Cactus seed soil battle! | Episode 4: 16 Week Update, Let's Open the Dome!
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- čas přidán 16. 03. 2024
- It is time for our 16 week check-in on these Astrophytum and Ariocarpus seedlings. In tray #1 and tray #2, we test 6 different soils each. Please see the links below for the episodes that describe the different soils. Do note that the two trays were started at different times.
At 16 months for tray #,1 I think it's time to open the domes for the Astrophytum. However, Ariocarpus seem to prefer staying moist for a longer period of time, so I had to separate out the Ariocarpus from the Astrophytum. This experiment is far from perfect... but so is this channel... so be it!
Apologies that I did not have enough time to count up the seedlings and compile the data for the analysis this time. I think I was a bit too ambitious to think that I could do that indefinitely. But at least we still get to eyeball the progress of the seedlings - this I can continuing honoring on a monthly basis. One thing that's interesting is that in terms of seedling growth progress, one of the soils is appearing to take over the first place spot. Check out the video to find out which soil is starting to come out ahead.
Details on the soils in tray #1 are described in Episode 1 here: • Cactus seed soil battl...
Details on the soils in tray #2 are described in Episode 3 here: • Cactus seed soil battl...
Cactus Seed Soil Battle playlist: • Cactus Seed Soil Battle
Mesa Garden's video featuring Rob Romero and his soil mix: • Soil update and Sowing...
Connect with me on Instagram: / cookiescacti
Some of the growing supplies used for this experiment:
2.5" nursery pots:
www.greenhousemegastore.com/c...
1020 Trays without holes:
www.greenhousemegastore.com/c...
Tall clear dome for 1020 tray:
www.greenhousemegastore.com/c...
Disclosure: The links to Amazon are affiliate links, which means that I earn from qualifying purchases as an Amazon Associate. There is no additional cost to you. I encourage shopping around as always.
Grow light without dimmer: SPIDER FARMER SF1000D (this is the one I use)
amzn.to/3OSPR6c (paid link)
Grow light with dimmer: SPIDER FARMER SF1000
amzn.to/3STyRyJ (paid link)
Succulent tools & transplanting kit
amzn.to/3XQZrup (paid link)
Plant labels
1000 count: amzn.to/41nUSdc (paid link)
200 count: amzn.to/3to3MLl (paid link)
You have taken on a huge project in tracking these seedlings in different soils. Be proud of what you are able to update for us. Hope Cookie's status is stabilizing. Hang in there-I am rooting for you two 😊.
The bugs are springtails, they’re harmless/arguably beneficial! They’re probably in every pot, indoors and outdoorsy they’re just easier to see in moist soil or after watering because they come to the surface.
Seconding this! Springtails are detritivores, they keep things clean 😎
Thank you so much for letting me know! I was wondering if they might be beneficial bugs. Even if they weren't I don't think there's much I can do about them so they're here to stay ☺️
I think the size and color of the seedlings are because of the light intensity. The light is strongest directly under it so I believe that is why the ones around the edges are bigger and greener in general compared to the center ones being more reddish, stressed and slightly stunted.
Nice video again, great information for new growers, thanks for showing us this amazing video !! 🌵🌵
I'm so glad you like this video! I appreciate you taking the time to let me know!
I had those bugs before and at first they seemed to do nothing but they multiplied so fast and I caught them biting at two seedlings so I sprayed them with Captain Jack. I have a few seedlings with scaring that I wouldn’t doubt was from them. For the mold, I suggest taking it out before it spreads.
Thanks for your informative videos and all of the work and time you put into them. Give my best to Cookie!
Thank you!
You're very welcome!
Love the videos, super informative, keep up the good work
Thank you so much! This really means a lot to me!
I believe that the middle pots have too much light and probably the stress explains the size difference?
It's possible! I don't have a good explanation otherwise. Light, heat, moisture, all of the above?
I don't know if they still make Shell No Pest Strips but I would think a small chunk of it under those domes would kill the bugs.
Those sneaky little things are living the life in the soil! They come out when I water!
Looks like you got success with watercress; lucky! If it smells like dr. pepper when you crush it then that's what you got.
LOL! So it is food! Too bad it died off after I opened the dome, otherwise, I would have done the Dr. Pepper test.
@@cookiescacti Well they do seem to like it on the boggy side and that humidity dome was the closest thing to it.
Those are called fungus gnats i think, they come from soil. You should kill them with something called moquito bits. You soak the mosquito bits with water, then water it with the water. They will kill your plants. I have them in my house now, i did one treatment and it worked but need to do a second treatment. I have been too busy to do it. Springtails are different, i buy then to put in my terrariums. Definitely wanna get rid of those fungus gnats, they do come from the soil i got some from a soil a while back.
Hmmm.. I don't think these are fungus gnats because they don't have wings and don't fly, I've only seen them crawling around so far. I've had several fungus gnat infestations in the past so I'm fairly familiar with them and I also used Mosquito bits t try to manage. I googled Springtails and then looked at these bugs with a magnifying glass and I'm pretty sure it's a match, but who knows!
so the plants with the dome off, how are you watering them? peroxide only, water, distilled? and the same with the domed up plants (tray#2)?
Maybe i missed it, but what are your day and night temp. for germination? Best regards :)
I've been using room temperature because I'm lazy, which is somewhere between 70F-76F in the winter/spring
@@cookiescacti Awesome, looks to be working great for copiapoa ! Best regards 😘
yeah, i see the bugs. i have those too.
I had the bugs in the miracle grow cactus palm and and citrus mix. I know it is this soil as I have also tried different soils and had them covered separately. The bugs were only in the miracle grow containers. They must have some larvae stages that sit dormant in the soil. That is my theory for what happened to my seedlings. However, it didn't really seem to harm the seedlings any more than miracle grow cactus, palm and citrus is just in general not that great for cactus.
I think you're right Mike, they're coming from one of the soils and the MG CCP mix is highly likely. I'll just leave them be since they seem to be here to stay (plus I have a feeling it's impossible to get rid of them).
how do you clean your seeds?
I don't clean them... I"m so lazy....