Cactus Heaven, Malta

I have just had a batch of seed arrive today from Cactus Heaven on Malta. They include M.tezontle ML690 and a number of Repp field collections. To be honest I forgot I had ordered these so it was a nice surprise when they landed on the door mat this morning. I have never ordered from here before. Has any one had seed from here in the pass and how did you find the germination.

No, never tried this one.

No, nor I, but I have heard good things about them, but not sure whether that was seed or plants, just a generally favourable feeling. No doubt you will let us know how they do!

An update on the seed from Cactus Heaven. The seed was sown on 20-5-08, 17 days ago, using my normal method. Mix of 1 part soil based compost, 1 part sharpe sand and 1 part vermiculite. Pots stood in hot water and seed sown on th surface of the compost and then placed into a heated propagater.
18 packets of seed were sown out of which only 8 packets germinated. The following packets failed to germinate...meridioseri SB03, isotensis Rep771, pottsii SB324, bernalensis MBF 138, crassior FO-273, centrailfera Rep 1131, gasterantha Rep 943, tlalocii FO-223, xaltianguensis Lau 1155 and slevinii Lau 036.
Out of the 8 packets that did germinate only 2 lots, tetrancistra LZ 792 and boolii Lau 772, gave good germination. The remaining 6 packets, tezontle ML 690, nivosa, picta Lau 1063, miegeana Lau 612, pygmaea Rep 1369 and spinossima 'Super Red' produced only 1 or 2 seedlings each.

Sounds like one to avoid then! Shame as they do have some interesting species available.

It is a shame because, has you say, they have a lot of interesting stuff. I mentioned Cactus Heaven to Bill Maddams at the AGM. His comment was that he had grown a number of species of Mamm's from their seed in the past and had found that what was written on the packet was not what grew. I think that this company will have to go on to the 'last resort list'.