exposing tuberous roots, UPDATE!

[tudedude]

Is it possible to expose a cacti's tuberous root above the soil line and have it dry into hard caudex-like stem? I'm tempted to try this on a couple of my plants.

[Tony]

Yes, I have been growing Peniocereus gregii with an almost completly exposed tuber for well over a year now. It doesnt seem to mind one bit.
Which plants were you considering doing this with?

[peterb]

I have been told that the Echinocereus group formerly known as Wilcoxia doesn't do as well with exposed tubers, but I don't know this from my own experience. I raise the tuber of Peniocereus johnstonii a little bit above the soil to avoid rot at the neck.

peterb

[tudedude]

I was thinking about exposing the roots of a Rebutia neumanniana. Drape them over a rock like tentacles.

[Tony]

Interesting, let us know how it works out if you try it.
I would recomend covering the roots with shade cloth or top dressing and expose them gradually to the sun.

[tudedude]

well I did it, hope it survives!

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[tudedude]

A 5 year update! How time flies, I'm in my forties now, bleh

Anyways, the plant did not die and the pups grew out.

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Here are the roots. The main tubers didn't grow much, but mostly shot finer roots out into the pot around the stone.
I also noticed the tuberous roots are a little more woody and less plump than when they were completely unexposed.

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Now that the roots are trained, I decided to make a better display:

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[greenknight]

Very nice - bonsai cactus.

[Aiko]

Interesting. Not pretty, but definately interesting.

[tom_212]

I actually think it looks really good.
Good job!

[DaveW]

I agree with Aiko, I think the place for roots and normally underground tubers is below ground.

Making "pseudocaudiciforms" was originally started by dealers exposing normally underground tubers when they could not supply the original demand for genuine caudiciforms and the trend has continued since.

I don't know how true it is, but I once read that exposing a normally underground tuber or root actually inhibited it's growth and in effect Bonsai'd the plant, but then that's just what the Bonsai growers have always done with their tree roots. I suppose your plant would be better termed a Cactus Bonsai than a caudiciform.

https://www.bbg.org/gardening/article/succulent_bonsai

I suppose to really prove that theory of growth retardent you would need a few similar plants planted with roots above the soil versus the others planted at the normal depth. With all these things it is whatever turns you on and as you will gather I am no fan of caudiciforms or Bonsai anyway.

The only cacti I can find turned into caudiciforms are Pterocactus, but some try it with Other Succulents too.

Those tubers of course are normally underground in habitat, only the stems protruding above ground.

http://www.cactus-art.biz/schede/PTEROC ... erosus.htm

http://www.cacti.co.nz/library/pterocactus-kuntzei/

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/67/ab/0f/67ab ... search.jpg

I suppose tuberous rooted species like Ariocarpus could be planted similarly with the root above ground for a "pseudocaudiciform".

[tumamoc]

Various nice. We should see more 5 year updates. I might be able to do a couple of 10 year updates.

[tudedude]

I actually think it looks really good.
Good job!

Thanks!

I suppose to really prove that theory of growth retardent you would need a few similar plants planted with roots above the soil versus the others planted at the normal depth. With all these things it is whatever turns you on and as you will gather I am no fan of caudiciforms or Bonsai anyway.

I did do a side by side with another plant that didn't have it's roots exposed. Growth was perhaps slightly more progressive, it's hard to tell, but exposing roots didn't drastically stunt growth as you can see from the updated photos.

Various nice. We should see more 5 year updates. I might be able to do a couple of 10 year updates.

That would be awesome, would love to see 10 year updates!