A lazy way to grow cactus from seed | Episode 5: Three month update
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- Опубликовано: 18 фев 2023
- We made it to three months for these cactus seedlings! Let's see how the Copiapoa, Ariocarpus, Turbinicarpus, and one pot of Mammillaria are doing. (Hint: Some are doing great, some are doing terrible...)
Video Series: A lazy way to grow cactus from seed
• A lazy way to grow cac...
Connect with me on Instagram: / cookiescacti
DISCLAIMER: I am a beginner grower. I have yet to find a growing process that works consistently for me, so it's a constant learning experience. This video series is more of a vlog on this leg of my cactus growing journey. With that said, enjoy!
Mesa Garden: mesagarden.com/
ThreeDeserts on Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/ThreeDeserts
Nursery pots - I use the 2.5" and 3.25" pots:
www.greenhousemegastore.com/c...
1020 Trays without holes:
www.greenhousemegastore.com/c...
1020 Trays with holes:
www.greenhousemegastore.com/c...
Tall clear dome for 1020 tray:
www.greenhousemegastore.com/c...
Disclosure: The links to Amazon are affiliate links, which means that I earn from qualifying purchases as an Amazon Associate. There is no additional cost to you. I encourage shopping around as always.
Grow light without dimmer: SPIDER FARMER SF1000D (this is the one I use)
amzn.to/3OSPR6c (paid link)
Grow light with dimmer: SPIDER FARMER SF1000
amzn.to/3STyRyJ (paid link)
1000mL (33oz) squeeze bottles
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Succulent tools & transplanting kit
amzn.to/3XQZrup (paid link)
When the white fluff starts to get larger you can stick a tooth pick in the center and twist it. It should stick to it like a spider web would and you can just keep rolling til you get the majority of it. It won't rid you of it but it's an easy way to help keep it under control.
Like making cotton candy! You read my mind because I did end up using a wooden stick to pick off the mold, then lifted the dome more for more air flow. So far so good...
It is such a joy to see them grow and thrive! Thank you so much for letting me see how they are growing each month!😊
I'm so glad you appreciate the updates, Hsuan! The good, the bad, and the ugly all up for show!
never give up on Arios
Ha! But it's so hardddddd when they hate me so muchhhhhhhhhhh
giving up is the only way to fail! Let me know if my advice pans out and let me know if it does not! I am very interested in your process!
Never give up (except sometimes lol). Let's see how we do! I've been getting even lazier than before (which I thought wasn't possible), I sometimes forget the seedlings are even there...
I use a fungicide spray when I start my seeds, seams to help me.🙂
I think I'm going to start doing this. How do you apply it? Do you give the surface a final spray of fungicide after the seeds are sown? Or do you spray the whole soil medium? Tell me more, Dean!
That's correct, I spray the fungicide after the seeds are sown and are watered in and have great results. In the beginning, I did the zip lock bag method of seed starting and sometimes had to reapply the fungicide after 7 to 10 days.
Lovely plants kinda nice to see am not the only one having bare spots or bare pots, 1,5k followers coming up but the speed you are going 2k is soon i bet
Ha! Lots of bare spots over here. At least the bare spots have a silver lining - more space for the seedlings to grow! Just passed the 1500 mark! Woohooooo!
Nice work, mate. Are you spraying with anti-fungal stuff?
I didn't use fungicide this time. I just scraped it off with a stick and then lifted the dome some more for air. Seems to be doing better now, but we'll see!
@@cookiescacti Ah awesome. I ask as I've just germinated 1000+ seeds haha went hard for the first round
@@petevsplants7516 Dannnnngggg! Wait, is this your first time growing from seed? Or just the first round for 2023?
@@cookiescacti First time full stop lol but I did my research. I'm just a bit of an all or nothing kind of person haha. I also wanted large numbers to test out using mykos fungus, a fungicide, and no treatment to see which would work best. I was floored when the Astrophytum seeds all germinated in 3-4 days... I couldn't believe it! Amazing
That's the super fun thing about Astrophytum, they germinate so quickly! Astrophytum were my first cactus seedlings that was my gateway into a full blown addiction to growing from cactus from seed.
I have a lot of experience with Ariocarpus and Turbinicarpus (over 2000 plants from seeds) so I think I can help you with them.
Using different soil may improve their condition (I'm sowing in 0,5-3 mm pure zeolite), but other parameters might be the issue there.
First of all, please tell me what are the day and night temperatures (average and min./max.). In my option this is a crucial parameter to keep them alive in early stages.
Wow! That is incredible! It's been in the upper 60s, low 70s inside the house. I'm guessing that's probably too cool for them? I noticed they seem to love the heat outside in the shade house in the summer (but then they still die on me anyway!)
@@cookiescacti Thanks, those numbers might be impressive, but actually it took me many years of experimentation and hundreds if not thousands of dead seedling to figure out how to grow them well.
Turbinicarpus and Ariocarpus recquire pretty much the same growing conditions, the only difference is that Turbinicarpus need more light to keep them in natural shape, particulary when they are older.
Repotting or watering their seedling in low temperatures together with lack of sunlight is a recipe for big loses.
From my experience, the optimal temperature range during the day is 30-40*C / 86-104* F, at night is 20-25*C / 68-77*F.
One important thing is to make sure that almost everyday temperature raises up to 35-40*C / 95-104*F for at least 1-2 hours - those cacti tolerate it very well while pathogens not.
I grow my seedlings in a closed environment of mylar walls with a modified bag method. It's easy to increase the temperature inside, simply by closing the door/lid and letting the growlight to heat up the air. (It requires some attention though - I've even installed PC fans to cool everything down, because of how much heat growhights can generate).
Shoot - I lose track of comment replies easily. I finally found out how to filter for comment replies and saw your message. Thank you so much for the information! The Phoenix climate definitely provides the good heat during warm months. The really tough part is during the hottest part of the summer when overnight lows don't fall below 85F, that's when all the plants really suffer.
How many years have you been growing from seed? I like your comment about the perception of successful growing, it's a lot of time and effort and experimenting to reach that point. You have my respect!
@@cookiescacti
Thank you for the kind words. It's a huge topic and as we are in RUclips comment session, I will try to keep it possibly short.
I sow my first batch of cacti in 2007 having a little of knowledge. Basically, the only I knew was how to germinate cacti and keep their seedling in the early stages. Germination ratio was rather ok, but like many people I've lost most of my seedling within next few month/years. I sow some more batches between 2008 and 2012 with mixed results.
In 2019 I've came back to growing cacti from seeds, this time having some experience and trying to understand more about my plants. The batch from 2020 was a huge germination and growth success, but at some point I've suddenly lost roughly 30% of the seedling, which happened just after repoting them. I thought that the new substrate could be the culprit, but that was not the case - those who have survived are thriving in that soil untill now. That time, there was a sudden change in the weather - lack of sunlight and rather low temperature - that was the main reason for loosing plants. Soon after I've build an artificial light chamber - something like a small growthbox, but with multiple shelves. That completely solved the problem.
The temperature ranges that I've mentioned in the previous comment work for most of the Mexican and Brazilian genera, at least for those I've tested so far.
The longer you grow them in a stable environment the better survival ratio is. I'm not sure the reason, but I assume it's due to stabilized soil microbiome (appropriate microbe species and bacteria to fungi ratio).
Do you still have any of the seedlings from your first batch in 2007? Or the second earlier batch? That would be so cool! I find some species to be extremely sensitive to any environmental changes. Of course I learned the hard way, which is always sad when it happens. But then there are other species that are extremely hardy and survive so many changes and that's always super encouraging, otherwise, I probably would have given up
If there are any Cookie Copiapoa seedlings available for sale by the middle of summer, I am interested!
LOL! The moment I run out of space..... What part of the country are you at, Terry?
@@cookiescacti Cincinnati, Ohio!
Hi, i just sow my 1st cactus last friday, 36 turbinis and 26 astros, do u think i should find some fongicide already, is it kinda inevitable? i tried to buy Mysan 20 but it seems to be unavailable in Canada... anyway thx for yours videos its really helpfull : )
Oohhhh!! So exciting! I'm so glad you're growing from seed. With regards to fungicide, it's totally up to you. Some folks have been leaving me comments about all sorts of alternatives, from hydrogen peroxide to aluminum powder (I think), to air flow, cinnamon and the list goes on. Perhaps one of those might work for you. If you decide to go with fungicide, there must be other brands of fungicide available in Canada. Any chance Monterey Disease control is available there? That's another one I've heard growers use here.