u/Ambitious_Watch8377

Hi all! Im a first time asrophytum grower from seeds. Got some this year seedling to show character, was thinking to graft some for speed up, yet I have realised I have no clue on how to select the promising individuals!?

Got some myroatigma onzuka and myrostogma kikko nudim strongylogonum cultivars. Also some astropytum ornatum in other pots, but the latter all looks exactly the same so I assume there is not much selecting with those?

Hey everyone,
I’m looking for a second opinion from experienced Ariocarpus growers—especially those running indoor LED setups. My two older ariocarpus plants from my otherwise young collection are showing signs of stress. Im wondering if there is a reason for bigger worry and what could be done to improve their condition.

I’ve uploaded a few photos for context:
Before (October 2025): Plumper, greener, and actively growing.
After (Present): Severe tubercle shrinkage, bronzing, and deflated lower tissue.
.
My Setup & Parameters:
Lighting: SpiderFarmer SF-300 LED (33W running at 27 cm distance, 12 h/day, DLI ~11.4).
Substrate: 100% inorganic grit (pumice/lava blend).
Wintering History: Spent winter outside (sheltered from rain, but exposed to cold ambient Dutch humidity, winter, yet other smaller seedling have survived it alright).

Hey everyone, I would like to hear your opinions or insights regarding an uncommon growth point split of Trichocereus macrogonus. The original main top died off after staying outside in below-zero temperatures this winter. It bounced back with puping right at the top and another aureole nearby, yet the top left stalk is pushing a clean apical split right at the tip.

What do you think happens next? My thought are as follows:
Y-Shape: Clean, symmetrical dichotomous split?
Monstrose: A funky, sustained weird growth phase? Or reverting back.
Dominance: One tip steal all the energy and stall the other?
Other options?

Pretty much the same view every day for the last 5 years or so: municipality cannot fix the bin, people cannot put their rubbish into bin (making birds happy), residents have parties and in the public yard but dont bother to clean, dumping the rubbish onto kids playground…
been around but have never seen such mess

Have those failled or should I keep removing the pups? Two of 7 scions died off, but the rest stayed hydrated and alive. No pups or growth though. First time making a side graft. Scions is a variegated TP on various Trichocereus rootstocks.

Greetings all,

I found this at a thrift store, most likely origin being Sweden. Cannot read out the signature or get any more info about it. It feels like a gypsum cast, rather light, you can also see the material at the bottom.

I would appreciate if anyone could share some ideas to fill in my curiousity.