A brief guide to growing Lagochilus inebrians

with photos!

the gist:

terracotta pot, 50/50 organic/inorganic (like Stone Eaters) substrate, 7-7-7 cactus fertilizer (like Super Kabuto) in summer, needs full sun (or multiple plant lights), water every 5-6 days in summer, every 2-3 weeks in winter, computer fans pointed at it constantly, dehumidifier - and watch out for spider mites

Germination

Fresh seeds may have less difficulty germinating, but still need cold stratification

Cold stratification works

Methods recommended:

• Gibberellic acid
• H2O2 bath

Seedling

At this stage not very sensitive to humidity

May droop when needs watering, bounces back quickly

Young Plant

Cactus mix soil with sand/perilite and calcinated clay, granite, zeolite, and vermiculite

Unglazed clay pot, water from bottom if possible

Sensitive to humidity and overwatering - appears similar to "damping off" - unclear if due to fungal infection (leaves will turn yellow and dry up - no visible mold or spots)

Desiccant dehumidifier and light fan running constantly most effective - keep rh below 30% if at all possible (most consumer models of dehumidifier will not be effective). even with a good dehumidifier, you will still have some die off, particularly in spring.

Leaves can burn (maybe if over fertilized) - they turn purplish red, then brown

In captivity, spider mites can be a persistent issue - Predatory mites most effective

Mature Plant

Will develop thick, sturdy caudex - fans seem to help with this

Humidity, overwatering, and spider mites remain challenges

Slightly more forgiving to mistakes

Flowers hermaphroditic, white, can be pollinated with small brush

Some Guesses:

It responds well to fertilizer and regular watering:

• “The most suitable dates for sowing were October or early March, and to obtain maximum yields 2-3 irrigations per season were required. The best results were obtained with a spacing of 10 plants per m. of row with 50 cm. between rows. Two applications of complete fertilizer, in the rosette and bud-formation stages, increased the yield of the medicinal raw material by 42.3%.” - “The cultivation of Lagochilus inebrians,” Ikramov, M.I. (1964)

Soil should be alkaline, based on two sources of info

• “Rare endemic species of the western Pamir-Alay and Kyzylkum. It is spread at the Nuratau, the Zirabulak and Ziadin mountains, the Zaravshan and Turkestan ranges; the Kyzylkum: the Kuldjuktau (the Djizakh, the Samarkand, the Navoi and Bukhara regions). Inhabits clayish, frequently clay- soils of foothills up to 1200 m.” - The Red Data Book of the Republic of Uzbekistan


• “The desert soils of Uzbekistan evolved under semi-arid and arid conditions. They are characterized by low organic matter less than 1 %), a high level of calcium, often associated with gypsum, and a low agricultural potential. The soils are composed of particles of varying sizes, are frequently saline, with unfavourable water-physical and physico-mechanical properties, poor structural characteristics, and often a high level of compaction. Most of these soils have evolved from alluvial, colluvial or aeolian loessic deposits with little weathering of the parent rock. They have been intensively studied for their agricultural development potential because of the availability of irrigation water, mainly from the Amu-Darya river (Letolle and Mainguet 1993). They are alkaline with a pH above seven.” - Rangelands of the arid and semi-arid zones in Uzbekistan (G. Gintzburger, K. N. Toderich, B. K. Mardonov and M. M. Mahmudov))

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