I actually had a longer post but my computer decided to delete it for me. Lovely machine

Anyway, here is some pics:













These are my first attempts at germinating cactus from seed, this season will be better

Good work Trig and they all look real healthy especially for this time of year. What sp are the little Astros ?

Cheers HN, am really surprised actually as it's pretty crap here for plants in the winter, I just kept them moist but not soaked all winter and they have even grown a bit, no bottom heat or anything, all out in my hothouse(which is bloody cold right now )

They are just plain old Astro asterias (Texas?? Can't remember, would have to check out the label, definitey A asterias though) these guys were started at the end of summer and survived the winter no problems, gee cacti can be tough little buggers!
Might put up a few more pics tomorrow, I have more seedlings growing.

Excellent trig! How old are the lil trichos? you put the seeds down in 07 or 08?

I guess you have a good location for seedlings, living in the shade and all

Smartarse!!! Yeah mostly 07, some were 08, they would probably be larger but many got transplanted due to being in a crappy mix. In a coupla weeks it will be so hot an sunny that things will have to be put under cover etc. really annoying living on a south facing slope grrr.

Lotsa trichos in there PD got glauca, tersheckii, spach, schikendantzii, pachanoi, lots of bridgies, some peru, pasacana, SS02 X Juul's Giant, bridge X kimura's giant, bridge X luther burbank, p X sp, b X pach, yeah I went abit trich crazy, got alot of other stuff, this season there will be more mexicans, oh yeah!!

nice seedlings mate, can't wait till this sun come out so mine can get a bit bigger.

I got them from D @ Herbalistics in a trade except the SS02 X Juul's G which came from somewhere else, though can't remember now. If you request a catalogue from Sacred Succulents in the US they have many more unusual Tricho hybrids available, well unusual for us Aussie grower's anyway

They still have some here though:

http://www.herbalistics.com.au/shop/index.php?cPath=3_24

Oh and don't put them in the sun yet intense, they will burn.

Ask PD about how he gets his last season seedlings to 10cm+ though, he is the master of Tricho seed germination.

What's your secret PD mate?

well, i could go on and on about how i go about growing my trichos from seed but it would all be hot air. Truth is im still trying to work out the best way to go about it and those 10cm+ seedlings you talk of are just a stroke of good fortune so far, although it taught me a bit more. You may think im a master but try tellin that to the hundreds of tricho seedlings i have fried with too much light, heat or not enuff moisture. I think at present im still trying to find a good method that im comfortable/satisfied with which is mainly a greenhouse setting using natural light rather than fluoro or HID lighting, this being the first year doing so and going rather swimmingly i may add.................fingers crossed for summer.

moisture - they like it lots
roots - wont start really growing till they have a good amount of these
size - dont prick them lil babies out too quick
light - dont be in too much of a rush to show em tha sun
nutes - they love em

Sounds like common sense.

I have just drilled holes in most of my takeaway containers and taped the holes like you suggested. Makes more and more sense when I think about it.

I reckon natural light is the go, I have never raised seedlings under lights and I have had decent results so far.

It's good that you are trialling all these methods as we can all learn from your mistakes

Still think your the master though