My Saguaro seedling update | Featuring other cactus seedlings in my shade house 

Thank you so much for the wonderful comment, Newman! It seems that tray of Ariocarpus is doomed but the other Ariocarpus seedlings are still going strong. It's still quite warm in Arizona and the seedlings are taking advantage of it!

Gosh this winter is going to be interesting, Daz. I think I have no choice but to leave them outside in the shade house, I don't have enough space indoors! Maybe I'll have to play it by eye and see how they do as the temperatures drop and decide whether to run an extension cord out there and provide some heat. We'll see. Happy growing, Daz! It's good to confirm that your Euphorbia also love more light!

Dawwww thank you so much, Claire. I love seeing other people's cactus seedling videos and updates, I can't get enough of them. I really do think these Southwestern cactus absolutely love the heat (even when I don't lol). I think a heat mat may very well help, I would love to know if it makes a difference!

It's good seeing you over here in RU-vid land! I'm so happy you're inspired to grow and experiment! You're in the perfect climate for it too. Omg, what am I going to do this winter with all these seedlings...

You've got a keen eye to notice those plastic dividers, Deborah! Another commenter who is very experienced in growing cactus also noticed those dividers. I was using them to keep track of which seed packs were sown in which section in the tray. I will take those dividers out and see if things get better, there's really nothing to lose at this point! Thank you so much for taking the time to notice and make suggestions!

Awwww thank you so much! I'm so glad you enjoy these videos as much as I love making and sharing them.

Hello Nino! It's interesting you noticed the clear plastic dividers in the trays, another commenter also noted that. I used these trays early in my growing journey and the dividers were there so I could keep track of which seeds were sown in what part of the tray - each section indicates a different seed pack/catalog number. The trays themselves do have holes in the bottom for drainage. I have since moved away from trays and use nursery pots instead - much easier to manage. Peat is also mentioned by many growers as a big no-no here too, but I've had a lot of success with it for some reason. I'm using peat+perlite in all the pots and cactus soil+pumice in the trays, and the pots are doing much better so far. Only time will tell! By next year I should have a better feel for how it goes. I have quite a few adult Ariocarpus and I found they need some organic matter in my climate, otherwise, they dry out so quickly. I was so worried about rot in the beginning that I used to use 15% cactus soil + 85% inorganic but the pots would dry out so quickly and the plants always looked dry and slightly unhappy. I have since switched to 25% cactus soil + 75% pumice and they are doing better and staying plumper. I do avoid over-potting them though, always trying to choose a pot that fits their root system just right - so far so good! I need to make a video on my mature Ariocarpus - that's on my to-do list! It's interesting you mention limestone and how it simulates their natural habitat but also can stunt growth, but perhaps gives them a more natural look. Always a delicate balance between growing medium and the desired growth rate and look.

@@cookiescacti Thank you very much for your answer. I learned from it and it's of great value to me. Obviously, there is no "perfect" cactus soil and everyone should develop a mixture that works best under the circumstances. Your observations make much sense, since you are growing your Ariocarpus plants in more-or-less natural environment and climate conditions. I believe that many/most advice regarding "perfect substrate" comes from the experience of cacti growers that keep their plants exclusively in greenhouses that retain much more moisture and, therefore, allow for slower drying of the substrate/soil. I wish you the very best of luck with your A. fissuratus. var. lloydii seedlings. Best regards, Nino

Awww thank you so much, Angie! I've made many mistakes along the way but it's all part of the package and it's so much fun (and so addictive!)

Actually, they're 1 year and 2 months old :) I have heard that grafting makes them grow super fast! Grafting is a skill I need to learn, especially in 9-1-1 situations such as saving a rotting plant! Have you de-grafted a Saguaro yet? Do they re-root pretty easily?

Thank you for the sharing, Kaye. What kind of fungicide do you use?

Captan that what it's called in Australia you may no it as something else in your country

@@kayenicholls5473 Thank you! I found it online.

That's so awesome, Kaye! How long have you been growing cactus from seed? I've tried experimenting this summer by putting some of my Astro seedlings outside in the shade house and leaving some indoors under grow lights. I think the indoor ones are actually growing faster but I have no choice but to put them in the shade house now - no space left indoors LOL.

Hi Kaye! Thanks so much for being willing to share your growing process. I am always interested to learn how other growers do their growing! I have an email address in my "About" section if you'd like to send the info to me via email. Or you can leave a comment which will allow everyone else to learn from you as well. What part of the country/world are you at?