Producing, harvesting and sowing seed of Euphorbia's     Cultivation 
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         Producing, harvesting
                   and sowing seed 
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      Producing, harvesting and sowing seed
      As euphorbia seeds have a limited shelf-life, they are rarely offered 
      commercially.
      Pollination can be achieved using a brush with fine hair, and transferring 
      the ripe pollen from one cyathium (flower) to the stigma of that of 
      another plant. Be sure to clean the brush thoroughly after use to avoid 
      unexpected hybrids! Another way is to remove ripe stamens using fine 
      tweezers and using them immediately to effect a pollination.
            Pollination of Euphorbia bupleurifolia

            Taking pollen of a male plantTransferring pollen to the stigmaUsing 
            tweezers


      Harvesting seeds presents a problem. The fruits of euphorbias are hard, 
      woody capsules, made up of three segments, each containing a relatively 
      large seed. When the capsule ripens, it explodes and scatters the seeds 
      over amazing distances. A tried and tested method is to put a cotton pad 
      around the ripening capsule and so prevent the seed from flying away. 
      Nylon stockings can be used in the same way. In the case of particularly 
      valuable seed, the whole plant can be enclosed in thin gauze or nylon. 
            Seed capsules

            Euphorbia bemaharensisEuphorbia geroldiiEuphorbia 
            maleolensMonadenium pseudoracemosum


      A convenient and safer method to save the seed is to apply a thin layer of 
      glue to the already ripened capsules to prevent them bursting open. Fully 
      dried capsules can sometimes be collected whole and opened carefully from 
      the base.
            Applying a glue layer




            Euphorbia and Monadenium seed
            Each photo shows an area of 7 x 7 mm

            Euphorbia alfrediiEuphorbia groenewaldiiEuphorbia lupulinaEuphorbia 
            meloformis

            Euphorbia nubigenaEuphorbia pugniformisMonadenium 
            coccineumMonadenium mafingense



      Containers suitable for sowing are above all shallow plastic pots or trays 
      as they do not dry out so quickly and can easily be cleaned and 
      disinfected. The sowing medium should be light and poorer in nutrients 
      than normal commercial plant compost. A mineral soil can also be used, 
      such as fine to medium grade sand to which can be added a little finely 
      sifted peat. The soil should be thoroughly wetted by standing the 
      containers in water. 
      As conditions in the containers are also favourable for fungus growth, 
      sterilisation of the soil is recommended (about 20 minutes in an oven at 
      120 C with the soil evenly spread on a sheet). The soil can also be 
      disinfected with a fungicide such as Chinosol, but please read the 
      directions carefully or the tender seedlings may be damaged as they 
      germinate.
            Fungus in sowing soil



      Sow the seeds evenly and not too thickly on the surface of the soil, press 
      lightly and cover with a very thin layer of soil or sand no more than 
      twice the thickness of the seeds.
      During the period of germination, always keep the soil moist as letting 
      the soil dry even once can result in heavy losses. It can be helpful to 
      cover the trays with a transparent plastic dome or cling film.
      The temperature at night should not go below 18 C, although by day it can 
      rise as high as 40 C. 25 C is ideal. Basically higher temperatures bring 
      faster germination, but full sun should be avoided to prevent the young 
      seedlings scorching.
            Raising seedlings in a box

            Sowing boxContainers and potsSoil thermometerGerminated seedlings

      The short viability of euphorbia seeds should be noted. The percentage 
      germination can fall to 50% after only a few weeks. In general seed needs 
      to be dry and stored at 5 C in air and water proof containers. Dampness 
      or higher temperatures cause the viability to decline more quickly.
      As rainfall is irregular in habitat, not all seed germinates at the same 
      time to ensure some seedlings survive. Germination tends to occur in 
      waves, for example after one week, 8 weeks and 15 weeks. Furthermore, the 
      germination period also varies from species to species.
            Seedlings

            Euphorbia alfrediiEuphorbia breviramaEuphorbia bubalinaEuphorbia 
            enopla

            Euphorbia gottlebeiEuphorbia meloformisEuphorbia rossiiEuphorbia 
            thinophila









        
