A couple more !

A quick update from the garden

About Astrophytum CV Fukuryu

Astrophytum CV Fukuryu

I don't put a species in the title on purpose because I believe these are not pure Myriostigma but rather interbreeding between  Myriostigma, Ornatum and possibly Asterias. Spination and size point towards Ornatum, overall shape is Myriostigma and some characteristics could be seen as Asterias like. This is pure speculation and I have no evidence whatsoever to back this up but my personal observations and experience. 

Whatever they are, or are not, Fukuryu most definitely are amazing plants with some funky genetic lines, seedlings produced from crossing with other Fukuryu are strange to say the least and produce many monstrose, variegated, kohyo and deformed plants. The problem I see is once you cross genetic lines many times the plants become "Unstable" for want of a better term and the offspring are weak mutants that are susceptible to disease, pests and in most cases eventually die. I have had a few completely white plants that survive in a controlled environment (inside) but as soon as they are exposed to the elements e.g sun, wind etc they will die due to stress. Plants such as this are nice to look at and due to them being rare etc but this is certainly not the future of Fukuryu or Astrophytum in general.

I plan on making some crosses this year but this time a little differently;

1. Very mild Fukuryu trait (I.E Looks like Myriostigma)  X Complex genetic Fukuryu CV

2. Ornatum var Mirbelii X Complex Fukuryu (Each way)

3. Ornatum var Mirbelii X Simple Fukuryu (Each way)

All of this is food for thought and I can hopefully do these crosses this year. By all means anyone feel free to beat me to the punch and do them first it's not a race rather a destination :)

Here are a few of my Furkuryu 

   

Lophophora

Couple of photographs from yesterday the 11th of December 2012, all my plants are really starting to pack on some growth in this warm but wet weather.

Lophophora Williamsii Caespitosae

Lophophora Williamsii Caespitosae

Lophophora Williamsii CV Kikko

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: