SS01 X TPM grow log

[bogfrog]

Ta

I think I got about 10 seeds originally, a few germinated but only 2 survived the first year. Southern nz can be very cold and not always the most favourable of cacti-growing climates, so progress is slow at times.

Seems I can only locate one of my two now... This one must be what..two..no ..three years old?

It grew very slowly at first, and was only grafted a year after it was born, I had intended to keep on its own roots but being my first seed grown crest I decided grafting on a small seed grown pach was necessary when it shrunk a little approaching winter. Now it has just caught up to the other batch of nitrogen mutants which are a year younger. I will propagate it in the coming spring/summer.

[Philocacti]

Wow, it's beautiful and you're lucky my friend

Now here's a another peruvinoid crest for you mutant ;)

[Philocacti]

So this unlabeled Trichocereus has a pup that has gone monstrose.... So I'm guessing it's a SS01 X TPM, since I had only 5 germinate. I have 4 labelled and 1 is lost among all the unlabeled Trichocereus I have.

[Philocacti]

It's this kind of areol pattern that made me fall in love with the TPM in the first place

[Philocacti]

Update of these 2 (same clone)

This one grew 60 cm this season

And this one 50 cm

Its kind of confusing me, since both are the same genetics and in the same pot and the started out the same height this season. I transplanted them though, so maybe I damaged more roots in the one with less growth.

[Derkshaman]

Not to worry. There are all sorts of variables. 60cm vs 50cm isn't bad. I've had the same sized clones vary in growth speed by 100%, when potted the same time in the identical pots... granted the one that grew much faster was in almost full shade vs half sun (wouldn't you have guessed it to be smaller?)

One variable I've found is that when you mix up a batch of soil, inevitably every pot you fill gets a different mixture. The ones filled at the end contain finer particles... maybe less grit/pumice and more soil to use for roots. Or who knows, maybe the ones with more grit end up growing faster with more breathable roots.

Also sand can sink to the bottom and effectively reduce the size of the pot.

[Philocacti]

I totally agree, but both of these cuttings are sharing the same pot ;)

I stopped using sand in my mixes as it clogs the soil...or so I f other when I used it.

[Derkshaman]

Oh! Forget what I said then. Just one guy got a headstart to occupy the space.

Sand is very specific. What type of sand were you using? And did you wash it well?

I use sand very sparingly. Except for with seedlings.

Nice grafts man. I'm going to try some on pereskiopsis very soon.

Edited October 13, 2015 by Derkshaman

[Philocacti]

Thanks buddy.

I used fine sand I found laying around, I never tried the recommended grade though.