Zigs
New member
- Location
- Kent, England
Ta Girls 
Just about recovered now
This Echinopsis crassicaulis flowered today
Just about recovered now
This Echinopsis crassicaulis flowered today
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The Cactus Thread
- Thread starter Zigs
- Start date
This thread features a comprehensive discussion on growing, identifying, and propagating cacti and succulents, highlighting community observations, practical troubleshooting, and individual species behavior.
- Cold Hardiness Limits: Community members noted that several species, including Oreocereus celsianus and cold-tolerant Echinocereus varieties, can survive extreme freezing temperatures down to 0°F (-18°C) as long as their soil remains completely dry throughout winter.
- Water Therapy Propagation: A specialized method of suspending rootless or severely dehydrated cacti like Astrophytum over water with rubber bands was praised for encouraging rapid root initiation within just a few days.
- Lighting and Dormancy Requirements: Members cautioned against placing desert cacti in dark indoor rooms or relying solely on basic grow lights, emphasizing that full sunlight and a cool winter dormancy period are necessary to induce blooming.
- Pest Management Practices: Effective solutions for mealybugs include direct application of isopropyl alcohol and systemic insecticides, while using volcanic ash grit helps prevent sciarid fly larvae infestations.
I only see a mouth screaming feed me in that picture. 
Sheal
Well-known member
- Location
- Ross-shire Scotland
That's bright and a really healthy looking cactus.
Zigs
New member
- Location
- Kent, England
Logan
Well-known member
- Location
- Redditch west midlands Worcester
Very pretty flowers Zigs.
Zigs
New member
- Location
- Kent, England
Ta Logan
Mammillaria bocasana still flowering away, this one usually flowers till September.
Not so many flowers on the Opuntia humifusa this year but the few there are are big ones.
Zigs
New member
- Location
- Kent, England
Another flower on the Echinopsis today
These waited till the week after the show to flower
These waited till the week after the show to flower
Zigs
New member
- Location
- Kent, England
Parodia scopa seedlings, these seem to like high humidity while young. I'm keeping a perspecs cover over them.
Sheal
Well-known member
- Location
- Ross-shire Scotland
They look like fertiliser pellets Zigs.
Zigs
New member
- Location
- Kent, England
Sheal
Well-known member
- Location
- Ross-shire Scotland
That's pretty. I can't remember whether I've asked this before but are any of them perfumed?
Zigs
New member
- Location
- Kent, England
Most of them aren't but there are the odd few that really smell, like these Echinopsis...
Anniekay
New member
- Location
- Quitman, Ga.
You are a very talented cacti grower !! All are lovely !!
Zigs
New member
- Location
- Kent, England
Logan
Well-known member
- Location
- Redditch west midlands Worcester
They're all so pretty.
Zigs
New member
- Location
- Kent, England
Sheal
Well-known member
- Location
- Ross-shire Scotland
Do you have to cover it in winter Zigs?
Zigs
New member
- Location
- Kent, England
I haven't until last winter, they've been under snow before but it didn't stop raining this year so I lobbed a cover over them. It's the wet that rots the roots, they can put up with a bit of frost
Sheal
Well-known member
- Location
- Ross-shire Scotland
Snow would probably keep them warm but may be a problem as it thaws. Being mostly desert plants it follows that too much water would be damaging.
Zigs
New member
- Location
- Kent, England
They can handle a lot of water as long as it drains well. It all comes down in one sheet in the desert quite often so they have to drink as much as they can all at once
I watered the outside bed as it hasn't rained for a month now, noticed the Opuntia pads are quite fat with water so it must have its roots right down into the ground by now.
