"My First Growing Season" 2012

[billdee]

Thanks!

New Astrophytum

[billdee]

I noticed a few days ago my Echinocereus mapimiensis has a bud. Is this a little early, or about right for this sp.
My E. knippelianus is also doing something, but I'm not sure if its offsets or flower buds forming, but i think its the former.
I read that with the E. knippelianus the buds come out of the epidermis above an areole rather then from areoles or axils between the areoles like other cacti. The pics looks like its above the areole.

[CoronaCactus]

Cool!
Yes, thats a bud on E. kinnipleanus. This is its time to start.

[billdee]

Thanks Darryl!

I hope it flowers this year because I hear the flowers are beautiful too, so time will tell.
Echinocereus reichenbachii v albertii(Thanks Darryl)

Those fluffy white tufts at the top should be the start of new buds. You heard right, the flowers are awesome!

I'm still waiting on this one, so very patiently. The buds are getting bigger by the day.

[Thord Hakansson]

Very beautiful plants and also looking forward to see the flowers on the E,reichenbachii v alberti,a name i don´t recognise.BTW nothing wrong with you pics,they are at least far better than mine

[billdee]

Very beautiful plants and also looking forward to see the flowers on the E,reichenbachii v alberti,a name i don´t recognise.BTW nothing wrong with you pics,they are at least far better than mine

Thord,
Thanks for the compliment, because you have such beautiful plants yourself. I use my phone for picture taken, so I can't get the detail and quality that I would like because the pics just don't do some of the plants justice.

[billdee]

Random pics of my collection.
Edit: added pic

[billdee]

A few more collection pics.

[Arjen]

the expansion rate of your collection is dizzying! looks great bill!

[billdee]

the expansion rate of your collection is dizzying! looks great bill!

Thanks! I'm starting to realize though, I need too build a little greenhouse soon. There's noway getting around it.

I remember saying in one of my posts that I'll probably just get about 20 more plant's this season then chill out. Well I've bought 11 more from Miles2go and have another 5 coming next week From Corona Cactus, and I'm sure I'll be adding more to the Corona order.
I would have ordered more If the Turbo Charger Didn't go out on my Dump truck.
Well.. at least its not as expensive as my Reefing hobby hobby.

[Joel143]

Bill your collection...is like...WoW!! Im like you...I say only three or four more but end up getting 10. Even though I tell myself I have no more room, I find room and fill it with new cactus...lol May I ask what's your potting soil mix is made up of? Me I'm trying a new mix of a sandy loam top soil mixed with perlite and alittle miracle gro potting soil to give alittle organic material. Im planning to switch from perlite to NAPA Oil Dry (diatomaceous earth) since the perlite works its way to the top when watering.

Joel

[billdee]

Bill your collection...is like...WoW!! Im like you...I say only three or four more but end up getting 10. Even though I tell myself I have no more room, I find room and fill it with new cactus...lol May I ask what's your potting soil mix is made up of? Me I'm trying a new mix of a sandy loam top soil mixed with perlite and alittle miracle gro potting soil to give alittle organic material. Im planning to switch from perlite to NAPA Oil Dry (diatomaceous earth) since the perlite works its way to the top when watering.

Joel

I'm currently using a standard cactus mix with extra perlite. I can't think of the brand name off hand.
Its really tough in my area to get the materials needed too make a good mix. I'm currently in the process of trying to order 20 LBS. of mix from Corona Cactus. I received a small bag from them(Corona Cactus) for my Turbinicarpus. I really liked the mix Darryl had sent.
I'm going to use his mix for My Ariocarpus and my Astros, among a few others, but in the mean time I'm using my own mix for some of my other cacti. If you ask me the ratios of the mix I couldn't tell you, because I don't measure anything, and I don't no if that's a good thing or bad.

[billdee]

Another cactus growing buds.

[RichR]

What a great collection, Bill. Hope you get your greenhouse soon.

I'm jealous--your E. mapimiensis has a bud; mine has yet to do so, although my E. papillosus angusticeps finally has buds after three years. I'm stoked! (sorry, I watched a surfing movie yesterday)

[hoteidoc]

Bill - I think you've already outgrown the "small" greenhouse you were "thinking" about! Then there's the 2012 seed-growing! This is my 1st "real" seed-growing year (I'll call last year's effort my "redshirted" season). I have 36 survivors from last year, and 270+ seedlings after 6 wks this year! Ah, but we all "figger out sumpin' " Doing a great job!