CactiGuide.com

I'm done sowing cacti for this winter. Maybe It's not a huge list, but I think you'll agree it has challenges enough to keep me busy this year.

Ariocarpus bravoanus
Ariocarpus fissuratus
Ariocarpus hintonii
Ariocarpus retusus
Aztekium ritteri
Echinocactus texensis, NM form to go with my Mexican one
Epithelantha bokei, two forms including a Mexican one I have doubts about
Epithelantha micromeris, one from Mexico and one from New Mexico
Eriosyce aurata, different form from before
Eriosyce napina "fulva"
Eriosyce napina ssp aerocarpa
Eriosyce napina ssp lembckei v duripulpa
Eriosyce umadeave, different form from before
Mammillaria albicans
Mammillaria luethyi
Mammillaria senilis
Mammillaria solisioides
Mammillaria tetrancistra
Pediocactus despainii
Pediocactus paradinei
Pediocactus peeblesianus "menzelii"
Pediocactus winkleri
Pelecyphora aselliformis
Pelecyphora strobiliformis
Strombocactus disciformis
Strombocactus disciformis v jarmilae
Turbinicarpus swobodae

A few were sown two months ago and about half were sown three weeks ago, and at least one of every species has germinated The rest I sowed today and no germination so far

In a change to previous years, no Copiapoas, no Echinocereus, no Escobarias, I guess there just comes a time when there's no more left to sow. And no, I don't plant to graft any of them At least not until they start keeling over like ninepins

A picture is always nice. Here's the cosy seed lightbox where most cacti start their lives. Other succulents germinate in a brighter box, except for that imposter at the back! And some species are out in the greenhouse for fluctuating temperatures and maybe some freezing.

iann wrote: It's not a huge list,

Its huge to me

Look at those Pedios!!

Look forward to seeing photos, Ian. I love the banana-shaped spines of menzelii. Great stuff all around.

peterb

That's an interesting seed list with a lot of challenges

peterb wrote:I love the banana-shaped spines of menzelii.

How do you know if it is a menzelii or not? What shape do the spines usually have?

How do you know if it is a menzelii or not?

All P. peeblesianus forms have rather thick corky spines, a little like Escobaria minima. Various forms, or species if you swing that way, have been named for the variations in the spines. Notable ones are var fickeisenii (=Navajoa fickeisenii) with very long central spines, var maia (=Navajoa maia) with short stubby central spines and especially thick radials to match, and fma menzelii with more extreme spination. I would struggle to tell them apart reliably since the variation within each and between young and old plants is huge. Depending on how you separate them, straight P. peeblesianus has only radial (or sub-central?) spines, while the forms with central spines receive extra names. This link shows the plant and why it is named:
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datei:J%C3 ... _AZ_B_.jpg

Great list.

Great list of future plants!
I am a bit surprised no Copiapoa or Echinocereus, but I'm sure those Pedios will keep you occupied

Can't wait to see how E. umadeave progresses.

I think the forms of peeblesianus are instantly recognizable as long as they are at the extremes. Here's a great picture of menzelii:

http://www.cactus-art.biz/schede/PEDIOC ... nzelii.htm

Here's another awesome seedling picture from Gargamel:

http://www.gargamel-cactus.com/photos/a ... esianus_ss

peterb

I hope mine turns out to be one of those

http://www.gargamel-cactus.com/photos/a ... lesianus_v

Nice list! Good luck!

iann wrote:A picture is always nice. Here's the cosy seed lightbox where most cacti start their lives. Other succulents germinate in a brighter box, except for that imposter at the back! And some species are out in the greenhouse for fluctuating temperatures and maybe some freezing.

I'm curious, what is the imposter's name?

The leafy imposter is a Delosperma deilanthoides, I'm almost certain. It is in a pot of mixed seed that I test germinated before my local society branch sold it, and that species was almost certainly not in there so it must have jumped directly from the adult plants that I have. That pot germinated in my greenhouse in the summer.

Day 5 and there is a pleasing amount of germination starting in the Echinocactus, Strombocactus, and Epithelantha pots.

Quite a few Pediocactus seeds have swelled up noticeably and now have big fat white hilums, but I don't know whether they are actually germinating or just testing the waters.

The Ariocarpus that I sowed about a month ago are showing some more germination. They really like it hot (current day highs at 30C) and I think weren't so happy with the cooler nights (below 20C) I'd moved to before sowing this last batch of seed.

iann wrote: The rest I sowed today and no germination so far

You must be losing your touch

-R