Friday 12 February 2016

Growing Eriocaulon from seeds

 
Growing Eriocaulon from seeds is quite simple, just follow this instructions. Needed stuff: Plastic cups (coffee cups are ok), Transparent container with top cover, substrate, RO water and seeds. First make holes on the bottom of the cups:


As a substrate i am using ADA Amazonia mixed with some peat and coconut coir (potting soil also can be used, but note that Eriocaulon likes acidic enviroment so pH should be less than 7 - ideal pH is in range of 5.5 - 6.5):


Fill up the cups with this mixture (leave some space for powder type Amazonia):


Powder on the top:


Put cups in the container and fill it with RO water:


Do not overflow the cups! Water level should be 4-5mm under the soil level, otherwise seeds will float away!


Make sure the substrate is well soaked:


Pour the seeds on top:


Eriocaulon seeds are tiny!


Cover the container and place it under intense light (photoperiod at least 8h). Make sure the temperature is not too low or too high. Ideal temp. is 22-28'C


If you have done this correctly, the seeds will germinate in 5-15 days.



All you need to do now is to change the water once per week. After a month or so plants will be large enough for planting in the aquarium. You can also continue to grow them emersed and get more seeds.

You can buy Eriocaulon seeds HERE

3 comments :

  1. Hi, I've grown erio quinquangulare from seeds and now curious on how to pollinate the flowers from the plants to produce more seeds. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello, you can use small, soft paint brush. Take a look on this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TBufTVLZns

      Delete
    2. Also, from my experience, E. quinquangulare can take much longer (compared to other Erios) to produce seeds once flowered. That is about 3-4 months after pollination. You will notice that seeds are ready to collect when flower bud can be easily detached from the stalk.

      Delete