Search found 56 matches

by steve.smith
Mon Mar 10, 2014 2:02 pm
Forum: The Cactus & Succulent Plant Forum
Topic: Propagator Question
Replies: 2
Views: 1532

Propagator Question

Are there any commercial manufacturers/suppliers of lighted propagator units out there suitable for cacti seed raising?
I know many of you make your own but I don't feel capable!
Thanks
by steve.smith
Tue Feb 25, 2014 4:30 pm
Forum: The Cactus & Succulent Plant Forum
Topic: Cacti id's please?
Replies: 5
Views: 1882

Cacti id's please?

Some random cacti I liked the look of at a garden centre (unlabelled of course):
1.
ud3.jpg
2.
ud1.jpg
3.
ud2.jpg
4.
ud4.jpg
5.
ud5.jpg
Thanks
by steve.smith
Sat Feb 01, 2014 3:58 pm
Forum: The Cactus & Succulent Plant Forum
Topic: oyster shell
Replies: 11
Views: 6139

Re: oyster shell

I buy bags of stuff from my local animal feeds supplier which is called "mixed grit". It is intended to be fed to chickens to improve shell formation in eggs. It contains about 50% crushed oyster/ other shells and 50% fine grit. I use it to feed my chickens but its main use is as part of m...
by steve.smith
Tue Jan 21, 2014 8:13 pm
Forum: The Cactus & Succulent Plant Forum
Topic: Too hot to germinate?
Replies: 16
Views: 4668

Re: Too hot to germinate?

Thats very informative Dave. Its interesting to see that that a Parodia has the lowest optimal germination temperature - 10 of my 36 pots contained Parodia / Notocactus seed, none germinating thus far!
by steve.smith
Tue Jan 21, 2014 5:31 pm
Forum: The Cactus & Succulent Plant Forum
Topic: Too hot to germinate?
Replies: 16
Views: 4668

Re: Too hot to germinate?

So far in these conditions these have germinated:
Cochemiea poselgeri
Copiapoa coquimbana
Coryphantha vivipara
Echinocactus parryi
Eriosyce esmeraldana
Frailea cataphracta
Gymno riojense
Lobivia aurea
Lophophora lutea
by steve.smith
Tue Jan 21, 2014 5:19 pm
Forum: The Cactus & Succulent Plant Forum
Topic: Too hot to germinate?
Replies: 16
Views: 4668

Re: Too hot to germinate?

Thanks for that Ian. This was a "spare" propagation unit I am using and I must admit I did not realise how warm it got in there! I will give them a week and move them to a better controlled unit if I don't get germination.
by steve.smith
Tue Jan 21, 2014 5:06 pm
Forum: The Cactus & Succulent Plant Forum
Topic: Too hot to germinate?
Replies: 16
Views: 4668

Re: Too hot to germinate?

They are a mixed bunch:
Ariocarpus
Aylostera
Aztekium
Copiapoa
Coryphantha
Discocactus
Escobaria
Echinopsis
Parodia
Ferocactus
Frailea
Lophophora
Melocactus etc.
by steve.smith
Tue Jan 21, 2014 4:54 pm
Forum: The Cactus & Succulent Plant Forum
Topic: Too hot to germinate?
Replies: 16
Views: 4668

Too hot to germinate?

Is there a maximum temperature beyond which cacti seeds will not germinate? The reason I ask is that I have a non-thermostat propagator and on putting a max-min thermometer in discovered the temperature was occasionally reaching 95F. I have 36 individual square pots in there, of which 7 have so far ...
by steve.smith
Thu Jan 16, 2014 6:08 pm
Forum: The Cactus & Succulent Plant Forum
Topic: Cacti in the shade?
Replies: 3
Views: 1673

Re: Cacti in the shade?

That's exactly what I wondered Phil!

Not sure if I want to incur the wrath of "her indoors" with a collapsing unit, but it is somerthing I may well try.
by steve.smith
Thu Jan 16, 2014 2:44 pm
Forum: The Cactus & Succulent Plant Forum
Topic: Cacti in the shade?
Replies: 3
Views: 1673

Cacti in the shade?

Hi Are there any types of cacti which will tolerate (thrive in) total shade? By this I maen that the majority of my cacti are kept in my warm (hot in summer) and sunny conservatory. They thrive mainly because they are positioned on shelving and windowsills that receive full sun for most or part of t...