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Post by mickthecactus on Dec 24, 2010 9:38:15 GMT
Lotusland! I have lots of old articles on Lotusland in my American C&S magazines.
I can absolutely gurantee that none of my cacti are grafted. A few have actually been de-grfated and grown on their own roots.
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 24, 2010 14:45:47 GMT
I already deeply admire you, Mick, but now I positively venerate you. I know it's accepted, but I just hate seeing one type of cactus bizarrely perched upon another.
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Post by mickthecactus on Dec 27, 2010 9:01:31 GMT
I have lied to you all for which I am deeply sorry. I was checking out the greenhouse yesterday when I realised that I have a grafted Discocactus. For those that don't know them they are really tricky and the only way to get one sometimes is grafted. I have tried once to degraft it without success but it has now grown some larger heads so I'll try again this spring. I also have some Discocactus seedlings but whether they will survive this winter remains to be seen.
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 27, 2010 16:03:00 GMT
You be careful with that back-pedaling, Mick. With all that prickly stuff around, you don't want to be picking spines out of your trousers.
;D Not only are you forgiven for the gr*fted Discocactus, this could be a real learning experience about rescuing a cactus from its perch on alien understock. Keep us posted, please.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 2, 2011 0:13:23 GMT
Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi 'Variegata' Crassula muscosa Rick-rack cactus -- Selenicereus anthonyanus, a.k.a Cryptocereus anthonyanus
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Post by tod2 on Jan 2, 2011 7:49:18 GMT
I particularly love that bright green Crassula muscosa Bixa! The leaves remind me of an asparagus tip(yum!).
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Post by mickthecactus on Jan 2, 2011 17:59:22 GMT
Superb pictures as ever Bixa. They may not be the rarest plants but you make them look highly desirable.
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Post by mickthecactus on Jan 5, 2011 13:34:56 GMT
I have the Stapeliad picture file open so here are a few - Huernia praestans - Orbea semota - Orbea conjuncta -
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 5, 2011 16:46:58 GMT
I think if anyone were to start a collection of a particular group of plants, the Stapeliae would be a most satisfying choice.
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Post by mickthecactus on Jan 6, 2011 13:38:56 GMT
I think if anyone were to start a collection of a particular group of plants, the Stapeliae would be a most satisfying choice. That's exactly what I did Bixa when I had to give up cricket due to injury and had much more garden time on my hands. They are a difficult group to grow but very rewarding when you get it right.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2011 21:21:52 GMT
I have always read that it is impossible to kill mother-in-law tongues. Well, I just killed my second batch.
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Post by Kimby on Jan 10, 2011 16:15:32 GMT
In pots they are almost impossible to keep from dying, Kerouac. It's in the yard where they thrive despite efforts to reduce them in favor of more desirable landscape species...
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 10, 2011 17:45:35 GMT
Actually, they'll survive quite nicely, even crammed into the same pot for years, as long as they're not overwatered and get some decent light. When pot-bound, they're very likely to bloom, with a lovely alyssum-like scent.
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Post by Kimby on Jan 10, 2011 18:18:52 GMT
"as long as they're not overwatered" That's the part that's hard to avoid, especially in places with winter. Once a month may be too often to water them. We've had countless Sansiveria's croak on us over the years.
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Post by Kimby on Jan 10, 2011 18:19:19 GMT
On the bright side, our Jade tree is about to bloom.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jan 10, 2011 18:33:40 GMT
Mine is
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Post by mickthecactus on Jan 12, 2011 13:21:35 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 12, 2011 17:11:17 GMT
That article is poorly, even strangely written crap. Here are the qualifications you need to write for examiner.com: apply.examiner.com/lpB/?editionid=921If you don't feel like clicking on that link, one word sums it up -- none. Mick, if you're referring to Caralluma fimbriata as the rare succulent, it could well be that it's being grown commercially someplace where it thrives. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caralluma_fimbriata
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Post by mickthecactus on Jan 12, 2011 17:28:48 GMT
You may be right but I'm not convinced about Wikipedia. it's a plant I want but haven't been able to obtain. This is the biggest European stapeliad nursery that I know of and they've never had it - www.brookside-nursery.com/
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Post by mickthecactus on Jan 14, 2011 12:38:37 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 14, 2011 17:06:23 GMT
My delectation is delighted, thank you. You really have an wonderful collection.
There was some discussion here about Sansevieria (aka mother-in-law's tongue) as appropriate low light, low maintenance house plants. Some of the Haworthias have the same relaxed requirements and would make attractive companions to a houseplant collection that includes Sansevieria.
Which ones would you recommend as non-demanding houseplants, please?
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Post by mickthecactus on Jan 14, 2011 17:09:32 GMT
The harder leaved ones Bixa. Fasciata and reinwardtii spring to mind. Also cymbiformis which isn't hard leaved.
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Post by tod2 on Jan 23, 2011 17:48:17 GMT
Mick - In your first photo, I love the plant that looks like it's been tared and feathered
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Post by mickthecactus on Jan 24, 2011 13:30:19 GMT
Which one of the 4 tod2?
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Post by tod2 on Jan 24, 2011 15:52:35 GMT
Top left - the one all spotted in white.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2011 22:00:28 GMT
I saw that some of the outdoor cacti in the Jardin des Plantes have been given just a tiny bit of January protection.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jan 26, 2011 18:51:04 GMT
Mick was kind enough to send me some young aloes and agaves...they're doing quite well in my conservatory inside a propagator. I've just got a little low watt radiator in there and I'm terrified they'll suffer in the next cold snap...starting tonight if the weatherman is to be believed... I've already lost my biggest cactus... it's gone from this... to this...
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2011 19:00:51 GMT
Don't they have Viagra for cacti yet?
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 27, 2011 14:57:16 GMT
Cheery, have you prodded it to see how bad the damage is? If there are healthy portions, you can slice them out -- making sure no bad parts are included -- then let them dry. Set the pieces in dry dirt after that, away from the sun, and roots might develop. It would be particularly good if you can get enough of the crown to start a new plant. Maybe Mick will have some other solution.
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Post by mickthecactus on Jan 27, 2011 17:09:48 GMT
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