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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Jan 20, 2011 23:53:35 GMT -5
Anyone have suggestions on how to germinate the Chilean cactus Maihuenia poeppigii?
I was told that it requires cold before it will germinate: I've tried in the fridge, and in the freezer, and outside. Just don't know what to try next.
Watch... Now that I've asked the question the outside lot will decide to sprout after 2 years...
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Post by cortona on Jan 21, 2011 20:31:31 GMT -5
wel, i dont know a perfect ansver to your question but in my experience you can try two way, you can simply scarify the seeds or use some acid to probably obtain the same result if you want i can looking for more exact news about it(wath acid, how much time etc etc) some friends use this sistem in order to obtain germination on echinocactus orizntalonius that is realy hard to germinate!
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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on May 5, 2012 1:34:36 GMT -5
Finally got these to germinate reliably two years in a row... Method was to plant them directly outside into the cactus bed in February. Planting depth ~1/2 inch. Any that I tried to transplant as newly germinated seedlings died. The cactus bed soil is [30% compost, 70% sand] on top of 1/4" lava. Each layer about 6" thick. New seedlings a few days ago: Seedlings that germinated a year ago and survived the winter! The lots I kept inside the fridge/freezer and planted out never did germinate.
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jim
grub
Posts: 75
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Post by jim on May 5, 2012 22:18:43 GMT -5
Thats been my experience with this species...outdoor planting in the fall/winter They seem to do the most growth in those cold temps early in the spring. Tough to mimic that any other way... Jim
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Post by atash on May 6, 2012 2:39:06 GMT -5
Most though not all Chilean species from temperate climates require stratification.
I should check and see if I still have this cactus. If so I'll take some to my rock garden.
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Post by mnjrutherford on May 6, 2012 9:23:13 GMT -5
Maybe you could get a daily record of temps from the region of origin then maintain a close semblance to the temps?
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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on May 6, 2012 13:36:39 GMT -5
Thats been my experience with this species...outdoor planting in the fall/winter They seem to do the most growth in those cold temps early in the spring. Tough to mimic that any other way... Can you tell us more about it? Was it winter hardy? If yes, in which USDA (equivalent) zone? Do you have any recommendations about other cacti endemic to South America that might be winter hardy in my USDA 5a garden?
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jim
grub
Posts: 75
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Post by jim on May 6, 2012 15:54:09 GMT -5
I live in a wet winter zone 6 (were zone 5, but its been a LONG time since we've been that cold) with inconsistent snow. I have them survive for several years, they seem to tolerate moisture much better than some other cacti. I never did get them to flower, though. I moved from the house I had them in, unfortunately the couple pieces I took died in pots winter before last. They survived the temps, and were protected from rain BUT, I didn't notice that snow that blew in melted, then froze again trapping water in the pot. That was too much. Ive had inconsistent "luck" with South American cacti...Gymnocalycium bruchii was one that persisted for a couple years but each winter is so different. It really is that water that kills them for me, and more in the late winter/early spring with the freezing and thawing. Jim
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Post by atash on May 7, 2012 20:48:31 GMT -5
Maihuenia is almost unique for being a primitive (for those who've never seen it, it still has leaves albeit small and reduced) cactus native to alpine-maritime climates.
There is one other Chilean cactus native to quite high elevations where it is often covered in snow for maybe 5 months a year. I'll have to look that one up; I don't even remember the name. Very unusual species for the amount of snow it can handle. Cacti can be coldhardy but they don't like cold + wet.
Even Chile's Trichocereus are unusual for living in winter rainfall climates, being exposed to snow and rain in the winter. T. chilensis occurs in the foothills of the Andes at least as far south as just east of Santiago. That would be vaguely comparable to Cactus occurring in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada of California--where they don't (maybe a few rare Opuntias, but no big columnar cacti).
Chile gets fewer grass-fires, one reason cacti are more common despite the winter rainfall. Another is that Chile is closer to the epicenter of the family.
I have two Opuntias in my yard. Opuntias are more adaptable than most Cacti. The Maihuenia was at another property; I have not looked for it for a few years so don't know if it's still alive.
Not very hardy, but some (not all) Dudleyas can take winter wet (in fast-draining, sandy/gravelly soil)--because they're native to winter rainfall climates, one of them making it to the rainy coast of southern Oregon. I have one of the hardier species in my rock garden. They look astonishingly like Echeverias but are a little hardier and a lot more resistant to winter rain. I also have a few Mexican Sedums that look weirdly Echeveria-like. That's because they're quite close, and will hybridize with Echeverias (to make "Echesedums").
I do have one Echeveria. I think of them as being mostly Mexican but there are some in the Andes and that's where this one is from: E. chiclensis. Kinda demure compared to its more luxuriant Mexican cousins. But it's from something like 12,000 feet or so.
We have native succulents here. The most amazing are undoubtedly Lewisias, which grow in rather unexpected niches. Vaguely related to Cacti, being in the next family over, Portulacaceae. Very colorful flowers.
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jim
grub
Posts: 75
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Post by jim on May 15, 2012 20:44:15 GMT -5
Its true Atash...Opuntia reins supreme as far as species being able to survive cold/wet winter. I have been experimenting with grafting barrel cacti onto opuntia root stocks...so far Ive only done Echinocereus...and Im thinking Maihuenia would also respond well to grafting. Opuntia are very good at "drawing out" the water in the vegetative tissue as cold temps set in, the idea is that the root stock is able to "dry down" the scion and impart improved hardiness. Jim
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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on May 5, 2013 21:12:59 GMT -5
The Maihuenia poeppigii have survived two winters now. They are the small plants in the upper-left hand corner of the photo. The flowering cactus is Pediocactus simpsonii.
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Post by atash on May 5, 2013 22:40:31 GMT -5
Cool!
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Post by MikeH on May 6, 2013 18:40:55 GMT -5
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