Mesa Garden is, of course, the OG. My second favorite source of seeds is Rob Romeo's Etsy shop, Three Deserts. He has some really unique stuff, and the germination rate I've gotten from his E. polycephalus is double what I've gotten from any other source. I've also bought from Phoenix Desert Seeds ...

Nino_G wrote: ↑Sat May 04, 2024 5:23 pm I can't help you with the first one, but second one is Notocactus (Parodia) ottonis. At that size you may expect flowers very soon.

#2 agree
#1 Best guess: Ferocactus glaucescens

The cost for storing large files has plummeted in the last few years. I think your request for using larger images is very logical, and since the days of using dial-up have all but vanished, this site is way overdue for a timely upgrade.

What treatment was used? They look healthy!

With a few exceptions, most types of prickly pear, and chollas (as adults) like to grow in sandy loam. The sandy soil found near streams works well. I would transplant the newest seedling to that type of soil soon. The other one seems to look healthy, so I would leave it alone for now.

Lucy_V wrote: ↑Fri May 03, 2024 2:37 pm For the first one I could suggest M.karwinskiana, for the second - check M.rhodantha, M.pringlei or nivosa. When it blooms the flowers will help to narrow down the species.

Your suggestion for #1 looks quite likely.
As stated earlier #2 could be M. columbiana. Possibly ssp yucatanensis

What does a packrat do with a cholla? Although I've never seen them carry them off, I have seen many rodent nests in the desert, and they often are surrounded with cholla branches. There are 2 theories that I've heard of as to why. They like to use them as ornaments, or more likely to deter snakes. .

Although curious birds often disturb or remove small succulents from my collection, they don't usually touch chollas. OTOH, almost all rodents like them, especially pack rats. I use 2 methods to deal with them; humane traps, and deterrent spray. Growing plants here in the desert comes with having to...

It's been a few years since I grew these from seed, but if nobody else responds, I thought this response is better than nothing. like all the other species of this genus, they typically germinate quickly. After a few days I removed them from a humid environment to avoid rot, like many other succulen...

The carefully controlled conditions which you stated obviously describe your serous determination to achieve your germination goals. If you don't mind my purely anecdotal suggestions, maybe they could boost your results in any future attempts. I've been growing cacti from seed for many years. My fir...

This looks like your Mammillaria III

Perhaps M. klissingiana

Or possibly a close relation of Mammillaria tlalocii = Mammillaria huitzilopotchlii since the central spines are usually produced on older plants, often intermittently or not at all. huitzilopotchli.jpg huitzilopotchli2.jpg Agreed. Another possibility is the enigmatic M. sp. FO 229 : https://cactus...

This is how I start dudleyas from seed, tray of peat based seed starting mix, tapped on the ripe seed pods over the tray (around sept). Water and cover with a dome and leave in moderate light in the greenhouse all winter, keeping it moist. Typical night lows in the 30's and 40's. Dudleya grow on mo...

jerrytheplater wrote: ↑Fri Mar 29, 2024 2:52 pm It sounds like you are thinking of making layers in your pot. That is not correct. You need to mix your potting mix thoroughly.

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