Ariocarpus fissuratus seedlings

[Joe Mroz]

Hello
I have some A fissuratus seedlings that I started in June. They are stalled at about 1 mm and haven't grown since then. They were turning dark so I moved them away from the light (they're under tubes) and gave them some shade so they are green again.

I read on a British site that they like humidity when they are young. Would the baggie method be helpful? Any suggestions to get them beyond this stage?

Joe, in Montreal

[iann]

Too late to put them in bags now. Keep them warm (or hot!) and give them regular water.

[fracture]

The light should be far enough away that the soil will not dry out that fast,
seedlings burn easy!

[psi]

I have some loph seedlings that I also started around June that had a similar problem and responded pretty well to a return to high humidity, maybe it's different for ariocarpus though. I had been thinking it was sunburn but they are now much greener and faster growing under essentially the same lighting conditions.

They are in a clear rubbermaid tub and I just started leaving the lid on it most of the time. I'm not sure how long I should keep doing that but it seemed to give them a boost anyway.

[iann]

You've had them under lights all summer? With no natural light at all? Ariocarpus seedlings really don't like the sun until they're over 1cm across, maybe 2-3 years for some of them. Or maybe they do like it but they don't grow much in it! Mine grow better in a propagator for the first couple of years, but I don't run it all summer. Even in winter the nights are hotter in there than in my greenhouse in summer.

Lophophora I don't have so much trouble with. They grow faster and are small adults after 2-3 years. Don't mistake getting fat in high humidity for growing

[psi]

Poor comparison I guess, I do think they actually are growing faster in addition to the initial plumping though. Would like to try growing some A. fissuratus soon, cool looking plants.

[iann]

I hunted round for some photos of A. fissuratus seedlings, but I couldn't find any. Perhaps because they are so unimpressive. Anyway, here is the similar A. bravoanus at perhaps two years old, or possibly even three. I know people who can grow them faster than this, but still they are slow.


Here are some Lophophoras at three years old, quite happy in their full (English) sun.