•
1 5

speedy-seeds.co.uk

Hechtia Texensis (Texas False Agave) | 20+ seeds

£4.99 GBP
£4.99 GBP
Sale Sold out
Tax included.
Please find for sale 20+ seeds for Hechtia Texensis, commonly known as the Texas False Agave.

This is a stunning and rare Bromeliad that originates from the Rio Grande in Texas! Possibly the most cold hardy of all Bromeliad but not tolerant of cold AND wet so in the UK best grown as a house plant that can spend its summers on the patio.

PLEASE NOTE: ALL ORDERS RECEIVED BEFORE 8PM (MON-FRI) WILL BE DISPATCHED SAME DAY

SAVE PACKAGING MATERIALS  - SEE MY OTHER INTERESTING & UNUSUAL SEEDS & PLANTS

INSTRUCTIONS - TO SAVE PAPER I NO LONGER SEND OUT WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS TO CUSTOMERS. INSTRUCTIONS ARE BELOW SO PLEASE BOOKMARK THIS PAGE. FEEL FREE TO MESSAGE ME WITH ANY GROWING QUESTIONS.


Germination Guide 
  • Soak seeds for 24 hours in tepid water
  • Prepare a seeds tray of perlite/sand mix or a cactus compost mix
  • Potting mix should be moist but not wet
  • Prepare a seed tray and gently smooth the surface flat (but do not press hard and compact the compost)
  • Sow the seeds individually on the surface 1cm apart and very gently press onto soil to ensure a good contact.
  • Cover with losely fitted clear plastic bag
  • Keep seeds tray at around 21c in a light place but out of direct sunlight
  • First seedlings should appear within 2 weeks but germination may be up to 8 weeks.
  • After germination, increase ventilation to reduce the risk or rot/damping off
  • Ensure compost is kept moist but not wet - nest to place seed tray inside a waterproof tray and water from the bottom. The surface can also be misted if drying out
  • After about 5 weeks, the compost should be allowed to dry out between watering to replicate natural conditions
  • Pot on as required



General Guide to Seed Sowing!

I love sowing seeds and it runs in the family - dad, grandad and finally my great-grandad for whom the hobby helped him get over his experiences in the Great War. I still get a big kick when I see the first seedling poking through from a new plant that I have never sown before or been successful at. However, even the most experienced gardeners draw "blanks" from time to time. Whilst I sow all the seeds that I sell so I know that they are viable, some are trickier than others and problems can arise so here are some tips to make "blanks" few and far between:

1) Dont Rush! Tempting though it is when that packet arrives in the post to simply bung the seeds in some compost!


2) Google and Youtube are your friends! Take some time so see the methods other people use to germinate the seed. 

3) Think Nature! What conditions do seeds face? For example a seed from a tropical plant will fall to the warm, wet and dark jungle floor. A seed from the mountains of Europe will fall to the floor in Autumn, then have to endure months of freezing temperatures before germinating in the spring. So as growers, what we are trying to do is to simulate the conditions that the seeds will naturally experience and there are plenty of tricks that can be done to short cut the processes somewhat.

4) Good compost pays dividends . The best investment you can make is to purchase three bags - one of potting compost, one of vermiculite and one of horticultural sand. With these three bags I can make up whatever soil type a particular seed likes (although for most seeds I find a 50/50 mix of compost and vermiculite works just fine) 

5) Rot is your enemy. The single biggest danger to seed germination is rot - either before germination or after "damping off" when the seeds germinate. To reduce the risk, ensure you have good free draining soil mix and that it is moist but not wet. The best investment you will make is a bottle of (very cheap) 4% hydrogen peroxide (mixed with water 1:4) - this disinfects and also encourages germination. Unless the seed variety absolutely requires it I prefer NOT to cover my seeds trays with plastic bags, Whilst germination is often faster this way, it greatly increases the risk of rot. I prefer to place my seed trans inside a watertight plastic tray and water from the bottom - airflow over the surface reduces the risk. The surface is kept moist as required by spraying with my water/peroxide mix (see above)



Any problems? Don't rush to Feedback - message us first and we will get it sorted quickly!

Materials

Shipping & Returns

Dimensions

Care Instructions

Image with text

Pair text with an image to focus on your chosen product, collection, or blog post. Add details on availability, style, or even provide a review.

  • Free Shipping

    Pair text with an image to focus on your chosen product, collection, or blog post. Add details on availability, style, or even provide a review.

  • Hassle-Free Exchanges

    Pair text with an image to focus on your chosen product, collection, or blog post. Add details on availability, style, or even provide a review.