Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
Did you miss your activation email?

Username: Password:

Author Topic: Greetings from Western New York  (Read 6847 times)

Jet

  • Member
  • Karma: 1
  • Posts: 10
  • trichoSerious Noob
Greetings from Western New York
« on: November 04, 2016, 03:26:54 AM »
Hi everyone. I've recently started cultivating cactus, and this seems like a good community in which to share knowledge about that. I have a pretty good crop of 6 week old seeds sprouting (SS02 x SS01, [SS01 x Peruvianus] xJuul's, Bridgesii), as well as some cuttings (including a Bridgesii KGC and a Lumberjack). All those are going well, but some seedlings I ordered and planted about two weeks ago are doing terribly... They seem to be rotting from the bottom up, and eventually just collapsing in on themselves (sometimes leaving a ball of white fuzz behind).

A well respected member (DG) on another forum stated in response to a similar inquiry that when it's rotting from the bottom up you should say a prayer and dig a grave... Anyone here have something to suggest?

I had some pereskiopsis kicking around, so I cut the seemingly healthy tip off of one of the worst ones still alive and I'm attempting a graft to save it. This is my first graft attempt, and I don't have high hopes, but it's better to go down swinging I guess... I hope that after a few battles I'll learn enough to help someone else along the same path.

That's about it I guess. Glad to be a part of the community.
Logged

Jet

  • Member
  • Karma: 1
  • Posts: 10
  • trichoSerious Noob
Re: Greetings from Western New York
« Reply #1 on: November 04, 2016, 03:32:11 AM »
Oh, I just transplanted three Dawn Redwood trees into my backyard as well. That seems horticulturally relevant. Can't wait to see those guys mature.
Logged

BubbleCat

  • Supreme feline leader
  • Administrator
  • Karma: 144
  • Posts: 1945
  • Trading Score: +140
  • <3
Re: Greetings from Western New York
« Reply #2 on: November 04, 2016, 04:10:44 AM »
Welcome ! :)
You'll definately get your cactus advice around here.
Logged
Praise is mandatory.

plantlight

  • pl -- for short
  • Senior Member
  • Karma: 106
  • Posts: 691
  • Trading Score: +73
  • Invisible Man in a Fluorescent Suit
Re: Greetings from Western New York
« Reply #3 on: November 04, 2016, 04:37:31 AM »
Welcome Jet!  May you find whatever you're looking for  :)
Logged
"Nature is the great visible engine of creativity, against which all other creative efforts are measured.” - T. McKenna

Levi

  • Member
  • Karma: 2
  • Posts: 24
  • Trading Score: +22
Re: Greetings from Western New York
« Reply #4 on: November 04, 2016, 08:16:27 AM »
Hello and Welcome  :)
Logged
I am sorry for my English :-)

Ian Morris

  • Global Moderator
  • Karma: 73
  • Posts: 438
  • Trading Score: +52
Re: Greetings from Western New York
« Reply #5 on: November 04, 2016, 04:50:00 PM »
Welcome Jet!  What an investment those redwoods must be, and really selfless considering they will be enjoyed for many years down the road.

Unfortunately DG was right.  When cacti seedlings are rotting away like this there is usually nothing to do.  What I try to do is introduce them to ideal conditions for draining and hold of watering and direct sun until it passes or they die.  I have noticed greater survival rates with that thick black rot (which I would imagine is killing the seedlings but you just cannot see) when I do this as soon as detected. 

GL and keep us updated.
Logged

cactusmuncher

  • Trader
  • Karma: 7
  • Posts: 52
  • Trading Score: +15
  • Just a backyard botanist ;)
Re: Greetings from Western New York
« Reply #6 on: November 05, 2016, 08:39:37 AM »
Greetings! Fellow New Yorker and cactus enthusiast here!
Logged

FewTrueSeed

  • Many Meiosis
  • Senior Member
  • Karma: 89
  • Posts: 665
  • Trading Score: +134
  • Fungophile
Re: Greetings from Western New York
« Reply #7 on: November 05, 2016, 01:23:10 PM »
It may be tedious but if you can separate the seedlings from soil and wash them with water and dish soap, lay them out on paper let them dry out for a bit and then introduce them to new sterile soil you may save them. Fungus love baby cactus. Yum. Im just a state away. PM me if you want some cactus seedlings. I have some to give away.
Logged
Never portray yourself to betray yourself, there is no I in self.

https://mycotek.org/index.php?members/fewtrueseed.1965/

Jet

  • Member
  • Karma: 1
  • Posts: 10
  • trichoSerious Noob
Re: Greetings from Western New York
« Reply #8 on: November 10, 2016, 06:05:40 AM »
Well, I think I managed to catch one before it was unsalvageable. Lost about ten others though... including a psycho0 x lumberjack... sigh. Both of the grafts just dissolved as well, presumably eaten by killer fungus.

Thanks for the offer FewTrueSeed. I don't think I have PM privileges yet, and I need some time to recuperate from this fungus disaster anyway... If the offer stands when that all goes through I would gladly take you up on it.

A couple of you are fellow cactus enthusiasts geograpically close to me... What do you do with your spiny friends in the winter months? I've got some sitting in a window, and a bunch of cuttings and seed trays about 2-3 feet under a 4ft x 8 lamp HO ballast fluorescent fixture. Not sure how optimal any of that is, it was just the easiest thing for me to setup quickly once I started acquiring plants. I'd be interested to hear other ideas.

Anyway, I appreciate the warm welcome and all the advice. Thanks!
Logged

LIBERTYNY

  • Senior Member
  • Karma: 58
  • Posts: 541
  • Trading Score: +85
Re: Greetings from Western New York
« Reply #9 on: November 10, 2016, 06:26:11 AM »
 most cacti goes dormant in the winter, as long as their kept dry they dont need much light at all.

 Im on Long island, and I just withhold water when it starts to get cold, then bring them in the basment for the winter,  Right now mine are in a green house drying out, in another few weeks weather dependent, I will bring them in

  Thats for adult cacti,  the seedlings do just fine in a south faceing window at room temp (60-70 F) althow growth slows
Logged
III%

happyconcacti

  • Administrator
  • Karma: 188
  • Posts: 1356
  • Trading Score: +330
Re: Greetings from Western New York
« Reply #10 on: December 04, 2016, 06:14:20 PM »
Welcome to STS!!!
Hcc
Logged

Pluto

  • Member
  • Karma: 1
  • Posts: 5
Re: Greetings from Western New York
« Reply #11 on: December 11, 2016, 08:19:49 PM »
Hi!
Nice to see there are neighbour here! Trading within Eu will be easier for special shipping. :)
I am from Hungary and I love Prague and it's beer (and blondes)
Bye!!
Andrea
Logged