Please note that this post contains affiliate links of products that I love and use. This rewards me with a small commission if you choose to buy through the links and none of this will cost you anything – but it does help me pay the bills and deliver you quality content. – Love, Gloria.
I love succulents. They are versatile and look almost primordial. They make excellent flower arrangements that live forever and require very little care except for proper drainage, no frost and very little water. One thing that annoys me with succulents is that it is tough to find the varieties that I want without paying way too much. Most of the time unusual varieties are sent over from Asia, leaving them in a terrible condition when the package ends up in my mailbox several weeks later. I have found that growing them from seed is the best way to propagate rare varieties, so here is my guide on how to grow succulents from seed. If you follow these simple steps, you’ll find it pretty easy.
Before even getting to the sowing stage there are a few tips you should bear in mind. You will need to get some shallow planting trays with a lot of holes in them; this allows for water to drain quickly from the planting medium when your seedlings are very young and fragile. Please see below for what I use – I’ve had great success growing both succulents and cacti in these.
Once your seeds have arrived, and you are ready to plant it is essential that your sand is free draining and pesticide free. Please bear in mind that much of the sand sold commercially is sprayed with both fungicides and herbicides to make it “hassle free” for the consumer. You will need to find some horticultural sand or even kitty litter without perfume for this. I like to use builder’s sand that you can find at your local DIY store – it is meant for mixing into cement, but it works perfectly for this.
The little pieces of rock allow for small air pockets to form and makes sure that the roots develop entirely. The best tip I ever got taught when it comes to growing succulents from seed was that you need to make sure that your sand is wet before sowing. Succulent seeds are very tiny and will easily float with water to one corner of your tray before they have roots. If your medium is wet, they will stick to the sand and stay put until they have roots.
To properly illustrate how to grow succulents from seed I need to show you how small the seeds are. They are tiny. The Wind will carry them away very quickly, and so it is important to do this in a place that is sheltered. I find that emptying your seed into your palm is an excellent way to control them. This way you can gently nudge them into the tray exactly where you want them.
Make sure that you scatter the seed with some space between them and tap the tray gently against a flat surface. By tapping it, you are making sure that any seed that does not touch the sand will fall into place. Cover them with either a shower cap or a humidity dome until they start sprouting – this is important as most seed won’t germinate unless there’s a certain amount of humidity in the air.
Depending on the seeds the succulents will take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks to germinate. As you can see they are equally as small as the seeds were and will require stable water conditions for about a week before you can start letting the medium dry out a bit more. Remember to remove your humidity dome or shower cap as soon as you see them sprout. Too much moisture will make them rot.
And to point out how tiny they are, here’s a picture of my seemingly enormous fingertip in comparison. From here on your most important task is not to water too much. Going by experience, I found that the best way to keep them going strong is to wait until the whole sand is thoroughly dried up and then water it well. Make sure to let it thoroughly dry out before the next watering.
To water them carefully flood the tray by pouring water into the corners of it. Make sure the water drains through and that you do not let them stand in water by keeping the tray in a container or plate. The sand should be soaking wet, but the plants should never sit in water. I move my trays into the sink or into the garden for watering so that the extra water can escape quickly. Let the sand dry fully before watering again. By doing this, you mimic what those plants would experience in the desert. Drought and flood – once it rains. After a few weeks, they will start looking like the little plants in the picture below. Even though you might be tempted to move them to another container since they are forming sturdy looking plants you should stay patient and let them grow.
If you managed to keep them alive for a total of about three months, you should be a proud parent of a whole little cluster of succulents. Bear in mind these are desert plants. They will not grow as quickly as other plants that you might be used to. Patience is the key.
As you can see you can grow as many as you wish at the same time. If you are going to garden events or plant swaps, they are a beautiful thing to grow. People will trade you any plants for these since many believe they are hard or impossible to grow from seed, just be sure to start them at least three months before you want to give them away. These succulents I grew specifically for this post, and they took exactly three months to reach sizes ranging from 1 – 2.5 cm (1/3 – 1 inch). It might seem unbearably slow, but there is a reason. Where these plants usually grow there is no steady supply of water and in most cases not many nutrients either, combined with harsh weather. They had to adapt and make the best of their growing conditions. They adapted by developing thick leaves that can endure the harsh climate and a very slow but steady growing speed. On a positive note, these don’t need to be re-potted that often, and once you got an adult plant, you can have it for decades – granted that you take care of it.
Remember that seeds will be quite inexpensive while plants will cost anything ranging from a few euros to as much as thousands. The Queen Victoria agave (agave victoriae-reginae) is a prime example for hefty price tags. The seeds alone are more expensive than the common succulent plant. On average you have to spend €14 (US$16) on a few seeds as you can see here.
Varieties that I managed to grow from seed so far.
Here are a few pictures of my succulent and cactus collection that were all grown from seed. I hope that you can use this guide on how to grow succulents from seed to be able to start growing these unusual plants yourself.
Crassula Pagoda
Astrophytum
Kalanchoe Flapjack
Aloe Black Gem
Echeveria elegans
Sedum
I will keep adding more pictures to this post so do come back, in the meantime, please try using this guide on how to grow succulents from seed to start a collection on your own. If you want to have a look at my cacti, please click here. If you are growing your own from seeds and want to have a chance to have your pictures featured in this post, then tag your plants on Instagram with #gloriathegreedyvegan.
Stunning pictures!
I have some dried burros flowers. How do I extract the seeds from the flowers
Hello Gail, that is a great question! Due to the fact that the seeds are extremely tiny when it comes to succulents and cacti you have to be careful or you will lose most of them. The easiest method I found so far was using an envelope. I place the flowers inside it, seal it well and then gently shake it and rub over it. It will release the seeds and they will collect inside the envelope. You could also use a tiny zip-lock bag for this but you will have to deal with static cling and the seeds might stick to the inside of the bag which can be annoying. Hope this helps. – Love, G.
Hi Gloria,
This is very helpful! But what i want to ask if on this one you’ve only used sand and no soil or perlite mixture? Thanks
Hello Jackie. For starting the seeds I only used sand with a little bit of grit in the little trays. No soil or perlite. – Love, G.
Hello
Where do you order/buy your seeds from. I have heard bad things about amazon… after I ordered? Go figure.
orchids seeds
hello what is the procedure for orchids seeds ?
Orchids are very difficult to grow from seed. You will need mychorrhizal fungus and a sterile environment, and even then they aren’t guaranteed to sprout. Definitely do plenty of research beforehand.
Using this method do l have to wait for spring or can l plant the seeds in summer.. Just got suc ulent seed from china can’t wait to get them going
Hello Ivodell. You can start them whenever you please. Store them for 1-2 weeks in the fridge. When you take them out into room temperature they will “think” it’s spring due to the shift in temperatures. It’s a little trick that can be used for almost all seeds. Love, G.
I am going to attempt to grow some for my daughters wedding. Thanks for your great information. About how long would it take to get seeds to a small, about 1-2 inches in height size? Wedding is in November so I will practice now.
Thanks
I will be updating my post as they grow – on a monthly basis. I took new pictures this morning and will add them in a few hours. Today it has been 4 weeks after I took the pictures of the seedlings and 6 weeks after I sowed the seeds. The seedlings measure around 1/5 – 1/4 of an inch at this very moment. You would have to start them end of this month the latest to have small plants that look presentable. They do look very precious though when they are on the smaller side so do not worry, as early as 8 weeks after you sow the seeds you will have gorgeous, tiny plants.
I think your unnamed plant is a kalanchoe Flapjack
Hello Stranger,
I think you are right. Wish I could mention you in my post for finally identifying it but you didn’t leave me your name. =)
Forever grateful,
G.
It is November on the east coast of the USA. Do you recommend planting seeds to grow indoors now or wait until June? Thank you. Natalie C.
Where did you get your seeds? Loved the photos add instructions. I’ve often wondered about how they grew from seed. Thank you. Kerry
Hi!
I am planning to grow some succulents for a wedding as well!
Did it work out for you>
Where did you get your seeds? Ive been searching around, but not sure where would be best.
I get most my seeds from the local garden center or from seedaholic.com . I can recommend them highly. You can also try e-bay but the ones I ordered from e-bay are very randomly hits or misses. Some seed packages are great some come with seeds that just don’t germinate. It is best to buy from reputable online stores or go to the local garden center. – Love, G.
Hi!
Do you recommende good lightning and bottom heat for germination?
Hello, some seeds require lighting to germinate, others don’t. I would need to know which seeds you have to give you a precise answer. There is no general rule that applies to all seeds. I always recommend keeping the temperature around 21°C (70°F) – which in my house is the regular room temperature. Bottom heat will help when the seedlings are small but can also contribute to damping off which kills them. I never use bottom heat. Put them in a sunny spot with even temperatures once germinated and you should have the best results. Hope this helps. – Love, G.
Hi Gloria,
I just wanted to ask you to elaborate on the sunny spots. I found that too much sun really damaged my fully matured aloe plant, so I was wondering if you could clarify – the seedlings should be in a sunny spot, but not in direct sunlight??
Thanks for your input – I have used this article as a baseline for growing succulents from seed, and just managed to sprout the most precious little green sprouts!
Hi there, I have just planted my seeds. Can I leave them outside where they get sun from mid day or should I rather leave them in the shade?
Hi Gloria,
Thanks for the tip on seedaholic.com
I give it a try!
Brian
You are welcome! – Love, G.
I have some question… First of all, is there any dirt in the material, or sand only? I bought some seeds shipped out of China,,, 4 varieties. Looking forward to see what I have gotten.. I plan to use plastic covers, like tops on cakes, ect to plant the seeds in.
There is virtually no soil in my mix. I use coarse builders sand. It has a mix of various sized grit and stones in it. I use that because there is close to no soil where succulents and cacti grow in their natural habitat. It gives excellent drainage as well. Once the succulents are big enough to transfer I plant them in a mix of 60% sand and 40% soil. Free free to ask more if you have any other questions. Hope this helped. – Love, G.
I bought from ebay, but not sure whether they are actually succulents… still waiting for any changes from them
I know that feeling all too well. Two weeks ago I got seeds of a rare variety. Just could not get myself to pay for the adult plant since that was way over 100€. The wait can be nerve wrecking, just be patient! Keep me posted, would lost to hear how it goes. – Love, G.
me too, just planted mine and not sure. Got my fingers crossed, let me know how yours have turned out
Gloria,
I checked seedaholic.com, however, they don’t have succulent seeds. . Is there another online store you would recommend?
Thank you in advance for your help.
Susan
They used to have them. What a shame. =( I have no other store that I personally tested but I will ask around on a few forums and will let you know if I find anything. Have you tried a local garden center? They sometimes order things in for you if you ask. – Love, G.
Hey Susan, seedaholics do sell a great variety of succulent seeds under “flowers and ornamentals” try pasting this link to your browser: http://www.seedaholic.com/flowers/cacti-succulents.html …it will take you to the right place.
or just try googling seedaholic + succulents .. worked for me, and I am now excitedly awaiting my order! It’s like a little kid waiting for Christmas!!! ; )
Wish.com
How do you harvest seeds from the blooms? My aeonium nobile has bloomed and almost dried up. I would love to plant some of it’s seeds, but I don’t know how to get the seeds out?? Are the seeds the small yellow things that fall off when you shake the dried bloom?? Thanks in advance!
Hi Alison, the yellow stuff coming out of the dried up flowers is most likely seeds, yes. I would put it in a clear zip lock bag and rub it gently. The seed should separate from the chaff and you can pour out the seeds. Follow the above instructions to grow them and you should be in luck and might even get your own variety. I grew an aeonium from seed last year and it’s starting to look wonderful. Can’t wait for flowers. Love, G
How and when do you separate and replant the seedlings? Thank you 🙂
Hi Anonymous. Separating the seedlings is something that causes trouble for a lot of people. You need to make sure that you get some root with you from the seedling tray and make sure that these roots get submerged in your new pot. I like to use a pencil or an ice cream stick to get them out of the soil. Don’t water the seedling for a couple of days after you transplanted and leave it in the shade. It needs time to get its roots started. Make sure that your transplant soil is just moist, not soggy, before you transplant. As a rule of thumb leave your seedlings in their seed tray for much longer than you would other plants. – Love, G
I just started my succulent garden and I think I started it out wrong. First, all my purchases were made through Etsy. I got a succulent compost and started growing my seeds with the compost and they’ve been doing beautifully. Now it’s time to move them? I have the charcoal, sand and rocks to set it up, but I wish I would have found this post before the other ones. How to I move them without damaging the sprouts? Hopefully I hear back from you, I’m in dire need of help with this one, every flower I try to plant dies.
The serious brown thumb,
Tiffany
Hi Tiffany, this is one of the questions I get asked the most about my succulents. They are quite tender at this young stage so I prefer to leave them in their seedling compost for about two months or more before I transplant. I use a pencil or ice cream stick to get them out of their soil and then I move them into a moist, fast draining compost. They do not need to be watered in the first week and should be left on a north facing windowsill out of direct sunlight. A lot of people loose their seedlings either because they tried to transplant them too early or they watered too much too early. The seedlings need to reestablish roots before they need more water, so make sure to water them a day or two ahead of transplanting. I went through my own fair share of trial and error – you’re not alone! – Love, Gloria
Hi Gloria. I am doing my first attempt on planting succulents from seeds!
I know I’m long way from transplantation but would you mind posting some photos or instructions on how to set the layers of rock/wood chips/stones etc in the pot?
Thank you!
Hello Katia,
Just to be sure, do you mean the setup of the more mature plants and what is in their pots? I can do that when I make my post on how to transplant them. In essence it is: some broken pot parts or rocks on the bottom, then some gravel and then a mix of perlite/grit and cactus soil on top. I will take step by step pictures and show how to do this exactly, hope this helps to answer your initial question until I write more elaborately about it. Good luck with your succulents! – Love, G.
Hello G,
Does it matter what time of the year to start germinating seeds? Looking to try it out since I live in a small community with no planting sources to get the succulents I would like to have and the ones we do get are an arm and a leg for cost! -Sara
Hi Sarah,
It really doesn’t matter that much when you start if you have some sort of light source. If you are going to use natural light I would wait until Feb-March as the sun will get strong enough to provide enough light around this time. If you use a grow light then any time of the year will do. Succulents carry heavy retail prices for a reason, they can be really fiddly and grow slowly which is why growing them yourself from seed will save you hundreds of dollars/pounds! – Love, G
Hello,
I tried to grow from seeds but didn’t take some offand as you said they rotted.
So how long before you actually start watering? Is it about a month before they sprout? 2 months before you transplant? 4 months before you have 1-2″ plants?
Thanks
Hi Jasmine, the key is to keep the sand moist but not wet until they sprout. After they sprouted keep watering only when the sand is dry. Succulent seedlings hate being wet and will readily rot. I always try to water on sunny days when the water can evaporate. Depending on the species it can take up to 4 months before I transplant – the key is to be patient. Succulents handle being in poor soil much better than other plants and will have solid roots from being left alone for longer. – Love, G.
Hello once more. I have edited the post since the succulents have reached a state at which they can be planted into new pots. I will soon add how to do that – I’m just waiting for my new tiny terracotta pots that I have ordered.
Hi! Thanks for this post. I’m wondering about growing indoors. I have some T8 flourescent bulbs, and was hoping to experiment with some succulents over the next couple of months. It will be a project with some of the kids I work with – so I’m wondering if you have any recommendations on types of succulents that are good for beginners? Especially – are there certain kinds that will grow more quickly? Our goal was to have something for the kids to take home by January. Would love your thoughts!
Hi Chelsea, My pleasure. T8 Fluorescent bulbs should be sufficient for starting succulents during the winter. If you could set them up on the windowsill then even better. There are some really fast growing types of succulents and my favourites are Echeveria imbricata, Aptenia cordifolia (iceflower), some aeoniums are also known to grow fast but will need sunlight. I’d start with the echeveria and the aptenia, that should be interesting for the kids. Make sure that they are transplanted into a gritty enough mixture as they will die quickly if a kid is a bit too keen on the water. But do keep in mind that the term “growing fast” is relative when it comes to cacti and succulents. They are slow growers. – Love, G. ☺
This information is very helpful and most appreciated by me. I have just ordered some seeds from China on the Ebay site. Once they arrive I plan to use grow lights and follow your directions as they are the best that I have seen.
I hope it works out for you. It can be tricky to grow them the first time. Seeds from China can be good but they can also turn into a disaster. I ordered from China (ebay) a few times and it happened that none germinated and once I even got flowers instead of succulents. I hope you have better luck that I had. Feel free to contact me along the way if you encounter problems. – Love, G.
I have this morning received seeds from china and as soon as I can get some sand I will give it a go.
How do you water seedlings? I collected some echeveria seeds and growing them in cactus mix. Only few seeds germinated about 10 of them, but the seedlings are so tiny I find it very hard to water.
I flood the trays. I carefully pour water into the corners of my trays until all is slightly flooded. The sand allows for quick drainage and once it is soaking wet I let the tray dry out fully until the next watering. I do that because it mimics the flood the seedlings experience in the desert once it rains. A lot of pages suggest spraying them with water but that never worked for me. I came up with this method after watching a lot of documentaries and it hasn’t failed me so far. – Love, G.
Thank you for sharing.
So so glad that I found your page with this awesome post!! Yay! I just ordered some Greenovia seeds from China off of Etsy. I definitely will follow your methods. I also saved/posted your page as a pin on my Pinterest account so I can always access this information.
Thanks so much!
I am glad you are giving it a try! Let me know how it works out for you. – Love, G.
Hi Angela (and Gloria!) – I too got some greenovia seeds off of etsy this month. How do yours look now? I’m worried about mine now from reading all of these comments that mine might be too leggy to be succulents. I hope I didn’t get jipped!
I would like to have more information if I can from a book
You are not alone. I too, would love to find a good book about this topic as well but I have yet to stumble upon one. Do let me know if you find anything worth reading. – Love, G.
Very nice post! It’s the most complete one I have found yet. Thanks for sharing pictures of your results, now I truly believe I can grow succulents from seeds 🙂
Love all the advice you’ve shared. It’s been the most information I’ve found on starting succulents and cacti from seed. I’m very excited to get started. I have a question about the “builders sand”. Would that be the sand that you get from like a lumber yard for sandboxes and other outdoor projects? How do I know if it’s been treated with something? Thank you
I get mine from the local Garden Center. It is vital that the sand is not chemically treated. There is no way of knowing unless you ask someone in the store or call the manufacturer. I will add a FAQ to this post over the next weekend and clarify all these things. Didn’t expect this post to be that popular and raise that many questions. =D – Love, G.
Would you tell me how you “flood your trays” when (I believe) your trays have holes in them? So anxious to try as I’m in love with succulents! Thank you so much and take care.
Hello Karen, I flood my trays by gently filling them with water in one corner. The water is room tempered and the holes in the bottom of my trays aren’t big enough to drain quicker than I fill so the seedlings sit submerged for almost a minute. I hope this answers your question. – Love, G.
If only i could post a photo to show you!!
You can e-mail me if you wish gloria@thegreedyvegan.com =) – Love, G.
Hi Gloria
Thanks for the post! I do have a question on Sedums. Mine have been growing for about a month and they do appear healthy but they are sooooo tiny. They are much skinnier then yours. I think maybe I separated them too early. Should I group them back together? Also I would love to know if you fertilize yours. I prefer something organic.
Thanks
Hello Sandra, if you send me a picture ( gloria@thegreedyvegan.com) I could give you actual advice – right now I would just be guessing. =) Generally speaking I would not advise you to move them again. The less you interfere with them the better. Personally I separate mine at around 3 months, not earlier. Hope this helps a bit. – Love, G.
What will happen if I use kitty litter with perfume?
I have never tried it myself but I read on forums that non-perfumed and untreated kitty litter (or Oil Dry) can be used as a cheaper alternative. I would not use anything treated since that could interfere with the germination. My first attempt at growing succulents a few years ago was a failure because I did not check if the sand was treated chemically. About 90% of the seeds did not germinate and the rest died pretty quickly once it did. It was a sad attempt but you learn as you go. Hope this helps a little bit. – Love, G.
Try http://www.rarexoticseeds.com they sell succulent seeds. Seems as though they have a large variety, although I did not see sedum seeds.
I’ve purchased other seeds from them and had a good experience each time.
Good luck,
Brian
Hi! I have bought succulents (including sedum) from the sample seed shop, park seed and swallowtail seeds with germination from all three places. I have had bad luck with Etsy and Amazon as far as seeds! Hope this helps!!
Hello!
I was wondering where you got the seeds from?
Hello Gloria!
I just got some echeveria seeds and should receive them in a day or so. I’ve got some cactus and succulent potting mix… Is it a bad idea to use it for sowing?
Hello Marie-Claire, it’s not a bad idea generally I just had very little success with potting mixes. Sand is the only thing that works for me – every single time. You might be luckier than I was but I stay away from potting mixes when it comes to getting the seedlings started. Hope this helps. – Love, G.
Hello Gloria 🙂
I was curious as to where you get the planters/pots you use for starting off the succulents? I noted in the comments you flood the tray to water them and it drains with in a minute. How often and at what stage is it a good idea to start this process? BTW Thank you for the awesome post.
Hi! Where can I find succulent seeds and not get scammed?
Thank you for the informative article and everyone’s comments and questions have been enlightening. Just purchased seeds for the”bunny ear” succulents and am very nervous since I have no experience with this variety of plants. Keeping my fingers crossed. Any additional advice is welcome.
Brilliant information, thank you! I read this and your flowering cacti post and you seem to have a real knack for succulents–one that I lack! I’m wondering what potting medium you use for your succulents in individual pots (eg, ones you’ve grown from seed or bought at a larger size). Do you continue to use builder’s sand, buy commercial cacti potting mix, or something else? Thanks!
This may be a really stupid question. I am ready to follow your recipe exactly because I failed at four packets of succulents using soil. Rrrrr Ah well, I am good at propagating once they are grown… but this is something I want to master.
IF YOU USE CEMENT SAND, what keeps it from turning to cement when you water the seeds?
This is NOT a silly question at all. “Builders sand” or “cement sand” as it is called in some places comes either already mixed with cement or on its own. When it is in a cement mix it won’t work. It has to be the sand on its own, you will need to check the package. It is called cement sand because that is what it is intended for, you mix it with cement. The sand on its own won’t turn solid when watered. When it is a cement mix it will. Hope this answered your question and if not feel free to ask more. – Love, G.
You can practice planting lotus seeds
Hi Gloria! Great article! Love your explanations and the photos are awesome!
Question: I just planted my seeds 2 days ago and I just took a peek inside of the little “greenhouse”/clear bag I placed my tray in and it looks like fuzzy white stuff is growing on some of the seeds. Is that mold?! Surprisingly some seeds started sprouting already but they too have fuzzy white stuff on them. In another tray one of my seed types all bloated up and have a gel like clearish white substance surrounding the seeds. Is that just part of the process? Looks alien to me!
Thanks for the help!!!
Hi Gloria, haven’t heard from you yet, hoping to hear your opinion still if you have experience with this issue!
An update: I went ahead and uncovered the trays because some of my seeds sprouted and i was hoping to stop the growth of the fuzzy white stuff. Now, the fuzzy white stuff has stopped growing and disappeared entirely. About half of my seeds have sprouted.
New Question: My sprouts are pretty long and leggy. What happens after the initial leaves sprout? Does it wither away and the tiny succulents start growing from the bottom? Perhaps I just have bad seeds and I’m growing weeds haha.
Thanks!
Hello, my apologies for the late reply! The white “fuzz” happens a lot and is nothing to worry about. The seedlings should not be leggy or long though. You might have gotten the wrong seeds. They should look a little bit “chubby” if that makes any sense. I took a few close up shots of my seedlings, you can see them in the post. Most varieties looks nearly identical in the start. Short and chubby. If you want to you can send me pictures to gloria@thegreedyvegan.com or post them on Instagram and tag me in it with @gloria_the_greedy_vegan so I can have a look at them for you. – Love, G.
me too
I love you post!
I purchased mixed seeds and didn’t read up on much to start and put them all in one try since it was about 20 of each kind. Some have begun to germinate 🙂 the only issue now is bc they’re germinating at different rates is when do I take the cover off? I’m worried about the ones that have germinated that they’ll begin to rot and the ones that have not will not get enough humidity. My regular house temp is set at 22-23 degrees Celsius, so it seemed to be ok to germinate. Also the ones that have germinated are a bit stretchier (longer) than yours. I hope they’re not fake :/ Any information is appropriated. 🙂
Thank you, I love hearing it when people enjoy my posts. =) Take the cover off for a few hours during the day if most of them have germinated, just make sure that the temperatures are not dropping extremely when you do that. After about 5 days of doing that you can leave the cover altogether. Seedlings like consistent temperatures. I am a little bit worried about you saying your seedlings are longer. If you want you can send me pictures to gloria@thegreedyvegan.com or post them on Instagram and tag me in it with @gloria_the_greedy_vegan so I can have a look at them for you. – Love, G.
You wrote it took a couple of weeks for ’em to grow from seeds, could you tell us how long more precisely? Like say 2 weeks or something.
Because I, inspired by this article and photos, bought a pack of seeds and it’s been a week after following the steps here, and I’m not seeing any of those tiny greens. So I’m wondering if the shop got me bad seeds or I should just wait longer.
Thanks in advance for your response and thank you again for your great article and photos!
It is hard to give a precise time-frame. It depends on the seeds but from personal experience it can take anywhere from 1 – 3 weeks so see a germination happen. They grow slowly so you need to be patient. – love, G.
Thanks! Great guide, I now feel ready to plant my seeds. When your succulents are getting bigger, you tranfer them to bigger pots, but do you ever move them outside or in a greenhouse? Or make balls/turtle/installations of them?
I wonder if its just a pinterest thing or if its possible.
Thanks for the info! I’ve recently developed a succulent addiction and there doesnt seem to be a ton of variety sold in canada, so I’ve ordered some seeds from the US. It will be my first attempt at growing anything from seed, excited to start ?
Uh oh! My little girl and I started them in regular potting soil. What can we do since I have no way if seeing the seeds? We have just been misting them. Should I dump the soil onto sand? Help! Should I just buy new seeds? She’s going to be bummed. I wish I would have found this earlier, it is very informative.
Thanks!
At this point just don’t water too much and hope for the best. I would get new seeds and start over. If you’re lucky both will grow. Regular soil isn’t really ideal for succulents but it’s a common mistake. Did it myself. =) – Love, G.
Hi Gloria,
Do you add any fertilizer to the water at all in the early stages of germination and sprouting before you transplant at the 2 month mark to your prescribed soil/sand mix?
Hello Jennifer, I don’t add any fertiliser until about the 4th month after they started growing. They can easily overextend and grow weirdly if you give them too much nitrogen early in their life. – Love, G.
Hi G – thanks for providing a really great set of simple to understand instructions for us novices. I’m about to start growing my own succulents from seeds and your advice has been very helpful.
Could you please add an extra bit to the article about how to pot on the baby seedlings once they are ready?
Also (and I must be having a totally senior moment!) but how can I follow your blog?? I can’t find a follow button!
Thanks,
Anjie xx
Hello Anje, I will add how to lift them out of the soil once they are ready. I got a new set of succulents that should be ready any week now. =) About the subscribing issue – that is totally my fault! I changed the layout of my blog and failed to add a subscribe option to the sidebar. It is fixed now but you may say that I had a “senior” moment at age 35 .. haha. =D – Love, G.
This is a marvelous article, and invaluable source of information. I have seen people say that you should use a mix of sand and potting soil, or soil mixed with perlite. Is only sand the better way to go? Also, does it help to pasteurize the medium in the oven and let cool? Thanks so much!
Hello Rachel. You can pasteurize the sand if you feel the sand is not clean and could carry anything that might interfere with the germination of the seeds but I never felt the need to do so. The sand I buy is free from mold or parasites. It comes in airtight packages but if you worry about anything then do it. It can only help. I tried the perlite and/or sand approach and it was a hit and miss. With pure sand I always had good results and that is why I recommend using sand only. Perlite is great once you decide to re-pot them, especially for larger arrangements because it adds excellent drainage properties and keeps the planters on the lighter side. – Love, G.
Thank you !
I am in northeast Ohio, the weather is starting to get warmer, is it o.k. once I have planted the seeds in the shallow trays and covered with a shower capt, to leave them outside during the day?
Theresa
Hello Theresa, you’d want to keep the shower cap covered trays out of the hot mid day sun until they have sprouted. Once they have sprouted and grown for about a week or so in indirect light you can start getting them used to going outside. At temperatures below 10ºC (50(ºF) I would not leave them outside. The best is to leave them on a steady windowsill until about 1 month in, and then gradually letting them get used to being outside in the shade for about a week, and then gradually letting them into the sunlight. They can get sunburned just like us. Hope this helps, if not then feel free to ask more. – Love, G.
Love your article about succulent seeds. I just ordered some on line, so hopefully they grow. Keep up your updates. Regards Gloria
Thank you so much and good luck! =D – Love, G.
Hi Gloria,
You had shared a great deal of knowledge in these cacti and succulents growing from seeds to amazing little cute angels!!! will start once i got my seeds *aliexpress. (i randomly ordered from 3-4 stores to try out and would share once received so it would be of help for those who needed it as well…
I started about 2 months ago, creating some concrete pots (moulding) and then needed to plant something small in the pots, thats when i ordered the seeds and was so glad i found your articles today, and my seeds is yet to arrive.
Thank you!
Hello Felix,
So happy to hear my post was of help to you. I would love to hear about your shopping experiences and progress. – Love, G.
Hi! Were you able to receive the seeds already? Please do let us know if they grew successfully as im planning also to purchase at aliexpress. Thanks!
hi Felix,
How’s your seeds from aliexpress?
Thanks for the information.
You’re most welcome Carlton! – Love, G.
Hi Gloria!
This is a great, helpful post! I am looking to begin growing succulents, and would like to attempt growing from seed. Do you have any recommendations on where to purchase wide varieties of succulent seeds?
I live in Western Colorado, but haven’t been able to find many seeds in store, and I am unsure what sites might be trustworthy.
Thank you!!
Yes that’s what I meant,thank you for the reply Gloria!!
I’m so happy I found your post! I cannot wait to see my babies growing and learn more from your posts! xx
You are most welcome. I am so happy when I get feedback like this..it keeps me going. Thanks for making my day. =D – Love, G.
Hi!
This may be a dumb question, but I know very little about succulents. In the pictures where you show the seeds growing, what plant and species is that?
Thanks!
That is not a dumb question at all. They are succulents and called Echeveria Coccinea (Red Echeveria). – Love, G.
Hi, i have this cocopeat mixture, and it says provides good draining. Are you familiar with this medium? Can i use it to plant the seeds? I have used the mixture to plant store bought grown up succulents and they seemed to live. Thanks! I would like to propagate lots!
Hi Adi, the opinions about coco-peat or coir are very divided. Some say the ph-level is wrong, it is too salty and others say it is perfect. Personally I have had bad experiences with it. I have seen rot on two cacti of mine and quickly changed back to a mix of sand and soil for mature plants. The only plant that fared well for me in coco peat is my aloe plant. She loves it. Also I have tried to grow succulent seedlings in coco-peat but to no success. It did not work for me. I am sticking with the natural habitat of the succulents and where they grow there is usually sand or grit. If you do have success with growing seedlings in coco-peat then do let me know. I am curious if it was just bad luck on my side. – Love, G.
Thank you very much for this information! ? hopefully i can find a good soil and sand product at the gardenware.
Btw, i have another query… saw in one youtube video tips about propagating cacti from seeds. What she did was heat the mix in the microwave before planting. Do we have to sterilize the mix first? We do not own a microwave though….
Hello again, the sand mix that I buy for my succulents is already sterile. I do not have to do that. If you are not sure about yours then you can of course sterilise it. If you have no microwave you can do that in a conventional oven. Spread the sand on a baking tray that you lined with baking paper and place it in the oven at 100ºC (210ºF) and let it “bake” for 30 mins. Let it cool down fully and you got your sterilised medium. – Love, G.
Hi Gloria.
With your way of growing succulent seeds was a huge succes and I want to thank you for that.
Firs time I ever managed to grow these from seed. Thank you so much!
Hi Gloria, thank you for sharing this article, I have a question…
How to make the right temperature for the seed to germinate?
Did you put them in zip lock plastic bag or do you use any special tools to control the temperature?
Because we have winter now, and the temperature can reach to 0 °celcius
Hello Budi,
the temperature in my home is thermostat regulated. I propagate my seeds in my home and have a steady room temperature of 21°C. If you do not have the opportunity to grow them in your home then look into heated propagators. Some come with thermostats but they also come with quite a pricetag. – Love, G.
Gloria
Great site! I have a simple question. I saved some seeds from a cactus pear I bought at the market and have them ready to plant. My question is whether I need to chill them before planting. Not knowing the species prevents a Google search but I would assume the fruit came from a prickly pear which is an outside plant here in St. Louis. Any thoughts or assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Chuck Dombek
Hello Chuck,
I store all my seeds in a small fridge in the shack. I can highly recommend it since it sends the seeds into a dormant state. As soon as they are at room-temperature again they will want to grow. It helps but it is not mandatory. One thing to keep in mind when it comes to seeds saved from fruits at markets is that they do not always grow into fruit-bearing trees or plants. Most plants are hybridised to a point at which the seeds of their fruits grow into plants but they might not carry fruit. I learned this a few years back when trying to grow my own papaya tree. – Love, G.
Hi Ms. Gloria,
Your post is really helpful indeed, I’m glad I took time to read it, since I’m planning to start to sow seed but my problem is how to sow it but since all my questions now have already been answered by your post . I already purchased my succulent at eBay . I just hope I can ask question while raising my succulent 😉 .
Thank you again and God bless.
Of course, you can! There are so many little things that can go wrong and if you have any questions just leave them here. I’ll gladly answer everything within my knowledge. – Love, G.
Hello!
glad i found you. i want to grow some of them but wanted ask you if they can grow in the sand/soil which i have taken from my garden?
ThankS!
Hi
I have planned to grow succulents in the empty seashell type transparent plastic packings of eggs. I have collected over 20:). Is the depth of say half an egg good enough for sowing the seeds?
I want to fill the packings with soaked wet send as recommended by you then seal the packing after sowing the seeds to prevent water loss. I will place the packings in light as recommended in this blog. Will it work?
Those little packages sound like an excellent idea. Make sure you poke small holes into them so the water can drain. I see no reason why this shouldn’t work. Very crafty of you to come up with this idea. Would love to see pictures! =D If you want to share them send them to gloria@thegreedyvegan.com or tag me on Instagram #gloriathegreedyvegan so I can see them. – Love, G.
Thanks Gloria,
Sure I would love to Will share the pictures.
Hi,
Can I use black soil or it is necessary to be sand?
Thank you.
After you grow the succulents and are ready to transfer them into other containers-what do you suggest to use for a soil mixture? Especially if they will be in containers that won’t drain (like coffee cups). Also is there a technique to move them so the succulent and roots aren’t damaged. Thanks in advance!
How do I prepare seeds from a cacti fruit for germination? Would Diatomaceous Earth work as a medium for planting the seeds??thank you !
Hi, i managed to germinate cacti seeds. They are turning now into very small plants. Is watering cacti baby seedlings same with baby succulents? There are supposed to be two pots but the other pot’s cacti died, leaving only one baby cactus. The other pot is dangerously following suit. Have i overwatered?
You might have. If in doubt don’t water. They have an easier time dealing with being watered too little. I killed my first attempts by overwatering years back as well. Hope the little one survives. – Love, G.
By the way, they are about a month old…. ?
Hi Gloria,
I m in lov with succulent these days, I want to grow my own aswell , I did tried before n only one seed turn up n died in few days I hv used two packs of mixed seeds before , thankfully I find ur this helpful article this time, I hv bought the trays n I hv got builders sand from my nearest garden centre , it’s sharp sand n looks like the sand u hv used in in pics, one thing I m worried about the pack got bit of rain water in it aswell n all the sand is already wet , I m not sure if it’s ok to use, I don’t know all those things name u used which ur sand should be clear from, if u plz guide me if I microwave it first before putting seeds in . N second thing is can I cover my tray with normal kitchen cling film( clear plastic sheet) , n does I need to put any holes in sheet , n hv to keep it covered for a full week , n then I can open it. Looking forward to hear from u . Thanks
Hi just a quick question. New to succulent growing and wanted to know average time from seed to let’s say about a 4inch plant? 6months? 1 yer? I am trying to understand how long they take to grow to full size after germination.
Hi Gloria
Very helpful description and nice plants!
I wanted someTrachyandra plants ever since I saw pictures of that beauty. I couldn’t find any but got my hands on some seeds (They’re even supposed to be blue!). Since you seem to have a lot of experience with growing succulents I was wondering if you might know if there’s anything special to consider with those?
Thank you and kind Regards!
Hello! I was wondering what exact brand of sand you used for germination. I cannot find anything course enough for the life of me! I’m excited to try out germinating some seeds very soon and this article helped a lot already!
I tried to read through most of the comments before I asked,. I grow herbs hydroponically, and was wondering if you have tried to start the succulent seeds in Rockwool , would that be a good grow media?
I have 2 questions: I purchased some succulent seeds, can I wait until spring to start them or should I start now? I have a variety of succulents that are planted in the soil mixture for succulents, I have replaced many trying to get them to grow. Do I need to remove them and replant in just the sand like what you use?
Hi, I am so grateful for the blog with brilliant narration and pictures. I have got a clear picture about growing succulents. This is my first attempt to grow them and your post indeed could boost my confidence. Waiting for more similar posts from you.
Thank you!
Where do you buy the trays & your seeds? Thank you!
I’m excited to have found you. I just received 100 seeds of different varieties. I wasn’t sure how to go about planting them and would have you a succulent planting mix if I hadn’t read this. Now to go hunt for trays.
Glad to be of help. You can use any type of container as long as it has drainage holes. One of my readers used old Tupperware that had no lids anymore. She drilled holes into the bottom and placed them on a baking tray. I found that rather crafty. =) – Love, G.
I bought some succulent seeds from China. It’s the blue grass spiral. Any ideas on how to grow them?
Hello Pamela, congratulations on getting seeds for one of the prettiest plants on the planet – at least in my humble opinion. I have not grown these myself yet, but I do own one. I would do it exactly the way I grow all my succulents, just follow the steps in the post. Best of luck and lots of love, G.
hey there,
I was wondering if you could give me any tipps – for my Red Pagoda seeds.
I am toally new in this and well, it will be an experiement.
So I am happy for any tipps like which kind of grow box, subtrat/sand, light, how much water etc.
that would be awesome!
wish you all the best
c
Hello! The only available builder’s ssand in our town was only gray-colored. Can I use that too? Thanks!
Hi lovely, I just purchased my first batch of succulent seeds. I ordered 200 seeds of 6 different seeds. How would you go about planting? Do I get several trays to plant them? Can I plant all of them in one? Can they all be different seeds in one? I may be over thinking it but I really would like to get it right since they are such a beautiful gift if done correctly.
Hi I ordered some sedum seeds from ali express but I don’t thing they are sedum seeds. Can you please send me some photos of the original sedum seeds. And help me find the difference between the original sedum seeds from fake.
Hello Satish, sorry for the very late reply. There is little to no way to tell if they are actual sedum seeds until they grow. They are incredibly small and black. Like little black sand. Way smaller than poppy seeds. Some are dark brown or even grey. I have ordered seeds many times and when I thought I was sure they were sedums they turned out to be weird little flowers or sometimes even just a type of grass. You have to grow them and hope for the best. – Love, G.
Thank you very much for a very informative article! It is just what I was looking for.
Hello Ellen, thanks for the comment. Feedback like this keeps me going. Have a lovely weekend. Love, G.
Hi, I have purchased some succulent seeds from wish, I know that’s probably not too well advised. But, for the price, why not give it a go? Anyway, I have ordered some very interesting varieties including “rare blue spring grass” and “bonsai baby flowers” which seem to just be different “hens and chicks” in different colors. My question is about the blue spring grass, it is obviously a hanging plant. Now, once they are big enough to transplant, or hang. Can I put them outside? Or are they strictly inside plants? And do i germinate them the same way you have described abobe?
Hi,
I’m having trouble finding builder’s sand, any other names it goes by or sand types that would work?
Thanks
Hey there Sandra,
An alternative would be horticultural sand. I chose builders sand because it is very similar to horticultural sand but much cheaper. Aquarium sand is also an option but at the same time the most expensive option..
Please get back to me should you have more questions.
Love,
– G.
Hi there what about blue spring grass do they need light or would they germinate in the dark?
Hi there glad to have found u. I have just sown Blue Spring grass succulent seeds would they need to be in a sunny spot to germinate ?
Hello Joy.
thank you for reaching out and I apologize for the late reply. I had technical issues regarding the hosting of my blog but they are all resolved now. I hope you managed to grow your blue spring grass, it’s a gorgeous plant! I germinated mine on a windowsill that had slight sun in the morning. It’s a plant that isn’t very difficult to grow so I hope you managed.
Love, G.
Hi Gloria
Thank you so much for all of the info! I’ve got my seeds and I’m ready to plant. I wanted to know what you’re thoughts are about using sand from the beach? I’ve got allot of beaches near by and was thinking of getting some for my trays. Also, how deep should I fill the trays? I’m not sure how long the roots can get. Thank you for this post and thank you for taking the time to answer my questions.
Hello Stacia,
so sorry for the late reply. I had major technical issues with my blog. The roots are very short so you can keep the trays shallow. I usually stick to a sand layer of about 4cm (1.5 inches) which is more than plenty.
Love, G.
Hello,
I was wondering what kind of sand/soil you use when transferring from builders sand for germination to pot. I saw above you do 60% sand and 40% soil. Do you mix these together then plant or build them? Sorry, I’m very new to this and have lots to learn. Many sites I’ve read advise to use moss. Is this necessary? Thank you!!
Hello Blaine,
sorry for the late reply I had major issues with the hosting of the page. Yes, I mix the sand and soil in a bowl and fill that mix into the trays before planting. I have never used moss and I see no reason for using it when planting succulents or seeds. It might help retaining moisture after they have grown if you use them in arrangements outside but other than that, I would not know why that would be recommended when starting to grow them. I guess people like different approaches. =)
Love, G.
Good thing I found this article before my seeds even arrived! I’m interested in knowing more about your experience of planting the seeds ordered from abroad (Asia) because thet’s what I’ll be dealing with and I would really like the seed to sprout and grow.
I just got blue grass succulents. Do I start them in sand too? They drape down over the pot not like succulents you described here.
Hello Andrea,
They are gorgeous plants and while they do drape once they mature they need to be started just like regular succulents. I am really sorry for this late reply, I have major issues with the hosting of my page but it is all sorted now.
Love, G.
I would love to grow succulents from seed because the seeds are cheaper (apparently) and just the joy of watching plants grow from seed. But so far I haven’t actually found any reasonably priced seeds that aren’t fake. Would you happen to remember where you got your seeds from (succulent and cactus)?
Hey there mr. or mrs. Anon,
I buy me seeds from a local store and some selected e-bay sellers. I will be linking to two stores on the page soon that ship internationally. Stay in touch!
Love,
-G
Hello. I’ve just received, and planted my Sempervivum Hybridum succulent seeds in a container with a lid to hold in moisture and keep it humid. I am growing in a coarse sand, and I wet the sand before planting as to not flood and make sure the seeds don’t move around (as recommended by you). Should I mist the inside of the tray daily to keep moist until germination? Or just leave the tray with the lid on after the initial wetting? Any tips for the first process would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Hi there Kory,
First of all my apologies for the late reaction. Until germination you have to make sure that the growing medium stays moist. After the seeds germinated you should take the lid off or open it (if possible) and keep the conditions on the dryer side so there’s no chance the seeds start rotting.
Don’t hesitate to contact me once again should you have more questions!
Love,
-G
Hi is it possible to water the seeds by using a spray bottle. Thank you
Hello Gloria!
Loved this information about starting cactus from seed. I have some seeds that belonged to my Mother. I found them while cleaning out the house. Do you think these would germinate or would I be better off just pitching these in the garbage and buying fresh seeds? They are dated for the 2004 and 2009 growing season. Thanks for your help!!
Cheryl
Hi there Cheryl!
Succulent and Cactus seeds are known to be very sturdy and I really don’t think it would harm to try and grow them. Even if it’s just to see if those little ones can generate you some nice plants with emotional value. Your mom indirectly got them for you after all ;).
Please let me know if they still had some kick in them!
On behalf of Gloria,
– Chiron
Hi Gloria
I have succulent plants about 2 weeks old and I am wondering if it’s normal tht they stretch so much? Will they be ok? They don’t get direct sun just bright indirect sunlight. Do I need to move them?
Hi Linda,
First of all my apologies for the late response. Some unfortunate issues with my now former hosting company. But I’m back! Do you have an update on your succulents? I’m actually curious because I’ve never encountered what you describe. Are you sure you got succulent seeds? Succulents shouldn’t go thin or long. They’re not supposed to stretch that I know for sure. Please keep me updated. Really curious what this turned out to be!
On behalf of Gloria,
– Chiron
Hi! I am new to growing succulent seeds. Actually, I’ve never grown any before. But I just bought some seeds and this article was very informative! I had a couple of questions though. What is sowing and how do you know when to sow your seeds? Also, how do you know when it is okay to transfer your succulents to pots and how do you safely transfer them? How much sunlight should they be able to get? Is it alright if i just have them on a table near a window because we get a lot of rain where I live so I can’t have them outside. One more question, sorry! If I have holes in the bottom of my tray for drainage, should I keep something under the tray while they grow so no water gets on anything else? Thanks!
Hi. I just bought some succulent seeds from a company called glowing unicorn. When the seeds arrived I was bummed to see that they came from China. I have since been doing research on how to start them and what I need. Your Article was very helpful. I plan on sterilizing some cat litter and using a small Rubbermaid container with a lid, and poke holes in the bottom. I think they will do well on my kitchen windowsill, but who knows?? Hoping for some good variety but seeds all look the same, so not sure about anything right now. No instructions came with them. I am now subscribed to this newsletter!! Thanks😊
Hello Andrea, I feel you! I have been there. When you get your first succulent seeds, they all look the same and frankly they do to the naked eye. It’s a bunch of really tiny black pearls. The only way to see a difference is to look at them through a magnifying glass, but even then I could not tell what it is. That they are from China is not necessarily a bad thing. I had a few hits and misses with seeds from China, so there is hope. Crossing all fingers for you and wishing you the best of luck. – Love, G.
Thank you! I will keep you posted!
What’s a good source to buy seeds from? Any pointers?
Fantastic information, thank you!
You’re welcome. – Love, G.
If you are interested please refer to the page https://hatgiongtihon.net/hat-giong-hoa/hoa-mini-de-ban/
If I’m starting some seeds indoors, how much sun will they need? A south or west window or don’t they need much for the first weeks?
Hello, can you tell me which store you bought the cactus seeds? Thanks.
Thank you so much for this blog. I can’t wait to try this at home! Very clear instructions to follow. Cheers!
Hi Gloria… thank you for such useful guide…i have planted the seeds 5 days before…now most of the seeds sprouted…but it has some fungal growth in it…. kindly tell me what should I do now? Also how to care for those succulent babies hereafter?
Hello Sowmiya, sorry for the late reply – it is vacation season after all! =D The fungal growth happens due to two reasons. A: the planting medium was not sterile. B: it was too warm and too humid. Both issues are usually resolved by exposing the seedlings to a drier climate. Stop watering until the medium has nearly dried out. Caring for the seedling until they are big enough to transplant is straightforward. Wait until the medium has nearly dried out and then spray them with water until it is wet again. Alternatively, you can carefully pour water onto them. Once they are dry again, repeat the process. I tend to water them every 2-3 weeks. It depends on how humid the climate is that you live in. Hope this helps! – Love, G.
I love this! Have to give it a try for my upcomming wedding next year. I would love to use them as decoration but they are so expensive to buy.
They would make for beautiful decor, make sure to start them as soon as possible. Succulents are slow growers. – Love, G.
I love succulents so much but they are so hard to get where I live. Maybe I should try to grow my own.
hey there,
was just wondering which websites you order your seeds from… i had ordered some recently only to have them get intercepted by border control… didn’t even think of legalities.
This may seem like a stupid question but I live in the Arizona desert and I’m looking to grow some succulents, do you think they would grow fine using the sand from outside(which looks much like yours did when wet) or do you think that store bought would be safer?
Hello Cass,
there are no stupid questions. =) You could use sand from the outside, but I would sterilise it. Which means you either boil it in water or put it in a hot oven for about an hour to kill any germs or microbes that could harm the little seedlings. – Love, G.
When they are started and strong,, in what kind of soil do you transplant the succulents? Thank you!!
When do you transfer them to a pot? And how do you do that? What kind of pot do I need
im growing apple cactus from seed i would like to grow other type of cactus from seed is there anyone out there that can help me in getting the seeds
I like this. Thanks for sharing this interesting information.
the key of the seed grow is PATIENT!. thank you for sharing
HI Gloria,
Loved your blog. In one of the pictures i see seeds simply put on sand…like other seeds dont we need to add sand on top of it? Do they germinate in light simply under moist conditions?
Hello Nisha. Good question. Succulent and cactus seeds are indeed very different to the average flower or fruit/vegetable seed. They germinate best like this since that’s what happens in their natural habitat. Darkness can be induced by either covering them or placing them in a warm cupboard or dark place in your home. If that is something you wish to do. You can try to place them a tiny bit beneath the sand’s surface but that will drastically increase the time they need to reach the light. However, that increases the chance of failure for these type of plants since they already grow incredibly slow. Think of watercress or herbs like basil. Those seeds prefer to just be scattered on top. Different rules apply for certain seeds. Hope this helped and feel free to ask me more questions. Have a lovely weekend! – Love, G. =)
Thanks a million for your reply Gloria! Few more questions…for how long do we need to keep the moisture dome? Is it till the time they germinate or simply keeping the soil moist would work? I live in India where current temperature varies from 15 to 30 degrees with dry wintery air. So how often should we remove the dome or for how long should we keep it. Sorry if the question sounds silly or basic..but I am a complete newbie to this. Once again thanks in advance!
Gloria, today I received dolphin seeds from Japan and wonder if you have been successful germinating them?
Any idea how long it takes to germination? Any tips on germinating and growing would be appreciated.
If any of your group members have had success with these seeds please share your experience.
Thanks, Don
Hello Don, oh my gosh! I never heard of those or seen them and will definitely have to order some. Based on past experiences with similar plants I would use the same method I described in my post but I would sow seeds more sparingly. How did you come across those anyway? I’m dying out of curiosity! 😃 – Love, G.
Hi Gloria, They were a birthday gift from my daughter who thought she was buying me 20 of the plants.
It took almost 6 weeks for them to come from the Philippines. If you order them try to have them sent by airmail. Mine arrived in a small plastic package.
Maybe one of your readers have experience with them, you might ask in your blog.
Dolphin succulents is all the rage in Japan and it is heading to the USA quickly.
Don
thanks for sharing this nice topic
I just got dolphin succulent seeds
How do I start them? I have bonsai well draining soil do I use that to start or regular soil? Also what kind of tray do I use? Please help!!
I read online about germinating succulent seeds on damp cotton. I stretched and thinned out a piece of cotton and deposited 30 mesembs seeds (Amazon/China) on it with a dampened toothpick. That was two nights ago. Last night, I gave it a spritz with a mister to keep it moist. The seeds and cotton are in a small plastic container with removable top. Waiting patiently.
What’s your opinion about using cotton to get these small seeds going?
Hi. What seeds are those? I think I planted the same as those.. got 1 week result same as that in the picture. Thanks.
The symbol for pounds is written before the amount of money. For example you wrote:
“Remember that seeds will be quite inexpensive while plants will cost anything from 10£ up to 200£, or even as much as 1000£ for distinct collector species.”
In fact it should be “…£10 up to £200, or even as much as £1000…”
You might think that it’s a small mistake but if you consider that more children read websites than books or that they don’t bother to attend to their studies then you’ll realise that the small error or writing as you speak can become a big issue in the future.
Also it’s quite difficult to leave a comment when the text box uses light grey text on a white background. Perhaps you could make it more legible for people with vision problems who also want to be able to comment.
Thank you for your feedback and taking the time to point out the mistake. English is not my first language so mistakes like these can go entirely unnoticed for me no matter how often I proofread a post. About the comment section, I have not had any complaints until now, but I do see what you mean. I will see if I can get someone to help me change the font size and colour or find an entirely different plugin for it. – Love, Gloria.
Have you ever grown Dolphin Succulents from seeds? I am going to follow your advice in this article in hopes that my seeds start to grow within the next month or so. The only thing I’m doing diffrent is I am using a tomatoe tray instead and then I put it in a Ziplock bag to act as a green house. I sent you a follow request on Instagram and will tag you in a picture once they start growing.
Hi Gloria.I’m searching for the best npk ratio in fertilizer to help my succulents grow faster.High Nitrogen does this but I see many sites advice the ones with higher Potassium.What do you think?
I’d be thankful If you help me whith this.
hi could you please tell me at what age do you transfer the succulents into individual pots and what mix would you use to plant them in then please
Thanks for Post!
Succulent seeds are tiny! Find out how to grow succulents from these tiny seeds so you can expand your collection! It’s the cheapest way to get lots of plants, though it does take some patience.
Intresting, werden wieder hierher kommen einmal in eine Weile.
Shite
Thank you!
Thank!
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I really like it!