Yes i like them too.
I love tiny plants!
Sorry for the late response Ohugal. Yes, I propagate all of the seeds in an unused terrarium (150x50x50cm) equiped with combination of regular household linear LED lamps and "Grow light" LED lamps (I use SF 300 variety). Temperature rises to 30C during the day and drops to 20C during the night. Photoperiod is regulated via timer and set to 14 hours of light. I don't use secondary heat sources, all of the heat during the day is generated by the light sources. Night time temperatures is equal to the ambient temperature of the room the propagator is kept in.
I've just sown some Pterocactus seeds from Elisabeth & Norbert Sarnes (P. australis & P. fischeri). I sterilized the seeds with a hydrogen peroxide solution for about 20 to 30 minutes. I can't recall the percentage, it was either 1% or 3%. Germination temperature was 26°C during the day and 17°C at night. My soil mixture is 50% pumice, 30% quartz grit, 10% akadama and 10% worm castings (wormenmest in Dutch). Particle size is about 2/3 mm. Light intensity at germination was 5000 lux which is increased by a 1000 lux each week after germination. I think I had some issues last time with too strong artificial light, so I increase it bit by bit this time. Germination rates are: P. australis = 20%, P. fischeri = 50%. The soil wasn't sterilized, rather I soaked it in a solution of Trichoderma harzianum & Streptomyces nigrescens. I still had it lying around and is about to expire in 2024. No issues so far what that is concerned. They're in the propagation chamber for about 2 months now.Tom in Tucson wrote: ↑Wed Dec 20, 2023 9:57 pm Any special treatment for;
Maihueniopsis mandragora
Pterocactus araucanus
Pterocactus megliolii
Puna bonnieae
Toumeya papyrancantha ?
I might subject the Pterocactus seeds from ADBLPS to higher temperatures as well to see what happens. I've read a few articles on germinating Echinomastus and Sclerocactus. One can go very far in the efforts to germinate these and care for them afterwards. I'll keep it simple for now and see what happens. I have no experience with these species and it's only my second year of sowing. I'm not experienced whatsoever.NOTES ON TOUMEYA, ECHINOMASTUS & MAIHUENIOPSIS
NIGHTTEMP.: 17°C
DAYTEMP.: 28-40°C
DAYLENGTH: 13-14h
STERILIZE: 50% WATER + 50% BLEACH, 20’
SCARIFY: Needle puncture just above hilum.
ohugal wrote: ↑Sat Dec 23, 2023 5:35 pmI've just sown some Pterocactus seeds from Elisabeth & Norbert Sarnes (P. australis & P. fischeri). I sterilized the seeds with a hydrogen peroxide solution for about 20 to 30 minutes. I can't recall the percentage, it was either 1% or 3%. Germination temperature was 26°C during the day and 17°C at night. My soil mixture is 50% pumice, 30% quartz grit, 10% akadama and 10% worm castings (wormenmest in Dutch). Particle size is about 2/3 mm. Light intensity at germination was 5000 lux which is increased by a 1000 lux each week after germination. I think I had some issues last time with too strong artificial light, so I increase it bit by bit this time. Germination rates are: P. australis = 20%, P. fischeri = 50%. The soil wasn't sterilized, rather I soaked it in a solution of Trichoderma harzianum & Streptomyces nigrescens. I still had it lying around and is about to expire in 2024. No issues so far what that is concerned. They're in the propagation chamber for about 2 months now.Tom in Tucson wrote: ↑Wed Dec 20, 2023 9:57 pm Any special treatment for;
Maihueniopsis mandragora
Pterocactus araucanus
Pterocactus megliolii
Puna bonnieae
Toumeya papyrancantha ?
I haven't sown the species you mentioned, because the seeds are yet to arrive somewhere in January. These are the notes I made in preparation:I might subject the Pterocactus seeds from ADBLPS to higher temperatures as well to see what happens. I've read a few articles on germinating Echinomastus and Sclerocactus. One can go very far in the efforts to germinate these and care for them afterwards. I'll keep it simple for now and see what happens. I have no experience with these species and it's only my second year of sowing. I'm not experienced whatsoever.NOTES ON TOUMEYA, ECHINOMASTUS & MAIHUENIOPSIS
NIGHTTEMP.: 17°C
DAYTEMP.: 28-40°C
DAYLENGTH: 13-14h
STERILIZE: 50% WATER + 50% BLEACH, 20’
SCARIFY: Needle puncture just above hilum.
Thus far I haven't started any from my last order. I almost always get a great percentage of their seed to sprout (unlike many other seed vendors). In a month or 2, they will strike out the seed which is sold out. That's a good time to place an order.