- Joined
- Nov 7, 2012
- Messages
- 5,172
- Location (City and/or State)
- South of Southern California, but not Mexico
Hey All,
So I've sent out six more samples last week, and approaching 20 more tomorrow.
I had some trouble drying, our local humidity spiked. Most people who study Opuntia, plant physiologists, breeders for new cultivars for specific traits, and people looking for the next best nutricutical use 45C (113F )as an upper drying limit to preserve near 99.xx % large molecule nutrients and compounds. So I've been using 110F as that is where the proportional thermostat sits at best.
Opuntia is a pretty interesting plant, there are 100's of species and many cultivars of a few of them. They all have a few traits in common, like even the most spineless still have tiny micro spines. Non have anthocyanins, but rather have betalains a class of pigments that do much of the same work, but yet are different. That makes even the same shade of green (chlorophyll, yet another pigment) look different to a tortoise's eye.
But I digress, samples are going out tomorrow, and folks I told next week, will get theirs mailed this week, so delivered next week.
I am making another different size piece, this would be what I call crumbles. The re-wetting capability is much higher. but it is crumbles, not pieces.
I have kept and extra vigilant eye on the pancakes, my groups most dedicated to eating dry opuntia, and they almost seem, somewhat like Egyptians, to spend time looking in this spot and that for some dry morsel they can eat. But unlike the Egyptians, the pancakes will run to fresh over dry right away. The Egyptians show no such strong preference, they are hunt and peck predators of plants pieces.
I am thinking best to try re-wetting it no matter what. About a 15 minute soak or so, much like dry pellets, and it softens a great deal. I let some soak overnight, and it did not seem to be more soft at that point.
Please share your thoughts about Cactus Chips here or send me a PM, call me or text me 215-483-7675 (my phone was out for three days this week, sorry about that). I have included a label of sorts with the samples sent out last Saturday and those I will send out tomorrow. If you think some better text would work, please feel free to suggest it. Will
So I've sent out six more samples last week, and approaching 20 more tomorrow.
I had some trouble drying, our local humidity spiked. Most people who study Opuntia, plant physiologists, breeders for new cultivars for specific traits, and people looking for the next best nutricutical use 45C (113F )as an upper drying limit to preserve near 99.xx % large molecule nutrients and compounds. So I've been using 110F as that is where the proportional thermostat sits at best.
Opuntia is a pretty interesting plant, there are 100's of species and many cultivars of a few of them. They all have a few traits in common, like even the most spineless still have tiny micro spines. Non have anthocyanins, but rather have betalains a class of pigments that do much of the same work, but yet are different. That makes even the same shade of green (chlorophyll, yet another pigment) look different to a tortoise's eye.
But I digress, samples are going out tomorrow, and folks I told next week, will get theirs mailed this week, so delivered next week.
I am making another different size piece, this would be what I call crumbles. The re-wetting capability is much higher. but it is crumbles, not pieces.
I have kept and extra vigilant eye on the pancakes, my groups most dedicated to eating dry opuntia, and they almost seem, somewhat like Egyptians, to spend time looking in this spot and that for some dry morsel they can eat. But unlike the Egyptians, the pancakes will run to fresh over dry right away. The Egyptians show no such strong preference, they are hunt and peck predators of plants pieces.
I am thinking best to try re-wetting it no matter what. About a 15 minute soak or so, much like dry pellets, and it softens a great deal. I let some soak overnight, and it did not seem to be more soft at that point.
Please share your thoughts about Cactus Chips here or send me a PM, call me or text me 215-483-7675 (my phone was out for three days this week, sorry about that). I have included a label of sorts with the samples sent out last Saturday and those I will send out tomorrow. If you think some better text would work, please feel free to suggest it. Will