A few Astro seedlings

Took these pics back in March. Not sure how many of each seeds I had but it was probably 5. So I was happy to get one or two


A. asterias cv Mr Kitsukow

A. Ekubo x myriostigma

A. super kabuto x capricorne

A. asteria cv Hanazona

A. coahuilense x super kabuto from 10 seeds

A. capricorne from 30 seeds


Some of the seedlings look to have a little different form some don't know. Will be interesting to see how they go this summer.

Looking pretty good there. Please keep us updated on how they go.

Sure will do. I would have lots more but I am afraid other things got in the way and I lost heaps. So I guess I will start again this spring............ time permitting

Betty,
they look great - always good to see young astros doing well.

I will have to take some more pics soon. Ah heat mats wonderful things......... I have an old one of Rudolf Shultz's....... a shame a bit of his growing skills didn't rub off onto me

Wow very healthey and doing well.
Your doing a great job.

Hey Betty, maybe you can help me with this - when they're really crowded (such as in the last pic) how do you carefully 'prick' them out without hurting the root systems?

I always think mass plantings are good, and much easier and less time consuming in the short term, but are the latter results still ok?

They're awesome pics... I have two astro seedlings (in fact mny first ever seedlings from any cacti ever) so it's an awesome site.

Thanks for sharing all your lovely pics - they're awesome.

Hey Slim, I will be getting rid of most of the dirt and then gently prizing them apart.

I have been told that seedlings grow better when crowded. So that is why they are like they are. Also people overseas do the same thing as did one of our best cacti growers who now lives in NZ

I guess in nature they seed doesn't fall far from the barrel (so to speak)

Unless spread by bird, goat etc.

I have a 'crowded' tray and single plantings so I guess I can see which does better.

I certainly know which takes up the least room.

How long do you wait before removing the soil and prizing them apart?

Thanks.

I will do it this spring, so I guess it depends on how quick they grow. If they are happy why shift them

Really really great Betty. congrats.
are these all on heat mat? how old are they?
I really hope mine turn out like that...
hmm lets see how many types of asterias i have in seedling form:
=asterias
var. asterias
cv. 'Super Kabuto' (own seed)
cv. 'Super kabuto' select clone.
cv. 'Super Snow'......from italy. x3 seedlings (omg one crested seedling!!!)
cv. 'Green nudum'
cv. 'hanazono'
cv. 'Syiowa supar', monstrose flowers.
cv. 30 mixed 'RARE FORMS' of asterias +sk.
fma. 'Tamaulipas', (Mexico, field collected)
fma. Est Calles (Mexico, field collected)
cv. 'rurikabuto caespitosa'.
super kabuto x capricorne.

I need more! this is so addictive. most of these are just tiny green blobs atm though, so they are nowhere near as impressive as yours which are looking great. its so cool watching them develop.

Hey Lewis these are not on the heat mat. I have not turned it on yet too many other things happening and don't want to get them going and have to shift them will all the others

No idea how old they are as I did not write date on the tag

Took a couple more pics today These first ones are from seeds from Italy and they were tagged Astrophytum ornatum .................... oops I think a few others got mixed in. I wonder what they are ??????? asterias somethingorothers


This is a seedling of asteria hybrids


Took another of the a. capricorne's, looking much healthier now and if I look real hard they may have grown a little Not sure about the yellowish ones

parrotsheaven wrote:

wait, you say these were labelled as A. ornatum????
okaay... they look like small asterias super kabutos. they have visible spines and raised ribs so perhaps hybrids with capricorne. and judging by the fact the one at the back has 5 ribs id say its a myriostigma or one of the countless variants. very interesting.

Thought it might grab your attention

Due to the age of the yellowish Capricornes I think they could well out variegated. Hmm keep an eye on them. Young seedlings sometines out grow that yellow look and due to the others being so close I doubt it would be a nutrient issue. Fingers crossed.

Quote :

Due to the age of the yellowish Capricornes I think they could well out variegated

Went through my mind as well, but nice to have the thought from someone else.

I have a couple of seedlings from an asterias variegate so hoping they will develop into this as they grow

The seedlings are looking really good.
Kinda makes envious and inspires me to start germinating more astro seed.