Cacti

[cheerypeabrain]

These are my little cacti..some of them still have the original labels so I have some idea what they are....the rest are a mystery.... ;D all were purchased for less than £1 over the years..all were tiny but are getting reasonably large now. they live on a shelf in the conservatory. My favourite is no. 3.

s72.photobucket.com/albums/i179/Cheerypeabrain/cacti/

does anybody know how big they'll eventually get? (Mick?) and aren't they lovely...? ;D

[mickthecactus]

Starting at the top and going left to right:-

1. Don't know (good start)
2. Notocactus leninghausii - has big pale yellow flowers and can grow to a decent size, maybe an 18" clump. A handsome cactus when large.
3. Espostoa melanostele - won't flower but is a handsome hairy cactus. Can get to about 3'.
4. Mammillaria species - rings of small flowers, won't get too large.
5. A cristate Cereus species. Unlikely to flower and may get a foot across in time.
6. Mamillaria elongata. Small whitefowers ina reng towards the top of the stems. Can get a foot across in time.
7. Not sure - possibly Espostoa again or may be a hybrid.

[cheerypeabrain]

Thank you Mick. I have more but they're still tiny. I like them because they're so forgiving... ;D I've had flowers on a couple of them already (last summer) and they were gorgeous and SUCH a surprise. I think that they should be happy in their pots for a good while yet as I read somewhere that you should only repot them when they're really pot-bound...might have to repot the tall one (notocactus) in a year or so but only to stop it falling over as it seems to grow everso quickly in the summer...last year it must've put on about 4" of growth! I got that one from the cactus society stand at GW Live a few years ago...all the rest were 50-70p jobs from places like Wilko.

Is there one cactus that you'd recommend ? not necessarily for flowers...I really like the convoluted moundy ones best (no.3).... ;D

[mickthecactus]

Ideally, you should repot the majority each year CPB. However, they don't complain if you don't.

One that I would recommend? Tricky. I will think about it.

[sweetleaf]

Do you mean like this cheery
Identified for me by mick as cristate Cereus species.

[mickthecactus]

Favourite cactus for flowers - Acanthocalycium violaceum
Favourite cactus for shape - Astrophytum myriostigma v columnare

[yakram]

Went to Cardiff Show yesterday. Big display of cacti on one stand. ;D
Succumbed to a Acanthorhipsalis monocantha
Managed to get it safely home via train.

[4pygmies]

That looks very interesting - bit thorny though........ Did you get some funny looks on the train, Yakram?

cactiguide.com/cactus/?uname2=Acanthorhipsalis%20monacantha

[yakram]

Apr 19, 2008 21:42:18 GMT 1 @4pygmies said:

That looks very interesting - bit thorny though........ Did you get some funny looks on the train, Yakram?

cactiguide.com/cactus/?uname2=Acanthorhipsalis%20monacantha

No 4P, it was in disguise with a bag over its head. ;D

[yakram]

I bought a Dragon Fruit from an upmarket supermarket last year. Being me I saved some seed and overwintered them in the 'fridge. I sowed them this summer. I now have some little cacti and not sure what to do now: whether to risk pricking them out into cactus compost or leave them as they are until Spring.
The Latin name (from an internet search) appears to be Hylocereus undatus or Queen of the Night. If this is so I am quite excited as I have always wanted one.

[yakram]

Yes, it was, The witch. The fruit is a lovely cerise colour, prickly pear shaped and tastes a bit like Kiwi fruit.
I'm away for a couple of days at the national walled kitchen garden network annual forum, but will log on next week. The weather looks fine for the outside bit of the programme.

[Sweetleaf]

I found this site, it may be worth trawling for info on the Dragonfruit cacti, it seems to have commercial growing instructions anyway, hope it is of some help, Yakram

dragonfruit.foodlywise.com/how_to_grow_dragonfruit/growing_dragonfruit_commercially/growing_dragonfruit_seedlings/growing_dragonfruit_seedlings_4.html

[mickthecactus]

Yakram, I would leave them until next spring.

They are tropical cacti and I would make sure they don't dry out (but don't keep them too wet) and are kept somewhere warm and bright.

[yakram]

Thank you kindly for the info, folks. I will move them from the cold greenhouse to the conservatory, which will be set at a minimum of +10F.

[mickthecactus]

That should be fine Yakram.

[yakram]

Sept 23, 2008 20:52:34 GMT 1 @yakram said:

Thank you kindly for the info, folks. I will move them from the cold greenhouse to the conservatory, which will be set at a minimum of +10F.

Doh! I meant +10C or 50F - can't get used to these new-fangled centigrade/celsius/whatever. The conservatory does sometimes go below the quoted figure, but never freezes, and the tropical plants I have in there seem to survive the winter months.
Thanks once again. Yakkers.

[yakram]

I rescued three sad looking Lithops, potted them in clay pots with cactus compost and topped with small grit and removed the dead leaves with tweezers - the difference is amazing.

[mickthecactus]

Actually Lithops need quite good sized pots. They have a lot of root. Mine are also in clay pots in John Innes 3 with added grit. They look pretty good.

You're going down the right road Yako....

[cheerypeabrain]

Took these pics this morning....these are the two pelargonium laxum plants Mick...just watered as they were a bit dry....



and here are some of the cacti

[mickthecactus]

All looking good Cheery

[bogmyrtle]

Cheery, I like your cacti - don't they look good on that shelf, a lovely display. I'm quite taken with those..........haven't got the room though.

[mickthecactus]

Cheery, I was looking through my Bonsai succulent book last week. Pel. laxum is a summer grower that makes a good natural bonsai style so don't overwater in winter. They also recommend pinching them out to keep the shape good.