Cimi Posted December 30, 2013 I have a cereus peruvianus about to flower in the next few weeks, and I'd love to get some fruit off it. I'm interested in some pollen if anybody has some available. Thanks, Cimi Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhoenixSon Posted December 30, 2013 are they self fertile? pretty sure they are, give them a tickle, everybody loves a tickle Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dreamwalker. Posted December 30, 2013 (edited) nope ...absolutely not self fertile.................needs a cross, or flower and ovary will fall away in a few days.................I even tried using cement dust to induce an early flowering plant to take up its own pollen .......a few days ago.........isn't looking good 2 out of 5 have fallen.................I can get you pollen .................but I dour't it will be viable by the time it reaches you from here.......what size are your flowers now.........and how many days before they open....do you think? almost any type of cereus will act as a cross.............. so my buds are 50 = 60 mm....................they grow very fast from here so I guess maybe 3 - 6 days to flowering..............plus another 5 - 7 days post........... have you read Producing Seeds with Self-Sterile Cacti - How to do ithttp://www.shaman-australis.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=30961 perhaps the 9v battery is an option.......... Edited December 30, 2013 by Dreamwalker Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cimi Posted December 30, 2013 are they self fertile? pretty sure they are, give them a tickle, everybody loves a tickle Not according to this: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07929978.1994.10676566#.UsFYTfTJV8E Yeah, I have seen the sab guide about using cement dust. Thanks Dreamwalker, it has a bud forming which I expect to bloom in 2-3 weeks' time. If I don't hear from anybody closer to me I might give it a shot with yours. Do you think there would be any problems with importing it into Aus? Thanks people! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dreamwalker. Posted December 31, 2013 (edited) . Do you think there would be any problems with importing it into Aus?Thanks people! .you wanta keep an eye out for a few mates for it................maybe someone near by could send you a cutting................if they sent it now it would probably flower soon.................worth another 'wanted' post maybe? Edited March 17, 2014 by Dreamwalker Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cimi Posted January 1, 2014 Thanks a bunch Dreamwalker. Damn these things grow fast. Unfortunately I don't really have room for another one. I know it's possible to harvest & store pollen so it stays viable for quite a while. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dreamwalker. Posted January 2, 2014 (edited) Thanks a bunch Dreamwalker. Damn these things grow fast. Unfortunately I don't really have room for another one. I know it's possible to harvest & store pollen so it stays viable for quite a while. ...so i guess just dust the pollen Edited March 17, 2014 by Dreamwalker Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jox Posted January 2, 2014 Hey guys, I have been looking at this thinking how nice it is to see people talking about Cereus (even though it shits me to see people still calling them C.peruvianus ). I have a nice little collection of monstrose Cereus & one of them already has a couple of fruit forming & about 30 more flowers on the way, I will add some photos of them tonight. As far as collecting pollen goes, it needs to be free of moisture if you want to store it for a while. I find the best way to do this is to cut the stamen & put them in the corner of an airtight container I then put a lid from a jar with *damp aid* crystals in the other corner & put the lid on & leave it in a dark dry place for a couple of days, after it is dry I carefully remove the jar lid & collect the pollen putting it in a airtight container in the fridge. *damp aid works well but you can use kitty litter or even the little bags of silica gel you get in you medicine or burrito breads . @Dreamwalker, I have seen quit a few of your posts about Cereus & you seem to be right into them, if you can ID any of the photos I put up or recommended any good sites/books on how to work them out please let me know. @Cimi, I will have some monstrose pollen in a few weeks if that is not to late. Also your Cereus is a nocturnal flowerier so make sure you look once the sun has gone down. Cheers Jox Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dreamwalker. Posted January 2, 2014 @Dreamwalker, I have seen quit a few of your posts about Cereus & you seem to be right into them, if you can ID any of the photos I put up or recommended any good sites/books on how to work them out please let me know. Jox hi Jox Thanks for the info.................I'll give it a try with some silica gel..................... I checked out your gallery..................but didn't see cereus............where are the pics you wanted to id? (note I'm not an expect.........but if I recognize something, I will let you know). As you may have read my interest in them is mostly for their fruit.................I have a lot of big fruit producing stems ~1.5m Cereus jamacaru, Cereus variabilis, and a x and a unknown, your right Cereus peruvianus is generic. I have a lot of seedlings of 1/2 doz other cereus species, 1st and 2nd season....................they tend to be very forgiving and easy to grow from seed......easier than trich's......(which I find a little tricky)................I have some c. monstrose as well...............only one big enough to flower......(but at the moment all it wants is to grow)....................if you wanta swap some seed or pollen any time........I'd be keen..................... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jox Posted January 2, 2014 (edited) Hi Dreamwalker, here are some photos of my plants, not the best photos but give you an idea. I will take some better photos & start a post in the id thread. group photo This one I have only seen a few of , it is almost starting to form a creast This is a very different plant, very big & wide, with very long spines. I have never seen another like it. This is a little one you see around a bit. These last photos are of the most common monstrose Cereus you see around I have seen it called C.haildmannianus, there are two different plants here. Cactus #1 with flower buds & forming fruit A cool double flower (first time I've seen this) fruit Cactus #2 I have some seeds here from last year, I am happy to send you some. I started a post about them called "my first apple" have a look at that to see what the parents look like. If your interested let me know. Cheers Jox Edited January 2, 2014 by Jox 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cimi Posted January 2, 2014 Yeah, the main thing is to keep it dry. So C. peruvianus is just a general term which covers many species? Like what this article says? http://cactiguide.com/article/?article=article3.php Well I'm not sure on the specific ID, but as DW said any Cereus pollen would probably do. There are so many cultivated varieties it's often pretty difficult to know the exact genetics of any given specimen. Thanks for the info. A few weeks might be a bit far off but thanks for the offer. Maybe next time it's about to flower I'll ask then. How long do you think it's possible to store pollen and retain its viability? Cheers 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dreamwalker. Posted January 6, 2014 (edited) Yeah, the main thing is to keep it dry. So C. peruvianus is just a general term which covers many species? Like what this article says? http://cactiguide.com/article/?article=article3.php Well I'm not sure on the specific ID, but as DW said any Cereus pollen would probably do. There are so many cultivated varieties it's often pretty difficult to know the exact genetics of any given specimen. Thanks for the info. A few weeks might be a bit far off but thanks for the offer. Maybe next time it's about to flower I'll ask then. How long do you think it's possible to store pollen and retain its viability? Cheers Ok ....... http://www.shaman-australis.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=17456 Edited March 17, 2014 by Dreamwalker Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cimi Posted January 6, 2014 Thank you! We will give it a go. Such a small time window, makes it more exciting! I hope you get some fruits also! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dreamwalker. Posted January 7, 2014 (edited) curious to see Edited March 17, 2014 by Dreamwalker Share this post Link to post Share on other sites