2019 sowing

[ElieEstephane]

I didn't grow much from seeds except a couple dozens of species and this is the first time i have made such a large order. I took too long to order so he had run out of the good stuff like pachycereus grandis, neoraimondia arequipensis (gigantea and roseiflora), some ariocarpus species, lophophora species, and many others that are very high on my wanted list.
I would love to hear your opinions if some of these species need special treatments. I am right assuming that the cumulopuntia will need scarifying and soaking? The seeds probably won't arrive before march which gives me some time to prepare.
Here's what i ordered (all in all 77 items):

Acanthocalycium glaucum rubriflorum FA ex DH1197-91 AdB
Ariocarpus retusus PR
Ariocarpus retusus furfuraceus FA+JL441
Astrophytum myriostigma FA
Astrophytum myriostigma v. quadricostatum JLcoll.491
Astrophytum ornatum v. mirbelii JL
Aylostera pygmaea diersiana rutiliflora FR1113
Borzicactus samaipatanus PR
Borzicactus samaipatanus x C. colademononis PR
Cereus aethiops PG (Tuclame, Cordoba, Argentina)
Cereus hexagonus ex Cu DSCF1631
Cereus stenogonus dayami cf Bolivia JL
Chamaecereus luisramirezii sp nova
Cumulopuntia sphaerica (ex Tephrocactus) JM
Echinocactus texensis FA
Echinocereus adustus Lau 646
Echinocereus grandis JM
Echinocereus laui Lau780
Echinocereus papillosus JM
Echinocereus pentalophus ssp. procumbens FA
Echinocereus pulchellus sharpii PR
Echinocereus reichenbachii baileyi PR
Echinocereus reichenbachii ssp. perbellus PR
Echinocereus rigidissimus rubispinus Lau088
Echinocereus scheeri ssp. gentryi JLcoll.126
Echinocereus sciurus ssp. floresii JLcoll.1267
Echinocereus stoloniferus JLcoll.1277
Echinocereus subinermis FA+JLcoll.1280
Echinocereus subinermis ochoterenaus Lau771
Echinocereus viereckii ssp. morricalii PR
Echinocereus x roetteri ex rosei, Orogrande, NM, USA
Echinofossulocactus mix
Echinofossulocactus coptonogonus FA
Echinofossulocactus obvallatus caespitosus JLcoll.1320
Echinopsis eyriesii roseiflora JLcoll.1412
Echinopsis mamillosa v. hystrichoides PR
Echinopsis mammillosa v. kermesina PR
Ferocactus macrodiscus JLcoll.1708+FA
Ferocactus macrodiscus v. multiflorus FA
Ferocactus herrerae ex horridus JL1701+FA
Hamatocactus setispinus JLcoll.2065
Hildewintera (= Winterocereus) colademononis Bolivia
Hylocereus hybride (Hylocereus x Harrisia jusbertii) PR
Lophophora williamsii caespitosa JLcoll.2482
Myrtillocactus cochal JLcoll.3293
Neoporteria senilis v. multicolor FR243 Salamanca, Chile
Stenocereus fimbriatus (Baconao) JMA
Stenocereus mix ©JL
Thelocactus bicolor ssp. flavidispinus SB424
Thelocactus macdowellii JL+FA
Trichocereus atacamensis ssp. pasacana AGS
Trichocereus macrogonus ssp. pachanoi
Trichocereus terscheckii validus AGS
Winterocereus colademononis Bolivia PR
Mammillaria baumii FA
Mammillaria geminispina ssp. leucocentra FA ex JLcoll.2796
Mammillaria formosa P1270058 Galeana-Rayones, Mexico
Mammillaria guelzowiana FA
Mammillaria senilis F.Carlier
Mammillaria sphaerica HW SB857 Zapata County, Texas
Mammillaria schumannii SB1261 El Pescadero, BCS, Mexico
Mammillaria schumannii v. globosa JLcoll.2956+FA
Lobivia maximiliana v. westii JLcoll.2391+DD
Lobivia mix
Gymnocalycium andreae FA
Gymnocalycium bruchii FA ex JL617
Gymnocalycium bruchii var. enorme JLcoll.679
Gymnocalycium buenekeri FA
Gymnocalycium cardenasianum FA
Gymnocalycium horstii FA
Gymnocalycium saglionis JLcoll.1984+FA
Pilosocereus leucocephalus ex palmeri PR

And some succulents: i'm very frustrated because aloe dichotoma was cancelled from the order!
Aloe brevifolia JLcoll.252
Aloe brevifolia v. depressa JLcoll.253
Agave parrasana ©JLcoll.168
Agave potatorum JLcoll.175
Stapelia gigantea PR

[mmcavall]

Be prepared to start a new addiction!

[Cactusupdate]

Wow that's quite the start! I've grown a lot of those genus (ario, astro, fero, mammi, loph, echino, and gymno) without special treatmeant, good luck!

[ElieEstephane]

Be prepared to start a new addiction!

I'm afraid all will go well and i'd go and buy more

Wow that's quite the start! I've grown a lot of those genus (ario, astro, fero, mammi, loph, echino, and gymno) without special treatmeant, good luck!

Thanks! I start lots of seeds every year. This will be my first large scale sowing.

[DodoBrooke]

I'm afraid all will go well and i'd go and buy more

This is sooo true. It seems sowing adventure never ends.
My family is quoting me saying "Alright, this is my last purchase...". Of course, it is not.

Wishing you all the luck and can't wait to see photos

[ElieEstephane]

I'm afraid all will go well and i'd go and buy more

This is sooo true. It seems sowing adventure never ends.
My family is quoting me saying "Alright, this is my last purchase...". Of course, it is not.

Wishing you all the luck and can't wait to see photos

Baby steps until we are surrounded by seedlings

[esp_imaging]

You have quite a list!

I don't think any of these need special treatment. In particular, Echincactus texensis has germinated fine for me, in spite of the "need sulfuric acid" advice on the koehres website.

I'd be interested in your results of any special treatment of the Cumulopuntia - as far as I can remember reading, patience is required, but the benefit of any particular treatments is inconclusive.

I've never ordered from Joel Lode, it would be great to get feedback on service and germination.

[ElieEstephane]

I've never ordered from Joel Lode, it would be great to get feedback on service and germination.

So far, their email correspondance is reasonnably fast and they were honest in telling me that it will take around 3 weeks from the day they receive the order to the day they ship out. He was also very understanding in shipping to Lebabon though the paypal payment came from another country.
As for germination, some sources say it's low but the portion is big so i guess things even out. He can't be blamed much for bad germination since most of his seeds are donations and trades but he should do a germination test

[ElieEstephane]

Some of what's already growing. Seed from my own plants. All sown in mid september.
Gymnocalycium baldianum hybrids from deep red to white and yellow. This is my most reliable seed grown plant. Last year they got to 5cm diameter in exactly one year. That's crazy fast for a small plant. They were out at 2 months feom the baggy

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This batch was sickly from the start. I added some sand a few days ago to reduce surface evaporation. Hope this helps

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Notocactus agnetae: near 100% germination. The big batch was sown a little earlier than the other one but both are growing very fast

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Notocactus scopa (scopus?): still a little too small for my taste to go out of the baggy

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Echinopsis subdenudata: i was astounded at how fast these grew last year but not as fast as gymnocalycium baldianum

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Mammillaria elongata crossed with vetula and with (elongata x miceohelia). Bad germination and a little sickly

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Mammillaria karwinskiana and compressa: not sure why these stressed suddenly. For a fast growing plant, these are way slower than the other seedlings

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Notocactus ottonis:

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For some reason i sowed together echinopsis subdenudata and melocactus matanzanus:

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Melocactus matanzanus: had a very bas start but are coming into their own now.

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[olof_n]

Hi Elie!

Your seedlings look great.
Are you growing them in 100% gravel? And if so do you add any fertilizer?

/Olof

[ElieEstephane]

Hi Elie!

Your seedlings look great.
Are you growing them in 100% gravel? And if so do you add any fertilizer?

/Olof

Hello olof
I didn't settle on a seedling mix yet. Last year i used grit alone and sand alone with great results.
This year i used my normal potting mix (66% grit 33%compost) and added a layer of grit on the surfcace. I didn't see any benefits over straight grit. I do fertilize after maybe 6 months if i feel growth rate is slowing.
The reason i use these mixes is i never had to sterilize

[7george]

Wow! Good numbers and results, soon ready for bigger scale sowing adventure. Have to think about a cactus shop soon maybe?

[ElieEstephane]

Wow! Good numbers and results, soon ready for bigger scale sowing adventure. Have to think about a cactus shop soon maybe?

Thanks George!
I do like the idea of having a small cactus nursery eventually when i retire.

[olof_n]

Thanks for the answer.
I thing I will try to use grit next time (waiting for new seeds ).
Always get problem mold and moss because I use too much standard soil.

[DodoBrooke]

Beautiful seedlings, really!
I see you have good results with Notocactus, I have bad luck with them.