I have been growing cacti and unusual succulents for many years, I like to grow plants from seed, but also from time to time purchase plants and have been given many to rescue over the years, some of these have survived and done quite well, others have died, such is the way of cacti. All bar one of the pachypodiums here were grown from seed, the parodias were mostly got as tiny seedlings fromRalph Martin a few years ago, they are amazing little plants, growing very slowly and flowering profusely every year. I subscribe to the cacti_etc mailing list, a forum for cactus lovers like myself. If you are interested I recommend you to visit the Cactus Mall, which contains links and information to satisfy your curiosity. See the links above for some pictures from my greenhouse.