Tuesday 25 September 2012

How To Grow Hoodia Gordonii From Seed

Introduction to Hoodia Gordonii

Hoodia Gordonii is a succulent plant. It is native to South Africa and Namibia. This succulent was discovered by Robert Jacob Gordon in 1779 but he first misidentified it as a closely related genus, Stapelia. Hoodia Gordonii has medicinal properties, it is used by the indigenous people of South Africa to treat indigestion and small infections, they also use this succulent for the main effect, appetite suppression, for long hunting trips through the Kalahari Desert.

How To Grow From Seed

Things you will need

Pots
Viable Hoodia Gordonii Seeds
Perlite
Horticultural Sand
Miracle Grow Potting Mix
Mini Greenhouse


First of all mix your potting ingredients, mix it using these ratios, 50% sand, 25% perlite and 25% miracle grow. Mix everything evenly. Put the mix in the pot and pat it down with a spoon lightly to make the surface flat.


Moisten the mix but make sure it is not too soggy, if it is the seeds will rot. Put each seed on your finger tip and lightly press it in to the mix. Now put the pots in your mini greenhouse and cover it with the top. Place the mini greenhouse in partial shade. Once or twice a day open the top to let in fresh air to prevent the stagnant air causing mould. Keep the greenhouse in temperatures between 20C - 24C. If you have fresh seeds they should germinate within 3 days (Mine took 2 days).


Here is a seedling that took 2 days to germinate and a extra day to drop the shell


This is five days later after germination. It is now alright to put the seedlings in a more brighter location, to receive more sunlight.


Here is a picture of the same seedling two weeks later in full sun.

Watering and Fertilizing

Watering should be done once the soil dries up. Fertilizing should be done after six months of growth and should be done once every two weeks. Personally I found that Maxicrop Cactus Fertilizer is best, it has a NPK ratios of  4.3   5.1   6.8

30.03.2013 UPDATE: