Cacti growing

[fred]

hi all
I went for a trip about 3 years ago and I got some Cacti plants.
I keep them in a green house I have around 25 of them.
I keep them in a green house as the nights here in Tassie are to cold for them.
My father was mad about cacti so i thought i would give them ago.
Any tips would be greatful

[Ellen]

Put them in well-draining medium, don't over water them, don't tamper with them, just leave them alone and they should grow. They obviously need lots of light to bloom.

[fred]

thanks Ellen that is very interesting

[Kevin Western]

Hi Fred,
I've been over your way a couple of times and I reckon Tasmania is damned near to heaven on earth. I love the cold. Experience in Europe in 2005 at -10deg C in a summer shirt and jeans tells me that is what I need to live in. We like cacti too. Most will stand even a bit of frost - deserts where many come from are like that. Inspite of stating the obvious - the cacti should do very well indoors inside your house during the cold months on or near to a window ledge with good light and could later go outdoors as soon as the frost or persistent cold was over for the season.
Kevin W

[fred]

thank you Kevin.
You like Tassie ( like heaven ) I think so to.
I have been here now for ten years i used to live in melbourne.
To busy for me.
Next time you pay Tassie a visit you can pm me as I would love you to come around fot a chat and a coffee.
If you can not find my place i can meet you also.
I know what we will talk about.
orchids and more orchids lol

[tom499]

my dad grows cacti, they just sit on the window sills, for most of the year, go outside on racks in the summer. they get watered maybe once a year in the summer, spend a day in a water tank, then they go back on the shelf for another year....

very low maintenance wouldnt you say

[fred]

gee thats pretty good I wont have to worry about them to much

[Kevin Western]

Thanks Fred,
I was talking to a couple of equally certifiable [ when compared to myself ] orchid nuts in and around the Launceston area last night. My wife & I don't need much encouragement to come over your way for a holiday at all - just the time. We are getting quite enormous orders for flasks of Cym clones from outside Oz in particular to the extent that I tend to use my annual leave from my day job to produce flasks for the night job in my lab. Wer'e heading off to New Zealand for a 10 day series of presentations at Orchid Clubs in the North Island + a few days off touring in the south island and we'll be taking flasks to sell so lots of time is going in getting ready to go there. Hopefully within the year we can get some time off to see Tassie. I reckon the only quantum leaps in orchid knowledge and cultural understanding these days is when we go interstate or abroad and the people are fantastic as well.
Regards,
Kevin

[fred]

hi Kevin
you sound like a very busy man.
New Zealand hey that will be realy good I hope you come back with heaps of pics for us.
I look forward to the time you will be over here in good old Tassie.
It will be good to catch up with you.
I can show you a few orchid growers around here I know a few in the north west.
You will have to bring a few flask,s to sell also I am sure the orchid growers here will be interested.
When you do decide when you are coming over you can pm myself and I can have the orchid society announce that at the meeting.
thanks Kevin

[fzzdk]

my mother has had this one cactus for about 25 years (it was her baby before i was) and she just leaves it outside on the deck for nature to do as it pleases. she lets it get watered by the rain and it's actually potted in half sand from the driveway/half dirt from the yard. it gets repotted every 3-5 years, and it blooms beautifully, 2-3 times a year.

[fred]

fzzdk
thank you for letting me know that.
more useful info

[Ellen]

Might be interesting to mention that when I was a kid I collected cacti. I eventually had every species that was for sale at the local Woolworth's, and knew everything there was to know about them. I'm sure if there had been orchids for sale back then, I would have opted for orchids. So I guess cacti are the non-preferred, but adequate, fix for born orchid addicts. Tillandsias work, too.

[drof59]

There must be something about orchid growers. We seem to like other "non-standard" plants like cactus and bromeliads. I wonder how many orchid growers are into roses?

[fred]

we also have Roses

around 20 of them

[Maddy]

I started out with cacti, way back when. Still have quite a few of them, too, including a golden barrel that's about 12 inches around - with two-inch spikes.

Yes, it has occurred to me that some day I'm going to need to repot it. I think I'm going to need bulletproof gloves when thay day comes. Those thorns go right through leather.

[fred]

Maddy

I have a few cacti

the worst one for spikes is the one called mother inlaw seat.

It about 2 foot in diameter

good thing its planted in the ground for I would not like to move that one

och och

[Maddy]

I think that's the same one I have - it's pretty, but spikey.

[paph4col]

when transplanting larger cacti, particularly the very sharp and long spined varieties try this trick. For the smaller ones a sheet of newpaper rolled up then wrapped around the cacti, the ends of the paper can be pinched together and used to lift and hold the plant for repotting. For larger ones use hessian bags rolled up and placed around the plant. the idea is to protect the plant not the transplanter. I used this method for over 30 years on plants exceeding 200 lbs, it works

[fred]

thank you for the tip

I will remember that one

[Maddy]

Thanks for the tip!

[tom499]

replanting cacti is not fun my dad does it every few years, he only has about 20 but it takes like 3 days to do them. watering cacti once or twice a year is a days work too. i guess it makes up for all the time you can just leave them alone throughout the year

can we post cacti flower pictures on here?

[fred]

tom499

Quote]can we post cacti flower pictures on here?

If you would like to post a pic or pics here I can not see why not.

[pikevi]

Aren't cacti notorious for long intervals between flowerings?

I remember reading about some of them blooming once every couple of decades and some even taking a hundred years to bloom?

[sandra]

Hi Fred. Crazy, mad here too about cacti, all succulents for that matter. They'll live forever so long as you show deprivation. Warm temperatures (and they can take it as hot as mother nature provides) and lots of light, planted in a light soil or you can make your own soil using equal parts of light soil and sand. Cacti will bloom regularly, beautiful flowers. In fact, there's a cactus that blooms an orchid. It's called Epiphyllum and blooms these tremendous flowers in all colors imaginable. Water every 2 weeks, fertilize every watering and these typically bloom year round.

Another interesting thing about some cacti that are leafy (cacti is a succulent but not all succulents are cacti!) is that you can take a leaf and cut it into several pieces, pot it in soil (light) and in no time, you'll have other plants growing.

Cynthia lives where they grow naturally and all over the west coast of the U.S. I'm now in Fla. (east coast) and I was surprised to see how well they do here with all the rain but the soil here in Fla. is naturally mixed with lots of sand.

Just remember, they're very low maintenance!

P.S. I have some cactus and succulents that I only water (and very little) once a month. The more leafy ones, every other week.

[fred]

sandra4453

thank you for your reply post that will help me heaps with the cacti that I have.

I have about 20 of them now as last time I saw my mother in Victoria Aust she told me to take them home as they were my Fathers.
I followed my Father footsteps with orchids and Hippeastrums but i dont realy know alot about cacti.

Here in Tassie I have the cacti in an hot house.
The best one i have is I think its called a Goldern Ball.
I have had the cacti here now for 6 months and I am pleased with the look of them.
As we are almost into winter I am thinking that the cacti will be fine in the hot house as we get heavy frosts here.
so I am not game to plant the cacti out side.

[DDS2007]

weird thing that orchid growers also like cacti!

i have a small assortment too , i water 4 times/yr. they don't require much attention or help to flower, this way u can focus all ur energy on grwoing orchids ! great combination !

[evagentry]

hi; I have been rowing cavtus for about ten years now; inorder to bloom every year they need a cool rest period ervery winter with very little water. I have some which have bloomed every year fr the last ten years. Good luck; eva

[brookn]

Hi Fred,

I saw your post and had to respond! I am a newbie to orchids, but have grown catci, and succulents for years. The cacti I originally bought to keep my kitties out of the other plants, funny thing is they use it to rub themselves on. I have kids and large dogs, and my prickly friends have been very easy to take care of. I currently am growing a jade to use as a bonsai, and it has taken me three years from one leaf and it is almost where I want it(I am using it as a means to teach myself patience).

I thought you might find this amusing, my best friend last spring decided it was time to put up my new portable greenhouse. She set it up, and put all my plants including my oldest cactus in it. I have had it for years, and it started out about an inch tall, it is now about two and a half feet tall. The wind caught the greenhouse, and all the plants went flying. My big cactus was bent in half, and I was in complete despair. We laid it on the rack hoping to straighten it out and it was not working. After a couple of days I went and repotted it and put it back in the greenhouse. You guessed it the wind came up and I was repotting everything again. The cactus was straightened in the fall but I was worried about the stress to the plant. It lived, and grew about 3 more inches. It is a little battle scarred, but I still love it. I refuse to put it any where near that portable greenhouse.

Mine all live under benign neglect, I pot in whatever is available and throw river rocks or shards in the mix. I rarely water them just set them on the porch for the rain to get in the summer. When I repot I wrap them in an old t-shirt to save my hands.

[fred]

Hi Brook

I got a giggle about that.

I know you would not have been to pleased with the wind doing that.

I think if and when I repot the colden ball I will need more than a T-shirt.

I have had a handful of thorn stings already.lol

I wont do that a second time.

[prisana]

I only have 9 cactuses in my possession, but I'm seriously considering growing them exclusively..we are now in Phase II in water restrictions, nothing else would grow , my backyard is a desert, might as well throw some sand in there and make it real. My poor orchids are not very happy , but they're hanging on..

[fred]

I dont know the name of this cacti.

It was my grandfather favourite



Golden Ball

[tom499]

golden ball are great! just big round with inch long spikes you got a good one there too. my dad got his when it was like the size of tennis ball. its now like foot in diameter, and cacti of that size sell for £50-60. so for a 20 year investment, £55 is a reasonable earning for a pint of water a year i guess

[PhalPal]

Fred - your leggy cactus might be called a 'Christmas Cactus'. I am not a cactus grower but living in the southwest I see alot of them and this particular cactus is sold in grocery stores at Christmas time. Lots of small red flowers? During the colder months? that's my best guess!

[fred]

PhalPal
I did not know that "Christmas Cactus".
The flowers are almost brown on that one and they smell very much like Cats pee.

when the flower bud opens I will post a pic.
thanks for nthe info

[pikevi]

When I went hunting for some orchids I looked at some cacti as well.
I admire all of you who have cactuses in your collection

Most were too thorny for my taste and touch , not to mention my psyche.

The christmas cactus (Schlumbergera) was the only one that attracted me so I bought one. I think I will go into Bonsai. They seem to be less dangerous.

I attach the photos of my 'firsts'.

[sandra]

Pikevi, You're going to really enjoy the x'mas cactus. Sometimes, they bloom twice a year, in summer also. I've got one large one that's comprised of about 4 cacti, different colors and every year like clock-work, in November they begin budding and continue blooming through February. Have had that one since 1999 and it continues to thrive. I've noticed they do best in clay pots as they need to dry out between waterings and a weekly watering is what they need. The porcelin and plastic pots keep moisture in too long for their watering needs.

Enjoy!

[pikevi]

Thank you sandra4453.

I saw two other colours, viz., pink and white. I did not want to spend the money on them since I need it for my orchids . This red is very deep and glossy. I liked it very much.

If it is not too much of a trouble could you tell me something about the mix to be used for re-potting?. I was about to google it when I saw your msg. And I also bought a clay pot for it yesterday.

Thanks.

ps: Also I'd like to know of any other cactuses that don't have angry looking thorns!!

[fred]

I agree

I like the christmas cactus as well.

nice flowers.

they are nice pikevi

they may be your first I bet not your last

[pikevi]

Thanks fred.

I saw your golden ball too at the garden centres- huge ones . They turned me off ( no offence ). The thorns were almost 5 cms long and the price was too steep too

Most of them were screaming: ["we are" 'nice from far and far from nice']

I hope the cacti lovers are NOt going to chase me out of the forum

BTW, fred: I am trying to locate your thread about new additions without success.

[sandra]

Pekevi,

You can re-pot your cactus in regular potting soil. That's right! Regular soil is fine so long as it's in a clay pot. Depending on it's size and from the photo, it will probably fit nicely into a 4 or 6 inch. pot, give between 1/2 to 1cup of water every week (if you plan on keeping it outdoors, where it will do best). The great thing about it is, if you plan to leave for a couple of weeks, upon your return there will be no harm done. All cactus and other succulents enjoy deprivation and as a matter of fact every once in a while, I'll purposely go a few weeks without watering them just to make sure they've dried out completely which, I recommend you do as well. If you're uncomfortable with this method, you can always purchase cacti potting soil but all that really is, is regular soil combined with sand (and more costly)....if you're near a beach, scoop some up and mix equal parts.

There are so many succulents and various cacti that aren't thorny and that also bloom great big beautiful flowers. In fact, there's a cactus that blooms orchids. It's called an Epiphyllum....long thick leaves that bloom continuously with hardly any rest period between blooming. The plant gets huge and is best hung because of the space it takes up. If you ever get the opportunity where you live to purchase one and you've got the room, they'll provide constant enjoyment so long as you've got an area where you can control the water they receive.

Like orchids, err on the side of dry. You can't go wrong.

[fred]

lol thats why when I got the golden ball from my mothers I made sure i could handle the plant.

The gloden ball cacti was my dads

My mother has about 10 golden ball cacti.

Also big ones

we wont chase you off the forum

I think you may have to sit on a golden ball for your statement though

[sandra]

Originally Posted by fred

I think you may have to sit on a golden ball for your statement though

You're naughty Fred!!!!

[fred]

I know I am naughty I am a bad one for saying that.

but it would be a goog laugh

[pikevi]

fred: The mere thought of sitting on a golden ball sends shivers up my spine!

I do have to admit that the cactuses really 'look' pretty.

I always thought you are very gentle, fred. If I ever meet you in person I will be in a suit of armour!!! .

sandra4453: Thank you so much .It so happens I have sand( I bought it to mix with aquarium gravel and coconut bark chips for the vanilla orchid) and I will prepare the mix as you suggested. [50-50: soil-sand]

[fred]

I have an onother post in this thread of this cacti in bud.

flower update.

[pikevi]

What a beautiful flower, fred!

It resembles a miniature version of Rafflesia arnoldii, world's largest and the 'stinkiest' flower . Arum sp.(Amorphophallus titanum) will be a welcome smell compared to Rafflesia . I hope it does NOT stink as bad as either of them.

I'd like to know the name ,please, if you have it. Thanks.

[fred]

I dont have the name of the cacti

I wish I did.

The flower has a shocking smell

I would not recommend growing it inside peeew cats pee at its best

[pikevi]

Well, it is off my list then

I don't think it will go with gardenias, jasmines and carnations

[BillC]

Hi Freddie, one of mine just flowered, thought maybe readers of the thread might like to see the pic. The flower lasts about three to four days.

Bill

[fred]

thanks for posting the pic bill

i love the flower

awesome

[pikevi]

What a lovely pink, BillC.

Lovely flower and a great photo.

I bought some cacti today. I will post the pictures tomorrow.This is my first

I usually stay away from thorny plants, except Bougainvilleas.

[BillC]

Freddie, that cactus is a succulent and the name of the plant is Stapelia variagata. I am delighted to see one again as I once had several. I gave most of my collection away when I began moving around this big old world in which we live. The main characteristic of the flower is the rotten smell which is designed to attract flies and other carrion eating insects as an aid to pollination.

Cheers Fred, you owe me a beer if I ever get to Tas.

Bill

[fred]

no problems there bill

[tom499]

Your photos were the final swing Fred

I bought some Stapeliads:

S. variagata seeds - have just started germinating, they look very odd indeed!
S. gigantia - looks semi mature.
S. lepida - bought from a Dutch nursery in a clearance sale. mature.

Surprised how cheap they are, although I've had trouble finding them.

I've read there very suspectible to root rot caused by mites. Anyone have any advice dealing with such?

Now we're in winter I wont be watering atall, so they should stay bone dry and safe, but I am only a noob with these plants afterall

[fred]

they sound good Tom
with the root rot mite I would like to know the answer to that one as well

I don't water the Cacti in winter at all Tom

[Rod L]

Nice flowers on the cacti I also have a few different types of cacti and also into roses nice to know other orchid people are also into other plants
Rod

[Tobi]

Hi Tom,
I have heard of root mealybugs causing damage to cacti and succulents.
They leave powdery white deposits along the roots. From what I've read,
to save an infested plant, you should stand its root ball in a bath of soapy
insecticide, then allow it to drain. Spider mites can attack cacti, but they
usually attack the young growth. Increasing the humidity and/or use the
predator mite Phytoseiulus persimilis in temps over 70 F (21 C) helps to
eradicate the problem.

[tom499]

Cheers for the info guys.

I wont water them.

I'll get some of that mite killer too, does it work on most plants like orchids too?

[fred]

thank you for posting that information Tobi
I would not like to lose my Fathers cacti
so your info will help

[Tess1]

Fred, you don't have to worry about cacti getting cold, look what my friend in Arizona sent me, taken from the back of her house.

[Tess1]

By the way, I have two cacti, both the same and both in spike. One is planted in a teacup (lol) with holes drilled in the bottom and the other one in a plastic pot. I see I should put them in unglazed ceramic pots. Mmmm, another trip to Bunnings.

[PhalPal]

Tess what a beautiful picture of snow in the desert! The desert can get VERY cold and some of them in Arizona are actually at 4-5,000 ft above sea level.

[tom499]

Certainly, some cacti can take near arctic conditions

But some have been linked to tropical conditions so Its best to find the cacti species name (not often given sadly) to make sure you give it the right conditions.


On a slightly different note, are cacti crosses made? I only seem to read about species.

Would be interesting to cross different stapeliads to breed even larger, smellier flowers

[fred]

gee Tess I get cold just looking at those pics lol
you will be able to post some pics soon

Tom
I would not have a clue about Cacti crosses

[pikevi]

tom499: I see that stapeliads are also called 'carrion' orchids. Does that mean the flowers are NOT going to be sweet smelling, at least for us humans?

When you said that you like smellier flowers, I hope you meant stronger fragrance

[tom499]

They smell like rotting meat or faeces to attract flies which pollinate them, and often lay eggs on the flowers

i guess i just have a thing for weird plants! The flowers themselves are amazing though, often shaped like that of an animal skin, they are hairy and fleshy flowers.

I shall look into cacti hybrids

[fred]

your right about the smell of the cacti flowers Tom
one of the ones that has flowered for me is rotten but the flowers look nice

look into cacti hybrids, that should be interesting

[pikevi]

Thanks tom499.

I don't think I can handle that,maybe because I am a vegetarian

BTW, you should consider getting a Rafflesia arnoldii. The world's largest flower as well as the largest carnivorous flower. I have read that the 'stench' can be smelt upto two miles or so

Best wishes on your attempts at hybridization.

[tom499]

I dont think I'll be getting a Rafflesia arnoldii legally for some time

They are saprophytes for starters, they dont photosynthesize (but there plants ) they only seem to live on the Tetrastigma vine which they gain their nutrients from.

They are meant to have evolved from plants, which is why they are as grouped as such. I guess they lost the need to grow independently and robbed off other plants.

They are not actually carnivorous, but rely on insects for pollination, so make quite a stink.

Being parasitic, its very difficult to create environments for them to grow, and not even the best gardens can provide good enough conditions for them yet, and with them becoming less and less common, they may not be around for long

[tom499]

Fred, have you got a photo of the flower stem on your stapeliads?

I wondered what it looked like so i can tell when mine may be in bud.

Thanks

[pikevi]

Thanks for the additional info, tom499.

I know they wont be aound for long ... and so will be the fate of so many other species

May be it is about time we take a hard look at the 'self-appointed' guardians of the earth/world

[tom499]

That is very true, us humans have left little of our planet undisturbed.

but theres always the chance of new interesting species evolving, and that is something to hope for

[fred]

Tom I will have a look through my photos on my PC and if I have one of the stem I will post that for you

[Leisurely]

Fred,
I don't know if you can buy Wells Lamont gloves in Australia or not but if you can find a pair you will have a glove that cactus spines cannot penetrate, even the large spines like the Golden Barrel.

[fred]

thanks for posting the name if the gloves Leisurely
I have made a note of the name and I will see if I can get a pair.

I don't know if they sell them here but I will try.
thanks