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Rooting out of
season (over winter cuttings)
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Cuttings root fastest in
the spring as nature
surges out of the dark
winter months. If you try to
root cuttings as I do in an
unheated greenhouse, before
spring, they will often go
dormant until spring
arrives. If you have a
heated greenhouse and
lights, etc. you may have
different results than I do.
My "out of season cuttings"
sit in cold soil waiting for
the weather to warm up and
the days to grow longer. The
interesting thing is that as
long as they sit vertically
in soil they won't wither or
etiolate. They just wait for
spring. |
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Can I grow in my
region?
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Sunrooms are a good way to
grow year round even in
areas where it snows.
More... |
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Winter Shipping advice
"Will my
cactus
freeze
during
shipment to
me?"
Well, 99%
do not; but
that is
because my
customers
first check
for
sub-freezing
temps across
the nation
at the US
Weather
Service. Ask
for a
shipping
"Hold" if
you see that
Hell is
freezing
over...We
ship
year-round
so its no
trouble. |
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The amazing Wild Andes Peruvian
Torch
These are cuttings from the actual plants growing in the wild
somewhere in the
Andes mountains of Peru. Seed was collected by the man
shown in the photo. He sent
it to me from Peru and I
began germination in
California back in August, 2007.
Today I still have a few
dozen specimens to sell.
Others have been planted in
the earth to grow as stock
plants for, one day,
harvesting cuttings to sell.
Right now I only have
seedlings as shown for sale
on eBay. July 2012 |
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Repotting a skinny neck wild Andes
These guys grow in an
expanding column "club
shape". I keep repotting to
deeper containers while
burying the neck so it will
transform into stem tissue.
By 24" tall you should
harvest tips to start as new
plants, allowing the base to
grow offsets.
These grow faster and faster
as they have more skin to
photosynthesize with. You
just have to keep up with
up-potting to 4, 6, 10
gallon containers. In a
couple of years yours should
be taller than you are,
extra columns popping up
with the central one thick
as your leg. |
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Varieties
of seed grown Peruvian Torches
(an essay) |
November 2010
Buying rare cactus seed can be a frustrating
experience. How do you know that the seller
really made sure the parent plan was one
worth saving its seed? Was it accidently
cross pollinated with another Trichocereus
in the neighborhood?
More... |
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How do you
keep the soil from falling out?
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Packing secrets revealed!
Yes, it takes more time and
effort but you receive a
healthy, happy plant that
will love you like a new
puppy. Only without all
the mess & noise. |
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Fastest growing Peruvianus |
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Nothing comes close to the rapid
growth of this fat monster. Sometimes a I have one or two to sell on
eBay. You have to sign up for
eBay's "My favorite Searches" in your account. |
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Lets check on the
crop of
cuttings |
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Roots
may take months; you have to check
for root buds, mist in the evening,
and lightly water ones with buds to
encourage fine root formation. |
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Cut off that tip! |
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Your
plant can easily by
propagated.
San
Pedro were born to take cuttings.
Cut off the tip and she'll
pop up with 1, 2, 3, or 4 new ones. |
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How to mix potting soil |
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You
may not have access to home made
compost but you can make good
mixtures from stuff sold at Home
Depot or Lowes. |
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