Hana's cacti

[Hanazono]

A matured Astrophytum asterias cv hanazono kabuto was in flower in this afternoon.
Seeds were sown in 2005.

[s.kallima]

Beautiful! The snow flakes are so big at your place

[Hanazono]

G'morning s.kallima,

The snow flakes are so big at your place

Thanks for your comment.
Snow is just inside of greenhouses. No actual snow is in here.
I do not see actual snow for 30 years.

Frank

[Hanazono]

Yesterday was a good sunshine day. I could see some asterias flowers in the afternoon.
Photos are 3 matured asterias.

[Hanazono]

3 matured super kabutos were also in flower.

[Hanazono]

Two matured miracle kabutos were in flower.

[Hanazono]

5 hot days, 35 'C or higher have been continuing. It is 2nd day today.
Two Ariocarpus fissuratus f Big Bend were in flower in this morning.

[Hanazono]

The maximum temperature reached to 38 'C yesterday afternoon.
Two Ariocarpus kotschoubeyanus related cacti were in flower yesterday.

[Hanazono]

A young Ariocarpus fissuratus cv godzilla was in flower.
Seed was sown in 2018 and very young seeding was grafted on Pereskiopsis same year.
Degrfted with a short stock last October.

[Hanazono]

Two Ariocarpus retusus related species were in flower.
It is still hot but Ariocarpus species have started flowering.

[nona]

There are no snow and no ice even it is mid of winter in here.
The minimum temperature in mid of winter is around 5 'C.

Summer is very hot.
It will reach to 45 'C in Christmas and new year times.

As your heat and humidity is similar (or worse) than Melbourne do you attempt to start seeds in summer? I find starting before is risky because they need to have grown to a certain size before they can manage outside an enclosure (plastic mini-greenhouse). Even with vents open is too humid.

[Hanazono]

G'morning nona,

do you attempt to start seeds in summer?

I sow seed mid of July, in winter.
The growth of seedling in 1st year is important. I try to maximise the growing period of 1st year which is between early spring and late autumn.

You need a certain temperature to germinate cacti seed. I use a heating pad to germinate seeds because seeds are sown in winter.
Seeds/Seedlings are kept on the heating pad for 3 weeks to complete the germination process.

Seedlings are moved into a large plastic box in greenhouse in August.
The plastic box has a lid and a wet capillary mat is laid on the bottom which means the fumidity in the box is 100%.
Seedlings are kept in the box for 1 year at least.
I gow some slow growing species. They will be in the box for 3~4 years.

Frank

[Hanazono]

Two Ariocarpus retusus related species were in flower.

[mikethecactusguy]

amazing

[Hanazono]

Two species of Ariocarpus were in flower.