Thank you for all the advice. The pots were brand new and I would have thought that 2:30 minutes on full power per pot would kill anything. The water was tap water but the watering was done before the microwave. Dave, I used to use Cheshunt Compound every time before it was banned which may have a s...

How long would you microwave for Ian? I was slightly concerned the pots would melt! Could be moss and algae but it matures into moss.

My last three attempts at growing Cacti from seed have been affected by the growth of moss in the pots. I've always previously microwaved the sowing mixture ( 2 parts sieved JI no. 2, 1 part seramis) in a large bowl but this time opted for filling the BEF pots, watering and then microwaving each pot...

Amazing pictures! I have a little one planted out into it's second winter with a polycarb shelter for protection. The teeth on the leaves are vicious.

A cheap fan heater plugged into one of these is very effective in my 6ft x 8ft greenhouse:

http://www.greenhousepeople.co.uk/produ ... -thermo-2/

Thanks Dave. My large Soehrensia formosa started life in 1963 as Soehrensia Formosa (of Mendoza) and has now been returned to that status having been Tricocereus, Echinopsis & lobivia in it's lifetime

Thank you very much Mike. When I google that name info now comes up. I'm slightly unsure about the current status of Soehrensia. Have I read correctly that these are now once again regarded as distinct from Echinopsis & Lobivia?

MikeT did you get anywhere with BJB36 "Soherensia ublemanniana"? I now have one and also drawn a blank.

I've used it on Opuntia seeds by wrapping the seed in kitchen roll and soaking in the GA3 solution for 24 hours. Can't say for certain it wasn't just the quality of the seed but germination was better and more consistent i.e. more seeds germinated around the same time than I usually get with opuntia...

Something to aspire to Thanks for the pictures Paul. Overhead protection might be the way to get these through the colder, wetter winters further north. I'll certainly be planting more of them.