22 March 2008
Bumper seedling update
Posted by Stuart under: Cacti; Other Succulents; Propagation .
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Artificial lighting is a wonderful thing. In the past couple of months I’ve seen some significant changes in the seedlings I’ve been growing since just before Christmas. These are some of the most dramatic.
Top row, left to right:
Ariocarpus agavoides – one of just four seedlings of this species that has germinated, showing the development of its second tubercle. Already you can see the elongated growth habit so typical of this species, and apart from the fact that it has no flecking on the tubercle surface, its juvenile form looks not unlike Digitostigma (Astrophytum) caput-medusae.
Conophytum limpidum ‘Bright Eyes’ - from Mesemb Study Group seed. These have grown steadily, and are now massive compared with their size just after germination, which is absolutely tiny.
Corryocactus melanotrichus – from BCSS Forum Seed Pool seed. One of three seedlings that germinated, and, I think, probably the only one that is likely to mature. The others look a bit weakly.
Bottom row, left to right:
Pleiospilos sp. – showing development of the first pair of true leaves.
Titanopsis fulleri - again, showing development of true leaves, with their amazing warty surfaces. In my ignorance I initially tried germinating my mesemb seed with too much warmth, with very little resultant activity. Having moved them to a windowsill that experiences daytime warmth and much lower evening temperatures, germination was far, far better.
Turbinicarpus polaskii – seedlings sown before Christmas now definitely identifiable as baby turbs.