Repot or not?

[fatich]

I have these Mammillaria napina seedlings that are around 18 months old. They are in 5x5x5 cm square pot and would like to put them in 7x7 cm square pot.

At this stage is it okey to repot them? This is my first time growing napina from seeds.

First two photos belong to Mammillaria coahuilensis, they are at the same age with napina seedlings. I have repotted them in the begining of august, they have been doing fine so far. (from 5cm pot to 7cm pot)

What are your suggestions about napina seedlings?

[ralphrmartin]

I repot my seedlings at a much smaller size - now they are this big it will be difficult to separate them without damage. Everything sown in March is repotted by the end of July - into individual pots!

[fatich]

I repot my seedlings at a much smaller size - now they are this big it will be difficult to separate them without damage. Everything sown in March is repotted by the end of July - into individual pots!

Thanks Ralph i will consider repotting earlier. Do you use same method for all species?

[ralphrmartin]

Yes, Fatich, for most cactus species, although it might be better to wait a bit longer for really slow things. But certainly when the are as big as a match head, I'd be potting them out. I also use bigger seed pots than you, so the seedlings won't be so crowded.

But there are many different ways of doing things - and the climate is quite different in the various parts of Turkey (where are you?) to North Wales!

[fatich]

Yes, Fatich, for most cactus species, although it might be better to wait a bit longer for really slow things. But certainly when the are as big as a match head, I'd be potting them out. I also use bigger seed pots than you, so the seedlings won't be so crowded.

But there are many different ways of doing things - and the climate is quite different in the various parts of Turkey (where are you?) to North Wales!

I had some issues in the previous years with Ariocarpus species, Discocactus horstii and some Turbinicarpus species. Whenever i change their soil or pots i always had some death plants after i repot them. (~1.5 years old seedlings). I gave up growing Ariocarpus species. It seems they dont like my indoor conditions.

I rarely had problems with other species like Escobaria, Mammillaria, Eriosyce, Thelocactus etc. Even i changed the soil of small Aztekium ritteri seedlings, there was not a single death seedling.

It seems some species dont like being disturbed at early stage even if they are in the same genus.

I live in Eskişehir, it is in the middle of the Türkiye, we have dry and hot summers and really cold winters.

[ralphrmartin]

It seems some species dont like being disturbed at early stage even if they are in the same genus.

I live in Eskişehir, it is in the middle of the Türkiye, we have dry and hot summers and really cold winters.

I am sure you are right about some plants being more sensitive to root disturbance than others. Parodias don't seem to like being disturbed as young plants, in my experience - even at one year old.

I also water all my seedlings in the propagator with a fungicide, which probably helps when I plant them out.

I think I must have been through Eskişehir many years ago, on some of my bus trips from Istanbul to different places in Türkiye (sorry I forgot to use the new official name!). I suppose the dryness of the climate there is good, but the cold must mean most plants need some protection in winter.

[Rich45s]

I also water all my seedlings in the propagator with a fungicide, which probably helps when I plant them out.

Forgive my ignorance but Is a common thing? I live in a particularly damp maisonette. Very well insulated plus party walls on every side so get neighbours heat too. I mean great for energy bills
Not so great for dampness when I don’t have the windows open.

So all my plants are prone to the powdery mildew on the top soil, I water from the bottom and gravel the tops but still wonder if it appears and just lurks under the surface. I’m guessing a regular or semi regular fungicide water would help all plants, and as this year I’m going to have a bash at growing from seed for the first time even more important.

Is there a ‘go to’ brand for example?

Thanks as always

[ralphrmartin]

A common problem when growing plants from seed is "damping off" - a fungal problem. I try to avoid it by using a mineral soil, as well as watering with fungicide. I use Chinosol. I bought pretty much a lifetime supply many years ago (a bottle of 100 tablets, and each makes 10l of fungicidal spray). It used to be available from German pharmacies (for treating yourself, not plants), but it is amongst the many things no longer on the shelves. (There's another product called neo-Chinosol which has completely different ingredients, and presumably unsuitable, but I think that too has gone of shelves now too).

So, I dont have something I can recommend that you can try - but any garden centre should sell some sort of fungicide for spraying on your plants.

Some fungi are beneficial, although at the seedling stage plants are probably more susceptible to harmful ones. It thus may not be a good idea to spray everything regularly. If you are worried about mildew, many people use a fan to keep the air moving which deters such problems. Small computer type fans don't use much power.

[fatich]

It seems some species dont like being disturbed at early stage even if they are in the same genus.

I live in Eskişehir, it is in the middle of the Türkiye, we have dry and hot summers and really cold winters.

I am sure you are right about some plants being more sensitive to root disturbance than others. Parodias don't seem to like being disturbed as young plants, in my experience - even at one year old.

I also water all my seedlings in the propagator with a fungicide, which probably helps when I plant them out.

I think I must have been through Eskişehir many years ago, on some of my bus trips from Istanbul to different places in Türkiye (sorry I forgot to use the new official name!). I suppose the dryness of the climate there is good, but the cold must mean most plants need some protection in winter.

Hi Ralph i have Captan as fungicide, is it okey dilute it and water the seedlings with it?
If you happen to pass by here again i will always glad to meet and have something to drink and eat.
Our summer is perfect for cactus plants but winters i cant say the same thing.

[Rich45s]

Chinosol = What a brilliant name. Could almost be an 80’s soft rock group.

The fan is definitely a plan. I’ve been meaning to that before and have forgotten. I’ve got a couple of little USB ones that will do the job

And the fungicide will be the catalyst to go visit the garden centre near me they I always forget about and buy online