Astrophytum caput-medusae; second generation

[sechjoh]

And here we have the result

...more seeds...

[AnTTun]

Conos in Belgium.. medusae astros in Sweden.. I wonder what will end at North Pole...

Just kidding, excellent job Christer

[Thord]

I really don´t know how to make grafts, so I keep mine on their own roots. Of five seeds two years ago three germinated,two died later on,but the surviving one is growing on nicely.In March this year all five seeds germinated,one died shortly afterwords but the other four looked very nice until some birds got into the greenhouse and picked two out of the pot so now there are two left,which were also uprooted but left in the pot and now coming along nicely. I´m hoping for flowers on the oldest one next year...

[Diane]

Congratulations, Christer! Now you can retire on the proceeds !

[PeterW]

Last year I bought some A. caput-medusae seeds - not one popped up, sadly. I have recently acquired 5 in a trade and one has just germinated !! I don´t know whether to leave it on its roots or try a graft. The conflicting views expressed in this thread don´t help a huge lot, LOL.

STOP PRESS !! Now there are TWO !!!

[Samuel]

Everything I've heard about the plant suggests that it's easy in the right soil and pot but won't tolerate anything else. It has a fat root and a spreading shape, so I'd guess that it needs quite a mass below ground to keep those long skinny tubercles going, and that that mass needs topping up more frequently than most taproots.

[sechjoh]

First an update of the race...
None of the opponents, that is, Harrisia or Pereskiopsis has flowered yet. But the Pereskiopsis looks to be close now

However, I got the seeds from the fruit and sowed them 2011-10-08 (I didn't got the time until then). About 10 germinated so I picket out 2 of them. The ones that looked most wierd
I grafted them on Selenicereus (of course) 2011-10-29 and here they are...
#1

Astrophytum caput-medusae

#2

Astrophytum caput-medusae

[AnTTun]

Lets cross fingers and wait...

[sandi]

Here are mine from this year. Sown 11.2.2011.

[AnTTun]

Plan to grow them on their own roots sandi?