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Gardening

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Cactus seedling help

6 replies

DandelionsAreMyFriends · 16/12/2020 15:38

I planted some mixed variety 'Abbey Brook Echinopsis' seeds last year. Can anyone tell me whether these seedlings are supposed to look like this-they look very floppy and light deprived to me. I'm new to growing succulents and thought my windowsill provided enough light, but I measured the light levels recently and they are too low, especially now in winter, so I bought some grow lights. But since buying the lights only two weeks ago they've put out some really fast growing thin shoots (in the close up pics, the smaller shoots have grown that big in the last 2 weeks) so now I'm not sure if they are supposed to be trailing and thin or if these are flower shoots or something. Should I cut the older elongated shoots off to see if it all grows more compact now I've improved the light? I thought Echinopsis are fat round cactus mostly? Can any cactus experts advise me?

Cactus seedling help
Cactus seedling help
Cactus seedling help
OP posts:
NanTheWiser · 16/12/2020 21:50

Your seedlings look suspiciously like Hylocereus undatus aka dragon fruit. This is a vining, climbing cactus which can grow to a very large size - usually trained up a trellis, or ropes in a greenhouse setting. When large enough, they produce enormous, fragrant, white nocturnal flowers that last just one night. I can’t be certain that that is what they are, but do look like it.

Definitely NOT Echinopsis, which as you guessed should be globular, and would be much smaller and slower growing. Did you buy the seeds from a reputable supplier? I ask, as there are a lot of scammers around (especially from China) who sell ‘rare’ cactus seeds which frequently turn out to be cress, squash or even grass.

If your supplier was bona fide, I would make a complaint, for selling ‘not as described’ seeds, but with the time elapsed since purchase, probably not very hopeful!

The Abbey Brook hybrids are quite beautiful, and were bred by Brian Fearn, and deservedly popular. I grow a number of Echinopsis hybrids, but mine are mainly American Schick hybrids and others from a UK breeder.

Hope this helps.

DandelionsAreMyFriends · 17/12/2020 08:17

Thanks! Well I'm glad I posted before my lounge is taken over! That's disappointing news, they were from a well known reliable seed company, I buy all my veg seed from them and thought I'd give something different a try. I don't think I have room for a dragon vine though!

OP posts:
DandelionsAreMyFriends · 17/12/2020 08:52

Actually looking back at my receipts I did also buy a 'fast growing cactus mix' around the same time that I thought didn't come up. I must have muddled the two up, so not the retailers fault! No wonder they were growing so fast under the grow lights! Thanks for your help.

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NanTheWiser · 17/12/2020 11:34

@DandelionsAreMyFriends, ah, that might well be the answer! Echinopsis hybrid seeds would produce a range of flower colours, not necessarily the same as a named cultivar, but still worth growing if you try them again.

DandelionsAreMyFriends · 18/12/2020 10:38

Yes, I was looking forward to those Echinopsis flowers the abbey brook mix was supposed to be particularly good. I think I will give them another go, and just buy the one seed packet and carefully label them this time!

OP posts:
NanTheWiser · 18/12/2020 12:43

Good luck! Well worth trying again if you can get them.

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