The Magic Greenhouse

This is a place for members to post on-going topics about their plants and experiences.
Traveller
Posts: 101
Joined: Wed Mar 14, 2012 10:54 pm

Re: The Magic Greenhouse

Post by Traveller »

Hanazono wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 10:15 pm G'morning Alex,
It would be bext if there was some degree of variegation that could keep them alive.
I keep own-root if the degree of variegation was less than 50%. They can grow but it is very slowly.
Unfortunately the degree is not consistent. It will move more or less during growing but you do not know.

The photo is one of my variegated asterias seedling.

Frank
Thanks for sharing the photos Frank. I hope that I get many seedlings growing up to look like that.
There are many that look good so far, although they are still small. I will take a picture shortly.
Zone 10, Sydney Australia
I love the Mexican Miniatures best!
Traveller
Posts: 101
Joined: Wed Mar 14, 2012 10:54 pm

Re: The Magic Greenhouse

Post by Traveller »

I've had a second strange seedling show up in my Astrophytum asterias tray.
I will graft this seedling soon and provide updates on the other one.
In another tray, I have a good crop of variously colored seedlings that came from both variegated parents.

Also, I was able to set up both identical thermometers, inside and outside the greenhouse, just a couple inches apart, both in the shade to measure air temperature.
I was happy this afternoon to see the inside temp was 34c° while the outside was at just 19c°.
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2nd strange golden hair seedling
2nd strange golden hair seedling
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Variegated seedlings
Variegated seedlings
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Zone 10, Sydney Australia
I love the Mexican Miniatures best!
Traveller
Posts: 101
Joined: Wed Mar 14, 2012 10:54 pm

Re: The Magic Greenhouse

Post by Traveller »

Supplies have arrived!
The greenhouse is getting a major expansion.
As much as 4X more area for growing things!
Construction will start this week.

I added twin thermometers to the greenhouse, both in the shade just a few centimeters from each other, but one is inside, the other outside.
The greenhouse has been fantastic with trapping sunlight.
Mid-afternoon every day this week, the inside temperature has been 14c to 18c higher than the outside temp.
A good example was yesterday. Outside was a cool 19c° (66f°) while inside was a toasty 34c° (93f°). I knew it was warmer inside, but now it's great to see the actual numbers.
Zone 10, Sydney Australia
I love the Mexican Miniatures best!
Traveller
Posts: 101
Joined: Wed Mar 14, 2012 10:54 pm

Re: The Magic Greenhouse

Post by Traveller »

Yesterday there was a single flower open on my biggest Strombocactis disciformis.
I was expecting a couple more flowers to be open today, but had the wonderful surprise of ALL the flowers open, on all three cacti.
4 on one, 8 on the second and lucky 13 flowers on the big one.
Of course the paintbrush came out, and will do so until the flowers stop opening.
More than halfway done clearing the space for expansion.
Some Astrophytum grafts moved from humidity chamber indoors to the greenhouse.
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Zone 10, Sydney Australia
I love the Mexican Miniatures best!
Traveller
Posts: 101
Joined: Wed Mar 14, 2012 10:54 pm

Re: The Magic Greenhouse

Post by Traveller »

It's been cold and rainy outside the last 2 days, so I spwnt time inside doing grafting. Before earlier this year, I haven't grafted any cacti for about 5 years.
I did around a dozen Pereskiopsis grafts, all Astrophytum.
I also have done my first ever glad wrap graft, an Aztekium valdezii onto a Tricho. I can see a number of advantages to this method, especially for keeping it clean and higher humidity.
In addition, just for fun, areole grafting onto a Ferrocactus electracanthus, 3 Astrophytum.
Also, just because I could, I put 1 white Astro seedling top, and 2 seedling bottoms into the same Pereskiopsis.
I think it's time that I brush up my trick grafting skills again.
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Zone 10, Sydney Australia
I love the Mexican Miniatures best!
Traveller
Posts: 101
Joined: Wed Mar 14, 2012 10:54 pm

Re: The Magic Greenhouse

Post by Traveller »

Recently did a few more complex grafts, and one of them was 6 Astrophytum onto Pereskiopsis.
Can't see one of the grafts as it is on the back of the stem at this angle.

Collected pollen from the smaller Thelocactus and put it in cold storage yesterday. The large Thelo should flower in the next couple of days and I will pollenate it then.

Continuing to prep for expansion of the greenhouse.
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Zone 10, Sydney Australia
I love the Mexican Miniatures best!
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