Cultivation of Welwitschia mirabilis
Welwitschia mirabilis is one of the most interesting and rare plants in the world.
It's the only species of the whole family Welwitschiaceae, and it grows in the deserts of Namibia.
The only way to reproduce it is using its seeds, which have two large wings around the seed.
Seeds are rarely offered in the Net, however it's not impossible to find them! In order to obtain a good germination, I followed these steps:
Now you have obtained some plants (the percentage of success could be of 50-60%, depending also on the quality and helth of seeds), enjoy! :)
It's the only species of the whole family Welwitschiaceae, and it grows in the deserts of Namibia.
The only way to reproduce it is using its seeds, which have two large wings around the seed.
Seeds are rarely offered in the Net, however it's not impossible to find them! In order to obtain a good germination, I followed these steps:
- Sowing time: it's better sowing these seeds in late spring, early summer (April, May). It's also possible to sow them at the end of summer, but, if you don't have a greenhouse, the seeds will develop slowly.
- Preparation of seeds: seeds are sensitive to fungi attack, so I put them in a diluited solution of copper hydroxide (or other antimycotic) for a nigth. A low percentage of antimycotic is sufficient (using copper, it's sufficient that water assumes a light green-blue color). After that, I removed the wings around the seeds (it's very simple, since the long contact with water make the wings very soft and tender). Now, seeds are ready to germinate.
- Germination of seeds: in order to ease germination and prevent fungal attack, I put the seeds in a little plastic box, with the bottom covered with a wet paper. The box should be as trasparent as possible and covered with a trasparent cap. There should be some little holes in order to prevent excessive humidity. The box is put in a luminous plase, but direct sun must be avoid. The seeds should be kept humid, but without water stagnation.
- Potting of seeds: after about a week, the root will emerge from the seed. Be attention, the root grows very fast! When the root is clearly visible, you can put the seeds in single pots, using a classic succulent plants substrate, without organic substances (which could ease the growth of fungi), and paying attention to the root (don't break it!). Now cover the pot with a plastic bag in order to keep a high level of humidity (you can also cut some little holes in the plastic bag to avoid excessive humidity). Put the pots in a luminous place, not to direct sun, and keep the substrate humid, because young plants are sensitive to drought.
- First cares: the young plants will emerge in a week. keep the plastic bag and reduce watering, however avoiding drought. When the plants have developed long cotyledons, you can start to remove the plastic bag. You can do it regularly, for example totally removing the plastic bag for an increasing number of hours day by day. Be attention: in the first and the second year the plants are still sensitive to drought and direct sun, so be careful!
Now you have obtained some plants (the percentage of success could be of 50-60%, depending also on the quality and helth of seeds), enjoy! :)