What is it???

[scousetigger]

I place a picture of a seedling a few weeks ago which just has 2 long "leaf" stalks and a long stem. No one had much idea what it was but it was from a packet of mixed cacti seeds and the seed was about the size of a crinkled orange pip. Now I see it has started growing some sort of cacti from the middle. Two questions.....anyone got an idea what it is and 2 how will I plant it with such a long stem, as it is now beginning to fall over.
[attachment 2213 seedling.jpg]

[Nick]

no attachment visible to me
Nick

[Nick]

Now i see it. That would be an Opuntia of some sort - bit too early to tell which one!
Nick

[Cactus Jack]

Hi Sue just a guess Ripsallis??

[Nick]

To stop it falling over just put some gravel round it. If there are other Opuntia seeds there they`ll push thru OK

[bcss]

Early to tell but I would guess at some sort of Cylindropuntia.

[scousetigger]

Yes I put 3 seeds in there but only the one has come up at the moment. They are in a small heated propagator in the greenhouse. Will it be better to take it out of there now or leave it til or IF the others sprout. I have just aquired a 6' by 8' greenhouse free for the taking. Needs some glass but otherwise ok so I will be able to expand.

[scousetigger]

These are some of the other seeds that have grown very well during the past couple of months considering its supposed to be winter
[attachment 2216 seedling.2jpg.jpg]

[Julie]

Sue, what a funky seedling! I wonder if the spiky bit will flatten out into a little pad.

From what I hear of Opuntias, they would probably survive a nuclear war, so it'll probably be a metre high this time next year!