Blossfeldia

[Conrad]

I like growing Blossfeldias. These are about a year old I think, overwintering under lights, but would be fine not doing so. Matchhead for scale. Some starting to flower. These are apparently 4 different species, but perhaps a case of overexcited collectors? The first have mostly gone blind and look like they're about to do something quite interesting. I think result of rsm, or perhaps scorch.

[Cidermanrolls]

Lovely.
Will the cactus shed ever re-open? That was yours, wasn’t it?

[fatich]

They look very healthy.
I have some plants around 6 years old from seeds, never have flowered.
I have also a grafted one, it flowers every year.

[MatDz]

My Blossfeldia seedlings seem to be an RSM magnet, along with Lophophora. I will get rid of them one day, be it RSM, or the seedlings, I still haven't decided.

The species should start differ one day, but geography takes part in separating species quite often, maybe this was the case here as well? Which sp. (and collection numbers, if known) are they?

[Conrad]

Lovely.
Will the cactus shed ever re-open? That was yours, wasn’t it?

Yes that's me! Yes will definitely reopen in spring, I have literally 1000s of plants that need to be sold. Last 12 months have been very busy with moving house, getting married, moving entire collection of plants etc, so never got round to it this summer, but getting to the point where lots need seliling.

[ralphrmartin]

Those are doing really well! Faster than some of my seedlings of "easy" genera, which are also watered, but not heated, over winter (and seemed to have survived the cold snap without issues).

[Conrad]

My Blossfeldia seedlings seem to be an RSM magnet, along with Lophophora. I will get rid of them one day, be it RSM, or the seedlings, I still haven't decided.

The species should start differ one day, but geography takes part in separating species quite often, maybe this was the case here as well? Which sp. (and collection numbers, if known) are they?

From the top down, there's atroviridis fr748, fescherii p244, subterranea kk1505, and the flowering ones are pedicellata fr749.

On rsm, I use abamectin these days, extremely effective. Use twice a year, in May and August. I very very rarely see rsm now in a collection of 1000s of plants.

[Conrad]

Those are doing really well! Faster than some of my seedlings of "easy" genera, which are also watered, but not heated, over winter (and seemed to have survived the cold snap without issues).

Thanks, yeah they seem unusually happy, I've got quire lot of larger blossfeldia from seed, but they're less photogenic.

I recall you mentioning this before Ralph, the idea of watering over winter but not heating. To be honest the idea horrifies me! I'd imagine almost certain root rot since the plants would be too cold to take up the water, is that never an issue? Which spp do you use it for? No heating at all?

[Tina]

Conrad,
Fantastic little Blossfeldia, after one succuesss Ive not managed it since but I do still have my two plants alive, I must try again.

[Conrad]

And presto!