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hookahhead

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Posts posted by hookahhead

  2. Posted · Edited by hookahhead

    My mom rescued this from a home improvement center and gifted to me it last year. It had a blue strawflower hot glued onto it :BANGHEAD2: . I removed the flower and the glue and only lost a few spines. The cactus has obviously recovered and has been growing quite a bit. Anyone want to id it for me? it was labeled "cactus", so there is your hint haha.


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  3. Posted

    I want to see Eileen and Lumberjack 'get it on' and make beautiful babies together.

    What a great idea! I hear you can grow idea's in the garden of your mind.. all you have to do is think and they'll grow :wink:

     

    • Like 2

  6. Posted

    Hey Tangich, good to see you around here brother.

    There is a member named Zelly here who does a large number of Trichocereus crosses, I have a few seeds left from 2012 that I could send ya. Let me know if your interested in any.

    Peru x Juuls Giant

    Juuls Giant x Kimnach

    (SS02 x SS01) x Kimnach

    Pc Pach x (SS02 x SS01)

    (SS02 x SS01) x (SS02 x SS01)

    Huanucoensis x (SS02 x SS01)

  9. Posted

    "A little dab will do you", he said
    So I asked for a big one from the old Deadhead
    That's the last thing I recall
    Before I choked on that oil ball
    As I sputtered and gasped for air
    I noticed everyday pains were no longer there
    And as my grin began to spread
    The stress lightly floated out of my head
    I laughed to myself, because worrying seemed so silly
    After all, whatever will... at least it won't kill me.

    • Like 3

  11. Posted · Edited by hookahhead

    Somethings we may want to consider...

    shore kapulnik 02.pdf
    Abstract. The flowering of Salvia aplendens under non inductive short days is promoted by exogenous application of estrogen fraction isolated from flowering sage plants, gibberellin GAd+7 and to some extend NS-bonzyladonino and ostradiol.The most active is the combination of GA4+7 with estrogen fraction. No synergistic action of GA4+7 with NS-benzyladenine estradiol was found.


    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytoestrogens#Food_sources

    Phytoestrogens are plant-derived xenoestrogens (see estrogen) not generated within the endocrine system but consumed by eating phytoestrogenic plants. Also called "dietary estrogens", they are a diverse group of naturally occurring nonsteroidal plant compounds that, because of their structural similarity with estradiol (17-β-estradiol), have the ability to cause estrogenic or/and antiestrogenic effects,antiestrogenic effects by sitting in and blocking receptor sites against estrogen.

    In some countries, phytoestrogenic plants have been used for centuries in the treatment of menstrual and menopausal problems, as well as for fertility problems. Plants used that have been shown to contain phytoestrogens include Pueraria mirifica, and its close relative, kudzu, Angelica, fennel and anise. In a rigorous study, the use of one such source of phytoestrogen, red clover, has been shown to be safe, but ineffective in relieving menopausal symptoms(black cohosh is also used for menopausal symptoms, but does not contain phytoestrogens.) Panax Ginseng contains phytoestrogens and has been used for menopausal symptoms

    Phytoestrogen content varies in different foods, and may vary significantly within the same group of foods (e.g. soy beverages, tofu) depending on processing mechanisms and type of soybean used. Legumes (in particular soybeans), whole grain cereals, and some seeds are high in phytoestrogens. A more comprehensive list of foods known to contain phytoestrogens includes: soybeans and soy products, tempeh, linseed (flax), sesame seeds, wheatberries, fenugreek, oats, barley, beans, lentils, yams, rice, alfalfa, mung beans, apples, carrots, pomegranates, wheat germ, rice bran, lupin, kudzu, coffee, licorice root, mint, ginseng, hops, bourbon, beer, fennel and anise.

    Seeing sesame listed popped out to me because I learned about this organic pest product today. The main ingredients are fish oil and sesame oil. Never though of using something like sesame or anise oil on a plant but now you have me thinking...

    http://www.arborgrow.com/organocide.htm

    Edit: This article discusses several plant oils as insecticides

    http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/old_reds/flower_veggie_oils.pdf

    For soybean oil: Targeted pests = citrus rust mite, clover mite, Texas citrus mite, citrus red mite, European red mite, two-spotted spider mite, thrips, anobiid beetles, cerambycid bark beetles, lyctid beetles, rose chafer, japanese beetle, gnats, rose midge, midges, mosquitoes, homopterans, whiteflies, aphids, leafhoppers, mealybugs, roseslug, gypsy moth (eggs)

    shore kapulnik 02.pdf

    shore kapulnik 02.pdf

  13. Posted

    And here they are tonight. The second flower opened :) It appears that there are now a potential 5 flower buds? I am fairly certain that this is not a common occurrence, but this is my first plant to flower. The bud on the larger split one doesn't appear to have grown much yet, but a second tuft of hair appears to have popped up now too... hmm only time will tell I suppose. It is quite lovely to watch these guys. There is a glisten to the petals (tepals?) that my poor camera just can't pick up. :blush:

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    • Like 6

  14. Posted · Edited by hookahhead

    @Spine Collector, they do love the extra root space. A plant can only get as big as it's root system allows. I like this method because it allows me to pack them in close like using a seedling tray, but gives them way more room leg room. One thing you could do to help support them is add some fish tank or similar small gravel to the top 1/4 of the cup, to provide some stabilization. You could also do something like is used in MJ cultivation, a "screen of green"

    http://www.sanniesshop.com/scrog-growing.html

    Right now my potting mix is 1/4 coarse sand, 1/4 coco-coir, 1/4 perlite, 1/4 home worm castings by volume. However I would like to experiment with this idea using a media like crushed limestone, molar clay and other ingredients similar to soiless/mineral mixes for lophs. Then Ebb/Flow or maybe DWC hydroponic system. However, that is honestly to much for me to screw with at the moment. It is easier to just dump some water or casting tea in and be done.

  15. Posted · Edited by hookahhead

    That's certainly a good point about orange rot water trade. The scions would not fare well in humid conditions. However, the scions are a fair distance from the wet feet of the perskiopsis. Also it is winter for me since I am in the US, therefore my the air in my house is fairly dry. Airflow is another important thing to consider when inhibiting rot. The conditions inside my grow closet are no where near tropical and most of my pots are dry within 3-4 days.

  16. Posted · Edited by hookahhead

    Recently it has come to my attention that pereskiopsis seem to be the exception to the rule of limited water. The published research appears to confirm there is a significant difference in plant physiology between wet or dry conditions (See Post #11 of this thread).

    Over the past 2 months I have kept these two containers very wet. Neither of the large rectangular containers have drain holes in the bottom, and at times I have had water just sitting in there. The plants seem to love it. I have one other setup like this that I forgot to take pictures of, but will tomorrow. Those plants are doing just fine as well.

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    However I know that this can lead to salt accumulation and anaerobic conditions so I redesigned a little. The white lid hopefully will reflect some of the light back onto the plants. The new tub has drain holes, and is elevated to allow better air flow between cells. The cups are plastic yogurt containers. The white powdery stuff is DE.

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    • Like 5

  22. Posted · Edited by hookahhead

    Seeds were San Juan and sown 9-26-13, and grafted around 10-18-13. These pictures were taken 1-2-14.

    lophpack6

    lophpack5

    lophpack4

    lophpack3

    lophpack2

    lophpack1

    Today I noticed 2-3 flower buds on one, and a single flower bud on its neighbor. I can't tell you how excited I am to see my first flower open! Pictures of the buds to come as soon as my batteries charge in my digicam.

    Thank you for providing me a place to share this moment!

    • Like 17

  24. Posted · Edited by hookahhead

    I'm going to start looking into some methods for raising/maintaining these beneficial organisms. Here's a start with mealybug destroyers since they have caught our attention and are outrageously priced...

    Mass culture of Cryptolaemus montrouzieri: Adults of C. montrouzieri were obtained from the Mass rearing unit, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University. It was mass multiplied on the mealybug, Planococcus citri (Risso) infesting pumpkin fruits (Cucurbita moschata) as described by Chacko et al. (1978) under laboratory conditions of 26±2°C and 60-70% R.H. Each breeding cage yielded 100-200 beetles. The beetles were collected from the breeding cages with an aspirator, released in a plastic jar (14x11.5 cm) and fed on 50% honey solution. Twenty-day old adults were used for release after completing their premating and pre-ovipostion periods as recommended by Tirumala and David (1958).

    Six shrubs of croton, 20 years old, 2.5-3.0 m height and 2.0 m width, highly infested by citrus mealybug, P. citri grown in Orman garden located at Giza governorate, in Egypt were chosen for this study. The shrubs of croton were divided into two groups, 1st one (3 replicate shrubs) was treated with the predator, while the latter one (3 replicate shrubs) was left untreated as a control. The ratio of release was 50 adults of predator per one croton shrubs. Release was made once (inoculation release) in the early morning of October, 27, 2008. Sampling was carried out every ten days starting from Oct. 27, 2008 (just prior to release) up to January, 30, 2009. Each sample consisted of 20 leaves per croton shrub. Samples were transferred to the laboratory for examination under a stereo-microscope. Number of egg masses, nymphs and adults of P. citri were counted. Also, numbers of the associated natural enemies; Scymnus syriacus, Sympherobius amicus,Chrysoperla carnea and the parasitoid, Coccidoxenoides peregrinus were also counted.

    Google translate of Chacko et al. (1978) abstract:

    A method by which the predator / Cryptolaemus montrouzieri / can be raised in a lab ( India) is described. / Planococcus lilacinus / and / Planococcus citri / : As a means of food for insects were used. They were raised in a middle of squash . Predators , as adults , were released when aphid populations were fully developed . The female parasites that feed on mealybugs , also ovopositaron between them. The development of the predator , from egg to adult takes about a month in the greenhouse at an average temperature of 25 degrees C . Between 1976 to 1977 severe outbreaks of mealybugs were presented in coffee states of South India ( Kerala) . Among the coffee plantations / Cryptolaemus montrouzieri / was released in November 1976 and although there was established in April 1977 a large number of adults was observed. A few larvae of the parasite were recovered in a coffee plantation infested , about 10 kilometers from the release site . The predator virtually eliminated mealybugs this plantation . After the rains of the southwest monsoon season (June- September 1977) the predator was not found , but in December was again present, new releases of parasites were made to strengthen it .

  25. Posted · Edited by hookahhead

    Updated post 2 to contain most of the parasitoids and pathogens now. AZS I still have to add mantids in there somewhere :wink:

    Heres a few I found interesting..

    Parasitoid Wasps:

    Metaphycus alberti

    Metaphycus alberti (Howard) was originally brought to California from Australia in 1898 by Albert Koebele, whose earlier entomological investigations of that continent led to the successful biological control of the cottony cushion scale (DeBach and Rosen, 1991). The new parasite was subsequently named for Koebele by L.O. Howard (Howard, 1898).This species has not been reported in the literature from other hosts, and therefore appears to be specific to C. hesperidum. It is known to attack C. hesperidum between the crawler and the adult stages, preferring young scale from 1 to 1.5 mm long, but successfully attacking much larger hosts as long as they are not reproducing.

    Koebele's original material was reared from C. hesperidum collected in the Sydney area.

    The parasite was apparently colonized in Riverside, California, around the turn of the century. It was subsequently recovered from C. hesperidum by Timberlake during 1911 and 1912 . Despite all of the subsequent sampling of C. hesperidum in southern California, M. alberti has not been reported from North America since Compere reared it from C. hesperidum in 1922. At present, M. alberti is known only from California, South Africa, and Australia.
    Commercial Availability: Not commercially available, although there is some interest among commercial insectaries.

    Trissolcus basalis

    The primary host of T. basalis is the southern green stinkbug. T. basalis also attacks the eggs of other species of stinkbugs.

    Commercial Availability: T. basalis is not commercially available in North America at this time.

    Parasitoid Flies:
    Trichopoda pennipes
    Primarily squash bug and southern green stinkbug. Although Trichopoda pennipes is a parasitoid of several true bugs, there appear to be different biotypes across the country. Limited field studies suggest that different populations, or perhaps cryptic species, attack different species (types) of true bugs. For example, in California, a population of T. pennipes has been reported attacking the bordered plant bug. However the same fly was never found attacking the squash bug.

    Recently, Trichopoda pennipes were collected from fields of squash in New York and shipped to California where they were released. These flies have permanently established populations in northern California near farms growing summer and winter squash. In the past, nymphs of squash bug in this area were never attacked by parasitoids. Now, one can easily find 50% or more of these nymphs with fly eggs deposited on them (see photo).
    Commercial Availability: Not available commercially.

    some info from wiki on "mealybug destroyers"

    Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, common name Mealybug Ladybird[2] is ladybird species endemic to Queensland and New South Wales, Australia. Unlike many of the often brightly coloured Coccinellidae, it is predominantly brown and has no spots. It has been used as a biological control agent against Mealybugs and other Scale insects. As a larva it apparently looks like the mealybugs they prey on, a case of aggressive mimicry.Within Australia C. montrouzieri was introduced to Western Australia as a biological control agent.As imported species As biological control agent outside Australia, C. montrouzieri has the common name Mealy bug destroyer. C. montrouzieri was introduced into California in 1891 byAlbert Koebele to control the citrus mealybug. It has also been introduced to New Zealand for biocontrol.

    See also:

    Cassiculus venustus (native New Zealand species which also feeds on mealybugs)

    Coccinella leonina (native New Zealand species which specializes on aphids.

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