Willy World: Breeding Christmas Cactus

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»	Willy World » Reference Library Archives » Garden Archive 2003 » Breeding Christmas Cactus

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Topic: Breeding Christmas Cactus

Frank Primeau
Gardener

posted

I have two Christmas Cacti in the house; one is the more traditional bright pink colored flower and another a sort of yellow flower. Two or three months ago they both came into bloom at the same time. I took some pollen from the pink and put it on the yellow flowered one. Now I have some seedpods. All the seed pods are dark green except this one pod that is bright pink the color of the flowers on the pollen parent plant?
Now that I have some seed what do I do? How long do I have to wait before treating the seed? Can I germinate in the household environment?
Frank

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Frank

From: Canada | Registered: Jul 2003 | IP: Logged

njoynit
Garden Pro!

posted

ok....this is what i know and is not very much.they can be grown from seed and best route is to cut open seed pod and squash seeds out onto papertowel or plastic to dry they can rot very easily if pod is left on its own to dry& reason #2 is they lose their strength of germinateing fast even when stored in air tight container& the best time to grow from seed is in the spring in a organioc soil mixture(like rich organic cactus mixture as an example) spring time is good cause of lighting requirements.sprinkle seed on soil mixture BUT sprinkle light layer of sand over seeds cause will need light to germinate.I would not water from the top would plant in a tray that you can sit in water to moisten the soil suggest growing in bright light with plastic over soil so stays moist but you don't want sun to heat plastic up& may want to add no damp or chamile tea to water so no seedling problems will take 2-16 weeks for seedlings that are going to emerge to emerge then carefully seperate them likely useing a spoon.if the seedlings need better support can add sand around them that will help& do not introduce to full sun for 1 yr.they won't make it.once seedlings are in new pots can slowly adjust to brighter light but wait till sedling is 1 yr before it hits full sun
with that said....I prefer propagation from mother plant for more plants.was ok i guess growing from seed but was a real hassel with the lighting& the only good ones were ones i adjusted to light slowly.I gave most of them away as trades or gifts at christmas cause knew was moveing and as it was was 2 trips to move all my plants....the 1st load was in a 22 ft boat...LOL and it was packed

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From: SE TX`in the yard somewhere most likely | Registered: Jul 2003 | IP: Logged

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