Hellonasty

Just remember season is NOT a fertiliser.

That's good info GOT, thanks. Tripsis, sorry mate I misunderstood your post, at least everyone is on the same page now... Well most of us

Yep it is from the first lot we got over here a couple of years ago, here is another one that is starting to look good;

Nitrogen, I believe the aussie sausage (sorry couldn't resist) is a Peruvianus. I totally agree with tripsis regarding Macrogonus ??, I believe it is just a mislabeling at some point of a Peruvianus and to me the name means nothing. Tripsis, SS02 was originally in the Bridgesii lineage, you may have spotted a hybid with SS02 in the mix somewhere, there are heaps of them floating around. Check out the Sacred Succulents website for clarification.

Here is an interesting T Peruvianus hybrid, almost looks likes the peru version of TBM (penis cactus)

Great work Jox, very organised

Yep Jox is correct they are definitely self fertile and usually produce seed without any interference by me. Very difficult species on their own roots but great when grafted.

Very nice work GOT and Ceres.

Ceres, Once you get one successful you will be right. Generally speaking once you have the method down you will get over 90%. My method: 1. Pinch pollen using your finger tips from the father 2. Place pollen in the palm of your hand or a very small bowl, or shot glass. 3. Repeat 1 and 2 4. Using a cotton tip (small plastic tube with cotton buds on each end), rub the tip in the pollen and collect it on the end, twisting helps it stick. 5. Push the cotton bud into the stigma of the mother, your aim is to get as much pollen down the tiny tube as possible, that being said you only need one single grain of pollen. 6. (optional) If you want to be 100% sure of the cross then using string and your finger, cause the flower to close and tie the top of the flower up. This will prevent pollination from any other source. I hope this helps. I will do a pictorial of this soon and put it up on my blog.

Whoops I missed this thread before I posted my Loph flowers Nice plants and flowers everyone.

Today I found a heap of Lophos flowering together in my collection, here are a couple. Check out my blog for more ! http://astrophytum-and-friends.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/lophophora-in-flower.html

Here is an example of what is possible grafting with this method I will call it Soccer Ball Loph !!

Yeah GOT is spot on, the most important factors are that the scion is in active growth and to graft to new growth on the stock. I have found they grow really quickly when grafted in this fashion.

The pups are only a new addition, I think they formed at the end of the last growing season. Pups on grafted plants are extremely variable they can form any time.

The last one was a 2 week old seedling when grafted, I'm not exactly sure when it was done but I would think it's about 2 years old, may be a little more.

More video will be available soon they take a while to upload.. Has been a difficult couple of weeks for all involved but has finally come to an end

Took a few shots today thought I would share on here, all are grafted except the Astro Kikko Nuda which has rooted after a few years a Hylocereus. I'm most interested in the first Ariocarpus which appears to be a hybrid of sorts? Definitely has Fissuratus traits but I can also see shades of Retusus etc. Please post your own Mexican miniatures !

It is a little bit hard to see, I don't believe it is sun damage or a virus. If the effected area is sunken in then it was most likely caused by a sucking insect.

Gobsmacked !!! that is one serious Ario collection.

A few more shots from my collection Ariocarpus Retusus, These I started from seed about 5 years ago, grafted as a seedling and now de-grafted. The bottom plant was an offset from the larger plant. Astrophytum Myriostigma CV Onzuka (red form) Astrophytum (hybrid between Myiostigma and Ornatum) CV Fukuryu Some mixed plants that I have de-grafted and set to grow their own roots.

Nice GOT do I recognise the 3rd plant??

Great photos Slice, very majestic looking plants.

Beautiful plant, great genetics you have there

Cactuscarl, Bent and wavy spines are common among all cacti of the creoid family and could be due to environment, cultivation factors or genetics. However this is not a good indicator to use for ID purposes since it is a varying trait that many plants can possess.