Just wondering about the odds for other bike/cactus fans here....
Anyone else here on TE collect and grow cactus and succulents?
I do know that BikingMomof3 has a small indoor cactus collection, as do I.
Anyone else?
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Just wondering about the odds for other bike/cactus fans here....
Anyone else here on TE collect and grow cactus and succulents?
I do know that BikingMomof3 has a small indoor cactus collection, as do I.
Anyone else?
Not so much cactus but DH brought me home a Verigated Agave a couple months ago. The grower at his nursery dug it up off the side of the road in West Texas and gave it to DH. It is quite spectacular and doesn't look like the ones you find in a nursery. I love the plant and it is completely low (no?) maintenance!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aggie_Ama
Ooooh it sounds wonderful! Do you have a picture? Please? :)
Now that I don't live in the southwest, I miss cactuses. I currently have a prickly pear that is not coping with the high humidity. Even though it's planted in sandy soil, I think it's rotting out from the bottom. But I did have blooms last month. Maybe I could keep a pincushion happy, and their halo of flowers is so cute.
On the otherhand, for the first time ever, I can grow African violets and ferns with no special care whatsoever. :cool:
Wow, your prickly pear bloomed for you? Impressive. Did you take any pictures? Were they yellow flowers? Where did the plant come from when you got it?Quote:
Originally Posted by bmccasland
Here is one of my cacti...a small 4" Gymnocalycium saglionis. I love the blue-ish color and way the new spines come out with a maroon tint.
Attachment 3340
Lisa,Quote:
Originally Posted by Lisa S.H.
I bought it at a plant sale from our local botanical garden a couple of years ago. Yes, the flowers bloomed yellow. But no pictures. It's fairly small, only 4-5 inches in diameter.
Beth
I've got a bunch out in my yard...I can't take any credit though, they are native here in the desert ! The cactus wrens love to nest in the big Saguaro cactus.
This is the most common Agave found at nurseries around here. It has kid of a blue tint, they get HUGE and are extremely popular for landscaping right now.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y25...americana4.jpg
This is the Wikipedia photo of one like mine. Ours is of course smaller, I should take a picture of it tonight. It is growing really fast, proabably 2 ft tall?
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y25...ricana_a-m.jpg
I have 2 cacti (hee hee) in my backyard but they're only 5 feet tall and I don't know the specific species. I think there semaphores. My BF's mom's cactus is flippin' jinormous, at least 8-9 feet. She just lets it sit there and do it's thing, it's amazing!
bmccasland, have you tried potting it first or planting in a really really sunny, dry spot? Or, try a different cactus (if you haven't already). Semaphore's grow well in sticky and humidity filled environments (which is why they do so well in Florida, Virgin Islands, and Jaimaca. I hope the cactus you does well, they're so nice.
Wow, those are incredible agave! Can't wait to see a picture of your actual baby one! :)
Beth- I can't believe your p.pear bloomed when it was that small! :eek:
I got into cactus recently because I was tired of our 3 cats chewing on house plants, and I also didn't want to have to find a waterer when we go away for 2 weeks, etc. When investigating cacti & succulents, I was enchanted by their strange and bizarre forms- like beings from some other world. They seem to have a serene presence all their own. And my cats leave them alone! :D
I really love them, and they ask for so little in return!
I can't believe this is what you PNW do with your overabundance of rain.
ps I have a cactus garden too- but only because my mom thinks I love them. I also have a delightful aloe plant growing in a starbuck's mug.
Too funny! Take some pictures and post them here!Quote:
Originally Posted by madscot13
Here are some photos of my agave. Had to use the camera phone, as my batteries in the digital camera are somehow MIA. :confused:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y25...f3ee29d221.jpg
And one from a few feet back. The pot it is in is really cool but I don't know if you can tell it has a Palm Tree on it. I have a thing for Palm Trees. :)
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y25...a7f8862287.jpg
I would like to get more cacti/succulents for the backyard, but I would have to fence them in. One of our dogs in blind and I am pretty sure she would injure herself. :(
Amanda, that agave is really pretty big! Looks like you did a nice potting job on it. I love the creamy white in it.
Here is my Pilocereus glaucochrous ("Wooly Torch"). I love the soft white "fur" that looks like troll hair- but there are sharp spines hidden in it! :eek:
Attachment 3342
I have a collection of cacti/succulents. I have an echinopsis that has bloomed a few times(it is quick, with blooms that only last a day) pretty cool. I have several aloe plants that have bloomed as well with mango colored flowers. I have various other cacti that I am not sure of their names, but they thrive with very little care. I have a stapelia (?) that I got when my daughter was born,16 1/2 years ago. It was about 3 feet tall. I put it in the bathroom and now it is about 6 feet tall. Like you, I enjoy their sculptural qualities.
I am not into the cacti, but do find some quite interesting. Have collected quite a lot of succulents though.
I love the variety of leaf shape and colours of the succulents, and they can look quite spectacular in the right pot. Have been successful in propagating some in half sand/half potting mix and have given them away as gifts (in attractive pots). One bonus - if I forget to water them they don't drop dead quickly!:D
I've been inspired by your posts again Ladies!
in the wild:
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...o/DSCI0013.jpg
They're soem even more impressive one along the Railroad tracks I take to work (these aren't that set). Note the Au natural California Palm in the background
These have had some TLC. enjoy!
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...o/DSCI0023.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...o/DSCI0027.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...o/DSCI0028.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...o/DSCI0029.jpg
Awesome pics Fredwina. :D
now , you've really done it!
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...oto/cacti1.jpg
Fredwina, are those YOUR cacti in the pots on the wall there? How lovely!
I also can't beleive all those great cactus out there growing in the streets....amazing!
Here is a pretty picture of a group of my cacti catching the afternoon sun...
Attachment 3364
Yes, they're mine! all mine ......Quote:
Originally Posted by Lisa S.H.
with only 8 inches of annual rainfall and 40+ days of 100F temperature. it's easy!
It's just a lot of folks opt for the generic suburban look
Missymaya - my cactus is in a little pot, sitting on a corner of the driveway. The hottest dryest sunnyest place I could find, for a piece of geography that gets something like 60+ inches annual rain fall. The kalanchoes seem to like it. I thought PPear would be happy too. What I'd really like is a "Christmas" cholla - I used to see them in the desert around Phoenix, when I worked for Maricopa Co. Parks at Lake Pleasant. Chollas really like hot and DRY, so it probably wouldn't be happy here one itty bitty bit.Quote:
Originally Posted by missymaya
Pre-Katrina there was a succulent nursery near-by, but I'm not sure if they survived. Guess I'll need to check the phone book.
My house is fairly small, so many of my house plants have been banished outside. Thus must cope with the high humidity on their own.
Saw these on my ride today:
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...llenocacti.jpg
BTW, those are grapevines, Cucamonga Valley style in the background
Fredwina- those pads of that prickley pear are enormous! (can you tell I'm a Northern girl?)
Here is a website that really inspires me, such incredibly beautiful cacti and succulents, so beautifully potted and cared for:
http://www.southampton.bcss.org.uk/ShowC1.html
Note- there is more than just one page of pictures....click on "Go to next gallery" at the bottom...
I love cacti but do not grow them. This one however, has graciously graced my yard........
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s...closeup005.jpghttp://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s...yk/playing.jpg
Fredwina those are gorgeous!
My "Blue Flame"...Attachment 3392
Rancho Cucamonga, Ca population 160,000
Climate : semi-arid
Number of Library Branches : 2
Books about cacti and succulents : 3 and only the branch nearest me:mad:
I'm not sure if made myself clear, The ones on my patio I had just bought from Target. Let's see if still have a Black thumb;)
I was going to check out a book at library - but.... and the local bookstore obviosly don't know we import 62% of our water. Maybe I'll stop by Rancho Santa Ana Gardens and see what they have in the bookshop. or go to amazon and get this
Lisa , Pretty plants
and now for some pics I assume succulents are allowed (it's an agave) Tequila!
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...hoto/agave.jpg
Fredwina,
I didn't know that tequila was made from agave plants!!! :eek: Thanks for the info!
Your Target cactus are wonderful!
Is that the view from your prison cell window?
(just kidding, I lived many years in PR and got used to all the essential "rejas" over every door and window there)
I think there is way more and better info on cacti and succulents on the internet than in books. The people on the cactus forum moan about the dearth of good books to ge had. I've found lots of great and informative websites though.
Cyclechick- those cacti in your yard look a might thirsty! :o
Then you'd better write one! You gals have got some incredible photos already.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lisa S.H.
Actually, it's parkling lot for the train station in Upland. You can see the tracks if you look close.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lisa S.H.
And a question from Cacti newbie:
They're currently sitting inside on my window sill. would they do better outside? I'm worried about birds decding they look yummy...
Depends on how important it is to you to have them inside for your decor.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fredwina
If they get a LOT of sun on the windowsill they should be ok. They do need several hours of sun every day, or they will grow spindly. I don't think birds would want to eat them, but then I don't know what kind of odd birds you might have there! If you don't care whether they are in or out, then they would love the additional sun of outside I would think....but give them a couple weeks of gradual change to the full sun- they can burn if they've been inside for weeks and are then suddenly thrust out into the blasting sun.
Goats will eat them!:D I was out riding today and saw a goat chomping away on a cactus like the one CyclChyk posted.
My Agave is growing like crazy and it has a pup! We added little pot feet (they're frogs) to promote drainage and the agave is really happy. I want to dig out the little pup and nuture it to be a present for my mother in law. I am also going to have to start looking for another pot, I don't want to plant it in the yard because this is not the house we plan on living in forever and I have become very attached to my agave.
Lisa- Do you know how to grow an succulent or a resource for it?
Here is an updated photo (you can also see my Zinnias are popping!):
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y25.../IM000434b.jpg
I had to repot some plants, and one appears to be dying:(
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...o/DSCI0003.jpg
any ideas?
Btw, I've got some. apologies for my el cheapo camera:
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...o/DSCI0004.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...o/DSCI0005.jpg
Fredwina,
Some possibile causes?:
Did you use a potting soil made for cacti?- often those have way too much peat moss in them and it prevents the soil from getting wet at all. Most cactus growers mix regular potting soil and some sort of sand or tiny gravel about 1/2 and 1/2- that mixture works well.
Also, if you have just repotted, the plants will be under stress and should not be in the blasting sun all day for a while. Cactus need to adjust gradually from indoors to out in the full sun. Too sudden a change can actually burn them.
Don't let them get water more than once every week or two...they rot easily in soil that is not allowed to dry out between waterings.
Today I planted a foxglove. a stevia, and some portuluca which seem like a succulent that blooms in many colors, also two fuchias in front.
I continued my fierce battle with agapanthus (sp?) a plant that does nothing for me but house snails. That will protect the rosemary and princess bush in front.
Alas I can't remove my neighbors agapanthus but at least can yank mine from my front yard. I'll buy the snails on the neighbors plant a cheap beer to swim in ;-)
I created a couple of "planter towers" in the patio; small container goes in bare spot in medium container goes in bare spot in big container. Thought I had no room in back on the tiered planter stands but...
now I need more plants :D
Aggie-Ama- I love the way your agave and its pot echo the same blue-green color. :) And what a pretty patio!
Trek- a picture of your "plant tower"?...
Portulaca is wonderful- it is indeed like a succulent. It asks for so little and blooms so enthusiastically under the most dismal blastingly hot conditions. :o
Everyone had it in their patios in Puerto Rico.
Here is a picture of a funny little cactus of mine called "Medieval Castle" (Cereus peruvianus monstrosa). It's one of the family of "monstrosa" cacti so called because they grow very irregular somewhat deformed growths-- like monstrosities. :eek:
This one has red fur-like spines all over it that get into your skin like nasty fiberglass if you are not careful. The red fur is quite pretty but in this photo the backlit sun sort of hides it.
Attachment 3675
I had some "Baby Toes" succulent on a windowsill for months. It didn't seem to be very happy. After a while it wilted and looked like it was dying and/or rotting. I put it outside on the hot sunny porch, figuring it could either die or perk up there.
After a couple of weeks I saw new tiny "toes" growing up as the old toes shriveled away. Then I saw a bud! Here is a picture of the bud on the day before it bloomed, and then two pix of the flower open. I was amazed!
There is another bud growing too. :) I guess it likes the hot porch.
Attachment 4179
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