Thanks Tom. I have moved my plants to slightly more shady conditions recently. One has 3 flower buds on it but that one was already in more shade than the others. I've learned that there are at least 2 forms. One being var multiplex. That makes sense with mine. One is very prolific offsetting and th...

The whitish discoloration is sunburn. It might recover. Place the plant in a situation under an open tree canopy where it get strong but chequered light - if you can. Purple in plants is produced under stress as a protective response. It might be from high temps, sudden high light or cold temps. It ...

Your book says to use bone meal high in Phosphorus I thought this forum said that was BAD. I don't know and have stopped talking about soil mixes especially on this forum. I read them , disagree with almost all of it and all I can say is whatever you choose to use it should drain well. BTW I agree ...

Thank you Steve for the explanation I agree on the Tephrocactus. They like sandy soil. Here is my formulation: so maybe it should have less P: N: 112 ppm P (P2O5): 255 ppm K (K2O): 242 ppm Ca: 57 ppm Mg: 16 ppm S: 19,60 ppm Plus micros. There was another problem in the mix I didn't mention before.....

Just for fun, I have taken a picture of the pages regarding soil in Borg's ''Cacti'' written in 1937 It is intended for use with porous terra cotta so it should be coarsened for plastic pots. It is as good now as it was then but local modifications will be necessary. If you use loam, it is important...

jerrytheplater post_id=405190 time=1706547152 user_id=17692] I'm wondering why you put the layer of Scoria on the bottom to begin with? Pot too deep and didn't have a shallower one? Hi Jerry. I do that so when the roots hit the bottom of the pot they do not find a saturated, airless layer but a wel...

Nino_G wrote: ↑Mon Jan 29, 2024 1:12 pm May I ask why did you replace part of the substrate volume with styrofoam? To speed up drying?

Yes to help it dry out faster. Too much unused mix is no good.

I decided to (finally) repot my large Notocactus warasii. Last time was maybe 6 years ago. The top of the mix in the pot had become rock hard and matted with roots. 20240129_143728.jpg If terra cotta pots are used, I line the inside with plastic... 20240129_143743.jpg The new pot is also terra cotta...

You plant's photosynthetic area has been reduced by 50% or so. You can keep the ''corking'' down by growing the plant more quickly. Frequent repotting, feeding, water etc.

double post....

Still, the article influenced me greatly since all of the books on cultivation of cacti that I've read until that point proposed using organic materials in relatively large proportions in "cactus soil mixtures" - from inert materials like peat and coco coir to various decomposed plant mat...

Nino_G wrote: ↑Tue Jan 23, 2024 9:01 pm It looks like a severe case of spider mite infestation to me, but I can't be sure.

Yes I think so too.

The fruit are supposed to be very tasty when ripe....

somnomania wrote: ↑Sat Jan 20, 2024 8:36 pm I water very lightly.

Watering lightly is a big mistake. The plants will end up either too dry or too wet and the root ball will probably have in wet/dry patches throughout.
You should soak thoroughly then allow to dry almost completely before repeating.

I've read that succulents can be really sensitive to it. They are probably less sensitive to dissolved salts than most plants because they come from areas which are not heavily leached by rain. Most of the sensitive plant species come from soils that are always moist or places were there is plenty ...