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Dephect




Registered: 08/10/07
Posts: 1,779
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Re: Loph Growers Unite! [Re: Argyreia]
#28433480 - 08/14/23 09:25 AM (5 months, 12 days ago) |
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What is your soil recipe? I have been looking for one that's more stone heavy.
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Argyreia
Grafting cacti is awesome



Registered: 11/19/14
Posts: 1,100
Loc: France
Last seen: 1 month, 19 days
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Re: Loph Growers Unite! [Re: Dephect]
#28433615 - 08/14/23 10:35 AM (5 months, 12 days ago) |
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Coarse river sand as a base, I'd say like 50% (the kind of sand that is pretty roundish and 1 to 5mm diameter). 10 to 20% of organics like regular potting soil and the rest are 1cm to 2cm rocks and they can be anything.
That's my recipe, it is not optimized or anything trusted but they germinate, flower and put out fruits in that so I guess it's pretty ok yet eyeballed every time.
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modern.shaman
San Mescalito




Registered: 05/09/12
Posts: 3,224
Loc: Zone 13
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Re: Loph Growers Unite! [Re: Argyreia] 3
#28433866 - 08/14/23 01:52 PM (5 months, 12 days ago) |
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CactiChris
Persistently Trying.


Registered: 02/18/18
Posts: 297
Loc: Canada
Last seen: 2 months, 24 days
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Soil seems to be a hot topic lately. I've been reading everything from no organic matter , pure stone to 5-10% organic matter you name it, across multiple platforms.
From my experience I have gotten wayyy better results from a more organic fast dry mix. Regular cacti soil from the store. 1/3 more perlight and a couple cups of limestone screenings. It is Around 45%- 55% or so organic matter. Feed every other week. Faster growth. More flowers, more seeds. I've grown about 500 over the years, I have never lost a cacti to over watering.
However, that being said I grow indoors I also use large seedlings heat mats consistently dry them out in 3-4 days.
Obviously you should use what mix works best for you. I just wanted to point that myth out that's going around that you "should not use organics" or very little is bullish.
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Edited by CactiChris (08/15/23 02:30 PM)
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Argyreia
Grafting cacti is awesome



Registered: 11/19/14
Posts: 1,100
Loc: France
Last seen: 1 month, 19 days
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Re: Loph Growers Unite! [Re: CactiChris] 2
#28435114 - 08/15/23 03:14 PM (5 months, 11 days ago) |
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If you can provide optimal growing conditions year round, of course they would even grow in peat or coir. Industrial growers don't use a single percent of rocks.
When you let them outdoors and hibernate indoors, they become much more sensitive.
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modern.shaman
San Mescalito




Registered: 05/09/12
Posts: 3,224
Loc: Zone 13
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Re: Loph Growers Unite! [Re: Argyreia] 3
#28438294 - 08/18/23 03:06 PM (5 months, 8 days ago) |
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hummingbird

Registered: 06/29/14
Posts: 2,134
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Mine are indoors year round currently. I like a mostly mineral mix, but a little coir and worm castings went into it. Around 10-15% at most. I just started using seedling heat mats on 12/12 with the lights in a small grow tent, and they are growing so much better than the window spot they used to be in.
This one put out it's first flower!


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mandrax360
Woodchipper Deluxe


Registered: 09/20/11
Posts: 1,890
Loc: Nelson Mandela House, Peckham
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Been growing for a few years. Harvested my first seeds this year after 4 year wait. Looking forward to growing my own seeds next year.
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modern.shaman
San Mescalito




Registered: 05/09/12
Posts: 3,224
Loc: Zone 13
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Re: Loph Growers Unite! [Re: mandrax360] 3
#28455077 - 09/01/23 03:54 PM (4 months, 25 days ago) |
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turtle_hermit
Psychedelic Ranger



Registered: 06/03/10
Posts: 1,626
Last seen: 1 day, 2 hours
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Nice seedling, modern. Never seen colors like that on lophs.
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HurricaneBreeze



Registered: 12/02/18
Posts: 240
Last seen: 3 days, 6 hours
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been on the dry for 3 months
one week after a big drink 

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CactiChris
Persistently Trying.


Registered: 02/18/18
Posts: 297
Loc: Canada
Last seen: 2 months, 24 days
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Beautiful, That is one gorgeous cacti!! Well done!
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mandrax360
Woodchipper Deluxe


Registered: 09/20/11
Posts: 1,890
Loc: Nelson Mandela House, Peckham
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Re: Loph Growers Unite! [Re: CactiChris] 1
#28474726 - 09/19/23 09:03 AM (4 months, 7 days ago) |
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Anyone ever have the same loph flower 3 times in one year? Had my first in May, end of July and now in September.
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the astronaut



Registered: 06/09/11
Posts: 447
Loc: usa
Last seen: 18 hours, 44 seconds
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How old when you can start a mild fertilizer in everyone's opinion. Mine might be about 2 months old at most. Their already acclimated because I had to uncover them before they even sprouted because the rocky mixture was getting covered in mold. I was spraying the pot with 3% peroxide every day until they sprouted but they came up through the pumice just fine.
They truly are the slowest growing thing I've ever seen besides my giant Sequoia seedlings.
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Mostly_Harmless
wyrd bið ful aræd



Registered: 05/12/09
Posts: 5,043
Loc: Perfidious Albion
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Re: Loph Growers Unite! [Re: mandrax360] 3
#28475886 - 09/20/23 05:01 AM (4 months, 6 days ago) |
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Quote:
mandrax360 said: Anyone ever have the same loph flower 3 times in one year? Had my first in May, end of July and now in September.
Once they are mature lophs will freely flower all through the growing season when conditions are amenable.
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CactiChris
Persistently Trying.


Registered: 02/18/18
Posts: 297
Loc: Canada
Last seen: 2 months, 24 days
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I usually start light (1/2) feedings around the second or third month. I only feed once a month with at least 1-2 periods of fresh water in-between to get rid of salt buildup. As for molds the only thing I have ever found to hurt seedlings is rust fungus. They are fairly slow. Usually takes me around 2 years ish to get a seedling to 1" diameter. They do speed up growth I find after that point.
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the astronaut



Registered: 06/09/11
Posts: 447
Loc: usa
Last seen: 18 hours, 44 seconds
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Re: Loph Growers Unite! [Re: CactiChris] 1
#28476649 - 09/20/23 04:14 PM (4 months, 6 days ago) |
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Quote:
CactiChris said: I usually start light (1/2) feedings around the second or third month. I only feed once a month with at least 1-2 periods of fresh water in-between to get rid of salt buildup. As for molds the only thing I have ever found to hurt seedlings is rust fungus. They are fairly slow. Usually takes me around 2 years ish to get a seedling to 1" diameter. They do speed up growth I find after that point.
Thanks appreciate that.
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muistrue
Inspired by the mystery


Registered: 03/20/05
Posts: 12,899
Loc: Behind the Redwoods
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Cool thread. I have some loph’s. All Williamsii, mostly Texana and Hipolito. Have a southern form as well with 7 ribs.



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Warrk



Registered: 06/02/17
Posts: 1,623
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Quote:
the astronaut said: How old when you can start a mild fertilizer in everyone's opinion. Mine might be about 2 months old at most. Their already acclimated because I had to uncover them before they even sprouted because the rocky mixture was getting covered in mold. I was spraying the pot with 3% peroxide every day until they sprouted but they came up through the pumice just fine.
They truly are the slowest growing thing I've ever seen besides my giant Sequoia seedlings.
A misting with a fungicide should help get rid of the mold and then you can put the cover back on as Loph seedlings like a high humidity microclimate in their first year, you can get them to 1 inch size within 6 months if they have high heat and regular feeds. You can start with a very diluted feed now if you like, you might find that with heavy fertiliser use there's more chance of algae and moss growing on the top of your substrate so keep your feeds very dilute.
Good to hear that my seeds germinated well for you and looking forward to hearing updates!
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the astronaut



Registered: 06/09/11
Posts: 447
Loc: usa
Last seen: 18 hours, 44 seconds
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Re: Loph Growers Unite! [Re: Warrk]
#28493340 - 10/05/23 04:39 PM (3 months, 22 days ago) |
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Quote:
Warrk said:
Quote:
the astronaut said: How old when you can start a mild fertilizer in everyone's opinion. Mine might be about 2 months old at most. Their already acclimated because I had to uncover them before they even sprouted because the rocky mixture was getting covered in mold. I was spraying the pot with 3% peroxide every day until they sprouted but they came up through the pumice just fine.
They truly are the slowest growing thing I've ever seen besides my giant Sequoia seedlings.
A misting with a fungicide should help get rid of the mold and then you can put the cover back on as Loph seedlings like a high humidity microclimate in their first year, you can get them to 1 inch size within 6 months if they have high heat and regular feeds. You can start with a very diluted feed now if you like, you might find that with heavy fertiliser use there's more chance of algae and moss growing on the top of your substrate so keep your feeds very dilute.
Good to hear that my seeds germinated well for you and looking forward to hearing updates!
Thanks man I managed to get 6 seedlings I'm sure a few didn't get through the pumice. I messed up and sprinkled pumice over the seeds after they were placed realize the mistake now because I had to use tiny tweezers to dig a few out. I've put them on the hot porch a few times seems like they get a little bigger each time maybe I'm just crazy? One sprouted upside down, waiting for it to get a little bigger and I'll graft his ass to a tbm bud. I mist them 2 times a day so they get humidity for the most part, or so I hope.
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