nice collection you got going here shimaza1.

I think the second gymnocalycium is a bruchii not baldianum.

We had a Tornado come through here in late Feb. The greenhouse survived better than the house! Only damage to the GH was the plastic ripped off the frame...just re-stapled it . All the trays got blown over. Most of the cacti was just laying around. pots and soil everywhere. only real loss was ALL my...

hello again everyone. I spent a 2 days in joshua tree and a few days in San Diego proper. I was very surprised to find all the ferocactus among the rocks at Joshua tree... you have to get off the beaten path a bit. Other pics are from the cactus garden by the Zoo. my friend was willing to pose for s...

Hello everyone. Here is a story in pictures of my first greenhouse. I had debated over a few months on how to build this taking into account: budget, cover material (plastic sheet/poly twin wall/ poly corregated panel), and local climate ( central Texas we get hot summers and somewhat mild winter wi...

awesome thanks for the replies... I will be sure to check those places out!

Hello all,

I am taking a quick trip to San Diego and Joshua tree Nat. Park.
Never been before and was wondering if yall could suggest any nurseries or places to visit!

thanks !

-lui

Thank you Hanazono and Steve for the advice. Maybe I am more humid here in central Texas. I'll try the coarser mix next time round. I am growing them in compost/sand mix with coarse pumice top dressing in a 72 cell plastic seed tray with a transparent lid (propagator). Perhaps I will take the lid of...

nice seedlings you have there Hanazono.
My experience with growing ariocarpus and astrophytum from seed results in about 2-3 month old seedlings suddenly turning transparent and mushy. Is this too much moisture? thanks

very nice images....you are so good at finding the hard to locate species...I am taking a trip out to Big Bend soon...I can only find Ariocarpus when in flower. ha.. never found any Lophophora yet...

I think this leaf mold compost you have made would work well as the "organic" part in your cactus soil mix. depending on your growing conditions and what type of succulents you are growing the ratio could be adjusted accordingly. Looks like nice rich compost.

nice. I have some gymnos about 2 yrs from seed as well. fun to see how they vary and come into their own character.

I have always used t8 shop lights on timers for sowing seeds in late fall/winter. Helps if you put them on a timer. Mylar emergency blanket for a big box store helps keep light from escaping.

it does help to have the scion be the same width as the width of the opuntia pad. I place my fresh grafts in a clear container for about 24 hrs. (this helps with the shrinking of the scion and opuntia pad. I use Opuntia ellisiana, a spinless form of Opuntia cacanapa. This grows native here in TX and...

Thanks snarfie. Here are some updates. I was at a local nursery and came across a bunch of degrafted mammillarias, asked the owner what he was doing with the mytrillocactus stocks and he said I could have them for a 1$ each. So I bought the whole lot, they aren't pretty but they work. :shock: Perfec...

updated graft on pereskiopsis. sulcorebutia has burst into growth. astro variegated has colored up nicely and is starting to make offests