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Hello!

Any advice on making this cross?

I'm wondering if there are particular Ferocactus species that must be used, or if it matters whether the Ferocactus is the pollen donor or recipient?

I'd really like to try it with F. pilosus, since I think that's such a nice species....

Have not tried F. pilosus, but I have made attempts with cylindrocaeus, herrerae, and a few others and all have been unsuccesful.
I have been told F. fordii will cross for sure and have a bunch of Fordii seedlings growing, but its going to be a few years yet before they bloom and I get an opportunity to use them to make hybrids.

I do have some Astrobergia seed waiting to be sown soon that are the result of crossing Astrophytum ornatum and L. principis (the recipient) last summer.
Hopefully the seed is good.

Hey Tony

When you made the crosses, did you transfer the pollen from flower to flower, or was the pollen from storage?

Cheers

Barry

Fero. fordii is the most common species to cross with, as Tony says. I'd say just get a brush and transfer pollen between the two a few times to make sure there's definitely some pollen on their. I haven't made the cross myself, but I have crossed a xFerobergia with a Thelocactus and got viable seeds, so it can't be too hard! You could always try a direct xThelobergia cross. That'd be much cooler than the increasingly popular xFerobergia.

On a related thread, I just posted photos of a possible Leuchtenbergia x Echinocactus in the "Cactus Identification" sub-board.

Cheers

Barry

BarryRice wrote:Hey Tony

When you made the crosses, did you transfer the pollen from flower to flower, or was the pollen from storage?

Cheers

Barry

Flower to flower. Both plants were in bloom at the same time.