Let’s see what steps you need to take to see the seeds germinate and take an active part in plant growth. It is necessary to know, first of all, that the ovum, once fertilized, is the protagonist of a fast-growth that leads it to turn into seed, within which the embryo of the future plant is located. The embryo is formed by the spindle, the radicle, and the feather, a bud. Two small leaves, the cotyledons, which contain numerous reserve substances, are connected to the stem, in such a way as to provide the new plant with the necessary nourishment in the early stages of development.
fat plant
What happens to the seed
succulent plants in the succulent plants, while the seed is formed, the ovary, in turn, undergoes certain transformations, so that an involucre is formed around the seed. When the seed reaches maturity, the embryo enters into quiescence: in the meantime, the envelope originating from the outer layers becomes thicker and harder: the seed, with the embryo inside, detaches. In this way, the seed waits for the moment (the season) that is most favorable for growth. The maintenance of quiescence depends, first of all, on the tegument. It acts as a sort of mechanical barrier whose task is to prevent gas and water from entering: the growth of the seed begins when the coating is damaged or removed by mechanical agents, rainwater, or sunlight, or is moved by a bird, or removed by digestion. The seed germinates after it has reached the soil through dissemination. For this to happen, in any case, there should be enough light, water, and air, that there are no alterations on the seed and that the temperature is suitable. Under these conditions, the seed of the succulent plant begins to absorb water from the soil and tears the tegument after it has swollen.
When the embryo grows
fatty plants In the meantime, the embryo begins to grow, exploiting the nutrients present in the cotyledons. They can remain in the soil or escape from the soil. As far as the sowing of succulent plants is concerned, it should be specified that this is a procedure that requires a great deal of perseverance and patience. This means that one should not be discouraged if the first attempts are unsuccessful and no seeds sprout. Those who are preparing to sow a fat plant for the first time should start with simple germination species: species for which, in short, growth does not require special environmental conditions.
Which seeds to choose
fat plants will be preferable, therefore, to select seeds that lead to the formation of the whole plant in a few months, while avoiding sophisticated species that could take years for growth of a few centimeters. It should always be borne in mind, in essence, that the growth of a plant from seed is different from the rooting of a cutting. From a more practical point of view, cuttings give life to smaller versions of the original plant, while by reproduction from seed each plant represents a new specimen. It is good, when choosing the seeds, to avoid sachets with pictures of brightly colored plants, as well as proposals that do not ensure the purity of the seeds or sufficient germinability. It will be advisable, on the other hand, to refer to specialized centers or associations, in order to be able to count on suggestions and advice of expert people, and at the same time to receive seeds with a sufficiently high germination power.
How and when to start
We should start with modest quantities of seeds, both avoid too many empty attempts and because they are collector plants, which deserve specific care and attention. It should not be forgotten that instructions on how and when to sow seeds are written on each sachet: that said, there are some general rules that should be followed in any situation. In particular, almost all the seeds of succulent plants should be planted between spring and summer: the two essential requirements are humidity and heat, which must be regulated with the utmost care during the weeks of germination.
Seeds of succulents: air the seedbed and avoid water stagnation.
Equally important is the aeration of the seedbed, while factors to consider are the stagnation of humidity and the risk of attacks by fungi and mold. The best period to proceed with sowing is the month of May when temperatures on average exceed twenty degrees.
Starting at the beginning of spring, you risk having to deal with drops in temperature and climates that are too cold, which could prove fatal. In order for the seeds to germinate, the seedbed should be arranged appropriately, using a propagator to heat the soil, then adjusting the temperature with a thermostat between eighteen and twenty-seven degrees.
when to sow succulents
How and when to sow succulent plants: Instructions for growing succulent plants after sowing. Germination times, care, and how to do it.
The right period is from January to April, but before asking when to sow the succulent plants you have to ask yourself: can succulent plants be grown from seed? Yes, the seed breeding system is not widely used for succulent plants, but it is possible.
The sowing of succulents is not very common due to the slow germination, but if you are not in a hurry you can go ahead and get great satisfaction.
When to sow succulents
The general period, as stated above, goes from January to April so as to bring the small succulent plants outside-in view of the summer season. Those who want to sow succulent plants at home, in a protected and well-lit place, can proceed at any time of the year but must avoid bringing the succulent plants outside in winter, even if they are now well developed.
Fat plants, even the most cold-resistant ones, should be treated with a certain amount of care in the early stages of cultivation. With the arrival of autumn, all succulent plants should be given potassium fertilizer as explained in the guide article: ‘How to protect succulent plants from the cold’.
Collect seeds from succulent plants
Sowing succulent plants can certainly take advantage of bagged seeds or seeds collected directly from the plants at home, just after flowering and fruiting. The collected seeds are dried on a sheet of absorbent paper and placed in a jar in a cool, dark place until sowing.
Unfortunately, when it comes to seeds, it is impossible to rely on user reviews because not everyone is ready to face the difficulties associated with sowing:
Use of suitable potting soil.
Waiting times for species-specific germination.
Seeds that are remarkably small in size and therefore difficult to handle individually without tweezers.
Potting soil for sowing succulents
On when to sow the succulent plants we have already anticipated that the best period is from the second half of winter to the beginning of spring (January-April) using a seedbed and taking care to choose a good soil. What we recommend is a carefully sifted cacti compound to which we add, in case, a little sand to make it softer. In commerce it is possible to buy specific moulds for succulent plants, we suggest you buy this substrate.
Where can I buy a specific substrate for succulent plants? In garden centers or by buying and selling online. On “this Amazon page” you can find different formulations specifically for cacti and succulent plants.
How to sow succulents
Now let’s move on to how to sow fat plants.
You wet the soil before sowing. You proceed to sow by “spreading” the seeds evenly on the surface of the seedbed, or, if you use the perforated pots, you will have to add at least 3 seeds for each compartment. The seeds of the succulent plants, in themselves, do not have a high germinability so they must be put in excess … if two germinate, or move or sacrifice the less developed one.
The seeds must be covered with a very thin layer of the same soil or grit. The seedbed will have to be wrapped in a plastic cloth (the transparent kitchen film is fine too) and will have to be put in a very bright place but not exposed to direct sun rays.
The optimal conditions for sowing the succulent plants are a room temperature of about 18 – 21°C and a substrate temperature between 15 – 17°C.
sowing succulents
Moisture must be kept high in the early stages of the life of all succulents, that’s why it is important to use plastic to keep the environment moist… However, to avoid the appearance of mold, you will need to ventilate daily, so lift the plastic sheet, make sure the soil is still moist (but not wet) and close the sheet again.
If you cannot dedicate daily care to the seedbed of succulent plants, you will have to prepare good aeration of the seedbed, perhaps by building a mini-greenhouse tunnel with kitchen sticks. To avoid the onset of mold and fungi, your allies are good lighting and ventilation!
The plastic bag that wraps the seedbed should be removed definitively only after germination when the seedlings begin to sprout from the ground.
At that point, you can gradually reduce the humidity to the optimum level depending on the species. Once the single seedlings have reached such a size that they can be handled without breaking them, they can be repacked in single jars.
