It's Desert Seed Germination Test Time

2.13.2012 - It is that time again...once per month all of the collected seeds for the past 4 weeks are cleaned, dried and tested for viability. The cactus seeds are up first. Less than two weeks ago in the first test a few dozen seeds are taken as samples for each type of cactus seed offered at Sherizona Seeds.

In this batch, we have 40 of each type of seed: saguaro, red barrel cactus, golden barrel cactus and Peruvian apple cactus. For this test I've used a tried and true seed germinating mix. It's one part cactus/palm soil, one part generic gardening soil and one part coarse sand (for excellent drainage). Cactus seeds need great drainage or they will disintegrate/get moldy in standing moisture.

Here is what the test box looks like after 13 days.
The pink seedlings are Golden Barrel cactus, they emerge in a light pink shade which makes them easy to tell apart from the others. After less than two weeks the seeds are at about a 95% germination rate. Many of these will die off over the next few weeks and after 2 months we average about an 80% survival rate. These are in prime conditions, so even if you neglect them slightly as long as the soil is mold-free you should expect a 40 to 50% survival rate. Once the little seed shells have fallen off the top of the growing seedling you can begin to introduce them to an indirect light source. I typically keep a plastic lid on the box and set it near a sunny window. This will work fine until the cactus seedlings are large enough to transfer to their own individual containers.

I will post their progress in a few weeks so you can see how the seeds are doing/should be growing. All of these seeds are available at our desert seed store and are freshly harvested. Stay tuned!