Wednesday 2 September 2015

seed treatment

http://www.growseed.org/seedtreatments.html


For general use, seeds are soaked in 2.7% sodium hypochlorite (half-strength standard household bleach) for 30 min. (60 min. for S. cheesmaniae, S. galapagense, S. ochranthum, and S. juglandifolium). After bleaching, seed should be rinsed thoroughly, then sown directly (i.e. without allowing to dry) in germination boxes or in soil.
http://tgrc.ucdavis.edu/seed_germ.aspx

you can speed up the sprouting process and protect your seedlings from mildews and molds with simple hydrogen peroxide.

For wet sprouting (when using a flat surface and wet paper towel or other cloth) simply spray the outer surface of the damp material enclosing the seeds with a 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution once a day after remoistening the sprouting seeds.

If you're using seed starter peat pots or other soil-based sprouting media, add 1/4 volume of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide to the water before watering the sprouts.

Using hydrogen peroxide in the watering and sprouting material will eliminate fuzzy molds and bacteria which often attack sprouting seeds. It will also speed up the sprouting process sometimes by as much as half.

http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/give-sprouting-seeds-a-head-start-with-hydrogen-peroxide-131216.html

There are many disinfectants that can be used Sodium hypochlorite (1-5%) or 10% Calcium hypochlorite. mercuric chloride 1% is also
useful. 
http://www.researchgate.net/post/How_can_one_sterilize_seed_without_killing_them

http://forum.grasscity.com/advanced-growing-techniques/707074-using-hydrogen-peroxide-treat-prevent-root-rot.html

Mixing charts for gardening with hydrogen peroxide

If you want to start gardening with hydrogen peroxide, you need to know how much peroxide to use. Here are charts to tell you how much!

To water or mist plants, to soak seeds, to add to water used to wash sprouts:

TO THIS AMOUNT OF WATERADD THIS AMOUNT OF 3% HYDROGEN PEROXIDE--OR-- ADD THIS AMOUNT OF 35% HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
1 cup1 and 1/2 teaspoons7 to 10 drops
1 quart2 tablespoons1/2 teaspoon
1 gallon1/2 cup2 teaspoons
5 gallons2 and 1/2 cups3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon
10 gallons5 cups6 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons
20 gallons10 cups3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon
bathtub (aprox 25 to 35 gallons) *12 to 17 cups1 to 1.5 cups
* bathtub sizes vary. It is okay to use more water and/or less peroxide.

To spray on sick or fungusy plants:

TO THIS AMOUNT OF WATERADD THIS AMOUNT OF 3% HYDROGEN PEROXIDE--OR-- ADD THIS AMOUNT OF 35% HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
1 cup1 tablespoon1/4 teaspoon
1 pint2 tablespoons1/2 teaspoon
1 quart1/4 cup1 teaspoon
1 gallon1 cup1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon
5 gallons5 cups6 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons
10 gallons10 cups3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoons
20 gallons20 cups1 and 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons
Please be mindful to choose the correct column in the chart depending on whether you are using 3% hydrogen peroxide or 35% hydrogen peroxide!!

Thursday 19 February 2015

Tufa Recipes

Limestone:
S 1 part
C 1 part
P/B 1 part

Sandstone:
S 5 parts
C 2 parts
P/B 3 parts

Tufa:
S 1 part
C 1 part
P/B 2 parts

Saturday 17 January 2015

Soil Mix

Seedlings: The growing medium used is John Innes number 2 potting compost (40%), washed river sand (20%), fine granite chippings (20%) and Perlite (20%)

1part standard poting soil
2parts of pumice. Pumice (volcanic rock)that is porous. Substitutes include pearlite, non-soluble cat litter, aquatic plant soil or Turface, NAPA oil dry #8822

perhaps 60% pummice/grit/litter to 40% potting soil. 
use 1 bucket (or 1 part) of coir in my mix....

for epi:
1part standard poting soil
1parts of pumice
2parts coarse "orchid bark". This is ground up redwood bark pieces that are marketed for use by orchid growers

Info From KADAS GARDEN:

Mineral Mixes

These mixes are intended for good drainage, and fast drying times. This is useful for species that are from dry areas, have large taproots, and are slow growing. Some examples: Ariocarpus, Astrophytum, Aztekium, Echinocactus, Lophophora, Obregonia, Turbinicarpus etc.
30-60% Grit
10-30% Pumice/Perlite
10-20% Coarse Sand
5% Slow Release/Pellet fertilizer (optional)

For Water tolerant species

For water tolerant species protected from the rain/uncontrolled water. useful for plants such as: Cereus, Echinopsis, Harrisia, Myrtillocactus, Neobuxbaumia, Opuntia, Polaskia, Rebutia, Stenocereus, Trichocereus etc.
30-50% Coco coir/Peat/Top soil
10-20% Pumice/Perlite
20-40% Grit & Sand
In our greenhouse we use a 60% Coir, 30% grit, 5% pumice & 5% organic pellet fertilizer for all columnar/water tolerant species. Keep in mind in a greenhouse, people control the water.

For Tropical species

This mix is useful for tropical species that tolerate, and even prefer moist/rich soils. Some examples: Acanthocereus, Hylocereus, Pereskia, Pereskiopsis, Rhipsalis, Selenicereus etc.
70% Coco/Peat/Top soil
10% Grit/Sand
10-20% Compost


5-10% Manure/fertilizer

Friday 24 October 2014

Today's Planting

x10 - A. Superkabuto x Onzuka
x10 A. Hanozono
x10 Onzuka Columnare (Super White)
x10 A. Myriostigma (Kikko Nudum)
x80 Onzuka (Diff Forms)
x30 A. Myriostigma (Rare Cultivars & Forms)
x60 A. Asterias (Variegated)
x80 A. Myriostigma (Kikko Variegated)

Thursday 2 October 2014

Seed Order

10 Astrophytum myriostigma cv KIKKO NUDUM 
10 Astrophytum HANAZONO x SNOW
JAPAN IMPORT
10 Astrophytum SUPERKABUTO x ONZUKA BG073
10 Astrophytum ONZUKA columnare SUPER WHITE

Monday 7 October 2013

First Astrophytum Seedlings Grafted onto Pereskiopsis Root Stock

x2 Astrophytum seedlings grafted onto Pereskiopsis Root Stock. Left in humid environment for 1 week. Should be opened 14/10/13

Friday 20 September 2013

Ayahuasca




New batch of grafts done today. Ready for tape removal tuesday.

Friday 13 September 2013

Seed Order

Ariocarpus trigonus elongatus seeds
Package Size 100 Seeds

Astrophytum asterias Snow Supar seeds
Package Size 20 Seeds

Astrophytum asterias Superkabuto seeds
Package Size 20 Seeds

Astrophytum asterias Zebra Supar seeds
Package Size 20 Seeds

Aztekium ritteri seeds
Package Size 100 Seeds

Carnegiea gigantea (Saguaro) seeds
Package Size 100 Seeds

Copiapoa hypogea seeds
Package Size 100 Seeds

Echinofossulocactus multicostatus seeds
Package Size 20 Seeds

Epithelantha rufispina seeds
Package Size 100 Seeds

Lophophora mixed seeds
Package Size 100 Seeds

Lophophora williamsii seeds
Package Size 100 Seeds

Lophophora williamsii Paila seeds
Package Size 20 Seeds

Myrtillocactus geometrizans seeds
Package Size 1.000 Seeds

Pachycereus pringlei seeds
Package Size 1.000 Seeds

Pereskia aculeata seeds
Package Size 10 Seeds

Selenicereus grandiflorus seeds
Package Size 100 Seeds

Tephrocactus molinensis seeds
Package Size 100 Seeds

Trichocereus bridgesii (Achuma cactus) seeds
Package Size 100 Seeds

Trichocereus pachanoi seeds
Package Size 1.000 Seeds

Trichocereus peruvianus (Peruvian Torch Cactus) seeds
Package Size 1.000 Seeds

Saturday 17 August 2013

Grafts 16/08/13

Areole Graft: Organ Pipe Seedling onto Myrtillocactus
Areole Graft: T.Pachanoi onto Cylindropuntia Subulata

Thursday 15 August 2013

Grafting Update


Notocactus Magnificus Pups Grafted onto Opuntia (Prickly Pear) Root Stock. Grafted: 06/06/13. To give an idea of scale, the pups were less than the width of the opuntia rootstock when they were grafted. The root stock has also enlarged during this time and is an advantage of using opuntia. It has been said that although Opuntia isn't as fast as T.Pachanoi, it is known to create fine specimens which generally keep their shape, more likely to create pups and flower at an earlier age.






















14/08/13 Grafted a T.Pachanoi Pup onto Myrtillocactus Geometrizans

Cactus Seedlings Update



Pachycereus Pringlei Planted: 06/06/13
Also Known as The Cardon Cactus (In the wild this cactus has been known to reach heights up to a record 70ft!))


Echinocactus Grusonnii (Barrel Cactus) Planted: 06/06/13







Marshallocereus Thurberii (Organ Pipe Cactus) Planted: 16/06/13


Trichocereus Pachanoi (San Pedro Cactus) Planted: 06/06/13 Some of the seedlings have been beheaded and grafted onto opuntia rootstock on: 04/08/13.

Monday 5 August 2013

Cactus Propogation Through Tissue Culture

http://www.lapshin.org/cultivar/N34/in-vitro-e.htm

http://fds.oup.com/www.oup.co.uk/pdf/bt/slater/ch02.pdf

https://mycotopia.net/forums/botanicals/10394-cactus-propogation-through-tissue-culture.html

http://www.propagatingplants.org/TCHowWhy01.html

Update from the Cactus Garden

04/08/13

Grafted 12 small cactus tips onto opuntia rootstock. 

x3 Pachycereus Pringlei (Cardon) seedlings (planted 04/06/13)
x3 Pup tips salvaged from Dom's Pachanoi cuttings 
x5 Trichocereus Pachanoi Seedlings (planted 04/06/13)
x1 Marshallocereus Thurberii Seedling Tip (Organ Pipe Cactus) (Planted 16/06/13)

03/08/13

Mixed and administered 6-BAP and Lanolin mixture to various cactus's. Signs of new growth should appear in 1-6 weeks.

Wednesday 3 July 2013

Today's Grafting

x1 pup onto myrtillocactus Geometrizans
x1 miute pup onto hylocereus seedling

Monday 24 June 2013

Cacti branching using 6-Benzylaminopurine Hormone 6-BAP

"The BAP is a very interesting hormone. This is just a simple set of instructions on how to induce branching in cacti:

First:

Mix 2% BAP Powder to 98% Lanolin over a gentle heat to form a gel.

To mix the two, measure your amounts out and first put the lanolin into a thin glass cup held at an angle, then sprinkle the appropriate amount of BAP onto the lanolin and swirl with a toothpick (to mix it well). Then take a lighter and hold the flame to the glass under the gel in a 'back and forth' type of motion, you want to warm it so it mixes up better but not cook it or melt it. I would describe it as *gently* heating.

After that, just dip a toothpick/thumbtack into the gel and scratch it into an areole in a visible amount and expect a branch within 1-6 weeks. Quickest results will be obtained when applying the BAP to new, soft growth as opposed to old corky growth."

quoted from:

http://cactiguide.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14243

This is a very exciting bit of information.

CULTIVAR

http://www.lapshin.org/cultivar/N42/cactuspro-e.htm

Sunday 23 June 2013

Rare Succulents

http://www.rare-succulents.com/extraordinary_plants.html

Conditions For Growth

Ive set up this blog to document my thoughts, research and experiments. It has occurred to me in recent months that many of the ideas concerning how ide like to live are, just that, ideas, seeds without the right conditions to grow. Furthermore, they are subject to that which isn’t real, the future. My aim is to integrate them into daily life. Metaphorically and quite literally, it all starts with the seed. That just leaves me with the question: what conditions do they need to grow…

Today's Planting

Astrophytum hybrid mix
Astrophytum Cultivars

x75 seeds

Slow Growing Species From Seed

http://www.cactuspro.com/articles/le_semis_en_sachets_v3_sowing_in..._baggies_english_version

Sunday 16 June 2013

Growing Update

Seeds Sown:
x1 tray Hylocereus seeds
x32 Marshallocereus Thurberii seeds (Organ Pipe Cactus)
x60 T. Peruvianus seeds

Grafting:
x2 pups on opuntia root stock

Saturday 15 June 2013

Rooting Stock

Myrtillocactus geometrizans 

Trichocereus pachanoi

Hylocereus undatus

Pereskiopsis porteri (spathulata)

Selenicereus grandiflorus


seeds all available from cactus plaza

Friday 7 June 2013

WORLD SEED SUPPLY

http://www.worldseedsupply.org/products.php?cat=Trichocereus+Peruvianus+%3Ci%3EKOEHRES%3C%2Fi%3E

Pachycereus Prengli (Cardon)

The first of my seedlings is out after only 3 days!

The tallest cactus in the world...

Entheogens

Interesting articles:

http://csp.org/practices/entheogens/entheogens.html

Survey of Hallucinogenic Cactus Species:

http://www.thewildclassroom.com/biodiversity/floweringplants/extras/cactaceae%20hallucinogenics.htm

Bat Guano Products/Suppliers

benefits and uses:
http://biogrow.co.uk/benefits.html

suppliers:
http://www.growell.co.uk/plagron-bat-guano.html

http://www.alibaba.com/product/spoona55-101429090-0/Caveman_s_Fresh_Bat_Guano_Fertilizer.html

http://biogrow.co.uk/purchase.html

HOME ENTHEOGEN CULTIVATION

http://hallucinogeniccactuscultivation.blogspot.co.uk/2010_02_01_archive.html

Sacred Cactus

useful info:

http://www.sacredcactus.com/index.htm

Thursday 6 June 2013

Cactus - Crested Forms

http://www.cactus-art.biz/gallery/Photo_gallery_crest/Photo_gallery_crest.htm

Planting Update

19:00 today
4 cactus pups grafted onto prickly pear stock. Selotape can be removed in a weeks time (13/0613)

05/06/13 Trichocereus Pachanoi cuttings planted

04/06/13 Seeds Sown

180 T. Pachanoi
10   Echinocatus Grusonnii (Barrel Cactus)
10   Pachycereus Prengli (Cardon)

Thursday 18 April 2013

Poly-Embryonic Mango

This is a Yellow Mango, which has been wrapped in wet tissue in a closed plastic container for the last month. I could potentially get 3 trees from this one seed. 


Wednesday 20 March 2013

Conditions For Growth

Ive set up this blog to document my thoughts, research and experiments. It has occurred to me in recent months that many of the ideas concerning how ide like to live are, just that, ideas, seeds without the right conditions to grow. Furthermore, they are subject to that which isn’t real, the future. My aim is to integrate them into daily life. Metaphorically and quite literally, it all starts with the seed. That just leaves me with the question: what conditions do they need to grow…

Peas (Pisum sativum) Update

Peas were soaked for 12 hrs and then drained and left in moist conditions for another 12hrs before planting evening of 11/03/13

Edible leaves

Useful list of edible leaves:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_plants_with_edible_leaves

The acacia shoots (Acacia pennata) are something I recognise from China. Would be good to give these a go:

Acacia pennata (English: Climbing wattle, Thai: à¸Šà¸°à¸­à¸¡ Cha-om, Burmese Su pout ywet) is a species of acacia which is native to South and Southeast Asia.

Fresh Shoots
Notes:
Acacia victoriae is currently the most important wattle used in the Australian bushfood industry.

Tuesday 19 March 2013

Today's Planting


germinating:
Okra Seeds (Fresh)
Red Pepper Seeds (Fresh)
x1 Mango embryo (yellow variety is often poly-embryonic so i hope for more than one tree from this seed) Need to work out type of mango:
http://forum.xcitefun.net/types-of-mango-king-of-fruit-t63658.html

Planting:
The following were germinated in shallow water covered with damp tissue for 2 days prior to planting.

x2 trays of cow pea (nutritional facts: http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-cowpeas-leafy-tips-i11780)
x1 tray mung bean
x1 tray chick pea




Mycelium


Wednesday 6 March 2013

Eco Build at ExCel - HP LED

Just seen some amazing industrial LED lights. For the equivalent of 42 Watts, the output was insane. Perfect for growing. Need to do more research on these guys:

HOLD PIPE LED

Sunday 3 March 2013

Sprouting

At the moment, Im experimenting with sprouting different seeds and pulses. 

I bought them from an Indian Supermarket on Brick Lane. Super cheap when you consider how much space they take up once they've sprouted. In the containers I have a mix of:

Whole Green Peas
Whole Yellow Peas
Chick Peas
Cow Peas - Vigna unguiculata
Moth Beans
Mung Beans
Mung Dal Yellow
Green Lentils
Peanut Kernels

Process started evening 01/03/13. Above photo today.


When visiting Yunnan, China, towards the end of 2012, I was struck by the wide variety of greens available with their dishes. Many types of climbers/ bean plants etc...Over here we grow bean plants for the beans, but if we were growing them for the stalk and leaves, they could be harvested regularly, while they are still young and there could be a rotation system to keep me supplied with regular greenery. They tasted amazing... Need to be careful though, because some are TOXIC! Useful info here:

legumes:

Really useful:
"Unfortunately leaves often contain toxic substances. The chief toxins are hydrocyanic glycosides, oxalic acid and alkaloids. The toxic as well as the edible properties of leaves are already fairly well known, and no harm should result if the species is known and leaves are eaten in moderate quantities. Interestingly enough, the oxalic acid content of spinach makes it one of the least desirable of the edible leaves."

chick peas:
"Overall, chickpea leaves were found to be a good source of several minerals required by humans, and for most minerals, their levels significantly exceeded those previously reported for spinach and cabbage."