Astrophytum caput-medusa Solved

[Guest]

I noticed a couple of days ago CACTUS ART have a few for sale at about 100 euros. Anybody pay that sort of price. I would prefere to have a go from seed, but if the price came down to 60 euros I might be tempted.

[Guest]

I saw seed last year at 20 euro each.

[CactusChris]

I think this plant (which some still would keep as Digitostigma) is a perfect example of the 'collector's greed syndrome'. A mad scramble to get a plant at any price - illegal collecting, mad prices, itchy palms and a degree of elbowing in the queue to get one. Why?
Look at the plant - in it's favour is that it is new. however it is unlikely to make a good show plant, or look good on the greenhouse bench. It is interesting and will make a good parent for hybridising but while the offspring will be interesting they are unlikely to be as nice and beautiful as an A. myriostigma or a Super K.

What exactly is driving this urge to have one now? We show our true patience when we buy plants that will take 20 years of loving care and attention to flower but are in a rush to own a 'new to the market plant' spending as much on one small plant as the amount it takes to heat a greenhouse. Why?

Best advice is to not buy them (yet) - the price will fall soon and then we can all have plenty - at that stage many will decide they don't even want them. Step aside from the queue.

(right now they've all left where is my wallet?) LOL LOVeryL.


Best regards

Chris

[Guest]

Hi all,

I have thre clones of this plant and next summer I hope to produce seed as the plant is dead easy to grow.

I will keep a few seeds for myself but all the others will be given to people on this forum, so if you can wait don't waste your money. I may also create some grafted plants again they will be free but there will not be many.

I will post a message when the seeds or grafts are available and I will not reserve any before that point.

My aim is where possible to knock on the head these silly prices that the plants are fetching. Please understand this plant is very easy to grow and it seems to grow from a piece of grafted tubucle.

[Chris43]

Koehres have seed at ?20 for 4 seeds. But that's still quite a bit for an "easy" plant, as Chris and Bob point out.

I had some seed from a private source this year, just 4, of which I was crushed in the post, and had two seedlings from the remaining 3. I now have just the one as I was careless in the very hot weather in July, and one of the two little plants had too much sun and was scorched to death. I'm now growing the other on under lights, and it has well started its second "arm".

So I would suggest that seed is a very viable approach, and if you like grafting, obviously it can yield quicker results.

[Chris in Leeds]

Hi
cacti connoiseur's boutique has it on there list at 3.60euro for one seed

[Susanne]

Would it be possible to see a photo?

[Vic]

59 euros a plant at Plapp but if you can get to ELK there were plants available from around 29 euros upwards this year.

[iann]

Some photos.

[Bill]

Well I wouldn't mind one but I am firmly in "not at any price camp".

?10-15 max per plant is my limit as a rule, prefer patience to instant results, I am not a trophy hunter or serial collector I grow plants.