“I was gifted Sinocrassula yunnanensis seeds. What’s the best way to germinate seeds.” Question from Lizzy of Ocala, Florida

Answer: The seeds of the rare Asian succulent Sinocrassula yunnanensis need some care for effective germination. The beautiful plants have nearly black foliage and form dense, succulent clumps. Bloom time is in fall or early winter, and the flowers are ivory with red tips.

The seeds should not be covered when sown. They need to be planted in winter and kept under cool growing conditions (65 to 55 degrees F) beneath grow lights. Plant them in a well-drained Seedling Mix with lots of extra perlite. The seeds should take 2-3 months to germinate. After germination, water the seedlings very little to avoid any chance of rot. The soil should be kept just lightly moist. When they get large enough to transplant, plant them in a very well-draining potting mix, such as Black Gold Cactus Mix.

Happy gardening,

Jessie Keith

Black Gold Horticulturist