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Tom in Tucson wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2023 8:48 pm Finding seed is either expensive, difficult to import, or too risky to gamble ordering. I'll report back if I locate a good source

Tom,
I really am not familiar with your legislative but it is a bit surprising to me that seed of a local/native species is not readily available in Arizona. Are there no specialized nurseries which grow them to produce seed?
I can give you a link to a reliable cacti seed dealership in EU which have 15 species/subspecies/varieties of Navajoa/Pediocactus peeblesiana at reasonable prices (about 7€/10 seeds), but since it's a CITES I listed species you would be obliged to pay for phytosanitary certificate and a CITES permit which is additional 118€ or 129$ + shipping costs.

Aiko wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2023 9:27 pm Seeds are indeed expensive. But not difficult to find. Many of the Czech seed lists offers Pediocactus peeblesianus. If they are willing to send some seeds in a bubble wrapped envelope (and not in a box), I am quite certain they can easily pass customs without difficulty.

Perhaps customs don't pose an obstacle in your country, but here the only country which doesn't seem to need special routing through our department of agriculture (USDA) is France (so far). Although getting a USDA permit is not that difficult, it can not only impede prompt delivery of seed, it can also have 2 drawbacks; the confusion with some inspectors about the need for a phytosanitary certificate (if they think it heeds one, they will confiscate your order), and even if they don't confiscate, they usually will bill you for their shipping charge., which further delays the process.

Nino_G wrote: ↑Sat Nov 18, 2023 2:29 pm

Tom in Tucson wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2023 8:48 pm Finding seed is either expensive, difficult to import, or too risky to gamble ordering. I'll report back if I locate a good source

Tom,
I really am not familiar with your legislative but it is a bit surprising to me that seed of a local/native species is not readily available in Arizona. Are there no specialized nurseries which grow them to produce seed?
I can give you a link to a reliable cacti seed dealership in EU which have 15 species/subspecies/varieties of Navajoa/Pediocactus peeblesiana at reasonable prices (about 7€/10 seeds), but since it's a CITES I listed species you would be obliged to pay for phytosanitary certificate and a CITES permit which is additional 118€ or 129$ + shipping costs.

If you read my reply to Aiko, you can understand the importation obstacles which are often involved.

Unfortunately, although logically it would seem beneficial for the preservation of our native threatened species to encourage the propagation of the species from our state, the current bureaucracy overseeing our native flora and fauna (the Arizona Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office) currently doesn't encourage this clearly positive practice to be acceptable or allowable.

Tom in Tucson wrote: ↑Sun Nov 19, 2023 2:38 am Perhaps customs don't pose an obstacle in your country, but here the only country which doesn't seem to need special routing through our department of agriculture (USDA) is France (so far).

Well, I do send seeds around the world including the US. And for as far as I know almost every envelope makes it safely.
The key is probably to keep things simple, a simple envelope that is not too bulky, will pass fast and easily through customs here and a few days later at the customs of the destination.

If a seed seller is not able to send seeds like this, I am sure a contact locally can order on your behalf and send things over to you. I have helped other people out this way and others have helped me out getting some seeds from the US, Australia or the UK (since Brexit), and the other way around.

Seedlings of S. disciformis, almost two years old. Plants are 3-5mm in diameter.

Seedlings of strombocactus disciformis grow very slowly.
I sowed many seeds but about 50 seedlings have servived. The photo is some of them, 10~15 mm in diameter.

Hanazono wrote: ↑Mon May 06, 2024 3:48 am Seedlings of strombocactus disciformis grow very slowly.
I sowed many seeds but about 50 seedlings have servived. The photo is some of them, 10~15 mm in diameter.

Yes, they're not much faster than Aztekium species. Price is much lower, though (at least in Europe), due to low demand. How old are your seedlings?

G'morning Nino_G,

Yes, they're not much faster than Aztekium species. Price is much lower, though (at least in Europe), due to low demand. How old are your seedlings?

Seedlings on the photo are 6 and a half years old.

The germination rate of good seeds is quite high. I am not sure but it may give lower price.
The attaced photo is seedlings just after the germination, in January 2019.

Frank

Strombocactus do you grow them enclosed in plastic ? They germinate easy but so small and more difficult than other tiny seed succulents like lithops. Dry out or rot is my experience.

keith wrote: ↑Tue May 07, 2024 1:50 am Strombocactus do you grow them enclosed in plastic ? They germinate easy but so small and more difficult than other tiny seed succulents like lithops. Dry out or rot is my experience.

Yes, I use the same procedure as for other slow growing species (e.g. Aztekium). Seeds are sown in a sterile conditions and left in a closed container for at least a year. Then, the fresh air is introduced gradually and slowly over period of several months, during which time the seedlings are kept damp permanently. This is very sensitive period of aclimatization when some losses should be expected. Seedlings are left in original container for about 1,5-2 years before they are transplanted for the first time.

Here is the link to YouTube video which describes the method very similar to what I practice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjpwE3E3mHU

I do the same, use weck jars that are sealed for at least one year with two small pots with the seedlings inside it. But I just open the jar after a year without any acclimatisation. After that one year I just treat them the same as any 0 year old seedlings onwards.

G'morning keith,

Strombocactus do you grow them enclosed in plastic ? They germinate easy but so small and more difficult than other tiny seed succulents like lithops. Dry out or rot is my experience.

I sow seeds in a 10 cm square pot. Pots are accommodated in a large plastic box which is 80 cm x 40 cm x 16 cm depth. The box has a lid with 28 holes. Holes are 5 cm in diameter which are for the ventilation. A capillary mat is laid on the bottom of the box. 21 pots are possible to accommodate in the box.

Pots are wrapped by food wrapping plastic sheet during the germination process. Wrapping sheet is removed after the completion of germination but pots are kept in same box.

Water over the capillary mat when it was dried.

Frank

Hi Frank, how are you doing?
I just found those two plants in my greenhouse, both grow from "Miracle" labeled seeds - the mother/father plants attached on the second photo,
i dont think both have the miracle gene
i wondering:
1. am i right? is there miracle gene on those plants?
2. there is different between those thwo plants on the flecking of those plants, even they arrived from the same mother, can you give me more detials on the flecking? is there are names for those plants/flecking pattern except "Super kabuto"?


Thanks

G'morning oriky,

1. am i right? is there miracle gene on those plants?
2. there is different between those thwo plants on the flecking of those plants, even they arrived from the same mother, can you give me more detials on the flecking? is there are names for those plants/flecking pattern except "Super kabuto"?

The mother plant on 2nd photo shows the character of miracle kabuto clearly. Vertical lines connected areoles are a strong evidence of miracle kabuto. You do not show the father. Father is more important than mother.

The original miracle kabuto is just one and so various forms of asterias were crossed with for the development. You can see the crossing matrix on a website. Unfortunately the website is written in Japanese but he got 220 forms during the development.

Even if both parents were miracle kabutos, seedlings show various forms.

Miracle kabuto should be:
Show vertical lines connected areoles
Shape of a flecking is similar to cheree flower petal
Shape of areoles are oval
Less flecking on rib bottom
Show mutation of flecking during 5~10 years old

Top asterias: showing the character of Dream kabuto
Bottom asterias: Showing some character of miracle kabuto, not mixed super kabuto

Since both asterias are grafted, I can not give accurate comments.

Frank

Escobaria minima germinated really well (seeds sown on Christmas 2023).