Here are some update pics. Sorry I havent been around, my other business has kept me busy, what alot of work spring is, but I wouldnt trade it. It was 91 here today, I guess summer is just around the bend. E coccineus, franklin Mountains, Tx http://www.cactiguide.com/forum/userpix/1163_51209_004_1.j...

Very impressive collection of claret cups! Those clumps are real beauties!

I have glochids in my hands most of the time. Its possible to get most of them but there are always a pesky few that break off during removal. I like the toungue and teeth method of removal as well. For the ones that break and I cant get, I push them in further, and they will then fester and come ou...

Looks like you got a good germination rate. Id mix some screened perlite or similiar into your soil next time, so the roots have an easy go of getting established early on.

Ive been having excellent luck with a 50/50 mix of perlite and potting soil.

Looking good!

ihc6480 wrote: It might end up longer than this thread

Id think so, weve all added new plants since last year.



and so it begins, bout darmn time!

This should be quite a scene in a week or so.......E coccineus, Franklin Mountains, Tx.

:lol: The E viridiflorus seem about to explode. I can smell them from my back porch 30' from the patch. http://www.cactiguide.com/forum/userpix/1163_5109__miniature_garden_005_1.jpg http://www.cactiguide.com/forum/userpix/1163_5109__miniature_garden_006_1.jpg The P simpsonii are keepin' it real. I c...

Prepare to be bummed then, because no matter what you do, some of your plants are going to die!

I once heard an old experianced 'from seed' grower say of another grower, 'hes got lots of experiance hes killed thousands of plants!'

Hi Sarah, I use a hydrofarm brand heatmat. Even though I have a thermostat for it, them actually, I only use it in summer. The mat, by itself, will hold your pots at around 13 degrees f above ambient IME.

Jason

Very nice John, they sure are picturesque arent they. Love those colors and textures man!

Nice plants, I always seem to lose a few here as well. Id guess pic #1 is O phaecantha, pics 2 and 3 would be O poly, your crystal tide, #3 dunno. Did I mention im bad at iding opuntias.....lol If you get a chance, id love to see some shots of the 4 O frag clones youve got. Im collecting them as it ...

Hes a few weeks ahead of me as well, as evidenced by his P simpsonii blooming a few weeks before mine.

Bill The fourth could be Opuntia heacockii. It is supposted to send out short runners that sprout new pads. Do the roots have glochids? If so I'd say heacockii is right. Hi fellas. At the ccss show and sale last month in denver I was chatting with Jim weedin about identifying characteristics of the...

Tom2643 wrote:That potato cactus is awesome! I've never come across it before. Any idea if it's as hardy as the species?

Tom it is rated hardy to zone 4 I think. You can find it here http://www.coldhardycactus.com

best regards,

Jason

Well thanks fellas, all I did was plant em, put gravel around em and water em a couple of times last year, the plants themselves did most of the work......:) I hope some of the Opuntias flower, however I think most wont, as they were mostly planted last spring. John yer right on your description of ...