Cactus, Bolivian Torch          Trichocereus bridgesii            

(Achuma)

Perennial cactus native to Bolivia . This blue-green skinned columnar cactus sports star-shaped clusters of long spines.  It is a traditional sacrament that can easily be grown in a bright window.  Water regularly during the growing season, but water very infrequently through the winter.  Protect from frost.  Inoculate cactus mix with soil taken from around other growing cacti, and make sure the mix is extremely coarse (incorporate coarse, sharp gravel/pumice) in order to support sprouting seeds as they elongate and germinate.  Sow in spring. 

100 seeds/pkt $2.95, Open Pollinated

Those of you who are familiar with starting cacti from seed may ignore these directions. Here are some tips for those of you who are just starting out growing cacti from seed.  You need to use full spectrum grow lights or a good greenhouse.  You can't just germinate them on a windowsill in an apartment--they need bright light and very warm temperatures for germination and growth!  For starters, you can buy cactus mix at the nursery supply store, but most of us make our own.  Here's the common recipe:  50% white pumice, 25% coarse, sharp sand, and 25% organic matter such as coir or compost.  Mix thoroughly and inoculate with a handful of cactus mix taken from around growing cacti--this will provide bacterial/fungal substrate that supports the growth of healthy cacti.  Use gallon pots or smaller.  Fill to 1/2 inch from rim with your cactus mix, then provide a thin (1/4 inch) layer of sifted mix as a seedbed. To make the sifted mix, run your cactus mix through a 1/8 inch screen. Sprinkle seed on surface and mist or water by setting pot in a bowl of water.  Do not dislodge seeds or seedlings by rambunctious watering--its counterproductive.  Many growers stretch plastic wrap over the top of the pot to create a mini-greenhouse effect for germination, then remove the plastic once the seedlings are up and going.  Set the pot in the light greenhouse or below full-spectrum grow lights. Optimal temperature is 70 to 90 degrees F.   Germination is dependent on temperature, light, moon phase and the species you're working with, but generally occurs between 1 and 5 weeks after planting.  If the seeds do not germinate, allow the pot to completely dry out, then start over.  This sometimes jump starts the process.  Once the seedlings appear, keep them propped up with pieces of pumice or gravel.  Remove plastic wrap, but keep evenly watered for the first 6 months.   After that, during the summer, water every 3 to 5 days, allowing the surface to dry between waterings.  Water not at all or very infrequently during the winter. Many growers allow their cacti to grow closely together for the first year or two, then transplant to single pots once they have attained sufficient size to be readily handled.   That's it in a nutshell.  Richo

Cactus, Giant Saguaro                       (Carnegia gigantea)

Family: Cactaceae

Cactus, Peruvian Torch                      (Trichocereus peruvianus)

Family: Cactaceae

Native to the Andes.  Rare and powerful ally similar to San Pedro.  Zerophytic, spiny plants prefer full sun, perfectly draining soils and little water.  Cactus seed requires surface sowing and warm, humid conditions for germ.  Standard potting soils for cactus contain at least 50% pumice or coarse, sharp sand.  Inoculate potting soil with soil taken from around other, established cacti.  This helps prevent molds (damping off) during critical germ phase.  Or, surface sow seeds around already established cacti.

100 seeds/pkt

Note:  The photographs are macro shots of the seeds germinating.

Those of you who are familiar with starting cacti from seed may ignore these directions. Here are some tips for those of you who are just starting out growing cacti from seed.  You need to use full spectrum grow lights or a good greenhouse.  You can't just germinate them on a windowsill in an apartment--they need bright light and very warm temperatures for germination and growth!  For starters, you can buy cactus mix at the nursery supply store, but most of us make our own.  Here's the common recipe:  50% white pumice, 25% coarse, sharp sand, and 25% organic matter such as coir or compost.  Mix thoroughly and inoculate with a handful of cactus mix taken from around growing cacti--this will provide bacterial/fungal substrate that supports the growth of healthy cacti.  Use gallon pots or smaller.  Fill to 1/2 inch from rim with your cactus mix, then provide a thin (1/4 inch) layer of sifted mix as a seedbed. To make the sifted mix, run your cactus mix through a 1/8 inch screen. Sprinkle seed on surface and mist or water by setting pot in a bowl of water.  Do not dislodge seeds or seedlings by rambunctious watering--its counterproductive.  Many growers stretch plastic wrap over the top of the pot to create a mini-greenhouse effect for germination, then remove the plastic once the seedlings are up and going.  Set the pot in the light greenhouse or below full-spectrum grow lights. Optimal temperature is 70 to 90 degrees F.   Germination is dependent on temperature, light, moon phase and the species you're working with, but generally occurs between 1 and 5 weeks after planting.  If the seeds do not germinate, allow the pot to completely dry out, then start over.  This sometimes jump starts the process.  Once the seedlings appear, keep them propped up with pieces of pumice or gravel.  Remove plastic wrap, but keep evenly watered for the first 6 months.   After that, during the summer, water every 3 to 5 days, allowing the surface to dry between waterings.  Water not at all or very infrequently during the winter. Many growers allow their cacti to grow closely together for the first year or two, then transplant to single pots once they have attained sufficient size to be readily handled.   That's it in a nutshell.  Richo

Cactus, Pitajaya                                  (Echinocereus triglochidiatus)

Family: Cactaceae

100 seeds/pkt $2.95, open-pollinated

Cactus, San Pedro        Trichocereus pachanoi     

(Achuma, San Pedro Cactus, Washuma)

Perennial cactus native to South America. This is a hard-to find offering of seed of San Pedro, which is unusual because most of the San Pedros found growing in the US are from sterile clones.  These seeds, however, are from vibrantly flowered and fruiting cacti that are open-pollinated, fertile and choice.  This blue-green skinned columnar cactus is nearly spineless.  It is a traditional sacrament that can easily be grown in a bright window.  Water regularly during the growing season, but water very infrequently through the winter.  Protect from frost.  Inoculate cactus mix with soil taken from around other growing cacti, and make sure the mix is extremely coarse (incorporate coarse, sharp gravel/pumice) in order to support sprouting seeds as they elongate and germinate.  Sow warm and humid. 

30 seeds/pkt $4.95, Open Pollinated

Those of you who are familiar with starting cacti from seed may ignore these directions. Here are some tips for those of you who are just starting out growing cacti from seed.  You need to use full spectrum grow lights or a good greenhouse.  You can't just germinate them on a windowsill in an apartment--they need bright light and very warm temperatures for germination and growth!  For starters, you can buy cactus mix at the nursery supply store, but most of us make our own.  Here's the common recipe:  50% white pumice, 25% coarse, sharp sand, and 25% organic matter such as coir or compost.  Mix thoroughly and inoculate with a handful of cactus mix taken from around growing cacti--this will provide bacterial/fungal substrate that supports the growth of healthy cacti.  Use gallon pots or smaller.  Fill to 1/2 inch from rim with your cactus mix, then provide a thin (1/4 inch) layer of sifted mix as a seedbed. To make the sifted mix, run your cactus mix through a 1/8 inch screen. Sprinkle seed on surface and mist or water by setting pot in a bowl of water.  Do not dislodge seeds or seedlings by rambunctious watering--its counterproductive.  Many growers stretch plastic wrap over the top of the pot to create a mini-greenhouse effect for germination, then remove the plastic once the seedlings are up and going.  Set the pot in the light greenhouse or below full-spectrum grow lights. Optimal temperature is 70 to 90 degrees F.   Germination is dependent on temperature, light, moon phase and the species you're working with, but generally occurs between 1 and 5 weeks after planting.  If the seeds do not germinate, allow the pot to completely dry out, then start over.  This sometimes jump starts the process.  Once the seedlings appear, keep them propped up with pieces of pumice or gravel.  Remove plastic wrap, but keep evenly watered for the first 6 months.   After that, during the summer, water every 3 to 5 days, allowing the surface to dry between waterings.  Water not at all or very infrequently during the winter. Many growers allow their cacti to grow closely together for the first year or two, then transplant to single pots once they have attained sufficient size to be readily handled.   That's it in a nutshell.  Richo

Calabash Tree, Mexican (Crescentia alata)
(Mexican Calabash Tree, Jicaro, Morrito, Winged Calabash)
Family:  Bignoniaceae
Evergreen tree to 30 feet, native to the tropical americas.  Protect from frost.  The stout, spongy-barked trunk gives rise to sturdy, spreading branches, which are a preferred resting place for orchids and epiphytes. The night-blooming flowers are large, yellow and purple, bell-shaped and pollinated by bats.  These (the flowers, not the bats, well, partially the bats) transform into the globular fruits that hang heavily.  These fruits are hard-shelled and gourdlike.  They are used extensively to make containers, bottles, cantines, flatware, utensils and musical instruments, including maracas. Trees prefer full sun to part shade and moderate to heavy watering.  They will work as a container plant, kept indoors during the winter. Scarify, soak overnight and sow warm.  10 seeds/pkt $3.95   

Calamintha sylvatica

I find this to be one of the better perennial medicinals for small gardens due to its compact habit, long flowering, and aromatic foliage.  Easily started from seed, the plant prefers full sun to part shade and dryish, well-drained soils.
Organically grown  50 seeds/pkt.

Calendula seed set
Family: Asteraceae

Days to maturity: 40 to 50 days to flower.
Annual or short-lived perennial.  Native to southern Europe. Does well in pots.  Calendula flowers are a premier antiseptic and healing agent when made into salve, succus, tincture, or simply masticated and applied to the injury.  Inhibits inflammation, promotes formation of granulation tissue in wounds.  Bright yellow-orange dye-plant.  Plant prefers full sun, any soils.  Direct-seed in spring or summer in garden, or grow as a container plant. 

Calendula, Orange   (Calendula officinalis)
(Orange Calendula)
Family:  Asteracea
Annual.  40 to 50 days to maturity.  Native to southern Europe.  Calendula flowers are the premier antiseptic and healing agent when made into salve, succus, tincture, or simply masticated and applied to the injury.  Inhibits inflammation, promotes formation of granulation tissue in wounds.  The flowers, when boiled, yield a bright yellow-orange dye. Sow the seed directly in the garden in the spring, or grow as a container plant (the British don't call it "pot marigold" for nothing).  Space plants 6 inches apart.  This strain produces predominantly orange flowers, measuring up to 3 inches in diameter. They are exceptionally pretty, and make excellent medicine.  In fact, we prefer to grow this cultivar for dried calendula flowers used for making the infused oil and the tincture--they are very rich in the flavonoids that help make Calendula such a good antiinflammatory. 
Organically grown 50 seeds/pkt.

Wild Calendula (Calendula arvensis)
Vigorous self-seeder. A rare offering of the parent plant of our domesticated Calendulas. Makes bushy plants with many small, star-like flowers. 
Organically grown  20 seeds/pkt.

Cancer Bush (Sutherlandia frutescens) seeds
Syn. Lessertia frutescens
(Kankerbos)
With its deeply divided, gray-green leaves and large, showy, bright scarlet flowers and fascinating inflated seedpods, Cancer Bush is in high demand as a horticultural oddity and decorative garden plant. Plant is used as a bitter tonic and a general panacea. Thoroughly scarify each seed and sow warm.  Germ in 10 to 30 days, and ongoing (see extra seedling coming up in photo).
Open Pollinated 20 seeds/pkt.