Thanks for this advice Steve. I have just discovered (with the help of a binocular lens) that I have red spider mired on my Pachypodium! I was worrying about metho attack on the plants well being and am glad to know that I can go ahead…..full steam!

Although I can't see it from your pics, I have had similar trouble this week with my own Pachypodium. I got a binocular lens onto the spots and found to my horror that I was looking at a red spider infestation. I have in the past treated these destroyers with a paintbrush dipped in metho. It seems t...

I had the same trouble and was advised to cut the top of the plant off and start again. I wanted to follow their advice but couldn't bear the thought of the attack! Therefore, I decided to leave it and see what happened. The black spots, which were twice as large as those you show, slowly paled in c...

Using the systemic treatment is best of course, but I find the moment I see the *&^%^$#X! I race for a small paintbrush and the methylated spirits bottle. This stops the mature ones in their tracks and seems to stop the spread to other plants. Give it a try. Just hit the backs and the white stuf...

OK, I'll work up the courage and do it! Breaks my heart, but I don't want fungus spreading to other plants. I'll post a pic when it's all over and you can all commiserate with me! Thanks Greenknight for explaining how to cut out the damage. I don't think I'd have tried if you hadn't been so generous...

The 'clutch' of spines in the second pic certainly look like E. grusonii. When they come direct from the sheltered nursery environment they do tend to look a lush dark green.

Yesp! I agree with Sir Spikesalot! My schikendantzii usually are more round and squat when young and the aureoles are closer together. However, we live in Australia and these cacti are quite common here. They may have genetically developed slight variations due to the climate.

Thanks Dave! Interesting! One of the articles I read says there are over 60 synonyms!

Oh dear! I think you are right. I went and took more pics and did a bit of a poke. The poke shows a solid base, but left a black mark, (see pic). However, I think the blueness is growing and there is a corking like mark developing at the top, It's very faint at the moment but you can see it if you l...

Thanks Hoteidoc and Greenknight! I'm about to race off and do some investigation. The spot is really dark blue rather than black, but maybe it is slowly sickening. I'll add more when I've done some checking!

Wow! Fastest answer ever! I haven't heard of Mediolobivia pygmaea, but will go check it out! Thanks for your help CastusFanDan!

I'm stunned at how beautiful these are! You must have a large glasshouse and look after these plants with love and a good deal of knowledge about their need. The collection is so varied…. I can take lots of lessons from your choices. Thanks for posting such inspiring pics!

This cactus is flowering at the same time as my other Rebutia, but it has no name. Can you help me identify it please?

Looks like the damage happened a year or so ago as the scars have sealed over. The darker top is normal for this cactus and therefore it's not really sick at all! Enjoy the forum! Remember, cacti are very addictive!

Thanks Brunaozinho! It's really good to know their real names! I was wrong about the P. pachycladus! It puts a better perspective on a collection to know what you are collecting! I guess you all feel the same frustration that I feel when I realise a plant name that I've learned and become familiar w...