A lazy way to grow cactus from seed | Episode 14: SERIES FINALE! 12 month update
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- Опубліковано 6 жов 2024
- We made it!! It has been a year since we started this series on growing cactus from seed in my signature lazy fashion (aka we didn't sanitize anything and used a simple soil mix from the big box store). We had ups, we had downs, and everything in between. Today, we make our final update on the seedlings that have managed to survive the year. Although I'm sure this is not the last you'll see them because I'll be making plenty of general seedling update videos in the future.
As you can see, a year flew by. Just. Like. That. Since time is passing whether we like it or not, we might as well make even more out of it by sowing some seeds. So if you've had any tiny desire to try growing plants from seed yourself, DON'T WAIT JUST GROW! Before you know it, the plants will be a month, 4 months, 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, 10 years old. My longstanding existential crisis is kicking in as I write this.
Another comment I want to make is that we saw that we had some successes and plenty of failures through this series. Most of the Copiapoa and the one pot of Mammillaria survived. However, it was a massive failure with the Ariocarpus and Turbinicarpus as not a single one of those seedlings lived. Germination was pretty good but they just died off after that. Even among the Copiapoa, some look good and some don't. What caused this? Was it the soil? Growing method? Too much water? Too little water? Environment? I have no idea. With Ariocarpus I received feedback that they need to be covered for a longer period of time, so I want to try again. Then I also have suspicions on soil. I wonder if some soils are better for certain genuses of plants than others, but there's no way to know without experimenting. Thus, I am currently working on a new series that compares six different soils for growing Astrophytum and Ariocarpus from seed. The soils range from big box brands, to one experienced grower's mix, to a couple of very premium seed starters I purchased from Etsy. The first episode will include all the soil descriptions, cost, seed sowing, followed by weekly updates for the first month - I just finished 3 weeks, so I have another week to go and then I need to finish editing before uploading - this one is a lot of work. Then we'll start a new series to track how these seedlings do in the various soils. So stay tuned for that!
Video Series: A lazy way to grow cactus from seed
• A lazy way to grow cac...
Connect with me on Instagram: / cookiescacti
DISCLAIMER: I am a beginner grower. I have yet to find a growing process that works consistently for me, so it's a constant learning experience. This video series is more of a vlog on this leg of my cactus growing journey. With that said, enjoy!
Mesa Garden: mesagarden.com/
ThreeDeserts on Etsy: www.etsy.com/s...
Nursery pots - I use the 2.5" and 3.25" pots:
www.greenhouse...
1020 Trays without holes:
www.greenhouse...
1020 Trays with holes:
www.greenhouse...
Tall clear dome for 1020 tray:
www.greenhouse...
Disclosure: The links to Amazon are affiliate links, which means that I earn from qualifying purchases as an Amazon Associate. There is no additional cost to you. I encourage shopping around as always.
Greenhouse Kit
amzn.to/3uSkPCm (paid link)
Grow light without dimmer: SPIDER FARMER SF1000D (this is the one I use)
amzn.to/3OSPR6c (paid link)
Grow light with dimmer: SPIDER FARMER SF1000
amzn.to/3STyRyJ (paid link)
1000mL (33oz) squeeze bottles
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Succulent tools & transplanting kit
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#copiapoa #cactus #seedlings
this is my favorite cactus channel.
This is the most heartwarming comment for me. Omg I'm honored.
Mine too!
Thanks for sharing this series with us been following since the start and been interesting to see progress
I'm so glad you've enjoyed the series! I'm still in shock at how fast the time went...
I just (finally) got the nerve to plant some seeds- They are in bags, on a heat mat and under the grow light! I’ve watched most of your amazing videos, & some from Cactus Quest & Cactus Caffeine .. it’s all very helpful! I think of it like a huge buffet of learning ~ I take what I want/need, and leave the rest! Everyone’s climate, finances etc play a huge part in how we operate in our gardens, right?
Thank you for posting …. It truly helps us out there that are still learning and trying to make it while also growing successfully! Hope Cookie is doing well..
Yessss Tara! I'm so glad you're growing cactus from seed! I think I saw your more recent comments that so far things are going well. It's so rewarding and challenging, which is the perfect combo for being incredibly addictive 😁
"A huge buffet of learning" is the perfect way to describe all this info! I did the same, read and watched whatever I could find, sift through the info and pick out what makes sense to me or what I'm willing to try. It's so much fun and I'm so glad you decided to join in 😊
You give me so much hope! I have cacti seeds that I planted in July & August 2023. I have some popping up and love watching them grow.
Yayyyy!! I'm so glad you're growing cactus from seed! Which cactus are you growing?
Congratulations on the year of these series,... we have been keeping up, and we notice your care and hard work! We have learned a lot with you! Thank you again and we look forward to your hauls, pottery, and updates!
Thank you so much, Mark! And thank you for coming along for the ride! I hope you have the most wonderful holding season! 💚💚💚
Really enjoyed this journey…thanks so much for the monthly updates…much appreciated…and Cookie is looking good
What a journey it was, Patti. I am so glad you came along for the ride. I can't wait to share the seed soil experiment with you all... It has been very interesting. Cookie says "meow"!
It's so fitting that on your one year anniversary of your seedlings, I am beginning my own journey. Thank you for sharing everything you learned, as I have been able to learn through you. Love your channel! Meow to Cookie!
Woohoo!! I'm so happy to know you're also growing cactus from seed! We'll just continue learning together. 💚🙏
@cookiescacti At 2 weeks my green blobs seem to be doing well. It's all so exciting.
I think you are right about keeping ariocarpus covered longer. All helpful videos Jenny! I prefer to cover in plastic in winter, keep dryer, and they are mostly in hardiness zone 10. Good learning. Look forward to your new ario and astro series! Happy growing to you and Cookie!
You were one of the folks who advised on a longer cover time for Ariocarpus and I think you are totally right. I was re-watching some of my early episodes of the series to see what I had done and they were definitely uncovered too soon. With the new experiment if the Astros end up coming out of the humidity dome early, I'm going to keep the Arios covered. Talk about learning the hard way!
LOL! Yes, I think some of my Ariocarpus are covered a year and look green, healthy, and ready to come out of the baggies. BTW, at least you are learning, some don't, which surprises me!!! We are always learning to give our plants what they need to live and thrive! I've gone through many seedlings, grafts, and plants to learn for sure!!! Happy Growing! @@cookiescacti
I’m so so happy to found your channel 🤩🤩🤩
Love all the series, love all the videos where you go to the cactus nursery..
It’s so treats to my eyes since I lived far away where you can’t found cactus in nature.
Thank you so much for making this channel 🙌🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Awwwwwwww this makes me so happy to read your comment! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave this message! It makes all this so worth it.
Really good series, I really enjoyed all the updates and look forward to seeing them as they continue to grow👍 Looking forward to the new series!
I'm so glad you enjoyed this series, Matt! I'll be recording the 1 month update of the new series this week, so it should be out in a couple of weekends. I hope you like it!
Everything looks great!!
Thank you so much! Let's hope they make it through winter so we can say 'hi' to them again in the spring.
Felicidades!
Cheers back to you! 💚
I've loved every episode of this series and found it super helpful to have the updates as you went along, your pumice top dressing suggestion from the 3 month update was one of the biggest takeaways for me. Always had algae issues and that damn fuzzy mold (even with baking my mix before sowing) but didn't put two and two together there. Sad that your haseltoniana didn't take off, for some reason my batch of FK33-77 and KK1708 were one of the most prolific germs this season, could be when seeds were collected at MG maybe? Currently week 3 on this year's sow with 15 poa species and a few hundred astros and eriosyce to keep away my midwest winter blues. Jealous of your 45 degree lows! 500+ cactus in and out every season is getting old...living vicariously through your channel for the next 6 months - thanks Jenny & glad to see Cookie thriving!
How are your seedlings doing now? They're probably close to 6 weeks old now? I'm still trying to figure things out. The pumice top dressing seems to be less fungus prone compared to decomposed granite but now with my latest seed soil battle experiment I'm questioning all of my growing methods. The experiment seems to raise more questions than provide answers 😂. But I guess that's just how the hobby goes. Onward with growing! Happy new year, my friend!
@@cookiescacti they're doing good (now)! As soon as I commented a full on fungus gnat war broke out, "melted" a decent amount of haseltoniana eremophila, fiedleriana echinata and bridgesii overnight :'( I thought I was being so careful but sadly an orchid order brought them in. Picked up some Gnatrol with BTI and scorched the earth and they seem to have let up. Luckily was able to restock this week from MG and they must not have liked the taste of the cinereas! Happy New Year!
I just bought some cactus seeds on Etsy so I'm gonna have to watch this series from the start 👍🏼 I'll check to see if you have a playlist for it.
Wooohoooo! So excited you're growing cactus from seed. Yes I have a playlist called "A lazy way to grow cactus from seed", all 14 episodes are there - I've even started rewatching them to see what in the world happened over the past year. Happy growing! Just remember that my growing method was good for some cactus but not others.
@@cookiescacti Thank you so much for your excitement and for letting me know about the playlist!
It would be good to show the actual repotting from time to time. thanks, I've learned a lot so far.
That's a great idea! I'm hoping we can feature these seedlings in future videos for many years. That would be so much fun to watch them grow up together.
Season two soil comparison might reveal very important information with visual evidence. This will either be very good advertising or very bad advertising for the expensive mix sellers. Can’t wait!
All I can say is that I'm surprised by the results so far... Luckily I don't think either of the expensive mix sellers know I exist but they have my mailing address from when I purchased the soils 😬
I love lazy and cacti
We are instant friends!
I loved the series! I can’t wait to see the new baby cacti you are growing. I’m growing a few hundred myself. I had started with a much smaller amount but I fell in love with the whole process. I agree you should plant them now instead of later. I’m curious about the water/humidity on seedlings. I’ve uncovered seedlings after 3 months and some after 1 year. It wasn’t a true experiment since they were different types of seedlings and different amounts. I just saw it was easier because I didn’t have to water the covered ones. Not sure if you are going to test water/humidity and how long they are left inclosed.
I'm so glad you're growing plants from seed too, Maria! It's so addictive... And the perfect activity for winter.
How long to keep the high humidity environment is the long standing question... Your 3-12 month range covers almost the whole range I've heard from all sorts of people. And some plants need it longer than others, I swear. I think the final amount of time has so many factors involved, I'm still trying to figure it out myself too. I feel like Arios for sure need to be covered for longer.
Wow, I’m really looking forward to your future seed experiment videos! In addition to comparing differences soil, have you considered the impact of temperature differences on seed growth? For example, creating temperature differences or comparing different temperature ranges?
Temperature is another important factor! But one that is difficult to control for me. It would be winter room temp vs fixed-temp heat mat vs outdoors but nothing in the middle. Would that be of value? Something to keep in mind for sure
Plant some copiapoa hypogaea lizard skins next. The variation with those is crazy, rivals astrophytum asterias in my opinion
I've always wanted a lizard skin! I've found the seeds to be kind of hard to find - do you have a good source? I am growing some regular hypogea from seeds off my own plant. So far so good!
Some people keep their seedlings covered for as long as an entire year.
Absolutely. The most tricky question of when to open that bag or dome. I've heard everything from covering for a year or more to folks who open their trays as soon as they achieve the germination they want. I'm almost certain it depends on genus too, especially with Ariocarpus which I struggle with so much.
I only have one Copiapoa humilis clump. I'm so afraid of killing it with kindness that I've only watered it once. Most of the time I just mist it heavily. I tried growing Ariocarpus from seed. Only one made it until I did it in.
I have the same struggle with Ariocarpus, sigh! I must have sowed hundreds of seeds and now I have a handful of seedlings left after many died because they're jerks and then those jerk bird attacks. We must try again!
I've heard so many different ways that people care for Copiapoa that I'm thoroughly confused, so now I'm just treating them like the rest of the cactus and holding my breath they're okay with it. But we will find out soon...
I am looking forward to your new videos on growing from seeds i am been doing this for coming up to nearly 4years i have had a lot of things that didn't make it but as of this year i have had a lot better luck with my germination i have tried a new method of strike the seeds if any one want to know i will give you instructions if there is any one want to know
Ohh what do you mean by "strike" the seeds? Very curious! I just sowed even more seeds... If the yield isn't too terrible I'm really going to run out of space 😂
I make a weak tea solution with a product called Nitrozyme it is a seaweed solution like a hormone and soak the top of the pot with the weak tea then put the pot in a sealed bag under a grow light it makes the seeds germane a lot quicker
😂🥰👍
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I find your channel to be of high quality. However, Aireocarpus or Copiapoas are not my thing. Everyone everywhere is all about them. I get on UA-cam to learn about the kind of cacti I have but the A & C are about all I can find. I can hardly wait for the craze to end. Have a great day and I hope you get lots of subscribers. A & Cs are not for me.
Reading your comment the first thought that crosses my mind is that you've identified a hole in cactus content on UA-cam, which means that if you create the content you want to see, there will be others (including myself) who want to see it too. I started this channel and filled it with content that I want to see. I wanted long shopping videos and haul videos that show prices. I wanted to see how people grow cactus, including Copiapoa, from seed beyond just sowing seeds, I wanted progress videos, success and failure. That content wasn't available so I made it myself and put it out here to see if anyone else wanted this content, and they did! I love growing Copiapoa because they do surprisingly well for me. This particular video that you commented on comes from a series started with more than just Copiapoa and Ariocarpus, but unfortunately, only the Copiapoa (and one pot of Mammillaria) survived, hence Copiapoa.
I personally hope that the craze for Arios and poas never ends because I love growing them and I love the plants themselves. And I love that other people are interested in what I'm interested in so we can share our love for them together. But to each their own!
By the way, my latest seed growing series comparing soils has Astrophytum as the primary focus. Is this a genus you're interested in?
Got-cha. I understand. Happy growing!@@cookiescacti
@@solarwinds- you too! And happy holidays!