other cactus

[cohan]

Cohan and Rick
Thank you for your input.
I just don't have the patience it takes to start cacti from seed. The years required for the plants to reach flowering size doesn't fit well with my need, for instant instant gratification. 

I can certainly understand that! However there is no place I can buy hardy cacti in person, and one place in Canada I know of where I can buy anything interesting (Beavercreek) by mail-- but with shipping etc, it ends up expensive (not complaining about the prices-- I can hardly imagine how any money can be made at what he charges for Pediocactus, knowing the slow growth rate!) and so far, out of my budget. Ordering from out of country- when not simply impossible- ends up more expensive yet with cost of paperwork, so thus far, seed is my only choice for anything other  than Opuntia. I may some day save up for an order from Beavercreek (Pediocactus! so slow!)- but even then I will only be able to afford a few plants, and I really don't want one of those cactus gardens with one plant of each species...lol
On the plus side, the Escobarias and Echinocereus are not so slow

[Bundraba!]

Here's one that's fairly indelible; a lasting display: Escobaria missouriensis in seed. The fruit does not turn red until it has been through a winter so it takes nearlly a year from fertilization to viable seed.These were all grown from seed of a single plant in my garden so they may be children of E. missouriensis x E. vivipara or they "selfed". John Spain told me on a visit there that this is one of the best for New England. It's a great cactus. there is another excellent little plant in the photo: top left: Penstemon laricifolius. This one is ancient. They bloom together and its really quite something; small, but something. I may post a bunch of cacti on the desert thread. I'll try to get a bunch of seed of this on the exchange for 2012-2013. It's really easy to get going.

[RickR]

Those berries are very ornamental.  I have to say I have never left my Escobaria vivipara berries attached into the winter because I collect them for seed, and now even to eat them .  I wonder though, if yours really need to get that red for seed to be ripe.  I collect seed from E. vivipara when berries have a blush on them as in the pic below.  At this stage they sometimes spontaneously pop off by themselves.  Seed is completely viable at this time (no after ripening required), and no pretreatment needed either.

               

[Weiser]

I agree with Rick. They don't need to stay on the plant all winter to be viable. I believe they change to bright orange/red as a way to get the attention of birds and rodents. This would help insure seed dispersal of the left over fruits from the last season. The bigger test is to try and pick the fruit. If it is ripe it will be easy to detach.

[Bundraba!]

I treat seed of E. vivipara the same way; harvest in fall. This one though? I'll have to be more observant because I don't recall even seeing the fruit in fall despite having given at least a glance.

[cohan]

I don't know anything about the ripeness, but Panayoti a couple of weeks ago showed an E missouriensis (on Facebook) that was covered in berries which he said after that were shedding...

[RickR]

From a gracious forum member, Maihuenia poeppigii cuttings, rooted in about 2.5 weeks:

          

[Weiser]

Looks like you are having good luck rooting those cuttings. They should do well for you.

[cohan]

Looking good, Rick! I think maybe I should put my seedlings out for the summer, but it would mean totally replacing the soil to bring them in for winter (too many critters out there..).. I've very sceptical about them surviving winter here, but will try some day...

[RickR]

I have enough cuttings to try outside, too. (Not all were shown.)  Every piece rooted.  But I think it will be next winter for testing, not this coming one.  Even my friend in northern Wisconsin, who seems to be able to grow anything, has problems with this one.