babies up to 4mm, so... yay me?

They definitely need gentle, bright light; they turn pink pretty quickly, if they're too close to the light.

I light them like an African violet, and they're pretty happy.

I'm sure I'd have had more germinate if I'd used a different, better soil.

Top photo from a few months ago, bottom photo from 1 month ago, when I potted a few of the bigger ones. I put toothpicks in a few of the pots, to hold up a saran wrap barrier, to make the light less direct, and hold some humidity, while they acclimated to the new pots.

They were probably too small to pot, but they were crowding the smaller guys, and they've grown since they were potted, so... hopefully all is well.