Hey, friend, We're saying the same thing; we understand one another's intention. Spence has a good suggestion in that the reddish tone would protect new cell growth. The thickness of the blades would block light penetration better for the young cells while the plant's cuticle and epidermis grows. I ...

Spence's thought parallels my own thinking: the initial pigmentation is a protective mechanism to the new growth. I would wonder if the chlorophyll is developing and underlying the pigmentation, and the pigmentation fades as the chlorophyl becomes more pronounced in growth. Sort of like in trees in ...

Plants at reasonable prices!

Interesting informational paper from this video--

http://www.sarracenia.com/temp/roberts-burleigh.pdf

Good eye, or great glasses! Those are tiny.

Very interesting--thanks, Keith.

Hi, Mrs. Green, I too would buy it now, before it gets later in the season, while they are available. I have LW's from seed this size right now; the adult characteristics are beginning to form and show at 16 months. Last year they didn't exhibit signs of dormancy due to their young age, and I contin...

Excellent find, Fred. Thanks for pointing it up!

The newest addition to my collection, a Mammillaria perezdelarosae subs. andersoniana seedling! This thing is very small; for scale the pot it's in is 2.25" in diameter. Potted in pumice screened to 1/8" and pea gravel (60%/40%). Mammillaria-perezdelarosae.jpg That little one is a stunnin...

Regarding your question: The Cyanobacteria, Microcoleus forms/helps to form the desert crust on the soil, as the link said (or one of the others I followed). This crust helps to keep the soil from blowing away in the wind. I'd say that's a huge benefit to the root systems of cacti. The soil does no...

FRED! Thank you for the clarification--I was feeling like a really bad dad to my little ones for a while. I just couldn't figure out how yours were SO MUCH BIGGER! I should have read the post differently. And thanks for the link--I really need to consider a better system for the watering.

That's good to know, Fred. I tend to agree with the feeling of when your seedlings are ready, or needing, to come out of nursery care. It's not helping that I sowed four types in the same container--each species seems to want something different. I tried describing the intermittent periods of moistu...

Hi, Frank--

It's fantastic to follow your work in this line. The topics are wonderful, the specimens are beautiful, and the information is invaluable.
Thank you for sharing all of this with us. The ario seedlings are impressive, and your care for them is impeccable. Truly inspiring.

My bad. Apologies.