Astrophytum asterias

Astrophytum asterias

Wednesday 31 July 2013

Cactus / sanchez-majoradae

I propagate Mammillarias from offsets-rooting quite many.
When the diameter of offsets was more than 3cm, the success rate of rooting becomes higher.
The photo is a Mammillaria sanchez-majoradae propagated from an offset.
It is now in flower.

Tuesday 30 July 2013

Cactus / dasyacantha

Mammillaria lauii v dasyacnatha was in flower yesterday.
I bought 20 seeds and sowed on 31/08/2006.
Only 2 of them were germinated and I grafted.
The flowering of Mammillaria is showing the evidence of early spring.


Monday 29 July 2013

Cactus / fukuryu banjyaku

This plant, Astropytum hybrid, hakujyou fukuryuu banjyaku came into my greenhouse last autumn.
I grafted 5 offsets came out from the plant so far.
I can see 2 more offsets and will graft them soon.
Banjyaku is the hybrid of ornatum x myriostigma.

Friday 19 July 2013

Cactus / offsets

I cut offsets in winter every year and prepare for the rooting carried out in spring.
The photo is offsets of Turbinicarpus valdezianus under drying process.
I spend almost 2 months for the drying.
Drying agent of cutting faces is garden-lime, not use any rooting hormone.
From my experience, the diameter of offset more than 30 mm shows a good success rate of rooting.
I will set up for rooting in early September.

Wednesday 17 July 2013

Cactus / hypocotyl grafting

As a trial, I grafted young seedlings onto young seedling stocks last October.
Scions: Pelecyphora aseliformis
Stocks: Echinopsis hybrid
I grafted 18 seedlings.
The photo shows the current situation, not significant growing speed unfortunately.

Tuesday 16 July 2013

Cactus / new seedlings

As a trial, I sowed cactus seeds in mid of the winter.
This timing allows me to graft seedlings in the very early spring.
Date of sown: 01/07/2013
Seeds: 6 species of Ariocarpus
Heating: Temperature adjustable heating pad
Temperature target: 30 'C on top of potting-mix ( pad setting is 33 'C)
Lighting: natural
It seems the germination has been completed. I will remove pots from the heating pad soon.
The photo is one of pots, Ariocarpus retusus v furfuraceus cv Daruma Seiji.

Monday 15 July 2013

Cactus / super kabuto seedlings

These are seedlings of Astrophytum asterias cv super kabuto, 1 and a half years old.
Some of them show the evidence of a good V-shaped pattern.
Although it was a short time, there was a good sunlight in the afternoon and I took some photos.

Friday 12 July 2013

Cactus / Pereskiopsis

I water grafting stocks through a year including in winter.
The micro-climate in my greenhouse accepts this situation.
Stocks continue to grow without the dormancy.
The photo is A. retusus v furfuraceus cv Daruma Seiji grafted 1 and a half yeas ago.
It is 2nd winter for these Pereskiopsis stocks.
All leaves fall off in 2nd winter and reducing the growing speed of scions.
I will degraft them in September as usual.

Wednesday 10 July 2013

Cactus / valdezianus

The day-light time has been slightly longer but it has still been in mid of winter.
The forecast maximum temperature of today will be 16 'C.
I have stopped any cactus related activities and been waiting the time coming.
The photo is a Turbinicarpus valdezianus sown seeds on 21/01/2007.
Valzezianus is a small plant accommodated in a 5 cm square tube.