Titanopsis repotting

[shimaza1]

I planted some Titanopsis mix at the end of 2016, and I've been happy with their growth. They've been out of the bag for over a month and they seem to be adjusting well to a cycle of being watered and dried out.

At what point should I start thinking about repotting? I realize (now) that I should've started them in a much more mineral based substrate, so I'd like to get them into that as soon as it's safe to do so. The pots have space for the plants to grow on the surface, but I've noticed that the roots are starting to grow out of the bottom of them. Is this a concern? I thought I'd have a good year before I'd have to think about repotting, so this is taking me by surprise.

If I do decide to repot, I'd like to group them into species. I'm assuming the flat ones are T. calcarea, but are the taller ones T. primosii or T. hugo-schlechteri? I can take better pictures if need be.

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[kristian_Fossmo]

Hello.

I have read that they are sensitive to root disturbance. Can`t give you any real advice on that because I have no experience in repotting them yet...But in case that they don`t make it, you are not that far into it yet so the loss would be easier to replace...still sad but...
The roots outside the bottom of the pot is not a concern, they just probably have a nice root system going.

This is mine, you can compare for id. I would say T. primosii.

T. primosii

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T. hugo-schlechteri

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T. calcarea

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[shimaza1]

Thank you for the response. I think you're right on the ID - definitely T. primosii.

I'm thinking I may repot them and see what happens, and post my results here. They were super easy to grow, even for a novice like me, so I could always try again if I have to.

[ricelg]

Yes, please do! I've got some still in the baggie so I'm a couple of months behind you

[adetheproducer]

I recently bought a clump of titanopsis calcarea. I cleaned the roots of the peat mix as I would a cacti to find it had split into 3 separate plants. I potted each in its own pot in my typical mineral mix and everything has been fine they grip back into the new soil very quickly. You have started them in a much better mix than peat so no need to clean the roots just wait for them to dry get them out of the pot and into a new one.

[shimaza1]

I used a "cactus mix" with some horticulture sand and quite a bit of perlite mixed in, so I think there's some peat in there. Should I use water to wash the peat off or work it off dry? I've been letting them dry this past week, so I hope to get it potted up this week.

[kristian_Fossmo]

I used a "cactus mix" with some horticulture sand and quite a bit of perlite mixed in, so I think there's some peat in there. Should I use water to wash the peat off or work it off dry? I've been letting them dry this past week, so I hope to get it potted up this week.

I use a soft paintbrush to clean the roots when they are dry. I always repot when the pots are dry, then I don`t need the seedlings to lay out to dry before I replant them. Just wait 5 days to a week then give them a light watering, has been working good so far, no die offs after replanting yet (knock on wood!).
But I know peat can be a little more problematic to clean of sometimes.

[shimaza1]

I repotted the Titanopsis seedlings. The peat caused a bit of a problem, and it took me quite a while untangling all the little roots caked in dried peat, but here's the end result.

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I was surprised by the amount of root growth (they were sown 12/24/16), and I did lose a lot of the fine roots.

They're repotted in a 85% mineral (mostly pumice, some decomposed granite) and 15% coco coir mix. I'll hold off watering for a week or so, and see how things go from here.

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Since the seeds were a mix, I'm still not 100% on what species each one is. I separated the seedlings into flat ones and tall ones. Hopefully, I'll know what they are for sure next time I repot them.

[greenknight]

Yes, Titanopsis have very extensive root systems - they should quickly grow more.

It might help the smallest ones to mist them a bit sooner.

[shimaza1]

I'm updating on my Titanopsis seedlings I repotted back in 3/19. I've watered them a couple times, and it seems they have survived and started growing again.

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Top half of the pics are from 3/19 and the bottom half are from today 4/9.

[kristian_Fossmo]

Looking good!

[Vipassana]

I just sowed some Titanopsis. I can only hope I get nice results like yours.

[greenknight]

Agreed, I wish mine looked that good.

[shimaza1]

Thanks, everyone! I think I just got lucky with these. I planted some Rebutia pulvinosa seeds at the same time, and I have 1/25 survivor of those.