Propagation of asterias from seed

[GK23]

G'morning GK23,

Variegated asterias need softer sunlight compared to normal ones to minimise sunburn problem.
It will be around 1000 lumens. (Full sun is 2000 lumens)

You can graft a seedling 2 days after germination but if you want to get a good success rate, 2~3 months old seedling should be grafted.

Frank

Thanks

[Hanazono]

One matured asterias, 15 cm in diameter has shown an unhealthy body colour and I could not see any growing for last one year.
I removed it from the pot and checked roots.

Before depotting


Result
Potting-mix was pumice sand base and the pot was filled up by fine root.
I removed long roots by hand. The photo is after removed long roots.


I trimmed off roots and checked rotting.
I could not see any rotted roots at all.
It will be repotted within several days.

[Hanazono]

2 asterias sown seeds in 2003 have pushed plastic pots out which is the time of the repotting.
I removed them from pots in this morning.
Both of them are around 16 cm in diameter.
They grew faster than others since they were small seedlings.

In pots




Just after removed from the pot
Pot is filled up by fine roots.
Potting-mix is pumice sand base.


After removed long roots
I will trim roots off and check rotting in the afternoon after dried soil completely.

[Hanazono]

I trimmed roots of asterias posted in the morning off as shown the attached photo.


Although several thick roots were developed, I could not any rotting.
All cutting faces of thick roots were white as shown.


I will repot after dried cutting faces.

[Hanazono]

40 miracle kabutos posted on 18th August were repotted in this morning.
Pots are 65 mm square and potting-mix is pumice base.
Top dressing is zeolite.


4 of variegated asterias also were repotted.

[ntang920]

G'morning ntang920,

The followings are my answer:

1) I have never used cinnamon. I use a furalaxyl fungicide, Fongarid.
2) A capillary mat is laid under pot. I feed water on the mat when it dried. I will open the container but I do not water into pots.
3) For the germination and 1~2 years old , zeolite etc. 3 years and older, pumice sand base mix.
4) Mixed inorganic and organic goes to the bottom and top is inorganic only which contacts seeds.

The germination rate of super kabuto is normally high if seeds were flesh enough which is within 1 year after harvesting.
The germination rate is poor If seeds are old even if your propagation method was correct.

Frank

Thank you so much! you've been so helpful

[rypasaur]

Hi Frank,

Could you describe what the "Royal" and "Miracle" type is? I see some posts about it, but I do not know what defines them

Thanks!

[Hanazono]

G'morning rypasaur,

Japanese have given the name of "Royal" on various species but if it was related asterias, the full name is Royal super kabuto.

Miracle kabuto
Mr Takeo, a Japanese cacti nursery man found an asterias with abnormal flecking in his imported asterias in 1890s.
It was crossed with various forms of asterias but the original character was not appeared on 1st filial species.
He thought he lost the gene but 1st filial species were given to 3 experts.
They crossed with various forms of asterias and picked up the character on 2nd filial species.
Since it was lost the character once and picked up on 2nd filial, the species was named "miracle" kabuto.

Miracle kabuto has fine cherry flower petal shaped flecking.
The flecking formation will start suddenly, means it is a mutation.
A matured plant shows very thick flecking.
The photo is a my miracle kabuto, a typical one.


Royal super kabuto
A super kabuto was also found by Mr Takeo in 1890s.
Super kabuto showed the character on 1st filial species.
The flecking size of super kabuto is larger than that of miracle kabuto.

Japanese tried to make whiter super kabuto and crossed repeatedly.
As the result of above process, super kabuto has been very white.
The photo is a my super kabuto.


Mr Iwata thought super kabutos were too white and moved to a opposite direction.
He crossed "riri kabuto x super kabuto" to show a distinct contrast, white flecking over azure body colour.
He give a name on the 1st filial species as "Royal super kabuto.
A royal super kabuto has less white flecking than a normal super kabuto but the body is azure colour.

The photo is a my ruri kabuto.


This is a my Royal super kabuto.


Frank

[Hanazono]

6 asterias potted in 65 mm square pots had started to push pot wall.
I repotted them into 8 cm square pots in this afternoon.

Top row: super kabutos
The body colour of centre one is not good and I checked roots. Some parts of roots rotted and removed.
The left one is a Royal super kabuto.

Bottom row: miracle kabutos

[Hanazono]

12 seedlings sown seeds in 2011 were selected for the repotting.
They were in 6.5 cm square pots and will move into 8 cm square pots.
I removed them from pots and trimmed roots.

Before removing pots
6 super kabutos and 6 red flowering asterias



2 matured asterias posted on 21st were repotted in this morning.
I used a special pot designed for orchid propagation.
Potting-mix is pumice sand base and the topdressing is black pebble.

[Hanazono]

12 asterias posted on 25th August were repotted today.
Pots are 8 cm square pots.

[Hanazono]

Photos are 1st filial astrophytum hybrids, hakuran-super (coahuilense x super kabuto).
Pots have been too tight and I will repot soon.
They are not asterias exactly but I put them on this thread.
I sowed seeds in 2006.

13 cm in diameter

10 cm in diameter

[A_G_R]

Good morning Frank,
These hakuran-super are really nice! Is hakuran a cv. of coahuilense?

[Hanazono]

G'morning alejandro,

No hakuran is not a cv of coahuilense.
The full name of hakuran is "haku-ranpo-gyoku".
Hakuran is the Japanese name for "standard form of coahuilence".

Frank

[A_G_R]

Thank you for the information Frank