You guys have so much to share! I love it, thank you so much. I think I'll try that fan idea and I'll be reading that article on hydrogen peroxide.
I try to grow my flowers from seed as much as possible. I built an indoor lighting contraption for about $35. from a plan I found (pic below). I use the natural flour bulbs. I also use a timer, on for 16 hours a day and keep the lights 2-4 inches away from the seedlings. When I sow, I mix 1 cup of water, 1 tablespoon 3% hydrogen peroxide and 9 cups of Jiffy seedling mix. That fills 1 flat of two-inch square pots. After I'm done sowing I bottom-water the flats one quart of water at a time until the pots have wicked up water to the top of the soil. I use 1 tablespoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide per quart of water to prevent damping off.
Whenever the mix appears dry and the flat feels light, I bottom-water the flats with room temperature water and HP to prevent damping off. I try to keep the mix moist, but never soggy. So far that has always worked to prevent damping off. I water the flats only one quart of water at a time until the pots have wicked up water to the top of the soil. Then if I have to, I drain the excess water. I also mist the seedlings with the 3% HP and water mixture as another defense.
Two things about building your own grow lights out of PVC and other hardware are: #1, don't tell the sales guy what you're making. I got many, "Oh yeah, suuuuurrrrrre, your just growing flowers, uh huh, suuuuuurrrrrrre." types of comments. Arizona was going through a ballot measure, at the time, to legalize something else you may grow indoors under lights, and #2, watch out if you have visitors. Once when my in-laws were visiting, my father-in-law went to the hardware store, bought some long pieces of PVC pipe and turned my grow light stand into a clothes rack for their visit. Hmpff! And about the jumping cholla...I once got a spine clear through a pinky toe, sticking out on both sides. The ends of the spines have barbs. We had to cut off a barbed end and yank it through with a pair of pliers. Despite the many assurances that it wouldn't hurt, I would like to respectfully state for the record that it hurt. A lot. I do not recommend growing, buying, getting nearish to, or touching this cactus for this reason.
