Im unable to post this in the cacti subforums, as I am too new. I hope this will be helpful to anyone looking to grow cacti. I don't like posting useless material to increase my post-count so Ill compile any substantial material here so that I may be accepted into the general forum. Thank you!

Hello everyone, I thought I'd put a few helpful observations I've made in the past few years on the very rewarding hobby of growing our little spiky friends from seed:

1: Don't put all your eggs in one basket. That is, if you are fortunate enough to come across a larger batch of especially difficult to acquire seeds (particularly any endangered species) start them in smaller batches, say five to ten seeds per container. This will help you isolate any variables that may lead to the death of your newborns and ensure an overall higher success rate with your new endeavor.

2: Make your own soil mix. A very good mix was posted by Spanishfly and although it may be difficult to find many of the items locally, they can be found online and are well worth the few dollars you spend vs buying a premix soil and risking contamination, root rot, or poor/excessive nutrients. Even if you are intending to graft, seedlings grown in soil seem to have a vigor that is missed with their sand grown counterparts. Think loose, airy, and alkaline.

3: Don't graft them all. Although slower growing, the joy of watching your soil grown plants mature is greater than a bloated lime green seedling (although their is a special appreciation for the fast track) These seedlings will survive through a lot of abuse and neglect and if your current projects fail they will remain.

4: Your cacti love the sun and if there is any opportunity for them to drink this is they will reward your with truer to natural growth patterns and healthier overall demeanor. Good CFL lighting, although adequate, is not a replacement for delicious sunshine.

5: Perioskopsis. You can never have enough. Make cuttings as often as possible and grow your mothers in soil. Unlike most of the species we grow, they prefer a nutritious soil blends (I use standard potting soil with lots of gravel) and lots of water. They cannot be overwatered so be generous! The test tube method annehalonium teaches is fantastic and your cuttin will transfer to their new water only environment easily if they have strong growth from their mother plant.

6: Monitor your grafts carefully. Be sure to keep your roots clean, nutrient levels in check, and don't hesitate to regraft if their is any issue with your Peres. After 6 months to a year, move them to a more permanent plant like a blue myrtle. Although it can not put out the amazing growth there Peres can, it will grow fast and steady.

7: Top cut your larger more mature grafts. This will induce pupping and exponentially increase your garden. The top will live on and the new babies will have a head start on your seedlings. This can be especially helpful if you are growing a rare or genetically superior specimen. Not all seedlings are created equal.

8: Share a few seeds with other growers. This is probably one of the most important things, in my mind. We are the caretakers of many plants that are struggling in the wild. We honor their importance by assisting others in doing what we have done; perpetuate important plants. I know I never would be where I'm at today without the generosity of others in our community.

I hope this helps new gardeners or those considering to grow with their understanding of these wonderful plants. It's well worth the research and homework and I can guarantee you won't be disappointed. Feel free to reach out with any questions or ideas. This board is filled with many knowledgable members who would love to assist you.

This is the mix posted by Spanishfly that I have referred to. It's the best I've found and will do wonders for your growth rates.

"...It is important to use an appropriate soil mix - L. williamsii grows in habitat in alkali, limestone soils, and this should be emulated for cultivation. It does not like peat, which should be avoided.

My mix is about

two parts loam, one part wormcasts, five parts grit/sand/perlite, two parts limestone/dolomite lime/crushed marble/eggshell. Giving a gritty, limey, well-draining compost. I use the same mix for seeds and adult plants, just sieve it finer for seeds...."

1 part Loam

1 part worm castings

5 parts grit ( sand or perlite or both )

2 parts( limestone or dolomite or lime or crushed marble or egg shells or a mix of what u can find...not exceeding 2 parts of the total mix)

what I do when mixing things up is use what u can find there are many options sand from outside worked very well just cooked it added some egg shells

so
1 had full Loam
1 hand full worm castings fertilizer
5 hand fulls grit fast draining material
2 parts Alkaline a mix of what u can find

pereskiopsis are very easy to propagate in a short time.

you can also grow them hydroponically in a shot-glass with some nuted water. works great for keeping them straight, they also tend to lose their leaves in direct water, but they still work great for propagating and grafting.

The growth rate is substantially faster than seed grown however faster does not always mean better. It can be useful to get a head start on your project but eventually I return all my plants to soil. San Pedro can be grown indoors, I grow mine outside half of the year and I live on the border zones 5 and 4 so they are hardier than they are often given credit for.

Good luck with your grow, they are much easier to grow than is often imagined. Prepare to lose yourself in an anthrax long new hobby!!

Great work.

As a beginner in the art of growing cacti this helps a lot.

Pereskiopsis on the way now. 5 of them. Hopefully it'll be around 30 in about 5 months.

Thanks for this great thread! I find it very helpful as I am also new to growing cacti.

Great!
I would say that #8, share a few seeds could be good with a slight change, Share Lots of Seeds!!!

Good stuff!

4: Your cacti love the sun and if there is any opportunity for them to drink this is they will reward your with truer to natural growth patterns and healthier overall demeanor. Good CFL lighting, although adequate, is not a replacement for delicious sunshine.

Agreed fully nothing better and more legit then its old faithfull feeder,in areas where the rainy seasons is a bit overwhelming like where i am located im in favor of moving them indoors and growing with a light similiar to indoor marijuana growth as i have heard of peyotes rotting in rainy seasons when left exposed to it,something i would like to know though is humidity a big deal to worry about such as having them sheltered from rain but cold still getting to them,will it affect the cacti somehow or is it something that doesnt matter?

Thanks for the overall info you provided had fun reading through

i wouldn't expose lophs to [excessive] direct sunlight. in the wild, they're usually found in the shade under mesquite trees.

I cannot count how many seedlings I lost to my Cat over the years.
She just seems to love destroying little cactus plants it seems...
Always keep your seedling trays covered or you might regret