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lovelaughlibs
Dopamine Slave



Registered: 10/14/15
Posts: 1,811
Loc: England
Last seen: 5 years, 11 months
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A lot of beginner questions
#23969113 - 12/30/16 08:11 PM (7 years, 1 month ago) |
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Hi there, I have a few questions about cacti.
I was wanting to know the best starting cactus for a beginner, I did some starting research and had my eye on T. Bridgesii or perhaps a San Pedro. Can you cultivate these indoors in England? I wouldn't mind buying special lights if that was necessary.
Should I start from seed if I choose to grow?
How long from seed to "big enough" does it take roughly?
How long from (small) cutting to "big enough" does it take?
Does cultivation involve any exotic substrate ingredients that are hard to find?
Thanks a lot in advance
-------------------- Ask and ye shall receive; Seek and ye shall find.
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Spellbound
PegasusTheFlyingHorse



Registered: 02/13/16
Posts: 2,341
Loc: England
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Only part i can help with, is that im in england and have bought seedlings, grown and also grown many from seed and had no issues. In winter if have seedlings we need a light to get them through but i leave the adults to go dormant til spring. (I only started last spring so my first year)
I started off with williamsii and a few different trich types, and theyre all alive, so far
Growing from seed is rewarding i find ^_^ i use a mix, varies but for trichs i use compost, perlite and a stones mix from the garden centre, seems to be working.
Ill let more experienced folks advise anything else have fun!
-------------------- Mescaline Tea - the one singular occasion of my entire life I cooked for 9 hours The trick is to be yourself, in a world trying to make you like everyone else
 
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DoneKildatReason
Chemical in the body


Registered: 02/25/05
Posts: 1,061
Loc: Green Country
Last seen: 12 days, 6 hours
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Re: A lot of beginner questions [Re: Spellbound]
#23969260 - 12/30/16 09:09 PM (7 years, 1 month ago) |
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Espoma is a good brand of nutrients.
Bridgesii is stronger than Pedro. Ime take 2 thirds of your dose lengths off of bridgesii amount.
At least 2 feet of 2-3 inch diameter Pedro for a dose, especially first time, best to get feel undeniable and strong enough. More will never hurt you physically.
15 inches of bridgesii is pretty solid ime.
Considering that some o saw generally grew 1-1.5 feet per year, do your math to get dose.
Best advice do no eating, or no more than one eating at best, for first 3 years. It'll be hard to stop em then, even with several dose a year if you're having five cacti or so growing. Make it ten.
Never went from seed, can't say. When you harvest save replant the tips.
Sorry for math op. Inches, feet, etc. Hope I helped .
-------------------- This was an experiment.
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DoneKildatReason
Chemical in the body


Registered: 02/25/05
Posts: 1,061
Loc: Green Country
Last seen: 12 days, 6 hours
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Meant to say take 1/3rd from bridgesii amount, if some can help clarify it's great
-------------------- This was an experiment.
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lovelaughlibs
Dopamine Slave



Registered: 10/14/15
Posts: 1,811
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Cheers guys, sounds good!
What ratio of compost/stones/perlite do you usually use?
How often do you water?
-------------------- Ask and ye shall receive; Seek and ye shall find.
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Spellbound
PegasusTheFlyingHorse



Registered: 02/13/16
Posts: 2,341
Loc: England
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With trichs i use a third part of all three as they can manage with more soil than some others. I water every now and then in summer, not at all in winter. Im in uk so not very very hot here haha! Will vary dept where you live. I try not to water too often so not to rott them.
-------------------- Mescaline Tea - the one singular occasion of my entire life I cooked for 9 hours The trick is to be yourself, in a world trying to make you like everyone else
 
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mrmazdarx9
Pffffttt


Registered: 05/15/16
Posts: 9,796
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Last seen: 1 year, 4 months
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Re: A lot of beginner questions [Re: Spellbound]
#23970617 - 12/31/16 12:15 PM (7 years, 30 days ago) |
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Hey libs cacti time is it lol. I have lophs and trichs they grow perfectly well. My trichs are in the conservatory which is unheated and fooking cold and they are completely fine. Mine are all planted in coco coir and perlite as that's all I have lying around and they do fine.
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mrmazdarx9
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Re: A lot of beginner questions [Re: mrmazdarx9]
#23970629 - 12/31/16 12:21 PM (7 years, 30 days ago) |
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 these I planted a year ago I got them for Christmas
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lovelaughlibs
Dopamine Slave



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Re: A lot of beginner questions [Re: mrmazdarx9]
#23971931 - 12/31/16 09:43 PM (7 years, 30 days ago) |
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Cheers spellbound 
Haha aye hey Mazdar, nice collection you got there. Cool to see that cacti seem very low maintenance
-------------------- Ask and ye shall receive; Seek and ye shall find.
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durian_2008
Cornucopian Eating an Elephant



Registered: 04/02/08
Posts: 16,693
Loc: Raccoon City
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Quote:
I did some starting research and had my eye on T. Bridgesii or perhaps a San Pedro. Can you cultivate these indoors in England?
We use a well-draining soil, but cacti can be exposed to enough mist, to grow lichens and moss on their surfaces, and can also be covered in snow.
Quote:
I wouldn't mind buying special lights if that was necessary.
In that situation, I would mimic extreme, desert sun.
Quote:
Should I start from seed if I choose to grow?
If you're very careful, you can have many more cacti, for the same price.
Quote:
How long from seed to "big enough" does it take roughly?
2-3 years or 2-3 inches, whichever comes first.
Quote:
How long from (small) cutting to "big enough" does it take?
If it's kept warm, it should be well-rooted, in a couple of months.
I think it takes longer than a standard houseplant.
Quote:
Does cultivation involve any exotic substrate ingredients that are hard to find?
See the 'stone eaters' thread, for more detail.
The seeds contain a symbiotic bacteria, which will allow them to digest rocks. In a barely-damp crevice, they may actually grow roots, through a boulder.
I might avoid sand, from the ocean, although salt does accumulate, in the desert.
Quote:
Thanks a lot in advance 
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mrmazdarx9
Pffffttt


Registered: 05/15/16
Posts: 9,796
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Re: A lot of beginner questions [Re: durian_2008]
#24012389 - 01/15/17 03:02 PM (7 years, 15 days ago) |
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2-3 years or 2-3 inches is that just lophs your refering to as my trichs grew nearly two foot in their first year of life.
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durian_2008
Cornucopian Eating an Elephant



Registered: 04/02/08
Posts: 16,693
Loc: Raccoon City
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Re: A lot of beginner questions [Re: mrmazdarx9]
#24012485 - 01/15/17 03:50 PM (7 years, 15 days ago) |
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Lophs would be exceptions to the rule, as they are very slow growers.
For columnar cacti, or just about anything else, I would say to let them get 2-3 inches tall.
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mrmazdarx9
Pffffttt


Registered: 05/15/16
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Re: A lot of beginner questions [Re: durian_2008]
#24012523 - 01/15/17 04:06 PM (7 years, 15 days ago) |
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I real wanna sample my trichs but id feel real guilty about hurting them. My lophs have a tonne of pups I could sacrifice lol
-------------------- COCA GROWERS come here and share your knowledge COCA GROWERS UNITE
Click here for UK trades
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durian_2008
Cornucopian Eating an Elephant



Registered: 04/02/08
Posts: 16,693
Loc: Raccoon City
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Re: A lot of beginner questions [Re: mrmazdarx9]
#24022450 - 01/19/17 09:40 AM (7 years, 11 days ago) |
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They are more woody than fleshy, inside.
They leave skeletons behind, which kind-of reminds of coral.
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mrmazdarx9
Pffffttt


Registered: 05/15/16
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Re: A lot of beginner questions [Re: durian_2008]
#24022498 - 01/19/17 09:55 AM (7 years, 11 days ago) |
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Cool kinda makes me wanna cut it up now
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durian_2008
Cornucopian Eating an Elephant



Registered: 04/02/08
Posts: 16,693
Loc: Raccoon City
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Re: A lot of beginner questions [Re: mrmazdarx9]
#24022562 - 01/19/17 10:17 AM (7 years, 11 days ago) |
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Feels like cutting a tree.
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mrmazdarx9
Pffffttt


Registered: 05/15/16
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Re: A lot of beginner questions [Re: durian_2008]
#24022566 - 01/19/17 10:18 AM (7 years, 11 days ago) |
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Thats cool plus now I dont have to do it to feed my curiosity
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lovelaughlibs
Dopamine Slave



Registered: 10/14/15
Posts: 1,811
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Re: A lot of beginner questions [Re: mrmazdarx9]
#24022778 - 01/19/17 12:05 PM (7 years, 11 days ago) |
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Whoa, that's not at all what I'd expect it to look like! Interesting
-------------------- Ask and ye shall receive; Seek and ye shall find.
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durian_2008
Cornucopian Eating an Elephant



Registered: 04/02/08
Posts: 16,693
Loc: Raccoon City
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Some people, online, also consider tumbleweeds to be exotic and interesting. And, I have even heard of planting them, on purpose. 
Cactus skeletons are a familiar sight, for us -- along the lines of seeing a fallen leaf or dry stick -- in parts of the American southwest, which have not yet become tract housing and outlet malls.
This would be unusual, here. I'm just making note that it's physically-possible:

I'm assuming the ground is not saturated, the air is open and moving around the plants.
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mrmazdarx9
Pffffttt


Registered: 05/15/16
Posts: 9,796
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Re: A lot of beginner questions [Re: durian_2008]
#24025527 - 01/20/17 12:36 PM (7 years, 10 days ago) |
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What the hell am I looking at looks like some alien planet
-------------------- COCA GROWERS come here and share your knowledge COCA GROWERS UNITE
Click here for UK trades
need some supplies in the UK check Here or PM me UK OTD uk members chat UK supplies and trade OTD place to chat shit Right Here If you use "SWIM" you should DROWN
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