Hardy Cacti

Other plants we have or landscape elements like ponds.

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ocimum_nate
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RE: Hardy Cacti

Post by ocimum_nate »

This is the Joshua Tree from the Northern Mojave desert. I have seen them grow reliably in zone 5 here in Utah. The main thing is drainage. The ones that are seen in California are a different subspecies.
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RE: Hardy Cacti

Post by foxd »

When I got home this morning I discovered a Echinocereus triglochidiatus had sprouted.
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RE: Hardy Cacti

Post by Thuja »

Foxd, I've got some Echinocerus coming up too.
Image
And here's Joshua Tree:
Image
Nate, you mentioned storing these seeds in the freezer. Can you give more details about this? Do you wrap the seeds in plastic, a jar, or what? Thanks. Just about all the seeds you sent are germinating.
--Mike
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RE: Hardy Cacti

Post by ocimum_nate »

Thanks for sharing the pictures.

As for the freezing technique I let the seeds dry completely (easily accomplished here in Utah) and put them in envelopes like the ones that I sent you. After that I put them in group ziplocks and then they go into some rubbermaid canisters in my freezer. When I was going to college to get my horticulture degree I decided to look at the university library for books on seeds. I found a really good one which said something as a general rule the life of dry seed can be doubled if the sum of the temperature in F and the humidity is less than 100 and the lower the number the better your prospects. Well my freezer is less than 15 F and my humidity is usually quite low here so the seeds have really benefited. The Joshua tree seeds I sent you were at least 8 years old. I don't like to tell people how old the seeds are that I am trading because they are likely to think I am sending bad seeds. I put some moso seeds in my freezer last year after I received them in October. I just started some a little over a month ago and had 3 come up. Which was about the same percentage as what I had last year. The one thing that I haven't had any luck with is papaya but I haven't tested the seeds for germination before I froze them to see if they were viable before freezing. I have only been able to germinate fresh still moist papaya seeds so I think that may have something to do with it.
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RE: Hardy Cacti

Post by CadyG »

Nate,

My guess is that papaya, as tropical plants, would not be "programmed" for their seeds to require freezing as a prerequisite to germination, nor even to tolerate being frozen. Consider that the seeds of temperate and boreal species must be able to withstand freezing -- and some actually require it for germination. But why would tropicals have that tolerance or need?
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Re: RE: Hardy Cacti

Post by Roy »

cadyg wrote:Nate,

My guess is that papaya, as tropical plants, would not be "programmed" for their seeds to require freezing as a prerequisite to germination, nor even to tolerate being frozen. Consider that the seeds of temperate and boreal species must be able to withstand freezing -- and some actually require it for germination. But why would tropicals have that tolerance or need?
Excellent point. Waiting for a good answer to that one.
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RE: Hardy Cacti

Post by ocimum_nate »

There are a lot of tropical seeds (peppers, tomato, basil, epiphitic cacti ) that can withstand freezing. The point is related to water content in the seeds. If the seed can get to a low enough water content then freezing does not affect it. To much moisture then the water can crystalize and rupture the cells in the seed. My point was that there are many seeds which the life can be extended through freezing, but not all. And that it was a preservation methond not a requirement. Sorry I didn't adequately state my point. I hope that clarifies it a bit.
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RE: Hardy Cacti

Post by CadyG »

Got it. I wasn't certain whether you were implying that freezing/cold was needed for germination. I agree that freezing has its use in preserving seed, depending on water content of the seed.
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RE: Hardy Cacti

Post by ocimum_nate »

In addition it appears that at least some bamboo can be stored this way. Next year I will grow some heteroclada and see how well it has kept. I am guessing that some of the tropical species may have too high of a water content to preserve them this way but it doesn't seem to have affected the moso.
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RE: Hardy Cacti

Post by ocimum_nate »

Foxd- I had to transplant the canna today growing quite vigorously
Thuja- Fern spores are growing well - no sign of growth on the Sea Oats yet. Any idea on how long they should take to germinate?
Thanks everyone for the trades.
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RE: Hardy Cacti

Post by kstanwick »

I should have probably read this thread before i threw out the joshua tree one.... It appears that I am a little behind on my sowing....
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Re: RE: Hardy Cacti

Post by Thuja »

It appears that all my cacti made it thru the winter! Now it will be interesting to see if anything grows bigger.
--Mike
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RE: Hardy Cacti

Post by Jeff: Igor's Apprentice »

It appears that all my cacti made it thru the winter! Now it will be interesting to see if anything grows bigger.
ALL of them? Are you kidding me?!!?!?!?!?!!!

Would love to see a complete list...
And how exactly did you protect them?
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RE: Hardy Cacti

Post by Thuja »

One plant looks questionable right now but the rest look fine so far. Here's a pic of most of them. You might be able to make out the names.
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/ ... _9LQ-1.jpg" border="0" alt="1-yr cacti in spring">
I'll post the names too later on. I didn't protect the plants at all. I planted them last spring in a pile of pea gravel.
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RE: Hardy Cacti

Post by Jeff: Igor's Apprentice »

Thuja, how do you feel about "rescue plants"?

I've got some rough looking agaves that have gone too long without a permanent home....

I'm starting to feel like its time to sit
(uate)
or turn loose of the pot....
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