Propagation of asterias from seed

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Hanazono
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Re: Propagation of asterias from seed

Post by Hanazono »

It was cold and rain in this morning.
I have to wait 2 more months for repotting asterias.

Miracle kabutos look very white in winter season.
These were sown seeds in 2011 and started in flower last spring.
The sizes are 6~7 cm in diameter.
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Hanazono
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Re: Propagation of asterias from seed

Post by Hanazono »

I have started to repot asterias seedlings in this season.
1st job is for seedlings sown seed in 2012.
I have 140 of same age seedlings in total.
20 seedlings were repotted in this morning.

Before repotting
Seedlings are in 50 mm square tubes, 35 seedlings in each pad.
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Roots were developed well, fine roots only
Since I stopped watering for last 2 months, bodies were shrunk.
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Cutting roots off
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Repotted in 65 mm square pots
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ElieEstephane
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Re: Propagation of asterias from seed

Post by ElieEstephane »

Hanazono wrote:I have started to repot asterias seedlings in this season.
1st job is for seedlings sown seed in 2012.
I have 140 of same age seedlings in total.
20 seedlings were repotted in this morning.

Before repotting
Seedlings are in 50 mm square tubes, 35 seedlings in each pad.
Image
Roots were developed well, fine roots only
Since I stopped watering for last 2 months, bodies were shrunk.
Image
Cutting roots off
Image
Repotted in 65 mm square pots
Image
Hello. Very nice thread!
Why did you cut off the roots though?
There are more cacti in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
One of the few cactus lovers in Lebanon (zone 11a) :mrgreen:
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Hanazono
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Re: Propagation of asterias from seed

Post by Hanazono »

I use 2 ways of cutting roots.

As shown on the photo posted 6th Feb 2016, 2 years old seedlings are cut tap roots completely.
This cutting will minimize tap root rotting in future.

After that, I cut roots at every repotting.
It is shown on the photo posted 27th Aug.
There is not enough space to grow new roots in the new pot if the long roots were remained.
Asterias body grows while its roots grow in the pot.
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Hanazono
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Re: Propagation of asterias from seed

Post by Hanazono »

I repotted super kabuto seedlings after lunch today.
I sowed seeds on 8th Feb 2016.
The photo of these seedlings just after germination was posted on 22nd Feb 2016.

Before repotting
Seedlings are 6~7 mm in diameter, in 10 cm square pot.
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100 seedlings are selected from 2 pots.
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After repotting
25 seedlings in 10 cm square pot
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4 pots in total
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Hanazono
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Re: Propagation of asterias from seed

Post by Hanazono »

Continue repotting of seedlings sown seed in 2012

I use 15 seedlings remained in 1st pad and 2nd pad.
40 seedlings were repotted in total.

2nd pad
White ones are miracle kabotos and green ones are ooibo ruri kabutos.
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Ooibo ruri kabuto
This one is not an asterias nudum.
It is a cultivar mixed with senill's gene.
Since the gene of senill is mixed, roots are thicker than standard asterias.
Tap roots were cut off once when the seedling was 2 years old but it seemed thick roots were regrown.
Image

Repotted 40 seedlings
Image
Image
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Hanazono
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Re: Propagation of asterias from seed

Post by Hanazono »

Additional 20 seedlings were repotted in this morning.
Image

Typical seedlings of mitacle kabuto
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Hanazono
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Re: Propagation of asterias from seed

Post by Hanazono »

I completed the repotting of seedlings sown seed in 2012 in this afternoon..
140 seedlings were repotted in 7 pads, 20 seedlings in each pad.
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Hanazono
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Re: Propagation of asterias from seed

Post by Hanazono »

I started to water for seedlings yesterday.
The photo is 140 seedlings of miracle kabutos sown seeds in 2013.
Since I stopped watering for last 2 months, bodies are shrunk.
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vgbasil
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Re: Propagation of asterias from seed

Post by vgbasil »

Can someone explain light and temperature condition for astrophytum asterias superkabuto? I have a vey poor germination from seeds I purchased (2 out of 40 seeds after 14 days) and I must do something wrong. Should I dried them and try again?
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Hanazono
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Re: Propagation of asterias from seed

Post by Hanazono »

vgbasil

The best temperature of germination for super kabuto is 30C' at top of potting-mix.
The light is not critical for the germination rate.
The light is critical for the growing rate of seedlings after the germination.
I use natural light, around 1000 lumina but it is no light at night.
Under full sun is 2000 lumina.

Seedlings will stop the growing under full sun.

I believe your problem must be related with the freshness of seeds.
The germination rate of fresh super kabuto's seeds will be almost 100%.

Sowing just after the harvesting will give the best result.
Within 1 year can also give a good germination rate.
Seeds of super kabuto will complete the germination within 14 days.

I think your seeds are quite old but you can try again after dried seeds.

Hanazono
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Hanazono
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Re: Propagation of asterias from seed

Post by Hanazono »

Updated photos of miracle kabutos
Some seedlings shows the character of miracle kabuto clearly.
Sown seed in 2011
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Sown seed in 2012
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Sown seed in 2013
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Sown seed in 2014
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mezeka
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Re: Propagation of asterias from seed

Post by mezeka »

Hi Hanazono, first let me tell how amazing your thread is. I think Ive read it at least 3x :D

I was wondering, though, is there a different process to growing variegated Astros?
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Hanazono
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Re: Propagation of asterias from seed

Post by Hanazono »

G'morning mezeka,

There are two types of variegations with Astrophytum.
One is "true" and the other is "not true".
The "not true" one is called "akebono-han" meaning dawn variegation.
Akebono-han is created by hybridization issue and it will be appeared even if both parents were not variegated plants.
I dislodge all akebono-han seedlings of Astrophytum when they are very young because their lives are very short anyway.

True variegations
The degree of variegation will affects on the propagation process.
The degree of variegation may change along the growing ages.

Hake-han
This type of variegation is very stable.
The variegation pattern is like painted by a brush.
It is an ideal variegation if you want to keep it as own-root plant.
Image

Hade-han
This type of variegation shows a distinctive pattern.
The degree of variegation will change in future.
If it was turned to 100% of variegation, you can not keep it as own-root plant.
Image

Both type of variegation plants are propagated as same as normal ones except sunlight strength.
I keep them under a half of full sun strength, around 1000 lumens.
Since I have tried to make "Ruri kabuto nishiki", the plant is a nudum form.
To keep deep green body color, it is required a soft sunlight level.

Frank
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mezeka
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Re: Propagation of asterias from seed

Post by mezeka »

Frank,

Thank you so much! Will keep in mind light conditions.
Your other infos also very useful.
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