Welcome Craig Fry!

[Christopher Howard]

Very exciting about the Astro seeds.

That second picture of the A. caput-medusae appears as though the plant is embracing its role in your collection.

[C And D]

Thanks Christopher, it's a great plant, and gave me about 80 seeds

[C And D]

Well The Ariocarpus season has begun, it's such a normal function of the fall that I don't even bother to photograph it anymore.
But I was so inspired by the color rocking the Hotbox that I had to do something about it.

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Here is that A. hintonii before the flowers
It has finally taken on mature form, so Pretty!!
And all those little baby hintoniis are a nice gift.

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[C And D]

It looks like it's also Yavia season

This Yavia crytopcarpa (Clone B) is the only grafted plant that hasn't split open on the sides from too much water.

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The flowers are hidden in the recessed top.

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I had frozen pollen from Clone A from 2012, and I got seeds on another graft of Clone B (not shown) when it flowered earlier this season using the frozen pollen.
The friut (Carpa) was small and hidden in a fold on the top of the plant. There were 5 seeds.

I will add to this post when I get some more flowers.

[gemhunter178]

Those are some amazing plants you have! Very nice show!

[Robb]

Such pretty Ariocarpus! I must get a Yavia now!

[Aiko]

Such pretty Ariocarpus! I must get a Yavia now!

Seed seller ADBLPS in France sells seeds from Yavia, at least in the last two years: http://www.adblps-graines-cactus.com/index_EN.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (the link to the PDF still gives an error, but you can find it here: http://www.adblps-graines-cactus.com/Gr ... -03-11.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)

The new list will be out in late November, probably. So maybe it will be on offer again.

[C And D]

Yavia update !!!!

ARGGG...

2 days after the above photo
major split damage,
this photo is after several weeks of healing
Clone B

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Here is my other Clone B, that has been flowering, but I missed them with the camera

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backside

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Clone C

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Last year's rescue graft of Clone A,
split after a couple weeks and decided to bend over to hide it's shame.

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This year's graft of Clone B and A

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Next year I will have a lot of small heads to graft.

[C And D]

I have so much succulent action going on in the Fall, that I neglect the cactus fun.
But I did get some photos of interest.

Someone asked if I grow Frailea castanea.
Yes I do, I had trouble with them years ago, so kind of gave up on them.
But I got a bunch a couple years ago, and now grow them with no problems.
I keep them on the warmest bench or the top shelf, and water when warm, small pots and a Lean soil.

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My big one, about the size of a golf ball

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Ariocarpus retusus v. pectinatus
enlongated areoles, 2 grafted plants

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Did I already post this plant last month?
Well it has flowers again.
Every Ariocarpus has flowered 2 or 3 times this fall.

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I love this Mammillaria hernandezii
I need to put it in a show pot!

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I will add photos of it in flower.

[Steve Johnson]

Great display you have there, Craig! Re. Fraileas -- I've been reluctant to give my castanea and grahliana any water after their Halloween rain. In fact I kinda figured on keeping them dry until March. Would you suggest some light watering for them when my daytime highs are warm enough? Looks like this week should be perfect, so please let me know if they could use a sip.

[C And D]

Hey Steve
The plants could probably go without water for the winter, especially if not kept in a Greenhouse.
But I would suggest monthly light/med. waterings for you, like now, during the Santa Ana's

I will water mine every 2 weeks or so, since they will be warm most of the time in the greenhouse.
If I don't water them they will loose too much of their reserves.

Also, I think that some of the more sensitive Non-Mexican cactus like to keep their roots active all year long, like Uebelmannia and Discocactus, and if you dry them out too much, they may not recover.

[C And D]

Gymnocalycium ochoterenae vatteri "nudum"

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[adetheproducer]

stunning gymnocalycium.

[Aiko]

Indeed a looker.
But what are those two little ones growing out here in the same pot? Looks like a Mammillaria.

[Echinopsis]

Some Yavia cryptocarpa, crown from seed:




Mammillaria hernandezii var. albiflora: