26 May 2008
Unintentional seedling update
Posted by Stuart under: Cacti; Other Succulents; Propagation .
I’m not really much of a grower of leaf succulents. I’ve recently become more interested in such genera as Haworthia and Adromischus, but the rosette-forming Echeveria types have never really held much appeal for me.
However, I received some free Graptopetalum bellum seeds from a well-known seed supplier when I purchased a largish consignment of square pots from him, and dutifully sowed them at the beginning of March.
Approximately eight weeks on from sowing, and about six weeks after germination, and the largest of the young plants look like perfect miniatures of their adult selves.
Another species I probably wouldn’t have grown from choice is Corryocactus melanotrichus, but, again, the seed was free, and even better, came with a field number.
This fast-growing columnar Bolivian cactus isn’t commonly offered for sale by UK nurseries, and isn’t a plant with which I was at all familiar.
As you can see, the strongest seedling is romping away nicely, and whereas some columnar cacti will spend a good long while growing with a more globular habit when young, the strongest seedling here clearly has its columnar credentials on display!
And lastly, here’s a choice Mammillaria species: Mammillaria pectinifera, formerly known, of course, as Solisia pectinata.
These come from last year’s Mammillaria Society seed, and were added to my order of 2008 seed. Obviously their viability was still absolutely fine, and the seedlings are growing strongly. Like the Graptopetalum bellum seedlings, these were sown approximately 8 weeks ago.