Item Tag: Soil

Five fresh seeds from 2023, from hand-pollinated flowers. Seeds of this species are not often available, but growing from seed is the best way to have success. Monsonia vanderietiae (formerly Sarcocaulon) is a relative of geraniums and pelargoniums with large flowers and succulent, shrubby, wisened stems that curl and grow horizontally. Some leaves are born on long petioles that turn into spines when the leaves die. The large, delicate flowers are white to very light pink and look like crepe paper. It is from a dry region with summer rainfall in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. This species is one of the easiest to grow in the genus and is a fairly opportunistic grower for a Monsonia and generally will not go dormant. Monsonias do not self-pollinate, so you will need two plants in flower to produce seed, thus seed is hard to come by. For more on this fascinating genus, google The Genus Sarcocaulon, written by Jean-André Audissou. Each seed is actually contained within a husk with a split down the side, and for best results, remove the seed itself by gently pushing on the ends of the husk and teasing the seed out. See: https://youtu.be/R-yMELF2pWc?t=486 for a demonstration. Seeds can be soaked for a few hours to improve germination, and should germinate in a few days at room temperature. To prevent rot, sow seeds in very well-draining soil that is 100% mineral (no potting soil). I use a mixture of Primera One Field Conditioner (Turface) and 1-4 mm pumice, but lava, leca, loam, and perlite would also be good options. Monsonia do not like to be transplanted, so sow in a fairly large and deep pot for a seedling, and minimize disturbance; plants grown from seed this way do the best. These plants appreciate a bit of fertilizer, so including a small amount of slow-release fertilizer in the soil or bottom-watering with a weak liquid fertilizer (e.g., DynaGro Bloom) are helpful. Give seedlings lots of light and air movement. They grow well indoors under lights, or outdoors, but keep above 40 F. For more on cultivating these species, see Toshiro Mori’s site on the Cultivation of Sarcocaulon from Seeds. Seeds should have high viability under the right conditions and remain viable for at least a year or two, however, since I cannot control the techniques and growing conditions used, I cannot warranty the seeds. However, I try to provide instructions to maximize your success, and hope that these plants grow well for you! I offer free shipping on additional purchases, so feel free to check out my other items. To combine items, please select “Add to Cart” instead of “Buy it Now”. Then go to your cart and click on “Request total from seller” and I will send you an invoice.