BCSS - Forum

Herts Mike wrote: ↑Tue Jan 15, 2019 9:06 pm Don't repot Stapeliads until they have started growing in spring.

Interesting, mine seem to all be winter growers and have been responding well to being water all winter. But then my greenhouse setup is strange...

If you can keep the temperature up they may well grow but winter is the most vulnerable time and I leave well alone. Also light levels aren't great and I would prefer them to rest.

Mine grow in winter if I leave them in the 20C propagator, but then the growths become etiolated...I just use the propagator for Stapeliad cuttings now. They root well in damp Seramis or some such.

Another general one if I may: good Forum advice in the past was that watering is no substitute for shading in certain summer conditions. Shading somehow goes against the grain when you think of cacti and succulent as plants adapted to heat and drought and intense sun... I used shade cloth for the first time last year over my cold frames, and the plants looked so much better for it. First time I got through late spring/early summer without too many losses to scorch.

And now I shall try that kitchen roll thing...

Seed of Euphorbia explode when mature.
Use cotton ball or white glue to prevent this.

Cactus grows very slow, take picture diary to track how much she had grown.

Do not re pot Ariocarpus until the roots are bulging the plastic pot. Also place as near to the apex glass as possible.

Nick_G wrote: ↑Sun Jan 13, 2019 6:10 pm OK I'll start.

Microwaveable take away containers, 3/4 filled with compost and lid tightly on, are excellent for cactus seed raising.

We do something similar to this but bought those clear plastic salad or bakery containers that supermarkets use. They let more light in and the lid is hinged.

Chez2 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 23, 2019 8:02 am

Nick_G wrote: ↑Sun Jan 13, 2019 6:10 pm OK I'll start.

Microwaveable take away containers, 3/4 filled with compost and lid tightly on, are excellent for cactus seed raising.

We do something similar to this but bought those clear plastic salad or bakery containers that supermarkets use. They let more light in and the lid is hinged.

Microwaveable containers are better imho, because the compost can be placed in the container, then it can be microwaved for (say) 3 minutes, to ensure compost, container and lid are sterilised. Plus the lid seals tightly.
Other plastics may melt if microwaved with damp compost. A slightly translucent lid is fine.
I generally use slightly smaller puchased rectangular containers, of 200-250ml, they are ideal for about 50 seeds.

A use for unwanted PLASTIC knitting needles - use as supports for Opuntia during winter - flagging for a drink but not allowed by humans lest they rot

esp wrote: ↑Wed Jan 23, 2019 12:19 pm

Chez2 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 23, 2019 8:02 am

Nick_G wrote: ↑Sun Jan 13, 2019 6:10 pm OK I'll start.

Microwaveable take away containers, 3/4 filled with compost and lid tightly on, are excellent for cactus seed raising.

We do something similar to this but bought those clear plastic salad or bakery containers that supermarkets use. They let more light in and the lid is hinged.

Microwaveable containers are better imho, because the compost can be placed in the container, then it can be microwaved for (say) 3 minutes, to ensure compost, container and lid are sterilised. Plus the lid seals tightly.
Other plastics may melt if microwaved with damp compost. A slightly translucent lid is fine.
I generally use slightly smaller puchased rectangular containers, of 200-250ml, they are ideal for about 50 seeds.

You can microwave in another container. The lids seal very well, as well as those other containers. These are new food grade containers in sealed packs. We prepare virtually all our food from scratch, hence having to buy containers. As an experiment we have not sterilised all our compost to see if there is any difference.