Growing Fouquieria Formosa from seed?

[JonasGerminator]

I've googled a bit about germinating this specific species, but there's not much info other than general advice like "use a well draining soil mix when sowing these seeds". Has anyone here tried germinating these seeds? Is there anything special or is it just simple and basic techniques will do the trick (soak overnight in water, then in wet paper towels, then in moist soil)? I live in Eastern Europe (Lithuania) USDA zone 5-6, it's cold and wet here (except during the summer) so I will be growing the plant at home in a pot with some grow-light assistance.

[Minime8484]

I grow them from seed fairly regularly.
I start them inside under lights in the same sowing mix as my cactus seeds, but move them fairly quickly to outdoors in very indirect sunlight.
I find keeping them under lights indoors lets let them get too leggy, and they fall down.
They like moisture, but not long after germination, they need to be hardened off, and I remove them from the containers and open them up to fresh air. Lots of light is needed to harden up the stems in the early months.

[anttisepp]

I grow them from seed fairly regularly. <...>

Have you grown F. columnaris also? Any difference?

[Minime8484]

I grow them from seed fairly regularly. <...>

Have you grown F. columnaris also? Any difference?

I have (though not much - they are fairly readily available here). I don't see much difference with them.

[JonasGerminator]

I grow them from seed fairly regularly.
I start them inside under lights in the same sowing mix as my cactus seeds, but move them fairly quickly to outdoors in very indirect sunlight.
I find keeping them under lights indoors lets let them get too leggy, and they fall down.
They like moisture, but not long after germination, they need to be hardened off, and I remove them from the containers and open them up to fresh air. Lots of light is needed to harden up the stems in the early months.

Thanks for the reply, they were fairly easy to germinate, in just a few days the seeds had already sprouted and I put them in cactus soil mix (also I added Perlite for drainage). The little seedlings are looking lengthy, since there's not much sun here and outside is too cold (nights drop to as low as 5 C (40~ degrees Fahrenheit), I put them near a window and supplement with growlights during the evening/night.

[JonasGerminator]

They seem to be growing quite nicely, though I fear for them once the summer is over.

took the photos a few days ago

fouquieria formosas.jpg (210.38 KiB) Viewed 625 times

[Gee.S]

^ Really nice start!

[JonasGerminator]

^ Really nice start!

Thanks! It's growing quite nicely (albeit quite slow), they dropped leaves many times, which spooked me out, but they regrew almost instantly. After each leaf drops, it leaves a long sharp spike in its place. The plant on the right, is in the process of dropping its leaves yet again. Here's an update from today: