2 wide-open flowers -- oops, make that 8 (update)

[Steve Johnson]

Whew, it's hot! A big warm-up starting on Thursday led to a daytime high of 103 at the plant bench today. With this brief and early bit of high summer, let's enjoy 2 cacti with their flowers opening wide in the heat...

Mammillaria crucigera.







Strombocactus disciformis showing its 2nd flower of the year already:





Unless the forecast horizon promises a lot of rain throughout April, portable GH 3.0 will come off in about 3 weeks. After that, all I can ask for is just one good soaker before our rainy season ends. My cacti sure would love it, so I'm hoping that SoCal's weather will oblige.

[Aiko]

After that, all I can ask for is just one good soaker before our rainy season ends. My cacti sure would love it, so I'm hoping that SoCal's weather will oblige.

Can you spare some warmth? Shall we trade? I can send you as many cubics of freshly harvested rainwater as you like, in return I would like to get some nice intense sunshine and +15C daytime temperatures from you.

[Steve Johnson]

Can you spare some warmth? Shall we trade? I can send you as many cubics of freshly harvested rainwater as you like, in return I would like to get some nice intense sunshine and +15C daytime temperatures from you.

Ah, if only that was possible!

[Steve Johnson]

Okay, now it's Sunday evening, the Ides of March. Daytime high on the plant bench topped out at 101, and my Mamm crucigera definitely approved:







Whenever it's hot, a healthy adult Melocactus matanzanus will never disappoint:

[KittieKAT]

I hate you lol, it just snowed again today in salem, ma ....ahrg!

[7george]

Nice blooming rings, the avatar blooms also...

[iann]

Keep looking. There must be more Melocactus flowers in that fluff.

[C And D]

I'm thinking your plant is more of a hybrid

M. crucigera flowers are much smaller, and their spines are smaller

M. crucigera

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[Steve Johnson]

I'm thinking your plant is more of a hybrid

Could be, although for the sake of argument I'll continue labeling mine as Mamm crucigera. But whether it's a hybrid or not, I'm so glad to have this pretty little guy in my Mammillaria contingent! By the way, those flowers just keep on going:



There are still some buds getting ready to bloom. I have a nice glazed ceramic pot ready for the crucigera, although I'm reluctant to disturb it in mid-flower. When they're all done, it'll be time to repot -- my guess is in a week or two.