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Posted
  On 4/18/2020 at 1:26 AM, SailorBold said:

I swear that's what it was bought as... another issue I'm sure. If you grow the seed I'll go dust the flowers... lol 

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:greenthumb: I'm game if you are.. lol 

Don't sweat the ID.. have seen stuff miss- labeled many times. Nice specimen regardless.  My smaller X Rotteri ( and the X Lloydii, dasyacanthus vars. and Russanthus /canus hybrid came from Jeff Thompson, a smaller, but well known grower located in Colorado )

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Posted
  On 4/18/2020 at 1:41 AM, Silas_Sancona said:

:greenthumb: I'm game if you are.. lol 

Don't sweat the ID.. have seen stuff miss- labeled many times. Nice specimen regardless.  My smaller X Rotteri ( and the X Lloydii, dasyacanthus vars. and Russanthus /canus hybrid came from Jeff Thompson, a smaller, but well known grower located in Colorado )

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I really need to add more to the collection...they do so well here.  I have some more species but now I couldnt tell you what they are.. so will need your help.

 

ok,, Deal. lol... alrighty.  I will detail the process tomorrow..  so stay tuned...  and..

 

prepare yourself for..  Operation Israeli Motorboat.

 

 

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Posted
  On 4/18/2020 at 1:51 AM, SailorBold said:

I really need to add more to the collection...they do so well here.  I have some more species but now I couldnt tell you what they are.. so will need your help.

 

ok,, Deal. lol... alrighty.  I will detail the process tomorrow..  so stay tuned...  and..

 

prepare yourself for..  Operation Israeli Motorboat.


 

 

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Let me know.. If i find myself stumped on an ID,  Tom in Tucson would be the next best person to offer up info. here.

:floor: Nice,  Should i break out the floaties?, lol:innocent:

Have heard Prodigy -anything- mixed against some rather interesting things, but not Enya..  Maybe once, many years ago when i ran lights/sound, was the opening DJ at a popular college dive bar when living in KS. 

Going back to what i'd said regarding distinguishing X Rotteri from coccineus, etc.. took a couple pictures of mine today.. I have my wonders about the big specimen ( pics # 3-5 ) myself.. Was labeled simply " Echinocereus species" when i got it.

Younger X Rotteri from Jeff Thompson.
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X Lloyidii, also from Jeff. AZ Rainbows getting ready to bloom behind them.
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The " who is it " specimen, picked up at a local nursery while in flower ( shown in the last post ) after re potting into the grit mix yesterday. No doubt there has to be some degree of variation in hybrids.
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Interesting side note.. Reading yesterday , appears that some of the Echinoceri  have to reach a certain age ( " Sexual maturity " was used in the descriptions i'd read through ) before they'll flower.  Guess this means some cactus also go through that awkward teenage phase too? lol..


Couple flowers today...

Echinocereus reichenbachii v. albispinus
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Opuntia " Pina Colada " caught in transitioning colors.
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Posted

Keep it up, I'm luvin' this thread guys ! 

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San Francisco, California

Posted (edited)

Ok.. completed.. It was too breezy yesterday so I did it this morning.  I will spare the pronouns and humorous thoughts I had throughout this process... I did chuckle..even after getting pricked a few times..   It was a good day for pollen count.  I did the cross both ways.. this is my umm first attempt at cross pollination so bear with me.

I didn't have a paintbrush.. which I have read elsewhere people use to do pollinating.  So if you find this archaic I apologize... I ended up picking one flower from each and then doing a rub via the docking method.  

Ill start with a Echinocereus triglochidiatus white sands flower closeup... and the flower form.. with some the pollen.

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Edited by SailorBold
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Posted (edited)

Ok.. Here is a pic of the now.. Pink - flowered coccineus, Like @aztropic's specimen..  flower form.

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Edited by SailorBold
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Posted (edited)

At this point the only thing I noticed was that there were 2 different colors of pollen..   I went to the ports of each opened flower.. and there you go. 

Pink - flowered coccineus, Like @aztropic's specimen

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Edited by SailorBold
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Posted (edited)

Echinocereus triglochidiatus white sands- post pollination. There werent as many open flowers.. but I got them all.  I will note that these 2 cactus arent self-fertile.. very rarely they will put out any seed pods.

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Edited by SailorBold
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Posted (edited)
  On 4/18/2020 at 10:37 PM, Silas_Sancona said:

Let me know.. If i find myself stumped on an ID,  Tom in Tucson would be the next best person to offer up info. here.

:floor: Nice,  Should i break out the floaties?, lol:innocent:

Have heard Prodigy -anything- mixed against some rather interesting things, but not Enya..  Maybe once, many years ago when i ran lights/sound, was the opening DJ at a popular college dive bar when living in KS. 

Going back to what i'd said regarding distinguishing X Rotteri from coccineus, etc.. took a couple pictures of mine today.. I have my wonders about the big specimen ( pics # 3-5 ) myself.. Was labeled simply " Echinocereus species" when i got it.

Younger X Rotteri from Jeff Thompson.


X Lloyidii, also from Jeff. AZ Rainbows getting ready to bloom behind them.



The " who is it " specimen, picked up at a local nursery while in flower ( shown in the last post ) after re potting into the grit mix yesterday. No doubt there has to be some degree of variation in hybrids.

Interesting side note.. Reading yesterday , appears that some of the Echinoceri  have to reach a certain age ( " Sexual maturity " was used in the descriptions i'd read through ) before they'll flower.  Guess this means some cactus also go through that awkward teenage phase too? lol..

Couple flowers today...

Echinocereus reichenbachii v. albispinus




Opuntia " Pina Colada " caught in transitioning colors.
 

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lol...the song seemed appropriate... we will see if any pods develop.. hopefully it was good enough.  The unknown Echinocereus looks like it may be white sandish... 

Ok.. Which one is this... it blooms mid summer...

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Edited by SailorBold
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Posted
  On 4/19/2020 at 5:14 PM, SailorBold said:

lol...the song seemed appropriate... we will see if any pods develop.. hopefully it was good enough.  The unknown Echinocereus looks like it may be white sandish... 

Ok.. Which one is this... it blooms mid summer...

20200417_202935.jpg

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Thinking Escobaria, maybe a form of vivipara, Viviparous Foxtail Cactus ( Var. deserti? ) but there are a couple other sp. that look similar ( E. organensis - from the Organ Mountains, &  E. sneedii. Stems on sneedii look too small to be yours. )

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Posted

Couple extra pics. of Echinocereus reichbachii v. albispnus fully open, and with a sliver of sun to it's back this morning.  The species, ( and varieties ) are often referred to as " Lace / White Lace Cactus " Nice smaller- sized, easy to grow and not all that "spiny" Hedgehog ( Echinocereus ) Slowly but steadily adds more stems each year.
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Smaller Glory of Texas, Thelocactus bicolor,  in the shade house popping open yesterday.  With the heat dial getting turned up a few notches, things that have been slowly building momentum are moving a bit faster..  Some of the slow-to-start-germinating seed is also moving along a bit faster now too.  Looks like seed from Opuntia cultivar X Ohio are viable. Don't remember if i'd selfed it, or crossed w/ one of the other Prickly Pears i have. Plant itself is gearing up.. Still anticipating only a single flower this year though.
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Posted

Some color as the end of the week nears:

Opuntia noid Collected in Central Texas.
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Echinocereus dasyacanthus, San Miguel form.
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First of the Trichocereus hybrids for the year.  Huntington Botanical acquisition.  While it looked like the shy-er Tricho bought at the same time /plant sale might flower this year, guess it decided 2020 wouldn't be it's year.. Might move it into a bit more sun, even though it sits  right next to the one that flowers every year.. weird..
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Bonus, not a cactus  blooms... After a long wait, First flowers on the short Brachychiton bidwillii. Still amazed how these can flower at such a young age / height.. Going to try pollinating as more flowers open..  FL. native Sophora tomentosa, Yellow Necklacepod behind it ( on the right ) in pic. #1.  Brachy. discolor i have had since 2013 still hasn't attempted to flower yet..
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Posted

Hey is that the Sorceress? Great cacti collection... keep posting.. The pear looks like a prune. Haha.. 

Just another shot of my Echinocereus..  hey quick question... if a flower gets pollinated does it close up? Do you think it worked?

 

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Posted
  On 4/24/2020 at 5:12 AM, SailorBold said:

Hey is that the Sorceress? Great cacti collection... keep posting.. The pear looks like a prune. Haha.. 

Just another shot of my Echinocereus..  hey quick question... if a flower gets pollinated does it close up? Do you think it worked?

 

20200423_231049.jpg

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Lol.. it does, have to some water on them.. X Pina Colada seems to be the only Prickly Pear out there that doesn't really wrinkle up over the summer.   That Tricho is an un-named selection the Huntington was selling at a sale i'd attended years ago.. flowers every year. It's sibling, bought at the same sale, in - flower, hasn't flowered once since bought.. Both sit in the same spot out back. Do have X Sorceress, which should throw it's first set of flowers in the next couple weeks..

Possibly... Flowers on most of mine will last 2-5 days before closing.. Might have happened faster on pollinated ones though.. You'll know for sure if the fruit buds drop right away after drying out.. If they hang on, and start filling out/ swelling, chances are they got pollinated..

Waiting on a seed order i placed Tuesday.. Picked up some uncommon Baja / southern Sonoran Echinoceri ( E. floresii, polyacanthus v. huitcholensis, sciurus, and ..hopefully..  the spineless form of E. subinermis ) Seed of both Ferocactus latispinus, ( in case my bigger one ends up rotting, despite trying to save it ),  Fero. fordii, and Escobaria vivipara v. deserti.  May order some other stuff later.

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Posted (edited)

A couple pics on a HOT Saturday afternoon:

Mammillaria geminispina, still full of flowers, even in the heat.
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Some progress shots of the early spring cactus seed batches. Great thing about sowing them?, take up very little room. I use Plastic  2" x 2" "pinch" pots ( mostly Square ) Wet the soil just enough to soak through. Allow excess to drain off, and place in ziplock bags to keep the moisture up while they germinate. Because of that, they don't need to be watered again for quite some time unless something happens to their little "greenhouse".  Soil is grit for most, especially as a top layer where the seeds are placed. Most cacti require light to germinate so surface sow, or barely cover w/ some smaller grain sized, pumice, or Turface.  I'll open the baggies while outside a few times a week to let them breathe a bit / keep the chances of any mold/ fungi from developing lower.. Still, as you'll see, mosses and various types of Algae will grow on the surface of the soil in the pots.. Doesn't hurt ( may actually help ) seed germinate faster /developing seedlings.. Only necessary to "air" the pots a little to help dry things out a bit if the mix appears to be too wet..

With the heat ( temps above 70-75F ), most stuff will start popping within 10-14 days.. Echinopsis / Trichos seem to always germinate the fastest for me.. They'll stay in their community pots for at least a year or two and don't require much maintenance, other than keeping them out of direct sun during the summer.. Estimate about a dozen pots should fit in a shoe box when its time to pack them up.  The fun part comes when the time comes to "prick out" the seedlings into their own pots. Suddenly you have several dozen ( or hundred ) little plants to pot up. Luckily, the pots they go into are small as well, for most stuff..

Another thing about cacti seed,... while many seeds will germinate right away, don't be surprised if you see left over seed sprout a year or two later alongside older plants in the same pot.. Have some Echinoceri i'd sown in 2017.. Remaining, un- sprouted seed in a couple of those pots is still sprouting atm.. For the most part, cacti seed generally has a long shelf life after maturity if stored correctly.. Seed of some Genera actually germinates better  a year or two past harvest after natural germination inhibitors have worn off. Have heard of people germinating seed that was 10, 20+ years old w/ out issue.. Cacti seed might just be one of those things that out lives us all, lol..


Opuntia.. possibly off X Pina Colada
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Opuntia X Ohio
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Various things i hadn't labeled.. Likely Echinopsis /Echinoceri.. Pretty much all i'd pollinated that year..
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 Setiechinopsis  ** now tossed into Echinopsis ** mirabilis.   
Lost one of my older plants over the winter but both had produced plenty of seed last year. Self- fertile regardless.  These should be ready to flower within 2 years according to what i have read.. As mentioned last year, these are a short lived species, supposedly lasting only 3-5 years after maturing.  Some other things i have going now and will be germinating soon may take 5- 8 ( or more ) years before the set their first flowers..
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More flowers open on Brachychiton bidwillii.. Species is supposedly Monoecious, producing unisexual ( single sex ) flowers on the same plant. So far, all that have opened are male..  We'll see if what i read is true, or if the species is in fact Dioecious, ...separate plants produce all male or all female flowers.
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Flowers finally opening on Yucca pallida  as the sun sets..
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Edited by Silas_Sancona
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Posted

First sporadic blooms of Echinocereus pentalophus..

Hey Nathan...  umm... white sands is approaching full bloom...

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Posted

Slightly off topic.. this is a Agave Victoria-regia. It's tiny.. havent planted it yet...but a good agave for abq.. I've been seeing these popping up in yards around town. Hopefully it will make it through the summer. Wish me luck.

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Posted
  On 4/26/2020 at 8:30 PM, SailorBold said:

First sporadic blooms of Echinocereus pentalophus..

Hey Nathan...  umm... white sands is approaching full bloom...

 

Expand  

No full Monty shots yet?.. :D

Posted

My cactus 'collection' is meager compared to those shown on this page, but at least they're dependable bloomers, like this Echinocereus triglochidiatus in flower today.

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Cactus2020.png

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Posted
  On 4/26/2020 at 1:59 AM, Silas_Sancona said:

More flowers open on Brachychiton bidwillii.. Species is supposedly Monoecious, producing unisexual ( single sex ) flowers on the same plant. So far, all that have opened are male..  We'll see if what i read is true, or if the species is in fact Dioecious, ...separate plants produce all male or all female flowers.
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 Nathan: I'm envious! I have two other Brachychiton species, both over 15 feet tall, and neither one has bloomed so far. :(
 

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Posted (edited)
  On 4/26/2020 at 9:14 PM, Hillizard said:

 

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My discolor is almost touching the roof of the shade house.. roughly 10' in height.   Hasn't even attempted to flower yet.. Have heard acerifolius can take it's time also. Going by those, wasn't expecting this bidwillii to do anything.. until i saw it forming buds a couple months ago..  Happy its flowering so young.. but not thrilled i'm only seeing male flowers. Would like to add a few more of these just in case they are dioecious.. Fresh seed isn't all that easy to find either.

Edited by Silas_Sancona
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Posted
  On 4/26/2020 at 9:08 PM, Silas_Sancona said:

No full Monty shots yet?.. :D

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I'll get some pics tomorrow...  which in your opinion...would be a more interesting hybrid?

White sands x pentalophus 

-or-

Pentalophus x white sands

Think it will work?

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Posted
  On 4/27/2020 at 1:24 AM, SailorBold said:

I'll get some pics tomorrow...  which in your opinion...would be a more interesting hybrid?

White sands x pentalophus 

-or-

Pentalophus x white sands

Think it will work?

Expand  

That's an interesting question..  As far as i'm aware, haven't seen anything in regards to the existence of any sub groups -within the genus  which might make them incompatible when crossed..  I'd say try it both ways.. Would be a really neat cross regardless,  either way.. if it works.

I did basically the same thing back in 2018 w/  some of mine.. One batch of seed i have down atm is a forward and backward cross between E. dasyacanthus and E. leucanthus, a snake-like species that was, at one time, lumped in w/ Peniocereus ( and looks like one ).. before getting assigned to Wilcoxia, then put in w/ Echinocereus when Wilcoxia  apparently got dropped.. Might have done something w/ dasyacanthus and rigidissimus ( AZ. Rainbow Hedgehog )  that summer also but don't remember.. 

There's two sp. i don't currently have that i'll likely acquire ( and/or start from seed ) that i think would be an interesting cross, if successful. Flowers on one smell like Chocolate.. Flowers on the other are striped chocolate brown and yellowish orange.. Would be pretty sweet to get a cross that might have bigger flowers, or produces more of them.. but also retains the flower color from one parent, and inherits the scent from the other.. 

Look at whats been done ..and is still being done..  w/ Echinopsis and Trichos.. Almost impossible to count how many hybrids have been created..  There are some hybrid Echinoceri out there but think there's a lot more potential to create..

Posted

Wow, you guys have turned this thread into such a great visual resource for people seeking out flowering cacti...  and for years to come.  Awesome.  Keep it coming! 

Posted
  On 4/27/2020 at 2:29 AM, Silas_Sancona said:

That's an interesting question..  As far as i'm aware, haven't seen anything in regards to the existence of any sub groups -within the genus  which might make them incompatible when crossed..  I'd say try it both ways.. Would be a really neat cross regardless,  either way.. if it works.

I did basically the same thing back in 2018 w/  some of mine.. One batch of seed i have down atm is a forward and backward cross between E. dasyacanthus and E. leucanthus, a snake-like species that was, at one time, lumped in w/ Peniocereus ( and looks like one ).. before getting assigned to Wilcoxia, then put in w/ Echinocereus when Wilcoxia  apparently got dropped.. Might have done something w/ dasyacanthus and rigidissimus ( AZ. Rainbow Hedgehog )  that summer also but don't remember.. 

There's two sp. i don't currently have that i'll likely acquire ( and/or start from seed ) that i think would be an interesting cross, if successful. Flowers on one smell like Chocolate.. Flowers on the other are striped chocolate brown and yellowish orange.. Would be pretty sweet to get a cross that might have bigger flowers, or produces more of them.. but also retains the flower color from one parent, and inherits the scent from the other.. 

Look at whats been done ..and is still being done..  w/ Echinopsis and Trichos.. Almost impossible to count how many hybrids have been created..  There are some hybrid Echinoceri out there but think there's a lot more potential to create..

Expand  

Ill try it and see what happens lol.. would be pretty weird lookin..  The E. triglochidiatus 'white sands' is first to bloom every spring.. and the sporadic blooms on the pentalouphis are early..  If I remember correctly.. from previous seasons the other triglochidiatus are done blooming by the time it normally does. Hopefully I can catch it on the others if I miss these blooms...  Makes me wonder if any of the trichocereus are compatable with the North American Hedgehogs?? Ill try that too..   There is another flying saucer bud that is going to open soon looks like within a few days.

I didn't know there was more than 1 peniocereus..   Any rate.. do you sell any of your seedlings?  Looks like you have the germination down to an art.. 

Whatever I do try Ill document it here..  ill do some internet searching to see what others have done and or/ worked.  lol..  in the mean time..

prepare yourself.. for..  

Operation Bits and Pieces And.

 

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Posted
  On 4/27/2020 at 3:49 AM, SailorBold said:

Ill try it and see what happens lol.. would be pretty weird lookin..  The E. triglochidiatus 'white sands' is first to bloom every spring.. and the sporadic blooms on the pentalouphis are early..  If I remember correctly.. from previous seasons the other triglochidiatus are done blooming by the time it normally does. Hopefully I can catch it on the others if I miss these blooms...  Makes me wonder if any of the trichocereus are compatable with the North American Hedgehogs?? Ill try that too..   There is another flying saucer bud that is going to open soon looks like within a few days.

I didn't know there was more than 1 peniocereus..   Any rate.. do you sell any of your seedlings?  Looks like you have the germination down to an art.. 

Whatever I do try Ill document it here..  ill do some internet searching to see what others have done and or/ worked.  lol..  in the mean time..

prepare yourself.. for..  

Operation Bits and Pieces And.

 

Expand  

Appreciate the vote of confidence..  Ironic that i even decided to expand into working w/ cacti  at all actually  since, after growing up around ( and being attacked by.. ) some of the nastiest.. Some sort of Cholla, and a very spiny Opuntia my Grandparents had when i was a kid, i swore off ever growing them.. Then i visited relatives in Tucson for a week one summer and saw Saguaros, and eventually, started looking at them more while researching other stuff both here in the Desert, and in more tropical areas that are nearly as dry, at least part of the year.. 
Have also had a thing for Epiphyllums and Echinopsis/Trichos.. Cacti are kind of under appreciated for what they can bring to a garden, at least i think so.. Most people imagine things like Prickly Pears or Chollas, the stuff that can /will hurt of hugged.. but, there's a whole lot more cacti one could grow that are practically harmless. Kind of the same miss guided thinking some people have regarding Palms, Bromeliads, or Cycads.. And yet, some of the same people will grow ..Roses.. I won't grow them, ever, lol..

It wasn't until a couple years ago, after stumbling onto a FB page Jeff Thompson had ( for his nursery. Page isn't active any more, unfortunately ) that i said.. " I have to get my hands on some of these "  He'd posted a whole album of crosses he'd worked on inc. some of the X Roetteri and X Lloydii crosses he did that were mind blowing.. Flowers just about as large and colorful as Echinopsis.. Looking around more, you end up finding other stuff that you " add to the list " so to say..  That said, as with growing anything else.. there's a lot of homework to be done, as you go along that comes w/ the territory..  Trust me, lol.. still learning the curve.. 

Speaking of Peniocereus, ( greggii in this case ), just discovered the roots / tuber of my specimen plant were about half rotted out after noticing that the plant itself had gone down hill.. Not sure what happened but attempting to root a healthy looking branch.. Tossed the rest since i don't think i would be able to save the rest of the plant, let alone get it to regrow. You know how it goes.. "Stuff" happens sometimes..  Numerous other Penios i'd like to work with but most are hard to find..  Have P. viperinus, one of the red/pink flowered sp. also atm. No flowers yet though.

Agree, considering the different flowering times, a cross like this would be interesting.. and i do think Trigs have been used in some crosses before.. Just not sure which.  Jeff Thompson ( Stoney Creek Cacti, CO. ), The couple that now owns/ runs Mesa Garden there in N.M... other veteran cacti gurus would probably have a better idea but, never hurts to try.. Have heard chromosome #'s thrown around in stuff i have read, which might influence compatibility.. but that's a whole 'nother Pandora's Box i'm not yet ready to turn the key on, lol..

Yep, do plan on sharing the goods once at a sell-able size.
 

Posted
  On 4/27/2020 at 5:17 AM, Silas_Sancona said:



It wasn't until a couple years ago, after stumbling onto a FB page Jeff Thompson had ( for his nursery. Page isn't active any more, unfortunately )




 

Expand  

Edit that.. Looks like Jeff and his wife started a new FB page.. Some nice, recent pictures there too. :greenthumb: Thought i'd pass it on..

Posted

Here's what my Psorothamnus spinosus (smoke tree) seedlings look like this morning. I usually get close to 100% germination. The problem is I've tried for years to get even one of them past the seedling stage with no luck whatsoever. This year I'll keep them in my sunroom and give them an antifungal treatment frequently. Any advice is welcome from those who've grown them from seed. They make a great addition to dry/desert gardens... just not in NorCal apparently.

Psorothamnus2020.png

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Posted
  On 4/27/2020 at 7:52 PM, Hillizard said:

Here's what my Psorothamnus spinosus (smoke tree) seedlings look like this morning. I usually get close to 100% germination. The problem is I've tried for years to get even one of them past the seedling stage with no luck whatsoever. This year I'll keep them in my sunroom and give them an antifungal treatment frequently. Any advice is welcome from those who've grown them from seed. They make a great addition to dry/desert gardens... just not in NorCal apparently.

Psorothamnus2020.png

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Nice!!..

You know.. I'd been looking over some more recently posted tree list recommendations for Sacramento ..and the Valley itself  awhile back and swear i'd seen this sp. listed somewhere.. Texas Ebony, Ebanopsis ebano, Desert Ironwood, Olneya tesota and a few other "true" desert trees were on most of the lists also. If they'll survive up that way, this should too, given the right placement, and left to it's own, once established..

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Posted (edited)

No flowers.. just some seeds that arrived this afternoon..

Basic set up in the picture:
2 1/2" X 2 1/2" square pots, filled with a mixture of sifted river grit, pumice, turface ..and 2 thin layers of sandy loamy fines, between gritty layers in the pot itself...then pre -soaked.  Topped w/ one last layer of fine grit, where the seeds will be set.

Empty black pot in the picture is what i use to sift down to really fine grit. Can't remember where i picked up what had grown in it but, as you can see.. there are slits instead of holes in the bottom.. A lot of work sifting,  but worth it to get the soil right..

After seed is placed, sprinkle one last thin layer of grit ( in the cut milk jug top ) to help keep the seed in place, provide some shade as they germinate. Species sown this time around on the envelope.. Quite a difference size -wise between the Ferocactus fordii ( bottom, Large, like a lot of other Fero. seed i have observed/collected ) and F. latispinus ( top, Quite small / fine ) { Two packs located at the upper left corner of the package }
DSC07817.JPG.ecf42f796b73330d1c0c4226f56de58d.JPG


 Bagged, tagged and ready to go under a bench out in the shade house..
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Now we wait. W/ the heat this week, shouldn't be long before they start to pop..
 

Edited by Silas_Sancona
edit
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Posted

Ferocactus glaucescens

 

aztropic

Mesa,Arizona

15881821844433891107866474695188.jpg

15881822479173148370717182468046.jpg

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Mesa, Arizona

 

Temps between 29F and 115F each year

Posted

Extreme Heat Warning Wednesday flowers.. Currently 100-105 around the East Valley per neighborhood Wx stations..

Echinocereus sheeri v. gentryi  w/ appropriately flaming hot flowers. Not sure why ..but loaded w/ developing flowers this year.. Placing it where it received more sun/ bright light this winter could have helped stimulate more buds.. This is one of the more "tropical", Mexican Echinoceri species that actually does better w/ a little more shade in summer, and can tolerate a little more water also.
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Glory of Texas, Thelocactus bicolor  trio..
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Opuntia X Ohio.. appearing out of nowhere once again this year.. Bud was tight this morning. Figured it had another day or two before opening. Absolutely spectacular. Re potting into a bigger pot as soon as it is finished to get more flowers next year. As you can see, in the 1st pic.. Kid gloves w/ this prickly beast.. No spines, just lots of Glochids on those pads..
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Non -cacti additions....

First flowers on Haematoxylon brasiletto, Seedlings flowering first this year.
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Whats this?... Guess picking this up in a trade w/ a local nursery for some extra Echinopsis i had will be well worth it..  Developing flowers on Erythrina flabelliformis.. One of two Erythrina species i have left. Heat torched the rest. Still no flowers on my large E. velutina.  Isn't all that happy through our summers, at least until Monsoon Season either.
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Posted

Actually only get 1/2 day sun.Surprisingly,lots of cactus species won't take a full day of AZ summer sun without burning up or dying.

 

aztropic

Mesa,Arizona

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  • Upvote 2

Mesa, Arizona

 

Temps between 29F and 115F each year

Posted
  On 4/29/2020 at 9:09 PM, Silas_Sancona said:

Extreme Heat Warning Wednesday flowers.. Currently 100-105 around the East Valley per neighborhood Wx stations..

Echinocereus sheeri v. gentryi  w/ appropriately flaming hot flowers. Not sure why ..but loaded w/ developing flowers this year.. Placing it where it received more sun/ bright light this winter could have helped stimulate more buds.. This is one of the more "tropical", Mexican Echinoceri species that actually does better w/ a little more shade in summer, and can tolerate a little more water also.
DSC07822.thumb.JPG.0b28975743a7ed1ab60dcd8978bb109e.JPG

DSC07855.JPG.e7b9bdfdb944692de1ef8d32e0540631.JPG



Glory of Texas, Thelocactus bicolor  trio..
DSC07843.JPG.757f047e109d4571f08dd568b1a5f131.JPG

DSC07846.thumb.JPG.d0bcd4d125a4cdba29d687b476aae803.JPG


Opuntia X Ohio.. appearing out of nowhere once again this year.. Bud was tight this morning. Figured it had another day or two before opening. Absolutely spectacular. Re potting into a bigger pot as soon as it is finished to get more flowers next year. As you can see, in the 1st pic.. Kid gloves w/ this prickly beast.. No spines, just lots of Glochids on those pads..
DSC07850.thumb.JPG.5c07836f5de45fb2f9dc7ccf5122eb62.JPG

DSC07852.JPG.df04d0a5d472616fd6daea867c561bd8.JPG


Non -cacti additions....

First flowers on Haematoxylon brasiletto, Seedlings flowering first this year.
DSC07849.thumb.JPG.bb1af26e1d241dd3944e4c2517ec1bcd.JPG

Whats this?... Guess picking this up in a trade w/ a local nursery for some extra Echinopsis i had will be well worth it..  Developing flowers on Erythrina flabelliformis.. One of two Erythrina species i have left. Heat torched the rest. Still no flowers on my large E. velutina.  Isn't all that happy through our summers, at least until Monsoon Season either.
DSC07848.JPG.f6848a3dba23f86fd39dcc9474bda0fb.JPG

Expand  

Beautiful.. the Glory of Texas.. wow. . The color is outstanding. How hardy is it.. ?  Also the echinocereus.. seems like the flowers length is longer like an echinopsis. Alot of the echinocereus here the blooms barely get above the spines of the plant itself. Nice.  Great collection!  You know the pic of the brasiletto I almost thought it was a yellow desert bird of paradise.. 

wxBanner?bannertype=wu_clean2day_cond&pw

Posted
  On 4/30/2020 at 2:01 PM, SailorBold said:

Beautiful.. the Glory of Texas.. wow. . The color is outstanding. How hardy is it.. ?  Also the echinocereus.. seems like the flowers length is longer like an echinopsis. Alot of the echinocereus here the blooms barely get above the spines of the plant itself. Nice.  Great collection!  You know the pic of the brasiletto I almost thought it was a yellow desert bird of paradise.. 

Expand  

Not exactly sure on cold tolerance for the Glory of TX.. Some descriptions i've read say it can tolerate temps down to -7C (19F ) or a few degrees lower if kept absolutely dry during the winter.. Other descriptions suggest no lower than about 20F.. Considering it is native from roughly the Big Bend in Texas, down to San Luis Potosi, i'd assume the northern part of it's range can get quite cold at times. Might be one of those you keep potted and bring up under a patio during winter.. On the other hand, have seen Echinocereus pentalophus listed as hardy to -5C ( 23F ) yet yours is planted out and looks fine.. so.. Maybe the Glory of TX might be ok planted there also?..

Thinking the extra long floral tube on this Echinocereus, and some others from Mexico is an adaptation geared toward certain pollinators.

Agree, thought the same thing when i first read about it.. must be a co-evolution thing.. Biggest thing that separates " Palo de Brasil " as it's called in Mexico, from Yellow Birds ( Caesalpinia ) is the trunk/ older branches of brasil will develop all sort of weird, twisted looking sections as they mature. Neat when older and exposed enough to be observed up close. Wood of brasil, and the other Haematoxylon species will produce a red dye when soaked / ground up also.

Posted
  On 4/28/2020 at 12:30 AM, Silas_Sancona said:

No flowers.. just some seeds that arrived this afternoon..

Basic set up in the picture:
2 1/2" X 2 1/2" square pots, filled with a mixture of sifted river grit, pumice, turface ..and 2 thin layers of sandy loamy fines, between gritty layers in the pot itself...then pre -soaked.  Topped w/ one last layer of fine grit, where the seeds will be set.

Empty black pot in the picture is what i use to sift down to really fine grit. Can't remember where i picked up what had grown in it but, as you can see.. there are slits instead of holes in the bottom.. A lot of work sifting,  but worth it to get the soil right..

After seed is placed, sprinkle one last thin layer of grit ( in the cut milk jug top ) to help keep the seed in place, provide some shade as they germinate. Species sown this time around on the envelope.. Quite a difference size -wise between the Ferocactus fordii ( bottom, Large, like a lot of other Fero. seed i have observed/collected ) and F. latispinus ( top, Quite small / fine ) { Two packs located at the upper left corner of the package }
DSC07817.JPG.ecf42f796b73330d1c0c4226f56de58d.JPG


 Bagged, tagged and ready to go under a bench out in the shade house..
DSC07821.JPG.63d64858044a6a8d855a359bf3be1d41.JPG


Now we wait. W/ the heat this week, shouldn't be long before they start to pop..
 

Expand  

@Silas_Sancona    I like your cacti seed media mix.  Do you have any problems with fungal growth when you seal it up in the baggies in the warm temps?   Or maybe it is a sterile mix?

Posted
  On 4/30/2020 at 6:02 PM, jimmyt said:

@Silas_Sancona    I like your cacti seed media mix.  Do you have any problems with fungal growth when you seal it up in the baggies in the warm temps?   Or maybe it is a sterile mix?

Expand  

Thanks Jimmy..

On some of the older batches, i'd used a mix of turface, pumice ( smallest particle size you can sift out w/something like the black pot in the picture ) with a little sand/ loamy stuff mixed in.. placing roughly a 1/3 to 1/2" layer of just pumice or turface on the top of the pot where the seeds are sprinkled into.. Any water applied wets the medium, but any excess that might cause issues drains through the mix quickly..  Worked pretty well but noticed it would shift around a bit much causing delicate seedlings like some Mamillaria grahamii seedlings i had going to get dislodged.. No issues w/ fungi that i noticed..

This year, i decided to try the river grit A: to make a comparison between using it vs. the standard mix i used.. Have read through a few articles suggesting using it works better, promotes healthier seedlings.. and B: since that's what a lot of native cacti here ( and across the southwest ) start out on. Mix is the same basic make up, just with a higher %' age of grit in it. Drains through right away when pre-soaked before setting the seeds. Will carefully spritz the inside of the bag/ top of the pot after sowing, then seal and set under one of the benches in the shade house.  Will open the baggies for a minute or so to let them air out when checking on germination / post- germination progress a couple times a week. Girt is straight out of the wash i collected at and isn't sterilized.

When collecting it, i made sure to collect from an area below some of the large boulders in a bank where some of the larger grain -sized material accumulates. Most of the finer stuff is washed out of it down stream, or driven deeper into the bank. When you run your hand through it, very clean / very little dust.. Would imagine a lot of air penetrates through it, helping to lessen the chances for problems like damping off / root rot.. Noticed even cacti, like Echinopsis or Trichoceri that will tolerate more organic stuff in the soil seem to do better in the grit mix. Though i haven't placed "test" plants in this specific mix just yet, They love the turface / pumice / decomp. granite and loamy sand mix. Nickel or Dime sized offsets grow to roughly silver dollar sized plants in about a year.. noticeably slower growth rate in your standard, from the store "cactus mix"

Using this mix on some other, non -cacti seed that i have had a lot of trouble starting in a more traditional potting mix also..  ( Devil's Claw, hopefully the yellow flowered, perennial species..  Desert Cotton, some Colorado 4 'O Clocks, Mirabilis multiflora, and some Baobab seed from Australia ) Also trying seed off my Marlberry ( Florida native ) in it to see if it helps w/ germination. Will be easier to see them germinate also, lol.
 

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Posted

Great explanation and teaching point Nathan.   I am still amazed you dont get fungal growth in the sealed bags.  You must be one careful Horticulturalist!  Let us know how your mixes compare in results.

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Posted

** forgot to add that several cacti sp. there in Texas seem to do better if grown in a soil mix that contains Limestone..  Figuring out how to make such a mix for some of those things since finding a source for it is a challenge here. Soils here are derived of Granite of volcanic rocks in most areas..  There's a list of "limestone lovers" out there worth looking for..  Think this is it:

http://www.oxford.bcss.org.uk/cultivation/limestone.htm

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Posted

Some Saturday sizzlers...

Remember the seed i just planted earlier in the week?.. Seed of Ferocactus fordii, and F. latispinus are already starting to germinate, as is one of the Echinoceri.. Some of the other, random " I- forgot- to- label" seed set last week is already popping also. More of ..at least one of the com pots of potential E. dasyacanthus X  E. leucanthus seed is germinating as well..

First " nocturnal " flower-er of the season: Echinopsis subdunada.. caught fully open, an hour or two before the sun withered away the flowers yesterday morning. Can stay open through the day if it is cloudy.
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As spectacular as this looks w/ a little sun on it,  absolutely sizzles when shaded a tad. Echinopsis X Gene Joseph cross.
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Freshly opened flower on Echinocereus rigidissimus v. rubrispinus.  Just wait until fully open..
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Caudiciform hi-light:
First flower ever on my Bursera  schlechtendalii  specimen -Try saying that 20x's fast, lol.. Pretty rare species, doesn't get all that big and have never had issues w/it here thru the winter. Originates in south central and southern Mexico. Foliage smells wonderful, not as " piney " as some of the other, more commonly seen Bursera when crushed. Looks like this is a Male specimen ( 9 out of 10 Bursera are dioecious.. Separate male/ female plants ) Flowers are quite fragrant up close.. an unexpected surprise..
DSC07871.thumb.JPG.19e690f393a0b7b7b6c3726f6f5859b6.JPG

Non cacti- Plant family oddity.. While keeping a lid on germinating much this year, i did decide to try out a couple non -discript members of the Euphorbia family that offer something different and might fit in with future ideas later. This one, Euphorbia marginata, often called Snow on The Mountain is a plant i became quite familiar with when i lived in Kansas.. a simple summer annual, for what it is, the green/white variegated leaves can put on quite a show in mid/late summer, early fall just as the seasons start to change. There were a few locations near where i lived at the time where these plants would carpet bare gravely spots in clouds of green and white. Succulent -ish foliage can be green or a glaucous/ waxy blue green.   Wanted to see how it might perform under much hotter/drier conditions.. Plants would normally reach roughly 2-3ft in height before starting to show color. These are 'real early. Used here and there for late season color in more manicured landscapes in the Midwest.  Have heard it is sometimes used in the cut flower industry but, like 99% of all the Euphorbias, it also produces caustic latex sap.
DSC07880.thumb.JPG.93a22a7db6b665704f771d753ee7f1cd.JPG

Waiting for seed of the other weird Euphorbia, a relative of Poinsettia, to germinate..

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