It has a large underground storage organ, so It sounds like a bulb plants Karl On Jun 14, 2013 9:40 PM, "Eugene Zielinski" <eez55@earthlink.net> wrote: > Karl. > I appreciate the opinion, but this has not worked for me. In fact, my > failures using "a thin layer of sand" are what led me to investigate the > effect of light on germination. > I used to sow cactus seed the traditional way. Use a nice inorganic soil > mix, sow the seed on the surface, and just cover with grit. I used a layer > of silica type grit, just enough so that I couldn't see the seed. I > watered and placed the pots under fluorescent lights. The usual result: > low and slow germination, or none at all. (One species that wouldn't > germinate for me using this procedure was Escobaria minima. Uncovered, > seed germination was close to 100%.) > I could see where a layer of sand may be useful if sowing the seed > outdoors, under intense light. I don't think the resultant seedlings would > appreciate the high light levels, though. > Not every cactus species needs light for germination. However, I will be > looking at the effect of light whenever I sow cactus seed in the future. > OK -- back to bulbs. (Does Peniocereus greggii count?) > > Eugene Zielinski > Prescott Valley, AZ > > > > > [Original Message] > > From: Karl Church <64kkmjr@gmail.com> > > To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> > > Date: 6/11/2013 9:13:53 PM > > Subject: Re: [pbs] Sandoval at Fresno - Cactus Seed Germination > > > > Eugene, a light covering of sand (1-2 mm) is considerably different than > a > > light proof covering of aluminum foil. You might find sand is quite > > translucent & provides stability to the small seeds. > > Karl > > On Jun 11, 2013 8:22 PM, "Eugene Zielinski" <eez55@earthlink.net> wrote: > > > > > David, and others. > > > I realize this is a bit off topic, but I want to share something I > learned > > > about cactus seed germination, by experiment. The smaller globular > cacti, > > > such as Mammillaria, Matucana, Lobivia, Trichocereus, etc. require > LIGHT > > > for germination. Therefore, covering the seed with "a thin layer of > sand" > > > will almost guarantee erratic germination... > > > > _______________________________________________ > > pbs mailing list > > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/ > > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/ >