The Cactus Thread

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.
Updated: AI Thread Summary
Zigs said:
Well done Clyde 😎 Since we left europe the supply of Oreocereus (trollii and celcianus) have dried up so I recently bought a load of seed from Germany. I'll have a look at them tomorrow to see if they're still alive 😬
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They are still pretty common here. Of course you never know, it could go the way of cephalocereus senilis. Once very common . When I was young you could buy seedlings of this plant at all nurseries and grocery stores. Now the only ones I can find are on line for a hefty price!! Glad I bought one out of a florist 30 some years ago, now a nice plant!! Trolli grows well in my greenhouse, celsianus I always have problems with. Grew well in California. I have a couple. One large that's all barked over. And a small one about 3 inches tall ( try , try again) that seems ok so far.
 
I've got one Celcianus that's been outside for 2 winters now (Well this is it's second) Seem fine so far but we've not had a minus 8c week for a few years. (Just looked that up, 17 f)

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Euphorbia king said:
Wow!!!! I had no idea they could stand that!!😬
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I've read that they can withstand minus 18c (-0.4f) as long as the roots are dry. My outside bed is mainly coarse sand and it's raised but I'm only risking a small one in there until I've seen that they can put up with a good old Limey winter with howling North winds straight off the sea, continental blocking highs that have no air movement for days and hover around below zero followed by torrential rain for weeks 😬

DSCF0015 (2).webp
 
Euphorbia king said:
The river is below us on either side by a couple of miles. If it ever floods like that here in the park....... it will be biblical!!! It only does that on the fields on the river. Then the Gasconade turns into lake Gasconade !!!
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It'll be like the Himalayas in 2012 😬

I noticed this Austrocylindropuntia vestita has snuggled up into a Cleistocactus :cautious: He moved there on his own, I didn't put him there 🙄

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