Escobaria minima etc.

[keith]

the Echinocactus keep germinating getting a little over crowded in there I was not expecting more than one or two Echinocactus to show up.

[keith]

Some of my pots are getting mold esp. the Echinocereus Horizonthalonius so I sprayed 3% hydrogen peroxide in the pot, this makes the soil bubble up a bit.

Sanding the Echinocereus Horizonthalonius seeds really helped with germination I planted another pot and am getting seedlings after about 1 week. Sprayed that pot with H2O2 also.

My first 2 pots don't need the H202 spray I got them up and in dryer air they are fine. the other pots I kept too wet , then too dry then too wet again. Gets tricky trying to save a pots of seedlings as the tiny plants die off one at a time.

I think a fungus gets in the pot damping off fungus.

[iann]

Looks like at least two different species in that "Echinocactus" pot?

[keith]

yes you are right there are a few different things in there it was an experimental pot with the echinocactus seeds getting a few swipes over 100 grit sand paper.

I also put epithelantha in there in case the echinocactus didn't germinate. Maybe some other stuff also ? I planted another pot all echinocactus same sand paper on the seeds and keeping the pot dryer.

I took some high magnification pictures of one of the sanded seeds I can post that as soon as I find them ??

[keith]

Echinocactus horizonthalonius seed sanded on one side

[keith]

another view

[keith]

Fall Update. Dry now no more fungus

[keith]

I think in the mixed pot there is Echinocactus Horizonthalonius, Epithelantha, Echinocereus pectinatus, Mammillaria pectinifera, Echinomastus mariposensis.

I threw them all in didn't think I would get much germination. Suffered a pretty good fungal attack which took out about half of them.

I grow them outside in a screen box. Could use more heat I'm sure.

[cjbaker]

The seedlings are looking good and numerous. I like the clover indicator, will have to try that myself—I usually just pull them out.

[iann]

Some people say Mammillaria albiflora is difficult to grow from seed, but you seem to have them doing well. You do know there is about five times as much below ground as above, right?

[keith]

Mammillaria albiflora is difficult to grow from seed'

yea I thought so too. I recently had good luck with M. herrerae also after many years of poor germination.

Years ago I talked to Steven Brack from Mesa Gardens about this and he said he gets either very low germination or very high germination with this species.

Tap roots yes they are like little carrots. None of my mother plants of albiflora flowered this year so no more seeds. They seem to be unreliable flower producers for me.

[keith]

Various seedlings and small cactus in a bench outside covered with shade cloth. Have to watch for mealy bug and spider mite this time of year or they will run wild.

[AaronR]

The set-up Outside in California. They all stay in here for many years until I add them to my larger cactus collection. 70% shade cloth plus they are under a Ginko tree.

I think anyone can grow cactus from seed with a little practice.

Photo in this post looks awesome. I can only hope for such good results!


Is the wire covering on the small ones for shade or bugs??

[Mark]

Your seedlings look great! Do you fertilize when watering?


Mark

[keith]

The screen is for shade, mice, bugs and to hold water if I spray from above. I use plastic coverings at first then transition to window screen after a few months or less. No fertilizers but I do use pesticides.

Rain water is best for germination. Rain is usually over by April in my area so I need to get some pots planted pretty soon. Screen on top then put sowed pots out in rain. After rain is over they go on my heat mat with plastic coverings. Germination takes about 2 weeks to start and can go on sporadically for years after that.