Can You Grow Succulents from Seeds?

Okay, so you are a succulent lover and maybe already have some succulents in your home. Wouldn’t it be great if you could grow succulents from seeds on your own! So let’s discuss

Can you grow succulents from seeds? Yes, succulents can be grown from seeds provided the right temperature, light, humidity, growing media, and water is given to seeds that are required for their germination. Succulent seeds are very small so they should be carefully handled while planting them.

Let’s dive in a little deeper and discuss a little more about how hard is it to grow succulent from seeds, the challenges, and also some related questions. Keep reading till the end if interested.

Is Growing Succulents from Seed Hard?

Is Growing Succulents from Seed Hard? No, growing succulents from seeds is not very hard to do. Since the succulent seeds are small it does take care and patience while growing succulents from seeds. It is important to select the right seed and provide the right environment for seed growth.

Let’s discuss some of the challenges you can face

Succulent Seeds Are Small

Succulent seeds are so small that wind can blow them away. So, it is advised to sow the succulent seeds in some sheltered areas.

Also, you have to carefully spread and pick up the seeds while sowing them. You have to do all these delicately and make sure that the seeds are planted properly.

Selecting The Right Succulent Seeds Can Be Challenging

Since the succulent seeds are quite small, it really becomes hard to identify them by just looking. So, you need to get the right seeds from a trustable source.

If you have a local nursery near you which you can trust, then it is well and good. However, if you are going to buy online then you have to be very careful.

You would have to read all the descriptions and reviews properly. You won’t need to sow the seeds and later on realize that they weren’t really succulent seeds.

It Can Be a Slow Process

Although, like other plant seeds, succulents should germinate within a few days or weeks. However, there are certain succulent seeds that take quite a long time to germinate.

For example, as per mountaincrestgardens.com, certain succulents like Sempervivum can take years to bloom and produce seeds.

Outcome Is Not Predictable

It can be an unpredictable process to grow succulents from seeds. Most of the popular varieties of succulents are cultivated varieties that are generally bred and propagated by humans.

In nature, they do not grow true from seeds. And so a seedling of that succulent might look very similar to its parents but it could be completely different.

In the case of naturally occurring species, if the parent plant is cross-pollinated then the resulting plant may not be the same as its parents.

Due to all these reasons, it again becomes important to select the right quality seeds.

How Do You Get Seeds from Succulents?

To get seeds from succulents first it is needed that the succulent blooms. Once the succulent blooms, it should be pollinated either manually or naturally which then gradually results in the development of a seedpod from which the seeds can be collected.

If you already know a little bit about gardening then you might already know the importance of pollination.

See flower is the reproductive organ of any plant. So, if you want seeds then you are going to get from that part only. Seed is formed once the pollination is completed.

If you have grown your succulent outdoors, then you know that natural pollinators like bees, insects, will take care of the pollination.

However, if you are growing the succulents indoors then you have to take care of the pollination by yourself.

If you don’t pollinate then also the succulents will not have any beautiful flowers, and there won’t be any seeds.

Now to manually pollinate you need some pollen. You have two options, either collect the pollen covered another or you can use a simple paintbrush to collect the pollen.

After that, you have to gently rub the pollen on the flower’s stigma.

Moreover, there can be a case where you may want to pollinate even succulents outdoors. This occurs mainly when you want to breed two particular succulents together or maybe you want to create a hybrid.

In that case, you may even need to cover the flower petals so that the natural pollinators may not cause pollination and add pollen from unwanted plants.

So once you complete the pollination, as per sublimesucculents.com, depending on the type of succulent you may need to wait from a few weeks to a few months for the development of seed pods.

If the pollination occurred successfully then you would notice swelling at the base of the flower. This swelling is actually the development of the seed pod.

After the seed pods have developed you have to allow the flower and the seed pod to dry out and then you can collect seeds.

Conclusion

Growing succulents from seeds can be a little challenging and sometimes might even be a time-consuming process. But if you are passionate about growing succulents from seeds, provide the right conditions for their growth and germination, then hopefully you’ll be able to see the best results.

Related Questions

How Long Does It Take to Grow Succulents from Seeds?

As a general rule, it takes around three days to a few weeks for the seeds to grow based on the factors like temperature, sunlight, and the type of succulent. However, some seeds may even take several months to a year to germinate and grow.

Do Succulent Seeds Need Light to Germinate?

Yes, succulent seeds need light to germinate just like all other types of plants. The tray containing the seeds should be kept in bright indirect sunlight. Direct sunlight can cause harm and the temperature should be maintained constant at least 70°F (21°C) to germinate.

Should You Soak Succulent Seeds?

Yes, you should soak succulent seeds preferably in warm water for about 30 mins. Doing this will help in loosening the seed coat and thus activates germination. Some seeds that have a tough seed coat might need to be soaked in warm water for a few days.