Mini-Show Cactus October 2021: Miniature (3 inches or less)
Mini-Show Succulent October 2021: Miniature (3 inches or less)

Rod has grown both cacti and succulents from seed and will describe his process. This is one presentation you will not want to miss.

My cactus and succulent passions originated in 1978, while I was working in the desert southwest as a mineral exploration geologist.  I have traveled widely in North America, Argentina, Chile, South Africa and Europe to learn which succulents could be added to my ever-increasing collection of cold tolerant plants, grown outside year around in the Denver, Colorado metro area.

I have five different gardens, on about one acre, that allow me to explore the hardiness of thousands of different cacti and other succulents in different settings and microclimates.  All of these plants are subjected to below zero Fahrenheit every winter, including polar vortexes that may arrive in the fall and spring, dropping the temperatures from 60-70F to near or below zero in less than 48 hours.

I have grown rare plants from seed successfully for many years in a green house setting and under lights on a propagation heating matt.  Most of my seedlings go into my garden, usually within 18 months of germination.  I find young plants form much stronger root systems and, in marginally cold tolerant species, develop much more cold resistance quickly than mature specimens.

I have served on the board of the CSSA since January, 2019 and am currently vice president.

Conservation of succulents is a major interest as is development, allowing the CSSA to eventually play a strong financial role in curtailing poaching and increasing growing from seed both with hobbyists and commercial growers.