A Cactus Of Note

[BillC]

This is Strombocactus discifomis aged about fifteen years and still growing in the original two-inch pot in which I bought it. The size of the plant has only increased by a small amount but it flowers regularly every year and I am always amazed by the size of the flower
relative to the size of the plant.

Bill

[fred]

very nice bloomer Bill
this will make you laugh Bill the cacti looks a bit like a green pine cone with thorns lol

[patticake]

Beautiful!!! I love cactus blooms... They're so cool

[BillC]

Freddie, I never saw it before but you are right on the ball, no pun intended.

Bill

[fred]

still a very nice cactus though Bill

fifteen years old the bloom shows the coming of age lol

[sandra]

Love that bloom Bill. Has the flower gotten bigger with each year? Do you keep this in or outside?

I was quite surprised when I moved to Florida at how well they grow here. I would have thought with all the rain and muggy conditions, they wouldn't but they're all over, here. The soil is very sandy which is probably why but it's far from the conditions they naturally grow in.

[exasperatus2002]

My wife has two cactus of the same kind. Dont know what it is but it doesnt flower. I did just seperate 18 little "keikis" from the two of them and planted a cactus forest for her in a planter box.

[BillC]

Sandra, the flower has increased in size but not by a significant amount and it stays in the GH all year. It has dropped the flower in the pic but there are three more buds showing. If they all mature at the same time I will post another pic. (Thought your story about Vivienne was great; you should write a book, set maybe in HK and featuring the Peninsula Hotel. At the climax they walk together down the steps and drive off in the Royce!) I got to stop this meandering and mumble mumble............

Bill

[sandra]

Originally Posted by BillC

Sandra, the flower has increased in size but not by a significant amount and it stays in the GH all year. It has dropped the flower in the pic but there are three more buds showing. If they all mature at the same time I will post another pic. (Thought your story about Vivienne was great; you should write a book, set maybe in HK and featuring the Peninsula Hotel. At the climax they walk together down the steps and drive off in the Royce!) I got to stop this meandering and mumble mumble............

Bill

That would be deja vu Bill.

[orchid_girl]

Bill I have one too but it has never bloomed. Any ideas as to why? I would love to see it bloom.

[solay]

Bill, that's a pretty bloom. You and Sandra need to write the story down on paper so it can be marketed as the best new romance novel of 2008! Ha! Ha! Ha!

[sandra]

Originally Posted by solay

Bill, that's a pretty bloom. You and Sandra need to write the story down on paper so it can be marketed as the best new romance novel of 2008! Ha! Ha! Ha!

Solay, the story's already been written. You should've been here last year. hehehehe

[arleneg]

Bill,

That's a very nice flower on that cactus. I've never tried growing one, a needle-y type. Having a small kid around, I'm afraid of her curiously touching or picking it up. So the only cactus I grow is a Zygo-cactus...and now an orchid cactus.

[BillC]

Orchid Girl, plenty of water in Spring; after the first add a balanced fertiliser to each watering. Full sun, mine are in GH. Use sharp sand and pea gravel mixed with good compost. Media must be free draining. Leave them alone. Buds show May, June, maybe later. I stop watering in October and start again end of March (If the weather is warm enough). This is Strombo. with three new buds together, I will post pic. when the flowers open. Cactus plants mainly grow themselves.

Bill

[orchid_girl]

Thank you Bill, I am going to see if I can get it to bloom this year. I hope it does