Sclerocactus seed has a reputation for being tricky and sometimes downright difficult to germinate.
This will be my first attempt with this challenging seed.
I will be attempting to germinate S. parviflorus RP37 and S. spinosior SB740, and have a hundred seeds of each to experiment with.
I've read that repeated freeze and thaw cycles might help with stratification for these seeds.
If any of you would like to add a tip or two from your experiences with germinating Sclerocactus seeds, I like to hear from you.
regards,
Doug
dvg
Sclerocactus seed starting advice?
You should get reasonable germination simply by sowing the seed in the normal way, perhaps 50% or maybe more. 30+C might be necessary or at least helpful.
These two species are some of the easiest in the genus. I think I germinated both this winter, certainly S. spinosior, but I don't find any pictures on my computer. I'll try to take some tomorrow.
I don't have enough experience with Sclerocactus to say whether freezing is helpful or not. I suspect not. In many respects they are like Pediocactus and they certainly don't need any cold at all to germinate. In fact they are primed to germinate in late summer in considerable heat, and I believe most Sclerocactus are the same. These two Sclerocactus species grow in areas with dry spring and early summer, although not quite the extremes of dry heat that some Sclerocactus experience. While not quite the total suicide it would be in Death Valley, germinating after winter would not be the best idea for them.
These two species are some of the easiest in the genus. I think I germinated both this winter, certainly S. spinosior, but I don't find any pictures on my computer. I'll try to take some tomorrow.
I don't have enough experience with Sclerocactus to say whether freezing is helpful or not. I suspect not. In many respects they are like Pediocactus and they certainly don't need any cold at all to germinate. In fact they are primed to germinate in late summer in considerable heat, and I believe most Sclerocactus are the same. These two Sclerocactus species grow in areas with dry spring and early summer, although not quite the extremes of dry heat that some Sclerocactus experience. While not quite the total suicide it would be in Death Valley, germinating after winter would not be the best idea for them.
--ian
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Re: Sclerocactus seed starting advice?
I might be grave bumping this but I have to ask... what did you try and what are the results? I've tried some different things with Sclero seeds from Mesa Garden but I've not had much luck. Recently I ordered some more seeds to try again. I'm curious about your results.dvg wrote: ↑Thu Apr 21, 2011 7:59 pm Thanks for your thoughts Ian.
Both batches of seeds were soaked overnight and are ready to get set up for germination.
Because there is enough seed to play with, i'm going to try five different techniques with each seed batch, and see how the different methods compare against one another.
dvg
Re: Sclerocactus seed starting advice?
Read sulfuric acid helps have not tried it be careful if you doSoilSifter wrote: ↑Tue Feb 11, 2020 5:07 amI might be grave bumping this but I have to ask... what did you try and what are the results? I've tried some different things with Sclero seeds from Mesa Garden but I've not had much luck. Recently I ordered some more seeds to try again. I'm curious about your results.dvg wrote: ↑Thu Apr 21, 2011 7:59 pm Thanks for your thoughts Ian.
Both batches of seeds were soaked overnight and are ready to get set up for germination.
Because there is enough seed to play with, i'm going to try five different techniques with each seed batch, and see how the different methods compare against one another.
dvg
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- Posts: 109
- Joined: Tue Jul 21, 2015 9:56 pm
- Location: se Idaho 5a
Re: Sclerocactus seed starting advice?
I did do that. Surprisingly, so far, I found only one kind of Sclerocactus seed of the two species I was trying to germinate that reliably benefited from the acid treatment. I suspect this one kind of seed that responded well to the acid treatment might have a single dormancy while the other Scleros might have a double dormancy of some kind but I'm not sure. Also, yes, you have to be very careful with sulfuric acid. Even a residue left on a container after trying to rinse off a drop of acid can eat through things.