Astrophytum Caput Mesudae

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jhb
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Astrophytum Caput Mesudae

Post by jhb »

I'm looking for some advice on how to keep this plant alive. I've had a few I've the last few years but have managed to kill it every time.
I bought 1 at the international convention a few weeks ago & am hoping I have more success with this 1.
How do you all treat yours, compost, winter temp etc. All help is appreciated.
Jayne H.B.
Growing Mamms, Turbs, Ario`s & a bit of most genera in darkest North Devon. Love Lithops too.Now getting hooked on Haworthia`s & Cono`s.
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RAYWOODBRIDGE
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Re: Astrophytum Caput Mesudae

Post by RAYWOODBRIDGE »

Jayne I will be interested to hear that myself, just lost the last of three I grew from seed two years ago.
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Re: Astrophytum Caput Mesudae

Post by Chris L »

I've got a few on the go in 2" pots, grown from seed, and I plan to keep them on the shady side of an east facing window sill with my other seedlings and not put them in the greenhouse at all.
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Re: Astrophytum Caput Mesudae

Post by ralphrmartin »

I seem to have done better with this since giving it occasional light waterings in winter,
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jhb
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Re: Astrophytum Caput Mesudae

Post by jhb »

Thanks guys. I've brought mine in now & put on my kitchen window sill
Jayne H.B.
Growing Mamms, Turbs, Ario`s & a bit of most genera in darkest North Devon. Love Lithops too.Now getting hooked on Haworthia`s & Cono`s.
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Re: Astrophytum Caput Mesudae

Post by Cidermanrolls »

My method so far. Clay pot. Pretty standard well drained soil
Nothing special on winter temperatures. Lives in my medium temperature greenhouse set to ca 5c
I’ve also applied a very little water through winter.
It’s self fertile btw, I have one tiny seedling growing at the moment from my own seed.
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Re: Astrophytum Caput Mesudae

Post by Ali Baba »

I have several plants , all seed grown, all at 5C and dry in winter with no problems, although I have lost one or two when they were very small. All in my standard compost and plastic pots. The roots are mostly tuber with very few fine roots when young, suggesting underpotting might be helpful at least until they reach a decent size.
Jayne it would be helpful to know how you have previously grown them.
Ralph they are quite thirsty: although I have never watered mine in winter I do water them much earlier and later in the year than my other cacti, and they get watered about twice as frequently in the growing season.
I get loads of seed every year which has recently gone in the Forum Seed Pool, as the BCSS won’t accept it for the seed distribution
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Re: Astrophytum Caput Mesudae

Post by gerald »

I have just one, and it seems to be much happier in the shade than full sun.

Other than that I treat it just like any other Astrophytum, and it's flowered every year in the few years I've had it.
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jhb
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Re: Astrophytum Caput Mesudae

Post by jhb »

Ali Baba. I've tried all sorts of mixes of compost, plastic pots, clay pots. It may be that I give it too much water or maybe not enough. More than likely they just don't like me lol.
Jayne H.B.
Growing Mamms, Turbs, Ario`s & a bit of most genera in darkest North Devon. Love Lithops too.Now getting hooked on Haworthia`s & Cono`s.
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Re: Astrophytum Caput Mesudae

Post by Tina »

More than likely they just don't like me
, its not just you !!, have grown from own seed and still killed them, well they sort of faded away.

I will try again if my grafted plants ever flower together and sett seed, there is a continental grower that grows them with amazing caudexes and sells at ELK, he says less than a year old but I killed that one too :oops:
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