Sowing Seeds of Various Dorstenia Species
October 28, 2024Sowing seeds of various Aloe species is not difficult; the main thing is patience, as they germinate very slowly during the first 2-3 weeks.
I often sow aloe right on the windowsill in a room without any special lamps or conditions, only making sure that the temperature at night does not drop below 20°C. Room conditions with a slight temperature variation, along with high humidity and a fully sterilized substrate, allow the seeds to germinate well without the risk of fungal diseases or chilling. Aloe seeds don’t like high temperatures at the start and take a long time to “decide” before sprouting. So, even after 2-3 weeks, you might only have a few seeds that have sprouted. This is normal. By the third or fourth week, they finally start to germinate en masse and reach for the light, often overlapping each other with their first leaves. At temperatures below 16°C, the seedlings can die from fungal diseases or may not germinate at all. I maintain a range of 22-23°C during the day and 20-21°C at night. And I make sure to have plenty of patience :).
I use the same substrate as for other species—fine pumice, perlite, and sifted coconut coir. After steaming the mix, I add 1 tablespoon of Osmocote per liter of substrate.
I always sow fresh seeds, no older than a year. I haven’t tested how long they retain viability, but typically succulent seeds lose it quickly, so it’s best not to wait too long :).
Once the seeds have sprouted, I slightly open the lid for ventilation, but I mist the substrate lightly twice a day to maintain high humidity, keeping it just moist enough so the seedlings aren’t sitting in wet substrate but rather drying out a bit during the day and lightly misting in the evening to increase humidity around them and moisten the top layer of substrate.
The lid is fully removed after 2-4 months, and the first transplanting occurs at 6-8 months when there are several sturdy leaves.
To prevent rot, I occasionally treat the seedlings with fungicide and vitamins, and I add Osmocote to the soil at the time of sowing to ensure constant nutrition during growth.
What if the seeds don’t sprout? Completely dry out the pot, treat any algae or green growth with 3-5% hydrogen peroxide (it won’t harm the seeds), and let it dry for 2-3 weeks. Then re-moisten and place it in another well-lit spot for another attempt. I repeat this 2-3 times if the seeds don’t sprout right away. Usually, it works on the second or even the third attempt. Why does this happen? Sometimes seeds are too fresh (they need at least 2 months between harvesting and sowing), sometimes it’s not the optimal sowing period when seeds are naturally dormant, sometimes the initial moisture isn’t sufficient to “kick-start” germination, or there’s unstable temperature. If nothing happens even after the third attempt, it may be worth trying a different location and substrate for sowing.
