I just spray the cacti with the mix and make sure all parts above the substrate are hit.

I would not be surprised submerging is also possible, if necessary I will try that and post the results.

Good question Here it is sold as a mix of dried ground herbs called 'Italian herbs'.
I think it contains:
Basil
Oregano
Rosemary

I used to use chemical products before like those from Bayer and experimented a lot with all kinds of self made concoctions until I ended up with something cheaper and healthier with much success: Boil 1 litre water, turn off the heat and add: 2 hot red chili peppers 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon 1 t...

I am not sure this a Lophophora williamsii, it looks a bit different doesn't it?

I never saw mites but I read they are almost too small to see. And when the damage has done they are already gone, correct me if I am wrong. They must be very selective because they did not touch the other plants (orchids and other cacti). But the next winter when my cacti go inside I will check occ...

I find it strange that my two cacti got corked in the first place:
- they were inside all winter with moderate light
- the other cacti nearby did not get this corked skin so that rules out bugs (imo).
That is why it got me thinking of some kind of dormancy (winter, less light, almost no water).

Be VERY careful so the green growth doesnt get sunburned.

I will, thanks!

Hi,

After 8 months of being completely white and corked, my cactus seems to wake up after I put it outside:

Luckily I did not throw it away.

Is this corking a sign of dormancy, to protect itself from something? If not, what could it be?

A few caespitosa(?) to add to my collection: because I lost one to rot and a few that I put outside are heavily damaged by the sun (and that in Holland...)
I want to put them close together in one pot, what do you think?

I started an experiment watering with diluted coffee. So far I don't see any mealybugs...

Thanks, at least I am not the only one. A theory may be that when waking up from dormancy the plants may be weaker and so more vulnerable for bacteria and fungi. This particular cactus may have been weaker than the others. It did not show any signs of life for a long time even for a Lophophora. I ga...

I had this Lophophora williamsii for a few years. As always this winter it did not get any water for 6 months (it is inside). When I watered it last week it became rotten. Or it already was, I do not know. How can this happen? Can this be avoided completely? Or was this one weak to begin with when I...

Nice plant! Probably self fertile too, so you may well get a few seeds. I sometimes eat the fruit (they have a slighly bland, pleasant taste) being careful not to chew the seeds, and save them for sowing. I assume cross-polinated plants normally set more seeds? Thanks. Yes, it's self fertile. I'd b...

4 months ago:


now:

Thanks Ian. Fruit is to be expected next year right? Or sooner? I didn't see any mites (I check regularly with a magnifying glass) but I noticed that 'corking' of Lophophora sometimes occurs (because of temperature/humidity change?) and it looks like mite damage. Some of the new Lophophora that I pu...