aztekium ritteri seed

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Tina
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aztekium ritteri seed

Post by Tina »

Hi all
Just found some seed on my aztekium ritteri plant, I can't remember my plants flowering together so is the seed likely to be viable ?.

Also has anyone got a design for a seed collection pump, I have a vague idea on the design but one in use would be helpful, the seed was quite difficult to grab as it's small, some fell down the ribs :mad: .
Tina

varied collection of succulents and cacti but I especially like Euphorbia's, Ariocarpus and variegated agaves.

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Tony R
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Re: aztekium ritteri seed

Post by Tony R »

You could use something like a Dreschel bottle, if you have one around the department, or make something equivalent; connect a tube with a narrow orifice on the inlet side on the left (which has a long vertical tube) and then suck on the outlet tube (the one at the "top") on the right.
dreschel.jpg
dreschel.jpg (6.25 KiB) Viewed 2980 times
Else, (ha! ha!)you could buy and adapt a mini "Henry" vacuum cleaner (My daughter bought my son one as a novelty gift for Christmas) for cleaning his PC keyboard etc. !! for a fiver!!
41NpDBzQpgL.jpg
41NpDBzQpgL.jpg (24.61 KiB) Viewed 2980 times
Tony Roberts
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DaveW
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Re: aztekium ritteri seed

Post by DaveW »

I believe they are also called a "pooter" What Tony does not show in his diagram is you need a bit of cloth or fine net inside the jar over the end of the tube you suck through to prevent you sucking up fine seed in the case of Aztekium into your mouth, or in the entomologist's case small insects.

http://www.show.me.uk/site/make/Natural ... ACT59.html

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Tina
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Re: aztekium ritteri seed

Post by Tina »

Thanks Tony
Just had a mooch around the labs & found 2 glass vessels that are perfect for this, I just need to replace the tubing & give them a good wash.

Dave , yes I did think about bugs & debris so maybe a cotton wall bung on the outlet tube,

No idea about seed viability, is it self compatable ?
Tina

varied collection of succulents and cacti but I especially like Euphorbia's, Ariocarpus and variegated agaves.

Bucks, UK
Branch co-ordinator, Northants & MK BCSS https://northants.bcss.org.uk
BCSS Talk team member, contact me- BCSS.Talk@Gmail.com if you want to volunteer or suggest a speaker plz.
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Diane
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Re: aztekium ritteri seed

Post by Diane »

It should be OK, Tina, they are self fertile. Good luck with them!
Diane - member of Kingston branch

Growing cacti - balm to the soul!
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DaveW
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Re: aztekium ritteri seed

Post by DaveW »

Hi Tina,

Surprisingly you can actually buy pooters if you don't want to make one:-

http://www.uksafari.com/shop/goods/pooters.htm

http://www.watdon.co.uk/the-naturalists ... oters.html

DaveW
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gramps
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Re: aztekium ritteri seed

Post by gramps »

The easiest way is to us a biro tube or a length of tubing (or similar)
with a piece of cloth over the end .. just don't get it soggy when you suck
Nothing more sophisticated is required unless you have a lot of seed to harvest
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Tina
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Re: aztekium ritteri seed

Post by Tina »

Here's my one and only plant from the seed I harvested, not huge but I'm pleased with it, at least now you can recognise it for what it is.
In a 2" pot,it just shows how old some of these huge plants like Mikes actually are.
aztekium ritteri 8_19.jpg
I still have never managed to get any aztekium hintonii but I'm hopeful for some this year as my three plants actually flowered together so fingers crossed.
aztekium hintonii 8_19.jpg
Tina

varied collection of succulents and cacti but I especially like Euphorbia's, Ariocarpus and variegated agaves.

Bucks, UK
Branch co-ordinator, Northants & MK BCSS https://northants.bcss.org.uk
BCSS Talk team member, contact me- BCSS.Talk@Gmail.com if you want to volunteer or suggest a speaker plz.
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JohnMadrid
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Re: aztekium ritteri seed

Post by JohnMadrid »

Loving the update - it’s great to see what happened with some of these things.

Plants look healthy and great. Good luck getting some seed out of the hintonii:)
John W
Madrid, Spain
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Diane
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Re: aztekium ritteri seed

Post by Diane »

Aztekium hintonii seeds are a real PITA to extract. The seed pods are really tiny, and sit on an areole on the ribs, so need a bit of searching for, and the seeds are like dust!
Diane - member of Kingston branch

Growing cacti - balm to the soul!
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