For those who can remember I posted back here a lot last spring and throughout the summer when I planted some baby yotes. So far all 8 have survived the brisk winter, and since they were too little to go dormant I kept them watered and alive, thank god. Although they were still active during winter they didn't grow hardly at all just maybe got a bit darker in color. They all seem to be happy and healthy. My question is now that its getting a bit warmer out with some more sunshine will they begin to grow at a somewhat normal rate? Or does it have something to do soil nutrition as they've been in the same soil they were planted in, back in April, but I'm hesitant to transplant them until I'm sure they're strong enough to survive the move.
They probably weren't growing due to a lack of sunlight, and possibly high enough temperatures. So yes, the return of the sun should speed the growth rate up. I wouldn't worry about a couple of seedlings soaking up all the nutrition from their pot, haha.
If you are going to give them sun, adjust them gradually to the light. DO NOT put them into direct full sun conditions. You must nurse your cacti on the high levels of light little by little otherwise - death by sunburn.
Yup, think I may have done just that, random week in 70-80's with sunlight I spoiled them with too much too soon, they just got a little brownish/red, but still mostly green. They seem to be fine and is hardly noticeable. Other question is my little guys are 1 week off their 1yr birthday, should I be thinking of transplanting them into their own pots and whatnot or should i plan on them being in the same dish together for another year or so? Their heads arent even as big as a dime yet... I could prob get a picture up if it'd help.
don't feel bad it's a common mistake to sunburn. At least they are doing well now. Im glad to hear they're ok. Keep us updated.
Well, opened the curtains just a bit the other day as I thought they could use just a bit of sun as they all seemed green and happy. I'm an idiot and the one that was burned the most was red when I got home so the curtains will be closed for another week or so. Really hoping they'll adjust to sunlight before summer comes in full swing... April 9th was their birthday, all 8 yote's are now 1 year old, still nervous about two... one is more spaghetti-like than peyote like When should I start giving thought to transplanting them into their own pots?
I think the best way of allowing them to get used to the sun is to give them an increasing amount every day, say starting with maybe 15 minutes and moving up from there if they are not getting burned. Your peyote will probably fatten up with just a bit of time and sunlight. 3 out of 4 of my oldest peyote ended up dying after getting burned this summer/root bound fungus (at least I am pretty sure that is what it was). Anyway, the one that is left is about 7 or 8 mm in diameter and is probably a bit older than a year. I just replanted it a week or two ago. I thought it was going to be a goner but now I am using a flourescent grow light in an aquarium and the cacti are much happier. The natural sunlight here wasn't quite strong/constant enough to allow the peyote to grow short and fat like they wanted to, and then come summer it was just too much sun and they got burned. Needless to say the process is going to go slower this time around. So far fluorescent lights haven't burned any cacti, though.