Feel free to redirect me if I should be posting this question elsewhere. I couldn't quite decide which category it falls into.
I am trying to figure out if the Opuntia cochenillifera variegata produces flowers. I'm pretty sure it does not (or I'd be able to find images on Google), but I thought I'd check in and see if someone can say for certain, or maybe tell me why not. The non-variegated variety does, and I'm just wondering. Is inflorescence impossible.. or just rare? And...why?
I'm sure I'll feel a little ignorant when and if I receive an answer, but I'm willing to go there.
Thank you!
Flowering Question
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- Posts: 17
- Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2017 9:25 pm
- Location: Springtucky, Oregon
Re: Flowering Question
AFAIK All true variegates have the capacity to flower, but many won't because they don't produce enough sugar to support a flower, thus they don't unless grafted.
Here is a link that has some pictures of them flowering.
https://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/op ... ifera.html
By true variegates I mean ones that were caused genetically and not by any external force used by propagaters to produce variegation (if they do said things, which I don't know) and even if they do, some will still flower depending on the cause. Of course there will be the occasional plant that genetically can't produce flowers, but those will be rather uncommon.
Here is a link that has some pictures of them flowering.
https://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/op ... ifera.html
By true variegates I mean ones that were caused genetically and not by any external force used by propagaters to produce variegation (if they do said things, which I don't know) and even if they do, some will still flower depending on the cause. Of course there will be the occasional plant that genetically can't produce flowers, but those will be rather uncommon.
There is no cactus you can't eat, but you just might regret it if you eat the wrong one.
Re: Flowering Question
Sure, it does.
My photos.
Google doesn't tell you everything.
My photos.
Google doesn't tell you everything.
Last edited by 7george on Sun Apr 02, 2017 3:55 pm, edited 2 times in total.
If your cacti mess in your job just forget about the job.
°C = (°F - 32)/1.8
°C = (°F - 32)/1.8
Re: Flowering Question
All so called flowering plants flower, it's just that some do not until very large. Some cacti may take your lifetime to reach flowering stage from seed. Luckily most we grow will flower around five years old or so, and some even their second year from seed. Usually the large Cerei like Carnegia's (Saguaro's) need to grow fairly tall to start flowering. Some of the eventually larger cacti are grown for their interesting forms rather than in the expectation we will flower them from small plants. Also plants grown in a pot in the house may not flower as quickly as one planted in open ground outdoors in warmer countries.
"By 70 years of age, a saguaro cactus can reach 6 and a half feet tall, and will finally start to produce their first flowers. By 95-100 years in age, a saguaro cactus can reach a height of 15-16 feet, and could start to produce its first arm."
Even some of the really chlorophyll deficient ones can when grafted. Variegation is usually just chlorophyll deficient areas in the plant, rather than the plant being totally chlorophyll deficient.
http://www.mycactusplants.com/resources ... 8387867743
http://www.mycactusplants.com/non-chlor ... plants.php
"By 70 years of age, a saguaro cactus can reach 6 and a half feet tall, and will finally start to produce their first flowers. By 95-100 years in age, a saguaro cactus can reach a height of 15-16 feet, and could start to produce its first arm."
Even some of the really chlorophyll deficient ones can when grafted. Variegation is usually just chlorophyll deficient areas in the plant, rather than the plant being totally chlorophyll deficient.
http://www.mycactusplants.com/resources ... 8387867743
http://www.mycactusplants.com/non-chlor ... plants.php