Posted by Linda, Denman Island on October 1, 2006, 12:14 pm, in reply to "Agave isthmensis" My experience with agave seeds is that they generally germinate very easily. I always soak the seeds for a few days,in what starts off as hot tap water, and change the water daily. I use a mix comprised of coir and perlite (around 50% each)that is moist but does not have excess water in it. I often squeeze out extra water with my hands before using. Any free draining mixture should work -in the past I've used regular potting soil (peat and perlite) and have added a little extra perlite. I usually put quite a few seeds into a small plastic pot (community pot) that isn't more than a few inches deep. The seeds are sown close to the surface, with a small bit showing. I then sprinkle coarse sand or grit on top of the seeds and then spray lightly with water. I usually start quite a few seeds at once, so all the small pots are set on a plastic tray, the kind you get from nurseries, and then cover loosely with an upside down clear plastic tray. This seems to add a little humidity, but still allows air movement. The trays are usually set on a table several inches under florescent lights, but I've also had success placing my trays in a warmer part of the house (on top of the kitchen cupboards) that's fairly bright, but does not receive direct sun. The seeds are checked every day and as soon as the sand, or grit, looks dry I spray lightly. After germination, which usually doesn't take very long, I add a bit of fertilizer to the spray water. I usually use 20-20-20, but it's an extremely weak concoction. I'm sure other people have different ways of starting their seeds, and perhaps I've included some unnecessary steps, but I stick with this method because I've had so much success with it.
Hi Bradley,
Message Thread:
« Back to thread