It ought to be obvious, but choosing seeds from a reliable supplier will make a significant impact! Many succulent seeds resemble dust or dirt, making them easily mistaken for other objects.
The Walawala Studio store on Etsy is my go-to place to get succulent seeds. They have a wide variety of seeds, some of which are more uncommon species, and the seeds are of the highest caliber.
Great seeds are also sold by other retailers on Amazon and Etsy. Just make sure you read customer reviews before you buy. It will take some time to determine whether succulent seeds are what they claim to be, even though they are not particularly expensive.
Is it difficult to cultivate succulents from seed?
You can move your seeds securely to new sites after they have developed into large enough plants.
Growing succulents from seeds isn’t particularly difficult, but it does require the right tools and some patience, just like growing any other kind of plant from seed does.
You should be able to produce your own succulents as long as you are patient and adhere to the aforementioned instructions.
What is the time required to cultivate succulents from seed?
Your plants may take three days to a few weeks to start growing, depending on the kind of succulent, the temperature, and the amount of sunlight. It’s crucial to perform your research before purchasing your seeds in order to estimate growing time (some may even take several months to a year to germinate).
Which succulent is the simplest to grow?
A stylish decorative addition to any home are succulents. For your indoor environment, this wide range of plants offers countless color combinations and low maintenance possibilities. Succulents are able to hold water for longer periods of time than most plants, which require a moist climate to survive. Because of this characteristic, succulents may thrive well in the hot, dry environments of the ordinary home.
Beginner-friendly plants are succulents. Succulents have an alluring charm and come in a range of forms, dimensions, and textures. Here are six succulents that may be grown year-round inside with ease.
Jade Tree. The jade plant, which is indigenous to South Africa, features robust stems and glossy green leaves. Water jade when the soil gets dry and keep it in direct sunlight. Jade is frequently harmed by overwatering, so exercise caution.
Liquid aloe. Since ancient times, this prickly herb has been utilized medicinally. The inner leaves’ sap is used to treat burns and treat wounds. Aloe Vera needs to be kept in direct sunshine and irrigated if the leaves feel parched or fragile. To enjoy the beauty of this medicinal plant every day, keep it beside a well-lit kitchen window.
Echeveria. This native to the desert comes in a range of colors and thrives in dry environments. Once the echeveria has dried out, it should only be watered. This succulent grows best in unglazed clay pots because the clay enables water to evaporate. Echeveria should be grown in full sun with well-drained soil for best results.
The Zebra Plant. The horizontal stripes that adorn the leaves of this eye-catching succulent give it its name. The zebra plant, which is neat, contained, and ideal for any little place, is around 5 tall and 6 wide. A modest amount of sunshine and water are needed for zebra plants.
Panda Tree. This plant has tiny white hairs that give it a fuzzy appearance. Panda plants, native to Madagascar, enjoy the dry winter air inside of heated dwellings. Just enough water, as needed, to prevent the leaves from shriveling
King of Thorns With the help of this lovely plant, add some color to your space. It can bloom all year long if exposed to enough sunlight, producing bracts that are red or yellow and enclosing the tiny flowers. Crown of Thorns prefers low to moderate watering requirements and should be grown in full sun.
Do succulents naturally spread?
Many indoor gardeners like the group of plants known as succulents. Cacti and succulents are both members of the succulent family. They have the benefit of growing gradually, requiring little maintenance, and not quickly outgrowing their surroundings. They are straightforward plants that require direct sunlight, soil that drains well, and very little, if any, fertilizer. The ideal soil is sandy. Cactus mixes that are sandy with a little gravel can be bought. It’s not required to use a lot of organic material. There is sporadic watering. When you consider where these plants originally came from, a hot, dry climate with arid soils and little to no rainfall gives you an idea of what to expect from them.
There are various methods for propagating succulents. They rarely blossom and then generate seeds that will germinate. The typical method is known as vegetative propagation. In essence, the original plant is being replicated.
Division or separation
While certain cacti will have baby plants grow along the ribs or leaf margins of the plant, most succulents grow by division. The plantlets can be removed once they are large enough to be handled without difficulty. (For further information on callusing due to the wound that results from their separation, see the section below.)
And other succulents are divided, when the parent plant is mature, new plants sprout all around it. The container eventually fills up as more tiny plants emerge and encircle the larger surrounding ones. Small plants can be gently removed from the pot along with the plant and soil. Before removing the plant from the container, give it a good drink so that more soil will cling to the roots. The little plants can’t grow until they have roots. It could take a while for roots to form if they don’t already have any. Put the young plants in pots. See the instructions on callusing below if the tiny plants are broken off or lack roots.
Cuttings and callusing
By taking cuttings from the parent plant, a few succulents can be multiplied. Sometimes it’s due to a damaged plant or an elbow that was misplaced that caused an unceremonious freefall to the ground. Sadly, the damaged area won’t heal and grow again, however the damaged area can be used to create a new plant. The fact that the shattered piece cannot be repaired right away is crucial. It requires some time for it to “callus” or dry out.
The freshly cut piece will perish if it comes into contact with wet soil. For large portions, Michigan State University Extension advises letting the cuttings lie for a few days or more. The moist, damaged region eventually develops a rough skin or callus over the tissue. You can bury the callused plant section in slightly moist soil. Insert the piece very briefly. It won’t grow if it is set in too deep. The small plant might need to be supported by having it lean against the side of the container, on a craft stick, or tongue depressor. Succulents frequently take many months to develop roots. Small plants shouldn’t be placed near or on a cold window sill because the roots will take longer to develop. After callusing, a full-grown leaf or branch that is broken off a succulent plant like a Haworthia or a Euphorbia may begin to take root. It won’t, though, if the Aloe vera leaf is broken off.
One size or one guideline does not apply to all succulents because there are so many variations. When learning about plants, smart gardeners are always coming to this realization. Bring a succulent indoors. They make charming and well-mannered house guests.
Succulent leaves—are they seeds?
The most popular methods for propagating succulents include cuttings, offsets, leaves, and division. Growing succulents from seed is a fun and instructive approach to grow more plants. The sole way to propagate some succulents, including Dudleya, Lithops, Echeveria, and Cacti, is from seed because it is the most feasible method. Since many succulents do not offset as freely as others, this is the case. Succulents are frequently available in smaller sizes in nurseries. Because they are cultivated from seed, different succulents don’t typically come in 2″ pots, or if they do, they might cost more.
A gratifying and enjoyable method to learn about a plant’s whole life cycle is to grow succulents from seed. Getting seed is the initial stage in this procedure. Online sources for succulent seeds can be difficult to locate and are frequently unreliable. Collecting seed from your own collection is the greatest method to ensure that you are receiving what you expect.
The maturity and cross-pollination of your mother plant affect your ability to gather seeds. It could take the plant several years to flower if it is a young one. All three genera—Aeonium, Greenovia, and Agave—are monocarpic, which means a rosette will only bloom once throughout its lifetime and that it can take longer to be able to collect seed from them. Aeonium are quick-growing plants that, once planted in the garden, will eventually bloom annually from various offsets.
Many succulents require cross-pollination, which is the transfer of pollen from one plant of the same species to another. If you do not notice pollinators visiting your plants or if your collection is kept in an area that is not accessible to pollinators, you will need to manually pollinate them with a little paintbrush. Note: Cuttings from the same plant that are genetically identical succulents will not result in the production of viable seed. The fruit will begin to grow and mature, which is a sign that pollination has taken place.
How to Gather:
Seed capsules should be fully ripe and dry before collection in order to ensure the best viability. Some fruits, like Aloe spp., will naturally split open and disseminate. In this instance, it’s crucial to gather the seeds before they fall to the ground or are carried away by the wind but before the seed capsule becomes dry or brown. Use a small net or sock to catch the flower stalks, or place a dish or tray underneath.
the image above Green describes an unripe Glottiphyllum nellii fruit (left). a hard, brown, dried, and ready to be harvested seed capsule (right).
Place a paper bag over the inflorescence, cut the stem, and turn the bag upside down to gather minuscule seeds like those of Aeonium, Dudleya, and Echeveria without losing them to the breeze.
NEVER take seeds from natural ecosystems. If you don’t have a permit, this is termed poaching and is against the law.
Aeonium ‘Ballerina’ seed not yet ready for harvest (left) and Aeonium ‘Thundercloud’ seed ready for harvest and planting are shown in the image above (right).
Processing Seeds:
The capsules may simply be opened by hand, allowing the seeds to be processed. Smaller seeds can be treated by first separating the seed from the capsules with a small grinder, and then using a mesh filter to separate the seed from the chaff. You can remove the seeds from hard seed capsules, such as Mesembs (Lithops, Glottiphyllum, etc.), by putting them in a Ziploc bag or paper bag, pounding them with a hammer, and then removing them by hand.
To avoid having them suddenly blown away by a gust of wind, always process seeds indoors.
How to Keep Seeds Safe:
Seeds should be kept in dry, protected settings in paper bags or seed packs. Heat and humidity severely impair viability. Make sure the seeds are totally dry if you intend to store them in plastic bags. Seeds that are prematurely picked will perish in glass or plastic due to an overabundance of moisture. Name of the species, time and place of collection should all be written on the packaging. When stored properly, seeds can be kept for many years without losing viability.
Growing numerous plants from your own seed is a sustainable method. The color and structure of leaf can vary widely due to genetic variety. The real fun starts now, and you might even be able to come up with a unique list of choices.
How do cacti make seeds?
You may have started your collection of succulents by purchasing a little plant from the garden center or a clipping.
There is no reason why you shouldn’t gather some seeds and use those to create your very own succulent crop.
To save your own seeds, there are a few things you should know. First, the seeds must be fertilized, which in this case doesn’t mean feeding them plant food. Instead, it means bringing the two parts of the seed together, just as in all other types of life.
The plant’s ovum, or eggs, must be pollinated by—you guessed it—pollen.
After that, they transform into seeds that can be sown for growth. A plant does not necessarily produce seeds just because it produces blooms.
Therefore, you either assume that function with the aid of a paintbrush to spread the pollen, or there must be one or more insects.
Bees, butterflies, and a variety of other insects take care of this for plants outdoors, but if your plants flower indoors, you’ll need to take care of this part yourself using the paintbrush technique.
The majority of succulents appear to create a stalk or spray with a succession of flowers that open all the way up.
Many plants have this cunning little characteristic that is intended to entice insects back over a week or two so they can consume the nectar or, more likely, distribute pollen accidentally.
Depending on whether the flower is pollinated—some necessitate cross-pollination with pollen from a different plant—will determine this. When you push the tiny seed pods between your finger and thumb, they will feel firm and appear a little thicker.
This will show that the seeds have formed, as will the tint (a light tan color).
Depending on how meaty the stalks and blossoms are, this may take a week or longer. They are surprisingly wet for a plant that can endure such dryness.
Because the seeds are so tiny and will fall out when the seed pods ripen and dry up, it’s a good idea to place the entire stalk into a paper bag after they feel dry to the touch but before they break and release the seeds.
Shake the bag sometimes for a week or two, and then look to see if the dust is indeed seeds.
If you want to store the seeds properly, place them in a pill bottle, preferably with one of those little silica gel packets from vitamins or prescription medications to keep them dry.
The majority of succulents, especially the sensitive varieties, can be sown right away. The winter sow strategy works best for the hardy ones.
What will you do with all of these gorgeous tiny plants you now possess? Here are some alternatives: