tobydoo

And why exactly did you trim the spines on tfhe Macro? I mean,WHY?

YES teotz. Remember people cactus are tough bastards by nature. Don't over analyze or baby them. Only the toughest survive....and those are the one's that you want.

Yes you are correct in their natural, Native state, however, watering in pots everyday gives them no incentive to grow deep massive roots and seach out water, hence growing "lazy" weak root systems. This is just my opinion and I've done controls both ways... you're experiencing acceptable results, rock on. There is that conventional wisdom about stressing the plants as well. Depends, I guess about your desired end results. Everyone has their own styles. What works or one doesn't or others. things also depend on temperature, altitude, sunlight intensity....Etc. etc.

Yeah, agree totally hunab. And by the looks of that soil, it could use some perlite and organic material.

Yeah that's OK. If you want to keep 'em growing, just give them at least 16/18 hours a day of light. This is probably not a bad idea for your seedlings. I just prefer to let my bigger guys go their natural route with the dormancy period. For as delicate as these seedlings seem to be, It amazes me they make it in nature.......especially the lophs!!! Hence my opinion not to baby them to much.

I agree completely! It creates IMHO a larger stronger root mass. I let mine be dry for at least 3 days. And USE MYCHORRHIZAE. Greatest gift God (or whatever makes the birds sing and the grass green) supplied us! (look Mychorr. up on line) Also, cool night temps. (below 70 degrees) encourages growth and in dry climates spritz the cactus (moderately) as they drink through their spines. We did tests with the Mycorrhizae in our landscape company over 3 years with controls. plants, shrubs, trees and my cactus. Results: USE MYCORRHIZAE. it's organic and should be used with everything you want to grow well. Anyone wants more info specifically can PM me. But Andy is absolutely correct! These are cactus.......every day watering is un- naural.

I'm sorry, I should be more clear. No don't use any fertilizer, (full spectrum) AT ALL until they're about 5-6 cm. And then half strength. you can spray a little half strength sea weed (maxi-crop) on the little guys OCCASIONALLY.

You can use the fish emulsion as well as a full spectrum fertilizer, just use them in small, maybe only half doses and don't fertilize every time you water and never in the dormant season. in fact it's smart to water only 2-3 times in the winter (depending on how long winter is where you are) I let mine go dormant with only the light and daylight hours that exist, no supplemental lighting. Also, if you have a high alkaline water supply and can't used distilled water, you can add 1 tablespoon of white vinegar to 2 gallons of water. Lots of minerals in the water can coat roots hence blocking nutrient supply. Also remember that mycorrhizae is not a fertilizer it's an innoculant. You just need to watch out to not burn your young plants with too much fertilizer.

Once you get them going......when they hit about the 6- 7 cm stage, plant them with a mix of good compost, worm castings AND mycorrhizal fungus. Any reputable nursery should be able to supply this (or look online). This is an amazing thing. In test groups we did in our landscape Co. plants that were treated with the mycorrhizae developed root systems up to 200% + greater than plants planted without it. (3 year test). This most definitey pertained to my cactus as well. I got 2 feet!! of growth (average/ year) on my Macrogonus and over 2.5 feet on the Penis and Tom Juul's...only about 1.5 -2 ft on the Peruvians.... VS only approx. 1/2 that on the un treated cactus. Formula; about 35% perlite - 10- 15% Mycorrhizae (make sure and make some good root contact) 35% good organic compost w/ good humus content- 10- 15% worm castings. water only when dry for a couple days. then soak it with (preferably) distilled water with grow max sea weed / or fish emulsion and a minimal amount of shultz or similar cactus fert. Also.... cool night time temps. ....Below 70 f. stimulates growth in Trichocereus cactus. In dry climates spritz cactus with a little water NOT ALOT at night as they drink through their spines. rejuvenate the top 13- 14 cm of soil w/ compost/ castings etc. yearly. Mycorrhizae is king! for any shrub, tree or vegetable and should be implemented in any growing soil. Happy growing!!

I mean Barrack Obama bin ladin. Is everything about this man escaping everyone? If Obama is in then you can kiss your trees good bye. Period. Take that for what you will. OBAMA = Death of world economy.

And when Obama bin laden gets the presidency??

go to Kohres sight..... bilder.

Sorry .....but NOTHING makes San Pedro, Torch, etc more palitable ...NOTHING. Just gotta get over the 5 minutes of misery....and, well get over it!!! Otherwise extract it.

some input on your take on what's going to happen....what's already happening (?)