Six Months/One year/Two year Sow Report

[Armen Tsirunyan]

16. Turbinicarpus valdezianus
6 months:

1900.01.01.0.0.0RAND19882TAGS.seedlings.IDS.85..JPG (170.26 KiB) Viewed 1901 times

1 year:

1900.01.01.0.0.0RAND14570TAGS.seedlings.IDS.85..JPG (229.92 KiB) Viewed 1901 times

2 yeas:

1900.01.01.0.0.0RAND21709TAGS.seedlings.IDS.85..JPG (115.35 KiB) Viewed 1901 times

[7george]

Perfect seedlings! Growing like weeds...

[shimaza1]

What a great thread! It's interesting to see how the different seedlings develop over time.

[Armen Tsirunyan]

17. Parodia microsperma (var. weberiana)

6 months:

75half.JPG (131.98 KiB) Viewed 1890 times

1 year:

1y.JPG (133.29 KiB) Viewed 1890 times

2 years:

1900.01.01.0.0.0RAND22181TAGS.seedlings.IDS.75..JPG (83.34 KiB) Viewed 1890 times

[Armen Tsirunyan]

18. Epithelantha micromeris

6 months:

1900.01.01.0.0.0RAND05563TAGS.seedlings.IDS.100..JPG (99.7 KiB) Viewed 1891 times

1 year:

1900.01.01.0.0.0RAND23641TAGS.seedlings.IDS.100..JPG (147.13 KiB) Viewed 1891 times

2 years:

1900.01.01.0.0.0RAND03442TAGS.seedlings.IDS.100..JPG (121.64 KiB) Viewed 1891 times

[MagiCarpus]

Very nice progress, well done. For the 2 year epithelantha photo, is that seedling in the upper right quadrant (the bottom right seedling) a cristate form? Have you struck gold?

[Armen Tsirunyan]

Very nice progress, well done. For the 2 year epithelantha photo, is that seedling in the upper right quadrant (the bottom right seedling) a cristate form? Have you struck gold?

Thank you, MagiCarpus! Is that a cristate form? Can't say that thought has not crossed my mind but the truth is I don't know. Around 25% of the seedlings started going "mutant" at some point - a couple have double/triple heads, this quasicristate thing, another one like it, etc. I have a suspicion that it was because of the soil lacking limestone and/or watering with slightly acidic water. I will probably take better pictures of it and ask people on the forum what it is and do I have to graft it

[mdpillet]

Beautiful and informative thread!

Would you tell us some more about your sowing process? How long did you keep these guys bagged (if at all)? How long did you keep them consistently moist?

I can honestly say that my first batch of seedlings part of my new collection (last summer) are nowhere near as big as any of your seedlings - not even my Cylindropuntia! Kept my second batch wetter, and they've already outgrown the first batch at 4 months of age.

[Armen Tsirunyan]

19. Stenocactus multicostatus (erectocentrus)
6 months:

1900.01.01.0.0.0RAND22231TAGS.seedlings.IDS.82..JPG (103.84 KiB) Viewed 1870 times

1 year:

1900.01.01.0.0.0RAND22368TAGS.seedlings.IDS.82..JPG (138.55 KiB) Viewed 1870 times

2 years:

1900.01.01.0.0.0RAND25131TAGS.seedlings.IDS.82..JPG (154.21 KiB) Viewed 1870 times

[Armen Tsirunyan]

20. Echinopsis ancistrophora
6 months:

1900.01.01.0.0.0RAND11683TAGS.seedlings.IDS.67..JPG (62.69 KiB) Viewed 1870 times

1 year:

1900.01.01.0.0.0RAND01693TAGS.seedlings.roots.IDS.67..JPG (117.82 KiB) Viewed 1870 times

2 years:

1900.01.01.0.0.0RAND03774TAGS.seedlings.IDS.67..JPG (153.7 KiB) Viewed 1870 times

[Armen Tsirunyan]

21. Mammilloydia candida
(only one seedling had ever germinated)
6 months:

1900.01.01.0.0.0RAND18656TAGS.seedlings.IDS.80..JPG (101.77 KiB) Viewed 1870 times

1 year:

1900.01.01.0.0.0RAND07269TAGS.seedlings.IDS.80..JPG (143.52 KiB) Viewed 1870 times

2 years:

1900.01.01.0.0.0RAND05144TAGS.seedlings.IDS.80..JPG (150.25 KiB) Viewed 1870 times

[Armen Tsirunyan]

22. Gymnocalycium baldianum
6 months:

1900.01.01.0.0.0RAND01645TAGS.seedlings.IDS.69..JPG (130.39 KiB) Viewed 1870 times

1 year:

1900.01.01.0.0.0RAND11803TAGS.seedlings.IDS.69..JPG (173.24 KiB) Viewed 1870 times

2 years:

1900.01.01.0.0.0RAND30407TAGS.buds.seedlings.IDS.69..JPG (87.82 KiB) Viewed 1870 times

[Armen Tsirunyan]

Beautiful and informative thread!

Thank you, mdpillet!

Would you tell us some more about your sowing process? How long did you keep these guys bagged (if at all)? How long did you keep them consistently moist?

Sure!
I soaked the seeds in a weak (pink) solution of Potassium permanganate for 24 hours and I sterilized the soil. I did not, however, sterilize the bags.
I started opening the baggies for photographing at week 4 and got rid of them completely at week 10. I kept the soil permanently damp until around 6 months after which I more or less started treating them as adult plants, including providing a cold and completely dry winter rest period.

If indeed my seedlings are growing fast, I can only think about one "secret". I repotted them 2-3 times during the first year, and 1-2 times during the second year. Every repotting gives them a sharp boost in growing speed. So I guess that must be it

[shimaza1]

Do you repot the seedlings in the first year on a schedule or do you go by how they are developing/growing?

[Armen Tsirunyan]

Do you repot the seedlings in the first year on a schedule or do you go by how they are developing/growing?

Sort of both. I try to repot every 3-4 months during the first year, but sometimes I don't have the time for all, so the ones that are more urgent because they don't fit in the pot any more get repotted first.