With a few exceptions, most types of prickly pear, and chollas (as adults) like to grow in sandy loam. The sandy soil found near streams works well. I would transplant the newest seedling to that type of soil soon. The other one seems to look healthy, so I would leave it alone for now.

Lucy_V wrote: ↑Fri May 03, 2024 2:37 pm For the first one I could suggest M.karwinskiana, for the second - check M.rhodantha, M.pringlei or nivosa. When it blooms the flowers will help to narrow down the species.

Your suggestion for #1 looks quite likely.
As stated earlier #2 could be M. columbiana. Possibly ssp yucatanensis

What does a packrat do with a cholla? Although I've never seen them carry them off, I have seen many rodent nests in the desert, and they often are surrounded with cholla branches. There are 2 theories that I've heard of as to why. They like to use them as ornaments, or more likely to deter snakes. .

Although curious birds often disturb or remove small succulents from my collection, they don't usually touch chollas. OTOH, almost all rodents like them, especially pack rats. I use 2 methods to deal with them; humane traps, and deterrent spray. Growing plants here in the desert comes with having to...

It's been a few years since I grew these from seed, but if nobody else responds, I thought this response is better than nothing. like all the other species of this genus, they typically germinate quickly. After a few days I removed them from a humid environment to avoid rot, like many other succulen...

The carefully controlled conditions which you stated obviously describe your serous determination to achieve your germination goals. If you don't mind my purely anecdotal suggestions, maybe they could boost your results in any future attempts. I've been growing cacti from seed for many years. My fir...

This looks like your Mammillaria III

Perhaps M. klissingiana

Or possibly a close relation of Mammillaria tlalocii = Mammillaria huitzilopotchlii since the central spines are usually produced on older plants, often intermittently or not at all. huitzilopotchli.jpg huitzilopotchli2.jpg Agreed. Another possibility is the enigmatic M. sp. FO 229 : https://cactus...

This is how I start dudleyas from seed, tray of peat based seed starting mix, tapped on the ripe seed pods over the tray (around sept). Water and cover with a dome and leave in moderate light in the greenhouse all winter, keeping it moist. Typical night lows in the 30's and 40's. Dudleya grow on mo...

jerrytheplater wrote: ↑Fri Mar 29, 2024 2:52 pm It sounds like you are thinking of making layers in your pot. That is not correct. You need to mix your potting mix thoroughly.

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I remember reading once an assertion by the owner of Miles to Go (Miles Anderson) that it usually takes around 6 years for most Ariocarpus to reach flowering size from seed on their own roots. The biggest obstacle now seems to be acquiring accurately labeled seed. Before Mesa Garden changed ownershi...

It could be, but may also be the closely related E. adustus

My guesses: The cluster on the left looks like a Euphorbia . Either E. tubiglans , or a hybrid with E. polygona . On the right the stems appear to be withered Echinocereus viereckii var. morricalii . Steve's suggestions for pot size are very valuable. Be sure to wait at least a week after transplant...