Howdy,
Cactus and succulents are fairly slow-growing...some sprout faster than others, some take up to a year to germinate.

Is the soil/container setup good?
So far, your cactus seem to be enjoying their living arrangement, so I'd let them be. It looks like they're spaced far enough so when it's time to separate, you'll have room to uplift. Also, roots shouldn't grow close, you don't want to spend hours untangling different cactus. :) The pot looks larger than 4"..How many babies are in all?
Normally, bark is mixed with in with soil..
Some cactus/succulents require shallow containers, others deep, but babies do best in shallow pots.

I water them w/water/fert everytime....
The fertilizer isn't harming your cactus, but I'd refrain from doing so every time you water. Do you reduce dossage? What type of fertilizer are you using? Chemical or organic?

What window should they be...
South windows are best..Keep an eye on them since we're talking newly sprouted plants. If they were in south during summer w/o burning, they should do okay next spring..When you first set them in a south window, keep watch, especially since they're being wintered under artificial lights. Perhaps you can start off an hour a day, then two, etc. Or, keep tray a few feet away from the window, gradually placing closer.

In winter should I use light,,,,
If you can keep them near a window and artificial light, IMO, babies will grow sturdier/stronger. I don't know where you're located or how much sun you get...location makes a difference.

It's been six months, do they look okay...
Again, location makes a difference..What are their heights?

My weak one....
Don't give up on the weak baby..give it time..at least until summer, unless it starts to rot/softens/mushy..

Maybe you should mist/spray instead of water. Then again, as long as your cactus are doing well, perhaps you shouldn't change watering habits. I would cut back on fertilizer, but that's up to you.

So far, all your cacti look fine..healthy and green.
Did the packet contain all cactus or cactus and succulents?
Good luck, Toni

actual measurements of pot is 7"Lx5"Wx2.5"deep (i was guessing in the first post.

15 babies, 1 sickly one.

i used bark and charcoal in the bottom because the pack said coarse gravel and charcoal on the bottom so i just used what i had. is there any problem with this?

i am using schultz cactus plus with micronutrients liquid plant food 2-7-7, pretty sure is chemical. it says 7 drops per quart(32oz)for everytime you water, or 14 drops for a quart of water for feeding every 1-2 a month. but i use a 16oz container so i use 4 drop for 16 oz. so no i don't dillute. should i be dilluting?

gotchya on the window setting for summer, but does window location matter in the winter?

heights are about 1/4" -1/2inch for a 6month grow.

packet just say cactus mix here is the list:
saguaro, cane cholla, versicolor cholla, compass barrel, foshook barrel, strawberry hedgehog, florence dedgehog, organ pipe, old man cactus, dollar prickly pear, coastal prickly pear, small desert prickly pear, large desert prickly pear, santa ria prickly pear, puple prickly pear,candon.(ohh my wrists)

Hi Wannabe..

What a collection of Cacti! I hope they all germinate. The Prickly Pears sound nice..Purple? I'd like to see that.
Some may take longer to germinate..hope you didn't lose seeds when your kitty-cats decided to play golf with your plants..Shame on the kittys..lol..
Pets get into everything!!

Nope, nothing wrong with following directions...There's no one way to sow seeds. Whatever works is the way to go.

Fertilizer is best used when plants are growing..In winter, most plants go dormant, especially C&S's..So, it's best to stop or reduce the amount.
The directions for fertiilzing is mainly for established plants. Some manufacturers' printed labels state to stop feeding when plants go dormant, others lead people to believe to fert yr round..after all, they want to sell their product..lol..Know what I mean?
Most plant book authors explain when to and not to fertlize. There's a ton of info online too.

Plants have been growing in windows for years..lol..South or west exposures are the brighest. Additional lighting makes a big differnece.
If artificial light is your only option, stick with it. I would think both sun and lights would hasten growth..
Heat also quickens growth..since placing Pachy seeds on a heating tray, they really took off. I was shocked. But two other types of seeds haven't done a thing..either they're goners, or slow to germinate.
That's why I said some cactus germinate quicker then others.

Well, good luck..keep up the great work..Toni

yup purple prickly pear is what the pack says.

yeah, i was just thinking what if i have some slow germinators still left in the soil. that would be a great spring or summer suprise.

alright i'll stop with the ferts in the winter but continue to water straight till spring.

question, do they go dorment on their own or do have my compact flourescent light on them keep them from going dormet?

what are "Pachy" seeds?

do all babies look the same? if not then i have 13 of one kind, 1 different kind and 1 other different kind?

can i grow cactus outside and leave it there(in the ground) throughout winter, snow and all? i see them in my area all the time. or are these people just crazy?

'Pachy' seeds are the Pachycereus Pringlei, aka 'Cardon'.

The Prickly Pear will probably be the largest next summer, since it'll grow the fastest. The saguaro and 'cardon' are cousins so they will be small for quite some time.

If you can keep them in the same southern exposure all year that would be great. They should be getting ready to sleep so natural light would be getting less this time of year and days will be getting longer in January, so I don't bother with artificial light.

I water mine with a spritz of water (soak a paper towel and squeeze) once a month, on the first, from October to April, twice a month in the other months, fertilizing only during the summer.. If the plants are located in a warmer room, (near radiators or something) water a tad more often.

Sagebrush

Sorry about the Pachy confusion..Actually, I meant Pachypodium seeds..the species is P. lealii.
Warmth and Superthrive hastened germination. I've sown other Pachypodiums before, under lights and heat, yet they never sprouted this fast.

Sage, when you say you water with a spritz of water, (soak a paper towel and squeeze) were you talking about seeds/seedlings? or mature succulents?

Wannabe..you asked if Opuntia's are hardy, if you can keep outside year round. If Prickly Pear goes dormant, I don't think it's for long.
Wannabe, it's best knowing which species you've got there..Seems to me Opuntias prefer cool temps, even as low as 30, but before planting them in the ground, find out which type/s you have, research and/or ask around.

Google, purple leaf optunia, see what it says about your Prickly Pear. Where do you live, which state?
One thing you can do is, say you get several of the same type. Plant a few in the garden when weather permits, and pot the others.
After your pp matures, post pics or research opuntias. Some sites list numerous types/colors.
Someone on Ebay had a purple leaf optunia on auction. I don't know if it's stil available, but when I check Ebay I'll see if I can find it..sellers usually list zones plants are hardy. Do you know your zone?

There's an online nursery that sells cold-hardy cactus and succulents..Opuntias, Sedum/Hens & Chicks, etc. Hope I saved it to favorites..if I did, I'll post the name/addy.
But it's important you know your zone.

BTW, keep a journal. You don't have to buy anything expensive, even a notebook will do..Jot down name of plant, date sown, progress/date and height. It's so much easier going back to your notebook for info. I love my journal/s..lol..
I jot everything down. Places and dates plants and seeds are purchased. Size of plants upon arrival. Dates plants are fertilized, Superthrived, etc. Names and dates plants flower or berry. And so much more.
It's really important when sowing seeds. Keeping track when you sowed, how long it took to germinate, size measured once a month or whenever you choose..One thing great about keeping a journal is going back to the beginning. Especially several years back.
Good luck, Toni

this is a cool thread, i'm going to have to try this. I didn't know that cacti started with a few 'normal' looking leaves before looking like a cactus.

opuntia humifusa, opuntia fragilis are two that are cold hardy. go to ebay and search 'cold hardy opuntia' and you'll find some more.

btw, the purple hedgehogs should be pretty cold-hardy. They have to be kept dry in the winter, so you might have to keep them in a pot and move them under a porch for the winter.

A question for everyone else: can I sow seeds indoor anytime of the year? If I do this now, would I have to augment with a light lamp and or extra heat?

blutarski, when i meant by leaves i hope i wan't implying normal leasve. more like a umm two thick, fat plump things like in my picture # 1, its under neath the ball of spikes.

well you can sow seeds indoors, i did, as you can see, but it was during spring time.

in the winter you can do it inside where its warm and when germinating keep them away from windows, well i do since my windows are drafty during the winter. I am supplamenting light with a compact flourescent spiral bulb in a desk lamp. just make sure the compact floro can work with the lamp first(proper wattage).

well this is what i am doing during the winter, but when summer roles aroung( i hope soon) they will probly either go back in a window or outside on some sort of plant hanger with a modified basket to hold the container. i think i will hang them so that pests and cats stay out of them(dang cats).

Hopefulauthor,
sorry didn't mean to imply on asking if opuntia is hardy outside. i was just meaning in general of cacti species. but with this infor i know now what to look for.

you use "superthrive" on your cacti and sucullants?
i have some lying around.
how do you use it with your plants?

Questions still up in the air and looking for answers:
do they go dorment on their own or do have my compact flourescent light on them keep them from going dormet? i think i may have figured this question out, but you can still reply. the back of the seed pack says perennials, so being that i assume they go dorment, but with the use of artificial light, am i preventing them from going dorment? hmmm

do all babies look the same? if not then i have 13 of one kind, 1 different kind and 1 other different kind?

Sage, when you say you water with a spritz of water, (soak a paper towel and squeeze) were you talking about seeds/seedlings? or mature succulents?

oh and just a nice fact. the pack of seeds i got are from livingston seed company from a local grocery store and a list of species is in my first 3 post on this forum and they say 14-21 days to germinate. when to plant: anytime, and preferred start indoors. and they like sun.