Today's Grafting

x1 pup onto myrtillocactus Geometrizans
x1 miute pup onto hylocereus seedling

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

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

Cacti Related Terminology

http://www.cactiguide.com/terminology/

Pollinating Cacti

http://www.kadasgarden.com/Cpollinate.html

More Astrophytum

http://www.cactusneo.com/page/shop11/shop-11.htm

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

Rooting Stock

Myrtillocactus geometrizans 

Trichocereus pachanoi

Hylocereus undatus

Pereskiopsis porteri (spathulata)

Selenicereus grandiflorus

seeds all available from cactus plaza

Amazing Astrophytum Collection

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NiswHCdS3A

Silverhill Seeds from South Africa

http://www.silverhillseeds.co.za/Collecting.asp

Bokashi Compoting

great resource and videos:

http://www.bokashicomposting.com/bokashi-blog-2/bokashi-em/

Astrophytum

http://www.starastrophytum.com/S-1.html?lang=en&page=1

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

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)

CACTUS supplier

http://www.cactusplaza.com/cactus-plants

good for seeds!

CACTI GUIDE

http://cactiguide.com/

useful Forums.

Cactus

http://www.magicactus.com/index.html

Bat Guano

http://aurorainnovations.com/super-nitro-bat-guano.html

Rhipsalis cereuscula

http://cactiguide.com/cactus/?genus=Rhipsalis&species=cereuscula

Cactus Nursery

http://cactusland.co.uk/about.php

Cactus growing under artificial light

useful article:

http://cactiguide.com/article/?article=article17.php

Mylar

Mylar is the brand name for a special type of stretched polyester film. Melinex and Hostaphan are two other well known trade names for this plastic, which is more generally known as BoPET or biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate.   

LED Grow lights

useful article:

http://www.myhydroponicgardening.com/2013-best-led-grow-light-review/


SUPPLIERS:

http://www.ledhydroponics.co.uk/OnlineShop.aspx

http://www.hydrogrowled.com/%2F84X-PRO-120W-LED-Grow-Light-P84.aspx

http://www.truliteled.com/shop/

http://ledlight.osram-os.com/applications/horticultural-led-lighting/

http://growblu.com/

http://www.growlightuk.com/

http://www.dormgrow.com/

http://www.advancedledlights.com/

http://www.lumigrow.com/products/es-330-led-grow-light/

http://www.lightrabbit.co.uk/grow-lights-led.html

reviews:
http://www.theweedblog.com/led-cannabis-grow-light-review/

notes:
HID (high-intensity discharge) systems, like HPS and MH, were the clear favorites among the growers

stealth led grow light?

Composting

useful thread:

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/wildlife-gardening/12636-composting-101-a.html

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. 

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: ชะอม 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.

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

Make Your Own Bokashi

Bokashi Experiment

I like whats going on here:

http://bokashiworld.wordpress.com/2013/03/09/vins-bokashi-experiment-in-florida-perfectly-simple/

Obviously a nicer looking container could be used.

EM (Effective Microorganisms)

Interesting Essay:

http://www.livingsoil.co.uk/learning/soilsustain.htm

EM Products at Living Soil:

http://www.livingsoil.co.uk/products/EM_kyusei_supplies.html

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

Bokashi Bins

Useful info:

Bokashi Composting HQ:
http://www.bokashicompostinghq.com/

Bokashi World:
http://bokashiworld.wordpress.com/

Some Suppliers:

GrowingLife:
http://www.growing-life.com/cgi-bin/sh000002.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2egrowing%2dlife%2ecom%2f&WD=bokashi&PN=Home_Composting_Bokashi_%2ehtml%23a644#a644
Wiggly Wigglers:
http://www.wigglywigglers.co.uk/composting/bokashi.html
Green Gardener:
http://www.greengardener.co.uk/product.asp?id_pc=19&cat=31
Bokashi Direct:

http://www.bokashidirect.co.uk/

Original Organics:

http://www.originalorganics.co.uk/bokashi.htm

Equipment to make my own:

Solent Plastics:
http://solentplastics.co.uk/industrial-business-storage-boxes/
Preparing Wisely:
http://preparingwisely.com/buckets_and_lids
APM:
http://www.apm-supplies.co.uk/airtight-bucket-p-2555.html
Plastor:
http://www.plastor.co.uk/category/catalog/food-handling-containers/re-sealable-food-grade-buckets

1 Liter = 0.219969248 Gallon [UK]

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:

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1990/v1-391.html

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."

http://www.appropedia.org/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."

http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publications.htm?seq_no_115=138151

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…

General Links:

Nutrients/Vitamin/Minerals:

http://fnic.nal.usda.gov/food-composition/individual-macronutrients-phytonutrients-vitamins-minerals/vitamins-minerals