Here is an update on this seed sowing journey. I've been keeping a journal in a Word document I have here at home.
1/13/2023 10 AM: Bottom watered each pot till top was wet using Dehumidifier water. Drained well. Still only Cotyledon leaves showing. No fertilizer yet. Still covering pots with plastic wrap.
1/18/23: Spoke to Kate Stone, the owner of Paradise Found Nursery 3570 Tallevast Rd Sarasota, FL 34243. 540-229-1997.
www.paradisefoundnursery.com info@paradisefoundnursery.com She says E. tulearensis loves the heat and she has hers growing with cactus under their conditions. They also take less water. She said E. parvicyathophora is in the same category. She also told me that the Fairchild Botanical Garden in Miami, FL has a large Madagascar Euphorbia section run by Chad Husby. She said to try to talk with him. He’d be glad to show me around.
Week Two is 1/19/23. Weeks 2-3: Begin careful ventilation, exposure to more light.
1/19/23: Opened the top of the pots about ½” on both ends. Left them like this permanently.
1/28/23: Both pots are dried and need water. Last water was about 2 weeks ago. No fertilizer up till now. There are plenty of crystals of minerals showing on the dried mineral particles. Also, there are crystals showing on the drain holes of the pots. I think I may have used a 25% Coir containing potting mix for these seeds. I did rinse the Coir in DI water three times before using as the package directed. I top watered both pots with DI water to flush them out. I also chipped away the minerals from around the drain holes.
I will ask on CactiGuide about when to start fertilizing. The potting mix is shrunken away from the sides of the pots.
I labeled each pot to match the photo taken 1/10/23. Pot 1 front right seedling is showing its first true leaf. There are a total of 9 seedlings in pot 1. One is just showing germination today. Pot 2 all seedlings still in Cotyledon stage, but I can see growth at the apex using my low power (2-4x?) eye-loupe in the back right seedling. There are a total of 6 seedlings with one in the top left just germinating today. The seed coat is still keeping Cotyledons stuck together.
First true leaf:
- rsz '23-1-28 E. tulearensis 1st true leaf.jpg (205.96 KiB) Viewed 3957 times
Pot 1:
- rsz '23-1-28 E. tulearensis pot 1.jpg (148.57 KiB) Viewed 3957 times
Pot 2:
- rsz '23-1-28 E. tulearensis pot 2.jpg (141.36 KiB) Viewed 3957 times
I increased the light intensity from 55% to about 80% today. The Ferocactus wislizenii and Mammillaria grahamii seedlings are showing some etiolation.
Week Four is 2/2/23. Weeks 4-5: Regular gentle ventilation.
Week Six is 2/16/23. Weeks 6-8: Good ventilation, for example by removing the lid or the sides of the propagator. Exposure to yet more light.
Week Nine is 3/9/23. It begins the Second month. 2nd-3rd month. 3/9/23-5/4/23: The seedlings are big enough to stand unprotected in the greenhouse or on the window sill. Direct sun should however still be avoided.
4th-5th month. 4th month begins on 5/4/23. 5th month ends 6/29/23: The seedlings will tolerate direct sun for short periods.
3rd -6th month. 3rd month begins 4/13/23: According to density in the pot or tray, the seedlings must be pricked out. After around September, however, it is too late to prick out, as the seedlings will not have enough time before winter to put down new roots into the new soil. If in doubt It is better to wait until the next spring.