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Turquoise Puya

 

Cyrtanthus falcatus

Germinating the seeds

 

It's normal for some of the papery seed coat to break off during shipping or planting, but avoid damaging the thicker embryo, since it's fragile

 

 When to plant -- Start your seeds immediately for the best germination - don't store them.

Getting started -- These seeds sprout well by soaking them in water - see: Sprouting seeds in water.  To begin, put them in a small cup of water, and place it in a spot that will stay between 68 and 78 degrees F (20-26°C) during the day.  A bit cooler at night is ok.  Avoid letting them get above 80 degrees F (27°C) for prolonged periods.  I recommend placing a minimum/maximum thermometer near the cup. 

 Keep it in a bright spot out of direct sun.  A bright LED panel or bulb kept 3 inches (8 cm) away provides the right amount of light (See: "Growing indoors with LED lights").

 Replace the water every day.  They should start sprouting within about 2-3 weeks, and continue for another month, but occasionally longer. 

 Once a root appears, gently repot the seed into a well-draining soil mix.  A typical mix is 2 parts potting soil to 1 part perlite (use small- or medium-size perlite, not large chunks).  Use small containers or cups with drainage holes.  Plant the seed with root tip down, and completely cover the root with soil, but don't bury the seed too deeply.

 The first leaf will appear after about a month.  Until then, keep the humidity high around the seeds.  An easy way to do this is to enclose the pots in a plastic dome.  Leave it open slightly for fresh air to enter, to prevent rot.  Keep the pots at the same temperature as described above.  Drip some water over the seeds daily to keep the root moist. 

 An LED panel kept 4 inches (10 cm) away provides the right amount of light (See: "Growing indoors with LED lights").

Fertilizing -- Once a leaf appears, give a small amount of dilute (1/8 strength) liquid fertilizer, and repeat 2 and 4 weeks later.  Hydroponic fertilizer is ideal for small seedlings, because it is easily absorbed and contains all essential nutrients.  After 2 months, you may switch to a granular fertilizer that contains micronutrients, following the dosage on the package. 

Try to keep the plants above 45 degrees F (7°C) the first 2 years.

Tips on growing older plants

Have fun growing them!

- Jeff

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