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Cactusdan
Patecatl



Registered: 10/11/07
Posts: 7,024
Loc: Oregon
Last seen: 3 years, 2 months
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Cactusdan's Cactus Germination TEK 6
#11599304 - 12/06/09 09:02 PM (14 years, 1 month ago) |
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Cactusdan's Cacti Germination TEK Materials: Cacti Seeds Soil (I use Miracle-Gro Cactus, palm, and citrus but it is a preference) Plastic Solo Cups Plastic Bag or Tupperware Rubber Band Grow Lights or a sunny window Spray Bottle
Steps: Strain cactus soil to remove all large objects ie. bark, sticks, rocks, etc. Microwave or oven sterilize soil to kill any fungus gnat larva/eggs. Wait for soil to cool. Scoop up cactus soil into solo cups or plastic tupperware leaving about 1-3cm between the cup rim and the soil. Sprinkle seeds on top of soil and then gently press the top of soil flat with a finger, but be sure not to pack it down too much. Mist the soil fairly heavily but do not drench. Mist inside the plastic bag and then fasten to the cup with the rubber band or seal bag around cup/tupperware (Make sure it is tightly attached. Place under a bright light (I use a Fluorescent grow light found at hardware stores that puts out equal to 75 watts but only consumes 15) Be patient and enjoy the cacti!
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I suggest keeping the bag on for 6 months at least and when the time for it to be taken off comes around do it VERY gradually.
My first few seedlings are suffering dearly due to my impatience and are getting dwarfed by those that have been weened off slowly.
Also, seedlings LOVE the moisture and can handle it, so make sure to keep the soil nice and moist.
This is certainly not a technique that is set in stone, and is even changed by me many times.
There are a few things that are essential to the well being of the seedlings (light, moisture, and surface sowing) but I encourage you all to use this as a foundation to build and expand upon.
Good luck and keep growing!
-Dan
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KBG1977
Registered: 08/23/08
Posts: 11,017
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Re: Cactusdan's Cactus Germination TEK [Re: Cactusdan]
#11599327 - 12/06/09 09:05 PM (14 years, 1 month ago) |
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Good tek Dan
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Mr. Mushrooms
Spore Print Collector


Registered: 05/25/08
Posts: 13,018
Loc: Registered: 6/04/02
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Re: Cactusdan's Cactus Germination TEK [Re: Cactusdan]
#11599360 - 12/06/09 09:11 PM (14 years, 1 month ago) |
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Nice. Thanks for sharing.
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Cactusdan
Patecatl



Registered: 10/11/07
Posts: 7,024
Loc: Oregon
Last seen: 3 years, 2 months
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Re: Cactusdan's Cactus Germination TEK [Re: Mr. Mushrooms]
#11599391 - 12/06/09 09:16 PM (14 years, 1 month ago) |
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Well I've seen plenty of requests recently and had this lying around from back when Doc did the seed giveaway.
So I thought it may help some people out as well as give the vets another way fo doing things.
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Dr. Seuss
The Cat in the Hat


Registered: 11/07/09
Posts: 174
Loc: Seussville
Last seen: 12 years, 8 months
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Re: Cactusdan's Cactus Germination TEK [Re: Cactusdan]
#11599435 - 12/06/09 09:22 PM (14 years, 1 month ago) |
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How many hours of light per day would you recommend? (Assuming one is using plant lights rather than a window.)
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Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you. LOAD UNIVERSE INTO CANNON AIM AT BRAIN FIRE
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Cactusdan
Patecatl



Registered: 10/11/07
Posts: 7,024
Loc: Oregon
Last seen: 3 years, 2 months
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Re: Cactusdan's Cactus Germination TEK [Re: Dr. Seuss]
#11599443 - 12/06/09 09:24 PM (14 years, 1 month ago) |
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When I use lighting I tend to have them on 12/12
However recently I've had better luck with window light.
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noobieshroomie
Back again




Registered: 07/18/08
Posts: 12,769
Loc: Not Too Sure
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Re: Cactusdan's Cactus Germination TEK [Re: Cactusdan]
#11599571 - 12/06/09 09:45 PM (14 years, 1 month ago) |
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sweet ill be starting some cacti soon thanks for the tips this is defiantly bookmarked
-noobie-
-------------------- AMU Best Thread Ever CapZilla said: not sure what GE and FAE are but i should probably get some. Citric said: Your signature is wrong on colonization temps! GOOD JUDGMENT COMES FROM EXPERIENCE EXPERIENCE COMES FROM BAD JUDGMENT ROOM TEMP 70-75 IS BEST FOR COLONIZATION Thank you mycochef
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crazyboy25
International man of mystery

Registered: 05/31/09
Posts: 275
Last seen: 11 years, 4 days
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Personally I prefer to use aluminum baking trays as they are cheap and offer a much larger area to plant seeds without requiring much dirt. A 11" by 9" by 2" aluminum tray is perfect for 100 seeds.
Also I find using a dusting of sand on the dirt really helps keep the moisture in and doesn't harm seedling growth at all. To cover my trays I use a large Ziploc bag cut open and taped over the top on three sides leaving one open to spray with water. I don't doubt your method works Dan I just think it requires more dirt than necessary and sowing the seeds and spraying each cup individually can be a real pain.
-------------------- "Life without freedom is not life... freedom is life."
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Cactusdan
Patecatl



Registered: 10/11/07
Posts: 7,024
Loc: Oregon
Last seen: 3 years, 2 months
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Re: Cactusdan's Cactus Germination TEK [Re: crazyboy25]
#11599776 - 12/06/09 10:16 PM (14 years, 1 month ago) |
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I find mind tend to allow for good taproot growth on those that need it and keeps the species organized when you're planting many species.
Thanks for sharing your tek crazyboy25, it's always good to have options.
We all have our methods and mine works for me
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KBG1977
Registered: 08/23/08
Posts: 11,017
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Re: Cactusdan's Cactus Germination TEK [Re: Cactusdan]
#11600021 - 12/06/09 10:58 PM (14 years, 1 month ago) |
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here are my seedlings they are growing ever so slowly
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dr_harrybush
Dr



Registered: 09/08/09
Posts: 202
Loc: Middle Earth
Last seen: 15 days, 12 hours
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Re: Cactusdan's Cactus Germination TEK [Re: KBG1977]
#11602212 - 12/07/09 10:23 AM (14 years, 1 month ago) |
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Thanks dude . . . . Bookmarked for future use
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eTarded
Clubbed to death...



Registered: 08/03/09
Posts: 103
Last seen: 10 years, 3 months
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Re: Cactusdan's Cactus Germination TEK [Re: Cactusdan]
#11602654 - 12/07/09 11:44 AM (14 years, 1 month ago) |
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Thanks for the tek Cactusdan, I've been meaning to pick up some T. bridgesii seeds and try my hand at indoor cacti cultivation for some time now.
-------------------- Trade List
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PitcherCrab
Crescent Fresh



Registered: 12/02/06
Posts: 2,446
Loc: The bottom of the sea.
Last seen: 1 year, 1 month
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Re: Cactusdan's Cactus Germination TEK [Re: eTarded]
#11610401 - 12/08/09 03:14 PM (14 years, 1 month ago) |
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Danny, how many seeds do you put per cup?
-------------------- PC's LAGM 2021 (TOC & TWC)P. natalensis Growlog 2021Pans for PC Fall 2021 Growlog “I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.” - Bene Gesserit Litany Against Fear
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Cactusdan
Patecatl



Registered: 10/11/07
Posts: 7,024
Loc: Oregon
Last seen: 3 years, 2 months
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Re: Cactusdan's Cactus Germination TEK [Re: PitcherCrab]
#11610406 - 12/08/09 03:15 PM (14 years, 1 month ago) |
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I tend to put up to 50 in one cup.
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PitcherCrab
Crescent Fresh



Registered: 12/02/06
Posts: 2,446
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Re: Cactusdan's Cactus Germination TEK [Re: Cactusdan]
#11610416 - 12/08/09 03:16 PM (14 years, 1 month ago) |
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I presume you transfer um once they get large enough...
-------------------- PC's LAGM 2021 (TOC & TWC)P. natalensis Growlog 2021Pans for PC Fall 2021 Growlog “I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.” - Bene Gesserit Litany Against Fear
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Cactusdan
Patecatl



Registered: 10/11/07
Posts: 7,024
Loc: Oregon
Last seen: 3 years, 2 months
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Re: Cactusdan's Cactus Germination TEK [Re: PitcherCrab]
#11610436 - 12/08/09 03:19 PM (14 years, 1 month ago) |
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Yes, but that usually isn't for about a year or so.
Plus i take from my bulkiest cups for grafting scions, so they get thinned out a bit.
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PitcherCrab
Crescent Fresh



Registered: 12/02/06
Posts: 2,446
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Re: Cactusdan's Cactus Germination TEK [Re: Cactusdan]
#11610452 - 12/08/09 03:23 PM (14 years, 1 month ago) |
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Cool.
Do you ever take off the plastic bag to give um a little fresh air? I imagine it might get moldy in there. Do you sterilize/pasteurize your potting mix at all?
-------------------- PC's LAGM 2021 (TOC & TWC)P. natalensis Growlog 2021Pans for PC Fall 2021 Growlog “I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.” - Bene Gesserit Litany Against Fear
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Cactusdan
Patecatl



Registered: 10/11/07
Posts: 7,024
Loc: Oregon
Last seen: 3 years, 2 months
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Re: Cactusdan's Cactus Germination TEK [Re: PitcherCrab]
#11610465 - 12/08/09 03:26 PM (14 years, 1 month ago) |
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I do take off the bag as much as possible, both to cycle air and to make sure the soil is still nice and moist.
I do not and have not ever sterilized my soil and never had a problem with fungus, mold, or algae.
You want to keep it as damp as possible but not wet, almost like if you filled a sponge with water and squeezed it out.
That's about what mine stay at.
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PitcherCrab
Crescent Fresh



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Re: Cactusdan's Cactus Germination TEK [Re: Cactusdan]
#11610491 - 12/08/09 03:30 PM (14 years, 1 month ago) |
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Do you moisten the soil at all before putting it in the cup, or just by misting the top?
-------------------- PC's LAGM 2021 (TOC & TWC)P. natalensis Growlog 2021Pans for PC Fall 2021 Growlog “I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.” - Bene Gesserit Litany Against Fear
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Cactusdan
Patecatl



Registered: 10/11/07
Posts: 7,024
Loc: Oregon
Last seen: 3 years, 2 months
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Re: Cactusdan's Cactus Germination TEK [Re: PitcherCrab]
#11610525 - 12/08/09 03:36 PM (14 years, 1 month ago) |
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All the wetting goes on after it's in the cup when I do it.
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