The Tropical Fruit Forum

All of my group order yangmei are dead now. I agree Kevin, I purchase 2-3 larger cerifera in 3 gallon pots, mail order. They all died on me in 3 months. Even the smaller cerifera from Etsy all died, almost like the bare root yangmei, dies when it feels like it. I better just plant all my seeds from the fresh fruit orders.

All mine are seed grown. Got 20 or so growing, now about 2 feet high. I've lost way too much on grafted trees.

I'll let you know after this winter!

Here is a picture of my Qinmi loaded with fruit. Here is a also a picture of my DennisxQinmi which is looking pretty big. I also built a living shade structure to train passion fruit vines up.

I don't know what the secret is. I guess lots of mulch and plenty of water.

Quote from: Alippincott on October 04, 2025, 11:14:20 AM

I got one from Kaz and it is slightly fuzzy on bottom. My other white sapote has much fuzzier leaves.

My other one Vernon is just like a paper no fuzzy bottom, good to know Younghan's Gold has slightly fuzzy bottom side ...

From a previous post, Kaz says, "I just wondering myself why some varieties such as Younghan's Gold has yellow flesh when ripe but the leaves have no fuzz underneath it."

So now I am pretty confused too.

Yes, I dipped the cut end using light Hormex #1 Rooting Powder on cacti to help get things going and develop a better root system.  I tried many things to get that species rooted and nothing worked.  Shade, semi-shade, sun, soil media swap, straight pumice and perlite, cacti soil, rooting hormone, and even a recut.  Nothing I did seemed to coax the roots out for that species unlike the others.  I had talked to some other more experienced Stenocereus growers and basically had the same thing to say about Thurberi, it's not impossible probably but just not anywhere as easy as the others.

Some cacti species are very easy to root like dragonfruit, others not so much.  It is the reason why you do not hear anyone discussing rooting saguaro cactus because it is near impossible or very extemely low % success rate.

Yesterday I just went out and grafted my thurberi cuttings to an opuntia stump based on what you said. Hopefully it takes!

Very happy to report the little stellatus pup I got from SDpirate had a much bigger than expected clump of roots and has now received its first watering. The much larger quaretaroensis has still put out no roots as of now. I’m hoping the grow lights I put them under help pick up the pace for these slow pokes. I definitely did the right thing getting them out of the rain though, my opuntia have stretch marks/mini fractures from the amount of water they’re getting outside

Waiting for cacti cuttings to root has to be the most excruciating process a gardener can endure lol. 2 of my 3 quaretaroensis still have not made roots. I have heard of it taking over 1.5 years for some people depending on how large the cutting was. I have tried to buy stenocereus thurberi cuttings, but each time something goes wrong. Usually the seller tries to unpot and sees that it doesn't have roots even in a pot for a long time. Another time I bought one from someone who had it in a pot for a year, I went to repot it and there was tons of rot with no roots! Stellatus have been quick for me. Same with gummosus. My fricii has started to pup in 3 places, which I am taking as a good sign? Hopefully roots follow soon. I have a large tarp over my cacti in preparation for this winter to prevent water getting on them.

Cross posting for visibility/record

Corryocactus spp. - Sanky
I cannot understand how this cactus isnt better known. This is the best cactus fruit I have tasted hands down- roughly the size of a baseball and good out of hand or juiced and made into a Sanky-ade. More tolerant of cold and aridity than lemons, deserves much wider cultivation.

From reports that I have seen, it is hardly sweet at all, mostly sour. Is this consistent with your tasting?

At my work I have a miracle berry tree. It appreciates the climate control that never drops below 65. It produces taste-changing glycoproteins that make sour things sweet for an hour. Allows you to snack on "sweet" things without the calories. Limes are my favorite. It also is an interesting conversation starter and a popular favorite around the office where you can have "flavor tripping parties".

It would probably need an additional grow light though. I don't think there are any options for plants making fruit under low light conditions.

I think I will take your advice on pitangatuba. Mine are in full sun and I think I will dig them up and put them in a shadier part of the yard. They fruited a ton, but look a little sad and are dropping fruit prematurely.

We've started a group order to import by permit Raul's amazing sounding Ilama,

List and description found here. All Ilama seeds are $2 each other than Sangre de Toro which is $2.50 each.

https://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=59623.0

In addition Raul has a variety of Luc's Garcinia seeds. Price is perfect seed. Got 100% germination from his Luc's seeds by the way and have planted over 50 so far.

Regular $2
Jumbo $3
Mango $8
Orangey $3

Description found here for the Mango Luc's
https://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=59001.msg563977#msg563977

Please PM if interested in joining the order.

Still waiting on my Garcinia seeds to sprout. Crossing my fingers!

Quote from: CharlieLoon on July 19, 2024, 12:00:25 AM

I have had lousy luck with grafting. I just started learning.

All six attempts back in early June failed. I tried doing all as whip and tongue graft.

I tried again with six new grafts (the rootstock are all still alive so I figured I'd just shave a bit more off and keep trying...). One is sort of hanging in there--perhaps half of the scion has died back, but I grafted it about two and a half weeks ago (most died much quicker if they failed) so I'm hoping some of it continues to hold.

All I want is one Xie Shan...

I don't particularly enjoy grafting so if anyone sold a Xie Shan I would just but it at a nursery. But unfortunately they're not sold anywhere I can find in CA.

If my last graft fails I'll order more budwood and see if the third time is a charm.

The rubber band sounds like a good idea.

What kind of buddy tape did you buy?

Did you ever get your Xie Shan graft to take?  I just attempted my first graft a week ago trying for xie shan as well.  I really hope it takes first try.  I'm switching up a young tango tree I have to hopefully a Xie shan because of its early ripening, which hopefully will be more successful in the sunlight I get.

I found my most successful graft type is bud grafting in early spring. I did like 12 bud grafts, and I had all 12 take, including one that looked pretty bad. I did 7 Xie Shan and 5 Yosemite Gold.

Does anyone know the best orientation to plant a Lucs Garcinia seed? Does it go point down aka vertical, or on its side aka horizontal? Or maybe it just doesn't matter?

Here are my Stenocereus cuttings:
Querateroensis Red, white, yellow
Fricii
Stellatus
Gummosus
Thurberi