South of Arid Land

Cactus / variegated asterias

2012-03-06T05:09:00.000+10:30

It was a clear warm day yesterday.
Many Astrophytum asterias were in flower.
I did cross pollination but it takes time to mature fruits from now.
The photo is one of asterias.

Cactus / red flowering asterias

2012-03-05T07:04:00.000+10:30

I put a photo of red flowering asterias on this website before. This is one of pups of the plant.
It is a good flower color but the size of body is too small.
Frequent crossing in history made the size of body small.
Although it is the begining of autumn, astrias are in flower.

Cactus / grafted denegrii seedling

2012-03-04T06:52:00.000+10:30

I sowed Obregonia denegrii seeds on 08/10/2011.
Seeds were collected from my own plants.
The fruit of denegrii is very small and you can not collect so many seeds from one fruit.
I grafted several young seedlings and 5 scions were taken.
The photo is one of them, 2 very small pups are coming out.

Cactus / grafted Ariocarpus

2012-03-03T14:07:00.000+10:30

I grafted Ariocarpus seedlings on Pereskiopsis stocks in this season.
Grafted seedlings are:
retusus v furfuraceus cv Seiji
retusus v major cv mitsuibo
retusus v furfuraceus cv Sugri cauliflower
kotschoubeyanus v elephantideus
84 seedlings in total.

I used 15 cm length of Pereskiopsis cuttings as stocks and grafted scions in a simple wet-box.

Cactus / asterias

2012-02-27T06:57:00.000+10:30

Yesterday was a muggy day but some Astrophytum asterias were in flower.
We have not seen rain a while. We need a good rain.
This asterias is not special but I have propagated from a seed.

Cactus / cauliflower

2012-02-26T13:04:00.000+10:30

This grafted 1year and 6 months old Ariocarpus retusus v furfuraceus cv Suguri cauliflower has started to show the character of the cultivar, the appearance of cauliflower.
I sowed seeds on 02/10/2010 and grafted young seedlings onto Pereskiopsis.
The current size is around 6 cm diameter.
21 plants grafted same day are alive at moment.
I grafted 24 more seedlings in this season.

Cactus / retusus cultivar

2012-02-23T04:43:00.000+10:30

A grafted Ariocarpus retusus v major cv mitsuibo (tri-fingers) was in flower yesterday.
This should have tri-finger shape tubercles but I can not see them yet.
I hope I could see them in future.

I bought seeds and sowed on 11/08/2005 and grafted young seedlings.

Cactus / super kabuto

2012-02-22T06:00:00.000+10:30

It was a bit late for the flowering season of kabutos but an asterias cv hanaizumi super kabuto was in flower yesterday. Hanaizumi means flower springs, multiple flowers coming out from one areole.
The flower was just one but it was unusual shape.

cactus / retusus

2012-02-21T07:14:00.000+10:30

My first propagation of Ariocarpus from seed was in 2003.
This retusus is one of them.
I grafted young seedlings onto Hylocereus stocks and degrfted later.
This one, 19 cm diameter was in flower yesterday.

Cactus / fissuratus

2012-02-20T19:36:00.000+10:30

The photo is a standard type Ariocarpus fissuratus, was in flower yesterday.
I collected seeds from my plants and sowed on 30/09/2006.
Young seedlings were grafted just after germination.
Since just one plant was in flower, I prserved pollen for the future pollination.

Cactus / fissuratus

2012-02-19T05:41:00.000+10:30

This cactus is an Ariocarpus fissuratus f Big Bend, was in flower yesterday afternoon.
I bought seeds and sowed on 31/10/2003.
Young seedlings were grafted on hylocereus stocks just after germination.
I degrafted this in 2007.
Since fussuratus was hard to stop liquid running down from cutting face, I used a special method of degrafting. A short vascular bandole of hylocereus was remained at that time.
I think the short vascular bandle has been dead and the cactus has relied on own roots.

Cactus / riverdensis

2012-02-18T05:55:00.000+10:30

A small cactus, Turbinicarpus riverdensis f MZ276 was in flower yesterday afternoon.
The size is 3 cm diameter.
Cuttings of several pups were done 2 years ago.
I was quite sure the cactus was alive but it was no size changeing last 2 years.

Cactus / hintonii

2012-02-17T20:27:00.000+10:30

2nd Ariocarpus was in flower today.
It is a bravoanus v hintonii.
I bought 20 seeds and sowed on31/10/2003. I grafted several young seedlings.

Own-rooted hintonii seedlings grow very very slowly.
I have quite many hintonii seedlings, sowed seeds on 12/11/2006.
They are still very small.

Cactus / bicolor

2012-02-15T14:16:00.000+10:30

Plants know autumn is the next corner. Ariocarpus is autumn flowering.
My grafted Ariocarpus retusus v bicolor n. prov. KMR61 was in flower this afternoon.
I bought 10 seeds and sowed on 31/08/2007, and grafted sevral young seedlings.
Just 2 plants have been alive.

Cactus / Tiger super kabuto

2012-02-14T20:27:00.000+10:30

I bought seeds and sowed on 08/10/2003.
Several young seedlings were grafted onto hylocereus stocks.
This one was degrafted later.
It alived but was very weak and could not make any flowers at all long time.

I could see 2 flowers this afternoon.
Unfortunately stigmas were abnormal shape but the flowering is a good evidence of returning to a healthy plant.

Cactus / cuttings of aselliformis

2012-02-13T06:45:00.000+10:30

I repotted cuttings of Pelecyphora aselliformis yesterday.
Several cuttings were set for rooting one and a half years ago but only 3 were taken.
I found less than 20 mm diamater of cuttings were difficult to take.

The photo is one of 3 cuttings. I could not see a tap root yet, fine roots only.

Cactus / super kabuto

2012-02-11T11:18:00.000+10:30

The weather in this morning was not so good but one super kabuto started to open a flower.
I propagated this super kabuto from seed.
This super kabuto is not red flowering form but the flower color becomes reddish in late summer and autumn.

Cactus / another red flower asterias

2012-02-09T06:17:00.000+10:30

This is another red flower asterias, was in flower same day as the asterias posted yeaterday.
This asterias is var nudum.
The color of the flower is very nice but the body size is quite small.

Cactus / Red flower asterias

2012-02-08T20:50:00.000+10:30

This grafted Astrophytum asterias red flower was in flower 2 days ago.
I believe this one is almost true red and the stigam is also red color.
I found this one could not use as a mother plant because the color of stigma was abnormal.
I think the body size of red flower asterias is quite small.

Cactus / super kabuto

2012-02-07T19:05:00.000+10:30

A grafted super kabuto was in flower today.
I kept quite many grafted super kabuto for the purpose of seeds collection before.
I currently have enough numbers of own-rooted super kabuto and reduced numbers of grafted ones.

It depends upon the type of grafting stock but the appearance of grafted super kabuto is beter than natural
own-rooted plant. This one also is affected the grafting, I think.

Cactus / another Ariocarpus hybrid

2012-02-06T06:11:00.000+10:30

This is an Ariocarpus hybrid, retusus v elongatus x fissuratus.
I sowed seeds on 17 th October 2010 and grafted several yound seedlings.
I tried to make an Ariocarpus with deep wrinkles over slender tubercles.
Unfortunately the appearance of the scion is unlike.

Cactus / Ariocarpus hybrid

2012-02-03T09:08:00.000+10:30

This cactus is a grafted Ariocarpus 1st filial hybrid, kotschoubeyanus x scaphirostris.
I sowed seeds on 25th November 2010 and grafted very young seedlings.
If you grafted a young seeding of small type Ariocarpus in spring, the scion is in flower in autumn, within 6 month.

Unfortunately the growing speed of this scion was not fast enogh, it missed the chance of flowering in the 1st autumn. Several flowering buds have come out. I think I can see some flowers soon.

Cactus / grafted cauliflower

2012-01-29T09:33:00.000+10:30

I grafted young seedlings of Ariocarpus retusus v furfuraceus cv Suguri cauliflower on pereskiopsis grafting stocks last year. They have grown well.
I grafted 24 more in this year.
When pereskiopsis lost leaves, the growing speed of the scion is reduced.
Some of leaves have turned color. I think they may loose leaves soon.

Cactus / A seedling on Pereskiopsis

2012-01-28T11:33:00.000+10:30

I grafted about 80 Ariocarpus seedlings lately.
Almost all seedlings were germinated in September 2011.
I propagated pereskiopsis grafting stocks in 50 mm tubes and used wet boxes for the grafting process.
This morning, I repotted 19 plants into 100 mm olive pots.

The photo is a scion of Ariocarpus retusus v furfuraceus cv seiji.

Cactus / retusus

2012-01-26T13:29:00.000+10:30

It is too early but Ariocarpus retusus v bicolor n. prov. KMR61 is in flower today.
I bought seeds and sowed on 31st August 2006. I grafted several seedlings.
The photo is one of them.
It is the equivalet season to July in Northern Hemisphere and so I think too early.

Cactus / ritteri

2012-01-18T16:33:00.000+10:30

I have tried rooting of Aztekium ritteri by using same method mentioned on 14th in this month.
I grafted 5 of small ritteri pups on pereskiopsis stocks 2 years ago.
Scions have grown with quite reasnable speed.

I remained 10 mm pereskiopsis stocks on the scions and set in pots for rooting.
The rooting media is crashed scoria.

Cactus / theresai

2012-01-17T09:18:00.000+10:30

The weather in this summer is unusal, repeated hot and cool.
I think this Mammillaria theresai f MZ364 has made a misjudgement of the season.
Mammillaria is in flower early spring normally but this one is in flower now.

I bought seeds and germinated in 2004. I grafted a young seedling.
Form MZ364 has different flower color from normal one.

Cactus / myriostigma cultvar

2012-01-16T08:28:00.000+10:30

This is grafted Astrohpytum myriostigma v nudum cv red bean khoyo, kikou.
I grafted a 1 year old seedling last month.
The grafting process has completed and started to grow.

Cactus / Astrophytum hybrid

2012-01-15T10:34:00.000+10:30

I sowed seeds of Astrophytum capricorne v senile x super kabuto on 24th August 2008.
Several young seedlings were grafted.
I degraft them 2 years ago and tried to root but the rooting prosess progressed very slowly.
One of them just started flowering yesterday.

Cactus / kotschoubeyanus

2012-01-14T09:25:00.000+10:30

I have tried a special degrafting method.
The method is attached a short, 10 mm pereskiopsis stock with a scion and bury the stock into the pottingmix. Roots come out from pereskiopsis and the scion relies on the buried stock initially. Roots come out eventually from the scion and died the stock.

I started the trial last year using 3 Ariocarpus kotschoubeyanus but I added 10 more scions 2 days ago.
The photo is one of them.

Cactus / seiji

2012-01-13T07:11:00.000+10:30

This seedling is also grafted for the purpose of seed collection.
I have several flowering size plants but I need more plants.
This grafted seedling is Ariocarpus retusus v furfuraceus cv seiji.
I sowed seeds on 3rd September 2010 and grafted 2 months old seedlings.

Cactus / denegrii

2012-01-12T13:54:00.000+10:30

I graft cactus seedlings to collect seeds from my own plants as soon as possible.
I nornally stop grafting when I could collect seeds from my own plants.
Obregonia denegrii is possible to collect seeds from my plants but number of seeds possible to collect from one fruit is very limited.
I grafted 5 denegrii seedlings to increase mother plants.
The photo is one of grafted seedlings. I sowed seeds on 8th October 2011.

Cactus / seedlings of agavoides

2011-12-30T09:28:00.000+10:30

Agavoides is one of my favorite Ariocarpus.
I collect seeds from my plants and sowing every year.
I sowed around 100 seeds on 3rd September in this year.
Seedlings have grown well and shown some main tubercles.

Cactus / heterochromus

2011-12-26T08:18:00.000+10:30

This is a Thelocactus heterochromus f longispinus.
I bought seeds and sowed on 31/08/2006. I grafted several young seedlings.
I expected longer spines but none could estimate exact spine length from lists of names.

I degrafted with a short root stock last autumn and rooted.

Cactus / castanea

2011-12-25T09:27:00.000+10:30

This is a Frailea castanea cv ogata-shidow.
When the temperaure was not hot enough, Frailea makes seeds without opening flowers.
Last few days were very hot and this plant opened flowers.

This one is a cultivar, has larger body size than that of standard castanea.

Cactus / flowering of asterias

2011-12-17T05:10:00.000+10:30

I do not know why but there was no extream hot days so far in this summer.
I think this weather situation is affected on cactus flowering.

The temperatuer reached to 33 C' yesterday afternoon. This is not an extream temperature in here but some asterias were in flower.

Cactus / Obregonia

2011-12-12T07:53:00.000+10:30

This is a seedling of Obregonia denegrii. It took years from seeds to flowering. I bought seeds and sowed on 28/09/2005. I could see 1st flower yesterday afternoon.

When you grafted this species, the speed of growing is not too bad. I grafted several seedlings germinated from same seeds group. They are mature plants and collected seeds many times.

Cactus / another holizontalonius

2011-12-05T07:38:00.000+10:30

This is another holizontalonius, v nicholii.
I bought seeds and sowed on 28th September 2005. The germination of these seeds were also very bad.
Just 1 was germinated and I grafted the seedling.

This plant started fowering last year. I crossed with the normal holizotalonius and expected some seeds.

Cactus / holizontalonius

2011-12-04T05:34:00.000+10:30

I bought seeds in 2003 and sowed. The germination was very bad. Only 1 was germinated and I grafted the seedling. I cut grafting stock short and rooted this spring.

This is the 1st flower of this plant. It took years from seed to flowering.

Cactus / heptacanthus

2011-12-03T05:32:00.000+10:30

This is a Discocactus heptacanthus v griseus.
I bought seeds and sowed on 31/08/2006. I grafted several young seedlings.
I degrafted with a short stock last autumn and rooted this spring.

Discocactus is night flowering andthe flower has very nice scent.

Cactus / varigated asterias

2011-12-01T10:10:00.000+10:30

I have just 2 flowering size of varigated asterias. One is own-root and the other is grafted.
The photo is grafted one.

I tried to make ruri kabuto nishiki (varigated ruri kabuto) and used this one as the father plant two days ago.
It seems the crossing works well. I expect to get some seeds.

Cactus / super kabuto

2011-11-30T07:33:00.000+10:30

This is a super kabuto with typical arrows pattern.
The body shape is not flat becase this plant was once grafted and de-grafted.
Asterias should be flat body shape but I remaine this one for seeds collectong.

Cactus / hanazono kabuto

2011-11-29T09:38:00.000+10:30

This is a hanazono(flower garden) kabuto. I sowed seeds in 2003.
Since this is an own-root plant, the character of hanazono appearance has been shown late.
The current diameter is around 15 cm. Numbers of ribs have also been incleased.

Cactus / Miracle kabuto

2011-11-28T13:29:00.000+10:30

My selected miracle kabutos are flowering size.
I sowed seeds in 2006 and selected 36 good seedlings last year.
I will collect more than 1000 seeds this year and will sow.
The photo is one of my selected seedlings.

Cactus / super kabuto

2011-11-27T09:28:00.000+10:30

Recent weather went up and down and many kabutos confused the flowering timing.
We have good sunshine yesterday and some kabutos were in flower.

The photo is one of super kabuto with smaller flecks over the body. Super kabuto has various appearances because of many times of crossing in history. I like this pattern.

Cactus / Obregonia

2011-11-24T15:24:00.000+10:30

I collected seeds of Obregonia denegrii from my plants and sowed on 08/10/2011.
The successful germination ratio was not too bad.
I grafted 4 seedings on 17/11/2011.
It seems they have been taken well.

Cactus / another red flower asterias

2011-11-16T14:46:00.000+10:30

One of grafted red flowering asterias was in flower this afternoon.

This one is nudum form. I assume the origin of this asterias in Europe. I believe the flower is very nice but the size of body is too small.

Cactus / small seedlings

2011-11-15T14:20:00.000+10:30

Some cactus seeds and seedlings are very small.
It is hard to see details visually.

I sowed seeds of Uebelmannia buiningii on 08/10/2011.
The successful germination ratio was not too bad. They are still very young and small but I took a photo.

Cactus / a flower of grafting stock

2011-11-14T09:00:00.000+10:30

This is a hybrid grafting stock whic I use normally. The stock plant is night flowering with a good scent.
I took this photo in this morning.
Although I have never tried, I believe the fruit is eatable.

The grafted scion is Astrophytum caput-medusae.

Cactus / seedling grafting

2011-11-13T06:11:00.000+10:30

I lost several good mature plants, Astrophytum myriostigma cultivars lately. I have to rebuild numbers again.
Several 1 year old seedlings were remained and I grafted 4 days ago.
When you graft very young seedling 10~30 day old after germination, you do not need any pressure onto the scion but you need some pressure to compensate body shrinkage when the seedling was older.

I used a small piece of pantyhose to give pressure onto the scion before but I tried a plastic lapping sheet this time. You can see the condition of the scion easily when you used a plastic sheet.
The scion is Astrophytum myriostigma v nudum cv khoyo, kikkou.

Cactus / Ariocarpus hybrid

2011-11-12T05:19:00.000+10:30

This is an Ariocarpus hybrid, kotschoubeyanus x bravoanus v hintonii.

I sowed seeds on 7th Septmeber 2009 and grafted young seedlings, 10 or so.
I could see some flowers in 2010.
The flowering season of Ariocarpus is in autumn but this one has a flowering bud already.
I believe it makes a mistake of the season and can not open the flower.

I can see various faces in this hybrids but this one shows well balance of parents.

Cactus / Aztekium

2011-11-11T09:08:00.000+10:30

This is a grafted Aztekium ritteri flowering in this morning.
I do somethings every day for cactus but there is no significant happenings in here.
Current main job is the collection of cactus seeds from Astrophytum and Ariocarpus.

Cactus / myroistigma cv kohyo

2011-11-09T20:27:00.000+10:30

I lost several good mature plants of Astrophytum myriostigma v nudum cv kohyo, kikkou lately.
I like this cultivar and have to rebuild numbers again.
The photo is one of young grafted plants, myriostigma v nudum cv red bean kohyo, kikkou.
I sowed seeds last year and grafted a young seedling.

Cactus / Astrostigma

2011-11-08T15:04:00.000+10:30

This is a hybrid, Astrophytum myristigma x caput medusae.
The shape is very similar to the mother, myriostigam but the body color gives a hint of the hybrid.

I failed last year but I try to make an intergeneric hybrid crossed with some other genera in this year.

Cactus / hanazono super

2011-11-07T08:38:00.000+10:30

This cactus is Astrophytum asterias cv super kabuto but it starts to show hanazono character also.
You can see a brown flowering bud coming out from a bottom of ribs (valley).
Normal asterias flowers come out from tubercles which are on the top of ribs.
Flowers of hanazono come out from anyplace of the body.
This cacti will be a hanazono super kabuto.

Cactus / Onzuka

2011-11-06T10:02:00.000+10:30

This is Astrophytum v myriostigam cv Onzuka rampo-gyoku.
This cultivar was developed y Mr Onzuka of Okayama prefecture in Japan.

I had collected quite many good mature plants but lost some in this spring.
I have to accumlate numbers again.

Cactus / Ariocarpus retusus cultivar

2011-11-05T10:47:00.000+10:30

The name of cultivar is quite unique and included inspiration of the developer.
This cultiver is toku daruma royal tama-botan, retusus v major with very lage roud tubercles.
I have no idea why the word of "Royal"added on the name.

Since tubercle size is only possible to confirm by own-root, I keep quite many seedlings.
The photo is one of my seedlings, sown seeds on 12th November 2006.
The current plant diameter is around 10 cm.
Seeds were collected from my grafted plants.

Cactus / ruri kabuto

2011-11-04T06:35:00.000+10:30

This is Astrophytum asterias cv ruri kabuto. It seems v nudum but ruri kabuto has the gene of capricorne v major.

I tried to make ruri kabuto nishiki (varigated ruri kabuto) and crossed varigated asterias pollen on the ruri kabuto showing below.

Cactus / Ariocarpus hybrid

2011-11-03T14:32:00.000+10:30

This is an Ariocarpus hybrid, kotschoubeyanus x bravoanus v hintonii.
I sowed seeds on 07/10/ 2009 and grafted very young seedlings, 3 days old, 10 scions or so.
It was my 1st creation of Ariocarpus hybrid.

Scions showed various mixed faces and some of them were in flower in 2010.
This one shows well mixed parents face, I think.
Although it has still been late spring in here but flowering buds have been lifted up already.

Cactus / red flowering asterias

2011-10-27T07:33:00.000+10:30

There are various opinions but I think this one is almost red flower.
The stigma is also red. Unfortunately it seems this red stigma can not make seeds.
I just can use this cacti as male plant.

Cactus / reddish flowering asterias 3

2011-10-25T08:15:00.000+10:30

This unusual color flowering asterias is also come from the same seeds packet.
It is quite unusual color but not my favorite and so I have not increase nombers of this form.
I just have kept this plant only.

Cactus / reddish flowering asterias 2

2011-10-24T05:26:00.000+10:30

This asterias is propagated from same seeds packet as yesterday's post.
It seems quite red before buds are open but it turns to yellow after open.
Almost all asterias propagated from the same seeds packet were this form.

Cactus / reddish flowering asterias

2011-10-23T08:47:00.000+10:30

The flower color of standard asterias is yellow petals and orange throat. There is red flowering asterias developed by Japanese origianally. I tried to get red flowering asterias a while but it was hard to get. I started from seeds and so there was no guarantee seeds named "red flower asterias" to be red flower asterias.

I got 2 asterias almost true red flower and many unlike.
The photo is one of unlike red flower asterias. I think this one was crossed many times and the size of body is very small. The gene of thin petals is also mixed.

Cactus / asterias

2011-10-22T08:38:00.000+10:30

When you repeated crossings, plant size becomes small. Astrophytum asterias (kabuto) repeated crossings in history and body size has been small.

I have tried my astrias to return to the original size. I select some of my plant and use them for the process. The photo is one of my plant for that purpose, 15 cm diameter.

Cactus / Ariocarpus hybrid 2

2011-10-21T06:56:00.000+10:30

This is another Ariocarpus hybrid, retusus v elongatus x fissuratus.
I have created 4 Ariocarpus hybrids in total.
I sowed seeds on 17/10/2010 and grafted several seedlings.
I think this cacti shows father's gene strongly.

Cactus / spegazzinii

2011-10-20T20:27:00.000+10:30

My main collection is North American cactus but I collect some South American cactus also.
The photo is Gymnocalycium spegazzinii v loricatum. I bought seeds and sowed on 16/11/2003.
Spegazzinii has several variations. Loricatum has short and thick spines.

Cactus / Ariocarpus hybrid

2011-10-19T05:21:00.000+10:30

This small grafted cacti is an Ariocarpus hybrid, kotschoubeyanus x scaphirostris.
I crossed in 2009, 1st filial hybrid and sowed seeds on 25/11/2010.
The successful gramination ratio was poor and seedlings were abnormal color which came from crossing stress, I think.

I grafted several young seedlings. They have grown slowly.

Cactus / luethyi

2011-10-18T13:56:00.000+10:30

Several Mammillaria luethyis were in flower this afternoon. It was a warm day today. The temperature in the greenhouse was more than 40 C'.

I onec collected grafted luethyis more than 100 plants. Almost all grafted stocks were so weak and I dislodged many plants last month.
The photo is a grafted luethyi, one of remained plants.

Cactus / super kabuto

2011-10-17T07:07:00.000+10:30

I bought a new camera. I had tried to find a best setting for cactus flowers.

It may not be the best but I found a good setting yesterday. I took a photo, a flower of super kabuto yesterday.

Cactus / short grafting stock

2011-10-10T08:05:00.000+10:30

I got the following information through the internet last year.

"Attach a short pereskiopsis stock on a scion and bury the stock in potting mix. Roots come out from the stock initially but roots also come out from the scion eventually."

I set up 3 Ariocarpus last year, on 05/10/2010 and checked roots yesterday. Unfortunately roots just came out from the stock only. I am not sure how long does it take coming out roots from the scion. I have buried them again.

The photo is kotschoubeyanus with a short pereskiopsis stock.

Cactus / myriostigma

2011-10-09T07:01:00.000+10:30

An Astrophytum myriostigma was in flower yesterday.

I bought a small seedling in 2003. Astrophytum grow normally slowly but this one has grown with quite good speed. The current body diameter is aroung 15 cm.

Cactus / Hanazono kabuto

2011-10-08T06:49:00.000+10:30

This is an Astrophytum asterias cv hanazono kabuto. Hanazono means a flower garden and this cacti has multiple flowers. Although the histories of super kabuto and miracle kabuto are quite clear but it is unclear for hanazono kabuto. It seems hanazono character will appear when the caci became mature age. When the cacti was young seeling, the appearance is same as a normal asterias.

Cactus / myriostigma

2011-10-06T07:33:00.000+10:30

This is Astrophytum myriostigma v nudum cv khoyo, kikou. I degrafted this cacti last autumn and under rooting currently.
This cultivar has two specific characters. One is khoyo, turning body color to red in autumn and spring and returning to green in summer when the cacti was juvenile. This cacti is too old to turne the color but it is remained some character. The other is kikou, turning body shape as like tortoiseshell when the cacti was matured. This cacti has shown the kikou character.

Cactus / super kabuto

2011-10-05T07:27:00.000+10:30

This is an asterias cv super kabuto which has a special pattern on the flower.Normal asterias flower is yellow with orange throat. Red flower has also developped. I found this one 4 days ago but I had never seen this special pattern on asterias flowers before.

Cactus / miracle kabuto

2011-10-04T05:15:00.000+10:30

Astrophytum have been in flower continuously. This is an asterias cv miracle kabuto.

Miracle kabuto is similar to super kabuto but it has finer white flecks than that of super kabuto. Miracle kabuto is a sort of monstrosa and was started from just 1 plant. It was mixed with various asteria in history. Because of that, you can not expect that all seedlings are miracle kabutos. I normally select good miralce kabutos when seedlings are 3 years old.

Cactus / Onzuka

2011-10-03T07:58:00.000+10:30

An Astrophytum myriostigma cv Onzuka was in flower yesterday.

I bought seeds and sowed on 29/07/2005. I grafted very young seedlings. I degrafted this cacti and rooted in 2008. Onzuka was developed by Mr Onzuka of Okayama prefecture in Japan. I understand the original plant was myriostigma v tulense and so the body shape was elongated naturally.

Cactus / super kabuto

2011-10-02T06:38:00.000+10:30

Many Astrophytum were in flower lately. This asterias cv super kabuto is one of them.

This super kabuto is mixed red flower gene.
I propagate this from my seed and the diameter of body is around 10 cm.

Cactus / red flower asterias

2011-10-01T05:42:00.000+09:30

I bought 20 seeds of Astrophytum red flower asterias and sowed on 06/08/2007. I grafted 10 young seedlings. I found ture red flower was just 2 plants.

The photo is one of two true red flower asterias. Since stigma color is also red, I think this cacti has true red flower gene. The problem of red flower asterias is small body size. I assume mixing was repeated offten in history.

Cactus / herrerae

2011-09-30T04:34:00.000+09:30

This is a Mammillaria herrerae flowering yesterday. I also propagate this cacti from cuttings. There is white flowering one, called albiflora but this is standard color flower.

Cactus / aselliformis

2011-09-29T05:27:00.000+09:30

A Pelecyphora aselliformis was in flower yesterday. I propagate this cacti from cuttings.

Seedlings of aselliformis are very thin and growing slowly, too slow. The best way to make a normal shape, own-root plant is grafting seedlings. You can cut pups from a grafted plant and rooted.

Cactus / pectinatus

2011-09-28T05:09:00.000+09:30

I do not keep many Echinocereus. An Echinocereus pectinatus v dasyacanthus was in flower. The flower of Echinocereus is quite large and the stigma has a distinct color.

Cactus / Astrophytum hybrid 2

2011-09-27T05:38:00.000+09:30

This cacti is same as yesterday one, niveum x super kabuto.

I grafted an abnormal seedling. Body color is yellow and its life will be short.

Cactus / Astrophytum hybrid

2011-09-26T06:05:00.000+09:30

This grafted cacti is Astrophytum hybrid, capricorne v niveum x asterias cv super kabuto.

I sowed seeds on 28/08/2010. The germination sucsess retio was not too bad but abnormal seedlings were included quite many. I think both of capricorne and asterias are Astrophytum but are in different flower groups and makes this stressed gene issue. I grafted two seedlings. One was a normal seedling and the other was abnormal one. This one was normal.

Cactus/ rioverdensis

2011-09-25T04:56:00.000+09:30

I bought 10 seeds of Turbinicarpus rioverdensis and sowed on 31/08/2006. I grafted young seedlings.

This is one of them, flowering currently.

Cactus / ritteri

2011-09-24T08:12:00.000+09:30

A grafted Aztekium ritteri is in flower today.

I grafted several pups a few years ago. This is one of them.
I bought seeds and tried to propagat several times but I could not get any successful result.
I collected some seeds from my plants last year. I will try to propagate again.

Cactus / Ariocarpus seedlings

2011-09-23T12:40:00.000+09:30

I sowed Ariocarpus seeds on 03/09/2011.

I use heating pads for seeds germination. I can set 18 of 10 cm square pots at one batch. 1st batch of germination was campleted in this morning.
The photo is one of pots, Ariocarpus retusus v jermilae. All seeds were collected from my own plants.

Cactus / miracle kabuto seedling

2011-09-21T05:21:00.000+09:30

I sowed seeds of miracle kabuto quite many on 30/11/2010.

1st repottings of these seedlings have been completed. The photo is one of seedlings, almost one year old. The diameter is 11 mm. This seeling was nudum a while but large flecks started to appear lately.
I think a good miracle kabuto will start as a nudum form and change suddenly.
I believe this seedling will be a good one in future.

Cactus / agavoides

2011-09-20T13:49:00.000+09:30

The repotting of Ariocarpus seedlings has almost been completed. I repotted agavoides this morning.

I sowed seeds in 2006. Seeds were collected from my grafted plants. You can see a white tap-root. The body grows very slowly but the root grow in a good speed. You have to maintain tubercle tips well when you propagate agavoides but one of tubercle tips is dead.

Cactus / a short grafting stock

2011-09-19T05:42:00.000+09:30

When you graft a cacti, the scion may show a differnt character from original one. It depends upon the type of the grafting stock. The special character in relation to the grafting will disappear when you degraft.

If you want to keep the grafted character, you can remain a short stock. The short stock is buried in pottingmix. I cut stock last autumn and set the cacti on a empty black pot. It is the time of potting because roots have come out from the short stock.
The photo is Echinocactus horizontalonius.

Cactus / Astrophytum hybrid

2011-09-18T04:56:00.000+09:30

This is an Astrophytum hybrid, 1st filial of coahuilence x asterias cv super kabuto.

The number of ribs is 7, more than coahuilence and less than asterias. It has white flecks over the body as same as super kabuto. I sowed seeds in 2005. The current size is around 10 cm diameter.

Cactus / luethyi

2011-09-17T05:34:00.000+09:30

A Mammillaria luethyi was in flower yesterday.

I have a lot of luethyis propagated by graftings. This one is a cuttings from a pup of grafted plant, set last summer. I believe the plant is rooted completely.

Cactus / Flowers of asterias

2011-09-15T06:28:00.000+09:30

I keep various asterias in this greenhouse.

It was warmed up in the afternoon yeasterday and in flower quite many asterias. It has been spring in here.

Cactus / pectinifera

2011-09-14T05:37:00.000+09:30

I bought 25 seeds of Uebelmannia pectinifera v multicostata and sowed on 28/09/2005. 2 young seedlings were grafted and remained 5 own-root seedlings.

The photo is one of grafted plant. Flowers of Uebelmannia are very small. I have tried to get seeds but it has never succeeded.

Cactus / valdezianus

2011-09-13T13:45:00.000+09:30

I bought this plant, Turbinicarpus valdezianus in 2004 from a cactus nersery in VIC. This cacti never moved since, not die and not growing at all but it flowerd every year. I think this is the size of matured plant.

There are two colors of flower. This one has pink flowers.

Cactus / hanazono-super kabuto

2011-09-12T07:30:00.000+09:30

I repot almost all asterias every spring. I started repotting 2 weeks ago and it has been continued.

I found one of repotted asterias (kabuto) showing both of characters, hanazono and super yeasterday. As youcan see, several brown flowering buds have come out between ribs (valley)on the super kabuto. Normal asterias has 8 ribs but this one just has 7 ribs only unfortunately. The size of the cacti is around 8 cm diameter.

Cactus / strobiliformis

2011-09-11T05:38:00.000+09:30

This is a grafted Pelecyphora strobliformis flowering yesterday.

I bought 20 seeds and sowed 31/08/2006. I grafted young seedlings. It survive just 3 plants currently. I tried to get seeds and crossed last several years but I could not. I am not sure why but it seems the stigma of this plant does not open. It may be the reason why I can not get seeds.

Cactus / rioverdensis

2011-09-09T07:30:00.000+09:30

I removed several pups from grafted Turbinicarpus rioverdensis last year and rooted.

One of cuttings in 5 cm square tube was in flower yesterday.

Cactus / coahuilense

2011-09-08T08:17:00.000+09:30

One of Astrophytum coahuilenses was in flower yesterday.

I bought this cacti several years ago. Unfortunately the body shape has been elongated slightly. Coahuilense has a yellow prtals and orange throught flower as same as asterias. It can cross easily with asterias.

Cactus / superkabuto

2011-09-07T05:44:00.000+09:30

This is best 12 of super kabuto seedling which I repotted yesterday.

As same as miracle kabutos, I sowed seeds in 2006.
The gene of super kabuto is quite positive. It is not 100% but almost all seedlings germinated from super kabuto seeds will be super kabuto.
There will be differnet degree of flecks density because the super kabuto started from just one plant and mixed with various asterias in history.

Flecks size of super kabuto is larger than that of miracle kabuto.

Cactus / miracle kabuto

2011-09-06T07:23:00.000+09:30

I started repotting larger asterias yesterday.

The photo is selected asterias cv miracle kabutos, best 12. I sowed seeds on 30/09/2006. Seedlings germinated for miracle kabuto seeds will not be all miracle kabutos. You have to select seedlings shown the character of miracle kabuto. I could select 36 seedlings from year 2006 germination.

The diameter of plants are around 8 cm.