Astrophytum Asterias

Two Variegated Astrophytum Asterias with differing patters. I think I like the pattern on the first plant the best.

Spring Astrophytum in the greenhouse

Astrophytum CV Fukuryu;

Ariocapurs Grafts Completed Today

Today I completed approx 15 grafts of Ariocarpus Seedlings, mostly cultivars and hybrids. All were grafted to Hylocereus Undatus or Selenicereus Megalanthus (Very similar in appearance, identical results for grafting).

I have a new found love for the genus Ariocarpus and intend on propagating and grafting a heap in the remainder of this season and during winter in my grow room. I find them a challenge to grow, especially from seed, but have been surprised by their hardiness and ability to adapt. I find nothing more beautiful than a large fully mature Ariocarpus.

Sorry no pics from me but here is a WEB PIC to show you what I'm on about.

SOURCE: http://www.indoor-plant-care.com/plant-list/ariocarpus-retusus/

Two Promising Astrophytum Asterias Cultivars

I like the look of both of these cultivars, both grafted to Hylocereus.

Re-potting some Ariocarpus Seedlings

Ariocarpus Retusus seedlings from 2010. Several different forms of field collected seeds all mixed together. One of the plants appears to be variegated and is glowing a little bit slower which is characteristic of the trait. All appear to be healthy and are growing well for plants that are just on 2 years old, I think the growth rate has been about average for the species.

First two trays:

A few of the bigger ones, you can see the variegated seedling in the bottom right corner.

Variegated seedling:

Two FREAKS; Trichocereus Peruvianus Monstrose Crests

Both plants are the result of a cross between Trichocereus Peruvianus Monstrose (Mother) X Sacred Succulents SS02 (Father). I only received 6 seeds from this cross and 4 germinated all of them are either crest or very strange monstrose growth.

Lophophora (SP)

Thought I would share some pictures from my collection of the species Lophophora. I have a fairly diverse collection nearly entirely existing of seed grown plants, a good portion of which I have grafted to various stocks. For Lophophora I generally use columnar cacti stocks such as Trichocereus and Cereus but also use Pereskiopsis and very rarely Hylocereus/Selenicereus.

I have been grafting cactus for the last 6 years and during this time have found a few tips and tricks, I plan on posting a how-to grafting guide over the next few weeks. In the meanwhile enjoy these.

Hybridisation of Asterias Cultivars

Last week I created a few Asterias Cultivar Hybrids and they look to be forming seed pods, two of the plants are pictured below. I pollinated the flowers by hand, by simply pinching the pollen in my fingertips and then place and rub it into the stigma of the other plant.

Left: Asterias Cv Akabana    Right Asterias Cv Hanaizumi

Astro Cultivars and a few others

Took some updated photographs yesterday of how the plants are developing . Many flowers at present in the green house and I have made a few crosses which should produce some interesting seed. I will post an update with the crosses in a few days, in the meanwhile check these out.

Astrophytum Update !!

All photographs taken today the 12th of October 2011, first are some grafted plants and later are plants which I de-grafted and rooted at the end of last summer.

Grafts:

De-grafts, now growing on their own roots:

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A few grafted plants from last season

Aztekium Ritteri

Ariocarpus Retusus