Hana's cactus seedlings in 2015/2016

I repotted 20 of asterias seedlings into 65 mm square pots early in the morning.
They have graduated "seedlings".


Both of miracle and super kabutos have the gene of flecking mutation.
Although I mentioned I could judge a true super kabuto whem it was 1 year old, the mutation would start anytime after that.
The grafting affects on the flecking degree and so I do not graft asterias.
The attached photo is a super kabuto sown seeds in 2011.
The mutation of flecking started last year.

Hanazono, I have a question about Astrophytum (Asterias and Myriostigma)

Mesagarden states that these require a basic pH soil and recommend the addition of limestone. They also recommend exposure to open air, around 3 days after germination.

Do you feel either of these methods are necessary?

Convergence

I do not add limestone into the potting-mix, around pH 7.
I keep around 100% of humidity for 1 year, do not expose to open air.

Hanazono

I repotted Ariocarpus kotschoubeyanus seedlings, sown seeds in 2009.
I did not repot them for awhile.
The photo is 35 seedlings in 50 mm square tubes.
I lift the joint of tubercles and tap roots from top of soil to minimize rotting.
Some seedlings sown seeds same day are still remained and I have to repot them tomorrow.

I started the repotting of Ariocarpus retusus and related cultivar sedlings yesterday afternoon.
The repotting was completed early in this morning.
Seeds were sown in 2010/2011 and seedlings were planted in several pots.
I selected 35 seedlings and potted into 50 mm square tubes.

What is your soil mix for ariocarpus retusus? Im about to sow some. Is there anything special I need to watch for with ariocarpus retusus?

I will be doing

2 part zeolite 1mm
2 part seed raising mix seived
1 part course sand
1 part aquarium gravel 1-2mm
- Top dressing 1-2mm gravel with course sand

Convergence

My seed rising mix is for any species including A. retusus.
Please refer to the my post on 23rd July.

Zeolite is not a perfect permeable material.
I think it is better you to mix 1 part of scoria, pumice or cray.

Hanazono

I selected 11 seedlings of Ariocarpus retusus and related cultivars and repotted into 65 mm square pots in the morning. They were in 50 mm tubes and seemed too tight.
They have graduated "seedlings".

Since 4 of 10 cm square pots were available, I repotted 1 year old Ariocarpus retusus v furfuraceus cv Suguri-cauliflower seedlings in the morning.
75 of this species seedlings were repotted already and so 175 seedlings were repotted in total.
It has been remained around 400 of this species seedlings which I have to repot.
The photo is the repotted seedlings.


1 seedling, Obregonia denegrii sown seed in 2012 was remained in a 10 cm square pot.
I also repotted it in a 5 cm square pot.

I moved E. horizontharonius seedlings in 6 pots from a heating pad to a wet-box yesterday.
They are last sowing seeds in this season.

E. horizontharonius seedlings in a 10 cm square pot


I have 3 years old A. retusus related seedlings in 6 pots.
They are growing well and start to push each other.
I have to repot them soon.
The photo is one of pots.

I repotted A. retusus related 3 years old seedlings in 5 cm square tubes in this morning.

Front: retusus cv mitsuibo botan (tri-fingers) x 22
Back: retusus v triganus x 13

Frailea is not my favorite collection except one species.
I just keep one cultivar, castanea cv Ogata-shidow only.
This cultivar will grow larger than the standard one and no off-sets will be formed.
I have a matured one, 7 cm in diameter.

The propagation from seed is relatively hard and you may loose quite many seedlings by the time of the cacti reached to a mature age.
The photo is the seedlings in a 10 cm square pot, sown seeds in 2012.
I will repot them in 5 cm square tubes soon.

Updated seedling photos
They have been accommodated in wet-boxes.
Posted dates previously are shown in brackets.

Astrophytum asterias cv super kabuto (05/08/2015)

Astrophytum myriostigma cv kikkou, khoyo (12/08/2015)

Astrophytum variegated asterias (12/08/2015)

Ariocarpus kotschoubeyanus elephantideus (28/08/2015)

Echinocactus horizontharonius (11/09/2015)

I feel winter in here has been shorter.
Cactus seedlings stop growing only in July.
It may be affected by El Nino.

My standard job of seedling repotting is early spring but I will try autumn repotting in this year.
The photo is Turbinicarpus, jauernigi and schwarzii in 50 mm square tubes.
I sowed seeds in 2007.
They were repotted into 65 mm square pots today.

Updated photos of miracle kabuto seedlings
They have been grown well with reasonable speed.

2 years old seedlings

3 years old seedlings

4 years old seedlings
They will be repotted into 65 mm square pots soon.

I repotted 12 of 3 year old Ariocarpus agavoides seedlings into 5 cm tubes.
I sowed seeds in September 2012.
Tubercles of agavoides seedlings are long and slender.

Since these seedlings were accommodated in a wet-box for 3 years, the body color is pale.

I repotted A. caput-medusae seedlings in this morning.
I sowed seeds in 2011 and kept them in a wet-box without repotting.

Some of them have reached to the flowering size as shown on the attached photo.
The length of tap-roots are around 10 cm.

Seedlings sown seeds in 2014 should be repotted last spring.
I could not repot many seedlings because of space issue.
Since I could make some space lately, they were repotted in 18 of 10 cm square pots.
25 seedlings per pot, means 450 seedlings in total.
Seedlings are Ariocarpus related species.

Since seedlings of E. horizontharonius, sown seeds in 2014 had grown to enough size for repotting, I repotted them in this morning.
I have around 100 seedlings sown seeds in 2015 and so I will not sow seeds of this species anymore.

Before repotting, in a 10 cm square pot


After repotting, 35 seedings in 5 cm square tubes

I watered cacti seedlings yesterday.
Winter in here is relatively mild and so I only stop watering over seedlings in July.
Attached photos are some of seedlings after the watering.

2 years old A. asterias cultivars in 5 cm square tubes

3 years old A. asterias cultivars

Great to see Hanazono back with more updates.

Good to know I can still water my younger plants, although it got down to 5C last night! When do you stop watering your mature plants Hanazono?

I stop watering for cactus seedlings when the minimum temperature was less than 5 'C.
It is around 10 'C currently but it will be less than 5 'C in July.

I replaced 2 capillary mats laid on the bottom of wet-boxes in this morning.
Fungi forms over the capillary mat when it was kept longer.
Old mats are washed by diluted bleach and will be reused.

I sprayed fungicide over the new capillary mats as a trial.
The photo is a wet-box after replaced the capillary mat, 450 of 1 year old asterias cultivars accommodated.

Just an absolute cactus producing powerhouse!! Well do hanazono!

This thread has kept me very entertained and very much inspired. I haven't got a huge collection of Astros but I working on changing that. I've sowed some seed in November and have a winter setup at the moment. Do you sell any Astro plants or seed? Thanks for sharing your progress Hanazono, I'll follow the updates