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

Family:  Morning Glory (Convulvacea)
Protect from frost
Tropical perennial.  Plant prefers full sun and trellis.  Highest concentration of LSA of any botanical.  Nick seed, soak overnight, and plant in a warm place.  These are top quality seeds at an excellent buy. 
10 seeds/pkt, open pollinated

Ma-huang  (Ma huang) (Ephedra sinica)
Family: Ephedraceae
Hardiness:  to - 40 degrees F.
Perennial, primitive shrub. Native to the steppes of north and northwestern China. Rare offering of the main official species. Does well in pots.  Dried stem is a natural adrenergic stimulant to the central nervous system and a bronchodilator for treating colds and asthma. The whole herb, dried and used in small doses, poses no threat to the health. However, the very young, the very old, and the pregnant mother would best avoid using this stimulating herb. Ma-huang prefers full sun and dry, sandy soils. Seed planting and germination:  The seed is easy to germinate in a warm, sandy medium. Strew the seed on surface of very sandy potting soil (50% sand) and barely cover with more of the same potting soil.  Tamp securely and keep evenly moist until germination, which in the greenhouse or under propagation lights should take about 11 days.  If you are trying to do this outside in the garden it might take longer, as cold nights will prolong germination times.  Basically you want to provide as much control as possible (ie plant in flats, not in the garden dirt) because the seedlings are small and you need to work them up to about 4 inches before transplanting.  After germination, back off on the watering because the young seedlings can easily damp off--this is a desert plant.  We grow the plants in a sand mulch, about 4 inches thick, in the full sun, with moderate watering. They create, in 2 or 3 years, a stubby, woody trunk bristling with the jointed stems. The flower is inconspicuous, but the fruits are quite fascinating--fleshy scales adhered together at the end of the branch, colored orange, gooey and mucilagenous, and very sweet to the taste, containing the paired seeds with their flattened sides lightly clasped together. Cold hardy.
Open Pollinated 50 seeds/pkt.

Please note:  We have newly harvested Ma-huang seed available in bulk.  Give us a call at (541) 846-6704

Note on germination:  Seed gave 80% germination in 11 days at 65 degrees F.  RAC

More notes:  There's a reason why Ephedra sinica is the official herb used for making the Chinese medicine Ma-huang.  It has high concentrations of the various Ephedrine alkaloids and it has them in the naturally balanced state.  Its a whole herb, and can be used in the form of the dried "stems" as a tea.  The tea is used as a bronchial dilator--very helpful for asthmatics, and like coffee, gently stimulating to the CNS (central nervous system).  Its not dangerous when used at reasonable dosage (a cup or two) as an herbal tea.   When the Ephedrine is concentrated (made into a drug, no longer an herb) then it can certainly be dangerous.  We're suggesting using the herb in the traditional manner, at reasonable dosage, not as a white powdered concentrate that can overstimulate the heart! 
In any form, Ma-huang is not a good herb to use if you are pregnant, nursing, very young, very old, or with a preexisting heart condition.  Prudence is recommended!  Other sources of Ma-huang also contain alot of Ephedrine alkaloids.  In general, Ephedra sinica has a higher total alkaloid content than the other species.  Ephedra equisitina is higher in Ephedrine than pseudoephedrine.  Ephedra intermedia is higher in pseudoephedrine than ephedrine.  Ephedrine levels may vary according to how old the plants are, where they are grown, when the seed is harvested, how the herb is processes, whether the nodes are used or not, how long the dried herb has been stored, etc. etc.  Our plants are starters only.  You can't make a useable quantity of dried herb off of them because they are too small--the plants need to be planted out in a good situation and grown out for a couple of years before they get big enough to harvest.  

Please choose "Combination or Custom" shipping at checkout.  Cost of shipping is $9.90 for 1-6 roots, $14.90 for 7-20 roots, $19.90 for  21-60 roots, 61 or more roots--Actual shipping. If you order more than just roots your shipping could be more.

Valerian roots (Valeriana officinalis)
These are single roots, useful for propagation.  Just plant in a pot with the crown at the surface of the soil, or plant in a mellow bed in the garden.  Valerian prefers full sun to part shade and moist, rich soils.  Organically grown live root.

Zhong-ma-huang (Ephedra intermedia)
Family:  Ephedra (Joint Fir)
Hardiness:  -10 degrees F
Rare in the west.  Native to the arid steppes of China and Russia.  Very thick-stemmed and an easy germinator and robust grower, this plant is a secondary source for the Chinese medicine Ma-huang.  This plant contains a higher amount of pseudoephedrine than ephedrine.  Sow seeds just below surface of sandy mix and keep evenly moist and wazrm until germination, then back off on watering so the seedlings don't damp off.  Once they get about 4 inches long you can individuate them and plant to pots.  Grow out for a year in pots before transplanting to landscape.  Give full sun and very fast-draining soil.  50 seeds/pkt $3.95