Lipa Kreepa said:

Hey LS, just curious how old those Aztekiums are that you have? For sometime i have been by this plant. I havent been fruitful in finding a good deal out there on something established Seed seems to be the most promising approach atm. Ive read here, that they take a longer time than arios and lophs to grow out, but in regard to difficulty of germination aNd early development, would it be on par w lophs? More difficult? Im pretty patient w my cacti, so if thats the biggest road block, i might go for it

---

Aztekium ritteri is one of the slowest, if not THE slowest cactus from seed. Here are my BEST seedling from 2014 in their original 5cm pot:

Mind you, if you look closely you'll see a minute seedling to the left of the big one in the middle left.

I grafted some seedlings from this crop at under 1mm to Pereskiopsis. Two of them took and grew well, one of them threw numerous pups that I regrafted to Pereskiopsis as well and now three of them have been promoted to decent, more permanent stock (one Myrtillocactus and two Echinopsis eyriesii).

A decent sized plant on its own roots takes well over 10 years to grow, I suspect, and is likely to set you back over 100-200USD, if you're lucky enough to find one. Grafted plants are a different story, though, and my recommendation is that you try to find one (you'll find them easily in Europe for 10-20USD), take seeds from it (it's a self-fertile species) and try to grow them. They're not particularly hard from seed - no harder than, say, Strombocactus or Pelecyphora - but they are S L O W, be warned.

Mostly_Harmless said:

First poppy of the year here, started growing last autumn in a greenhouse so I just left it be

---

Thats a weird poppy flower but oh so lovely.

LSoares said:

How long you keep the seedlings in an enclosed environmente is completely up to you and to what extent you manage to keep it algae, moss and fungus free. Those are the problems you'll face and if you can keep them under control, slow growers will benefit from the enclosed time.

Some Ariocarpus species are self-fertile, others aren't. You can always try self-pollinating and it will sometimes work, but cross-pollinating is the way to go. Even if you can induce seed production from self-pollination, the yield will be low and vigour will probably compromised as well.

---

I would have said the same but i wasnt asked.



I totally agree Zed. Towards the end of my ritterii growing endevour the lid stayed on but the rocks were completely dry. When i did water, and bottom watering only, the lid came off. Something about a shield on them provided some kinda reassurance. When it all came tumbling down, literally, the pain was immense. Still to this day it does not deter me.

Good luck Lipa on your seed sowing endevours.

Mostly_Harmless said:

First poppy of the year here, started growing last autumn in a greenhouse so I just left it be

---

That is not a wierd poppy flower, thats an amazingly beautiful poppy flower.
Very nice MH

I have poppy seedling coming up everywhere in my garden now.
But i have sowed variants i think have good alkaliod levels and i dont think they are as beautiful as many varietys that is breeded for the good looks.
But maybe yours are as potent as they are beautiful MH.
I did get one doubble flower petal giganteum last year, the others where single petal ordinary ones.

Argyreia said:

First poppy flower of the season !! I did not even notice the plant was there until today. It will flower three times

This guy was self-sowed and I did not do anything. He's growing in a shitty soil and is surrounded by weeds. Thesep oppy plants really grow everywhere and heavily reseed themselves ! People are not joking about this fact. I spotted a few plants spread around my place everywhere

---

Nice find Argyreia.

ferrel_human said:

Mostly_Harmless said:

First poppy of the year here, started growing last autumn in a greenhouse so I just left it be

---

Thats a weird poppy flower but oh so lovely.

---

I wanna say this was one of the tried and true strains i grew many years ago. The P. Somni. Var. paeonyflorum, correct? It was a very satisfying strain to have around. It was really just that one and a white petaled one w purple throats.,. Then eventually they fused together over the years and became something truely unique.

That last pic is the one that gets me the bottom of that bloom is pretty freaking sexy. Those legs!

And right on arg, enjoy that brother. be sure to share the wealth when she pops

Argyreia said:

I had never seen that much flowers on this cactus. It's gonna be insane.

---