|
Post by mickthecactus on Dec 6, 2010 16:10:30 GMT
If you are lucky enough to come upon Encephalocarpus it won't look like that. It'll be a round white ball. They only elongate with age.
I'll see if I've got some other pictures for you.
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Dec 7, 2010 11:50:36 GMT
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Dec 7, 2010 13:21:44 GMT
Here's some more - Turbinicarpus pseudopectinata Ariocarpus retusus Lophophora williamsii - Turbinicarpus sps.
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Dec 7, 2010 15:18:29 GMT
I'm in love with Ariocarpus.
The Chinese company is really interesting. I followed their links and there's no specific mention of which cactus is used, but judging by the two photos, it must be Opuntia. Further googling yielded no information on any traditional uses of cactus in China.
|
|
|
Post by tod2 on Dec 8, 2010 5:31:11 GMT
(#105) At last! I ventured onto the upper level of our property which has a beautiful tree growing above the carport - this is where I remember planting my "Queen of The Night" and have forgotten about it for the last 20 years! Well, I found it. Poor thing is still alive and overwhelmed by ivy. It hasn't made it's way up the tree so probably needs to be moved. Here is whats become of it.
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Dec 8, 2010 5:42:37 GMT
Amazing! Wonderful!
They really are The Thing That Would Not Die. What's interesting is that they simply stop growing, waiting until things are the way they'd wish. True queens.
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Dec 8, 2010 8:55:39 GMT
Actually looks quite healthy...
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Dec 8, 2010 9:22:24 GMT
I'm in love with Ariocarpus. The Chinese company is really interesting. I followed their links and there's no specific mention of which cactus is used, but judging by the two photos, it must be Opuntia. Further googling yielded no information on any traditional uses of cactus in China. I e-mailed them. Milpa-Alta is Opuntia ficus-indica. They're checking out the others and will let me know.
|
|
|
Post by tod2 on Dec 8, 2010 13:46:11 GMT
I agree Mick, but far too small for the length of time its been there. By now it should be making a real nuisance of itself up the very large Flowering Chestnut. Plenty of soil up there so the tree roots shouldn't be a problem. I would think lack of direct sun?? Awfully shady place under that tree.
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Dec 8, 2010 14:37:53 GMT
I think you're right tod2 but in your climate it would probably prefer filtered sun to direct sun. The ivy is almost certainly stifling it and the soil will be pretty dry. They like a bit of moisture.
|
|
|
Post by tod2 on Dec 8, 2010 14:43:56 GMT
My best plan of action would be to leave some where it is and start a completely new plant - I think. But where to put it.......maybe a tub but then again the plant has no chance if the soil drys out. My tubs tend to get bone dry very quickly in this heat.
Is this the exact same plant you have Mick?
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Dec 8, 2010 16:30:27 GMT
I don't have it tod but I'm familiar with it. It grows where I holiday in Spain.
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Dec 8, 2010 18:06:52 GMT
Tod, the best performance I've had from queen of the night was when I had it in a very large pot facing northeast. (remember that we have severe heat & sun here also) The pot was backed up to a white wall and under a bit of overhang. I had to prune it severely to keep it in bounds and still had an insane amount of blooms. What was truly lovely was that it was fairly close to a living room window and the aroma would waft in gorgeously.
Mick, you are intrepid! How nifty that they replied. So their product is good ole nopal, some cleaned pads of which I have in fridge at this very moment.
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Dec 9, 2010 13:12:50 GMT
Here's some more Ariocarpus then. A. agavoides A. agavoides seedling flowering at only 3 years old - A. kotschoubeyanus A different form of A. retusus
|
|
|
Post by tod2 on Dec 9, 2010 14:51:59 GMT
Wonderful ! Please tell me what that cottonwooly-looking stuff is on the leaves of the Ariocarpus retusus? What a large pink flower on the tiny kotschoubeyanus!
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Dec 9, 2010 15:01:42 GMT
Wonderful ! Please tell me what that cottonwooly-looking stuff is on the leaves of the Ariocarpus retusus? What a large pink flower on the tiny kotschoubeyanus! It's bit like cotton wool tod2 and that's the white flower above it. Once that appears then you now it's old enough to flower. In Ariocarpus terms these are all babies though...
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Dec 9, 2010 16:45:51 GMT
Tod, the best performance I've had from queen of the night was when I had it in a very large pot facing northeast. (remember that we have severe heat & sun here also) The pot was backed up to a white wall and under a bit of overhang. I had to prune it severely to keep it in bounds and still had an insane amount of blooms. What was truly lovely was that it was fairly close to a living room window and the aroma would waft in gorgeously. Mick, you are intrepid! How nifty that they replied. So their product is good ole nopal, some cleaned pads of which I have in fridge at this very moment. They didn't know the names of the other 2 (bet they are both ficus-indica too) but they did offer me a sample of their cigarettes. I told them what to do with it...............
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Dec 9, 2010 16:50:32 GMT
And this was their response....
Good for you! Smoking is really bad for health.
However, I have to say there is huge smoking population in China and that really give the company a great leverage to penetrate the market. So, no morals there........
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Dec 10, 2010 4:10:32 GMT
Can you keep the noise down, please?
I'm tryin to roll this here cactus pad.
It seems like it's gonna be hard to light.
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Dec 10, 2010 8:58:07 GMT
Can you keep the noise down, please? I'm tryin to roll this here cactus pad. It seems like it's gonna be hard to light. ;D
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Dec 10, 2010 9:20:50 GMT
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Dec 10, 2010 14:59:22 GMT
Drat! I can't go, Mick. I have to stay home and tend the herd.
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Dec 14, 2010 13:48:16 GMT
Drat! I can't go, Mick. I have to stay home and tend the herd. Gosh, there are so many threads on here that I haven't seen..........
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Dec 14, 2010 13:50:55 GMT
Fancy some colour today? Mammillopsis senilis - Mammillaria saboae - Echinocereus lauii -
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Dec 14, 2010 14:36:08 GMT
The darlings!
*vows to start taking better care of own cactus*
That first one made me want to jump up and down with joy.
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Dec 14, 2010 14:42:44 GMT
The darlings! *vows to start taking better care of own cactus* That first one made me want to jump up and down with joy. Lovely isn't it? Usually the first one to flower each spring.
|
|
|
Post by tod2 on Dec 14, 2010 14:45:59 GMT
Mick, those are superb beauties!! Do you ever get tired of seeing such astonishing blooms on your cactii? They are all so gorgeous it's hard to say which one is more beautiful than the other Sad news about those seeds I planted in the bags.....nothing yet. Does cactus seeds readily go out of date ? It has 2004 on the seed packs.
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Dec 14, 2010 16:42:34 GMT
Mick, those are superb beauties!! Do you ever get tired of seeing such astonishing blooms on your cactii? They are all so gorgeous it's hard to say which one is more beautiful than the other Sad news about those seeds I planted in the bags.....nothing yet. Does cactus seeds readily go out of date ? It has 2004 on the seed packs. I'm always excited when I see the first buds in spring - never tire of it. Yes, those could well be a bit elderly and tired particularly if stored in warmth. If you can't sow seed when you get it, keep it in the fridge.
|
|
|
Post by fumobici on Dec 14, 2010 20:23:11 GMT
Those latest flowering cacti photos are simply amazing Mick!
Wow.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2010 20:50:22 GMT
Those photos are not from December, are they?
|
|