I'm growing lots of cacti from seed and a quarter of them after growing upto 1cm seem to start going transparent then turning to jelly and callapsing. Why is this?
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I'm growing lots of cacti from seed and a quarter of them after growing upto 1cm seem to start going transparent then turning to jelly and callapsing. Why is this?
Hi Elgin,
You don't give much detail as to growing medium, watering, environment, etc. but I suspect a fungal problem called damping off.* This site has some ideas to combat damping off.* I'm including the cached version so you can easily see where to find the info.
http://216.239.51.104/search?q=cache...lnk&cd=4&gl=us
Newt
hi,
thanks for reply. not sure if damping off is the prob as i don't see any evidence of that. they r in a propergator at a constant temp between 70 - 80c. they're grown in ready made cacti compost & i'm spray watering them every 4/5 days or when the soil look v dry. usually during the day i take the lid off and place them in light (not direct). i am wondering if the temp fluctuation is the problem. strangly they seem to grow fine to 1cm then start going transparent then sticky like jelly & callapse to the touch.
If it's not damping off then it's probably rot from keeping the soil too moist bu replacing the lid after you water.* Maybe you should keep the lid off for longer after you water or not put it back on at all.* Take a look at this first site and scroll down to - Propagation - Seeds.
http://www.cactusmuseum.com/care.asp
http://www.cactusmuseum.com/diseases.asp
Newt
hi,
yes, maybe i am keeping them in tropical conditions which is cooking some of them. i'll take yer advice and leave the top off as most have germinated anyway. thanks for your help.
glenn
Glenn, you are so very welcome!* One other procedure I find helpful with seedlings that I would think would also apply to cactus would be air movement.* This site is for growing herbs from seeds, but has loads of helpful info.
http://www.richters.com/newdisplay.c...=5440704.22962
From this site near the bottom of the page, which has other helpful info.
http://extension.missouri.edu/jasper.../globe/014.htm
"If you have a small fan, place it so that a gentle breeze flows over the small plants. A little air circulation makes them stronger, prevents some mildew-type diseases from forming, and helps them grow stockier."
Good luck!
Newt