Sowing cactus
Dear friends,
as I once promised, here are a few words about sowing cactus. This is my way that is essentially no different from the actions of others, because there are several rules that must be observed.
Before the sowing and in my experience, the most important process, which certainly recommend, the disinfection of seeds, regardless shines you own or purchased, as is most commonly the seeds bring a variety of fungal spores that quickly destroy only germinated plantlets.
Personally I use disinfectant sodium hypochlorite, sodium hypochlorite (bleach, Cekina, La Belliole, Snežnik ...) through a number of years and I have not noticed that I could process had an adverse effect on the seed, on the contrary, the procedure itself rather accelerates germination, because unless they are destroyed all pathogens on seeds, also bleach "chew" the seed envelope and germinate more quickly because of least resistance, ie small effort that the call must invest in punching seminal envelopes. But the procedure should not last too long, because on the other hand, you can very easily destroy the seeds. Also, the disinfectant can be used pink solution of potassium permanganate KMnO4.
Thus the seed is immersed for 5 to 10 minutes of maximum, and is then washed successively required in pure water (to wash chlorine, which is very harmful to the plant) and dried. As an aid in this process, use small bags, made of women's stockings, to the seed would not be lost during washing and rinsing.
As for the container, can be used practically anything, I bit depth that is at least 5 cm, although the good and deep vessel, because the moisture is not uniformly distributed and there is a rapid drying.
I use pots for sale strawberry, and so to take two and between them put aluminum foil to the substrate was in the darkness and prevented the development of algae.
Please note that all the benefits of containers to accessories, must be clean, then washed detergent and rinsed with clean water, that would not in any way enter infection.
As a substrate for sowing use peat Klassman Seedling substrate without any additives, as is almost ideal pH value (6.5) for germination of most species, also contains enough, yet not too nutritious, and if it is not compressed too much and naturally get enough water, remains porous and airy and unlike other peat substrate, when it dries very easily again moistened. Also roots only germinated plants easily penetrates the substrate itself and since it is a very soft, medium, there is no damage to the tiny small roots, and thus are various infections disabled.
I used the same "mated" in the oven at 100 degrees for approx. half an hour, but the practice has shown that there is not any need for it, because in addition to possibly present harmful microorganisms, also kill and they are useful, but in this case even more the possibility of all sorts of infection.
The wells were filled to the top, and after that I substrate, after a slight and porous pressed some kind of flat object 1 cm below the rim.
The seeds are evenly distributed over the surface of the substrate, and gently pressed in order to have better contact with the road and therefore moisture. It is important that the seeds remain on the surface, ie, that it is pushed too far into the substrate. Also, personally in no way covers the seed, because experience has shown that the seeds of cacti much better spring up if there is contact with light. Seeds are on the surface simple wastage by some small paper bags, or if it is a larger seed schedules using tweezers or wet toothpicks.
Once the seeds distributed by the substrate altogether good solution sprayed fungicide (Captan, Dithane). It is important that the seeds are moistened and the substrate, but also must not be too wet (especially seed is not to swim in water), in order to prevent the occurrence of rot when the seeds begin to germinate.
Covering dish can be used glass, various plastic films or plain bags for freezer in which we put the dish and close them with a rubber band or string or kind. Thus the seed must be indoors in order to create enough air humidity which naturally enhances germination.
The ideal temperature for the germination of most species is between 22 and 27 degrees during the day, while at night free to be lowered to 18, and up to 15 degrees, and even the temperature difference, and desirable, to improve germination.
The most suitable time for sowing is early spring, ie. Middle 4th month when more or less secured the natural conditions of temperature and to the light, and very long days, which also affects the germination. It is important that containers with seed-covered or closed, but also seeds shall not be put to direct sunlight, but is kept in a shady place, or dish cover any curtain, gauze or something similar.
If it has artificial conditions, ie. Adequate lamps with timer and heater with thermostat can be sown at any time of year. Personally, I practice winter sowing, because then I have the most time available.
The time required to start germination depends primarily on gender and individual type and ranges from 2-3 days to a genus Astrophytum to several months for some kind of Parody and the like. Usually most species sprout in the period under review from 10 to 20 days, when the intensity of germination the largest, but it is always to be expected and some of the residue that can germinate after several months.
It is important that the seeds during germination covered, but also personally practicing lightly ventilation after 20 days or after the germination of some kind, in order to reduce humidity and seedlings slightly hardened.
Once most of the seeds sprout, and after about a month (except for sporoklijajućih species), it is more often ventilated containers, and the substrate can dry a day or two, then again lightly sprinkle, but certainly care that I'm not a substrate navalaži too much because it can lead to rot. Likewise, during this period allows the plants more light in order not to lengthened or not they should not be placed in direct sunlight. Generally remain low in the shadows all season, until the autumn, when they can be put on the autumn sun before winter in order to strengthen and were able to survive without water until next spring.
Since the sowing period and for the first year of life a lot of factors that determine whether our plants germinate and survive (light, moisture, heat ...), which of course depends on weather conditions, requires a common control, (almost daily ), in order to have time to intervene in the event of adverse situations, and thus help plants to survive.
Depending on the speed of growth, which primarily depends on the class and type, different plants can move (prepikirati) after a few months, while slowly growing and those less thrive, let alone in the same containers until next spring, and then transplanted them and treat as adult plants, of course, with a lot more care and control.
I hope that this text at least a little help to make the procedure as painless as possible sowing passed and with as many seedlings, and less than lost them.
I wish you much success and a lot of young plants.
Author: Franjo Lovreković
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