If you already have your Lophophora seeds, but you don't know how to start germinating them, don't hurry! The first thing you should know is that the fundamental ingredient for growing any species of Lophophora is patience. The germination of this cactus is perhaps the most difficult part of the whole process, so it is important that before you get down to work, you spend time getting the ideal materials and finding out what the optimal conditions are.
Many of our customers have doubts about this process, that's why we have decided to dedicate a space in our blog to it. Let's get started!
SEEDS
First of all, we will need dry seeds that do not contain organic matter. Check our website and choose the variety you like the most to make sure you buy pure and quality seeds.
GROWING BOX
For planting you need a translucent grow box, which ideally also has a lid (you can also cover it with cling film). Its size should be at least 3 cm high for the substrate and there should be 5 to 20 cm of space between the lid and the substrate. You should make 1 to 2 mm holes in the lid for air exchange to prevent the growth of fungi and algae. It is also important to perforate the base of the container so that there is no excess watering and the roots do not rot.
SUBSTRATE
We will need that our substrate is purely mineral. In this way, we provide the cacti with the nutrients they need. It should not contain any organic components, otherwise there is a risk of fungal attack. Our ideal mix is: pumice, lava, sand and zeolite.
WATER
Once the mixture is made, we must moisten it, without watering it. Just make sure that all the soil is slightly moist.
LOCATION
We will need a luminous place, but without direct sunlight. For example, you can choose a south-facing window in your apartment. If you do not have access to light, you can use fluorescent tube lamps.
MOMENT OF SOWING!
The ideal is to do it between March and August. The first thing will be to cover the bottom of our box with the substrate mixture that we have prepared. We press evenly until we get a height of about 3 to 3.5 cm. We must distribute the seeds in the ground and press them very gently with some fine element. Do not place them too deep. Finally, place a thin layer of bird sand or aquarium gravel on top of the seeds. Make sure the layer is thin enough for the seeds to receive light. Moisten everything again and you can close the container. Avoid at all costs that the container becomes waterlogged.
The first visible results can be observed after 1 or 2 weeks. It is necessary to re-wet the container if the surface dries out (usually daily at first). A trick is to observe whether the container is fogged or not to assess whether there is sufficient moisture. The lid can be removed when the plants look firm.
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