Cactus identification, please and thank you!

If you have a cactus plant and need help identifying it, this is the place to post it.
Post Reply
agnes
Posts: 6
Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2018 10:23 am

Cactus identification, please and thank you!

Post by agnes »

Hello, I'm a newbie with cacti's and was wondering if you guys could help me identify this cactus? Thank you!
I think this cacti belongs to notocactus family, but I'm not too sure!
27265455_10211120950076610_1749248624_o.jpg
27265455_10211120950076610_1749248624_o.jpg (110.6 KiB) Viewed 272 times
27335448_10211120950436619_1602329497_o.jpg
27335448_10211120950436619_1602329497_o.jpg (109.66 KiB) Viewed 271 times
27398386_10211120950316616_1388878862_o.jpg
27398386_10211120950316616_1388878862_o.jpg (71.72 KiB) Viewed 271 times
Thank you very much for all of your help!
User avatar
ElieEstephane
Posts: 2909
Joined: Tue Dec 13, 2016 12:10 am
Location: Lebanon (zone 11a)

Re: Cactus identification, please and thank you!

Post by ElieEstephane »

It looks like an echinopsis
There are more cacti in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
One of the few cactus lovers in Lebanon (zone 11a) :mrgreen:
agnes
Posts: 6
Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2018 10:23 am

Re: Cactus identification, please and thank you!

Post by agnes »

Thank you so much ElieEstephane!
I was wondering whether you'd be able to help me identify what is wrong with it as well.
I'm quite new to growing and collecting cacti and when I first began my new hobby I killed 5 cacti, so now I'm overly cautious. My question is do you know what this could possibly be? The bottom of the cactus has turned light green/yellowish colour and became very hard. Is this anything to worry about or just natural process?
cacti 2.png
cacti 2.png (449.84 KiB) Viewed 266 times
cacti.png
cacti.png (410.32 KiB) Viewed 266 times
This is the parent cactus I got my above cactus from. The parent cactus is 16 years old now.
Mother cacti.png
Mother cacti.png (496.53 KiB) Viewed 266 times
Thank you very much for all of your help!!
Attachments
Mother cacti.png
Mother cacti.png (496.53 KiB) Viewed 266 times
User avatar
ElieEstephane
Posts: 2909
Joined: Tue Dec 13, 2016 12:10 am
Location: Lebanon (zone 11a)

Re: Cactus identification, please and thank you!

Post by ElieEstephane »

This is called corking and it's what happens as cacti get older.
Your soil looks awfully organic. Perhaps that's why you're killing your cacti
There are more cacti in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
One of the few cactus lovers in Lebanon (zone 11a) :mrgreen:
agnes
Posts: 6
Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2018 10:23 am

Re: Cactus identification, please and thank you!

Post by agnes »

So even young cacti can begin to cork?
The soil I use is Cacti Soil, bought it specifically for them.
Thanks for all of your help!
User avatar
ElieEstephane
Posts: 2909
Joined: Tue Dec 13, 2016 12:10 am
Location: Lebanon (zone 11a)

Re: Cactus identification, please and thank you!

Post by ElieEstephane »

Depends on how they were grown. The size of a cactus is not very relative to its age.
Though advertised for cacti, commercial cactus mixes are far from ideal for cacti (maybe good for jungle cacti). Desert cacti require much less organic matter.
There are more cacti in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
One of the few cactus lovers in Lebanon (zone 11a) :mrgreen:
agnes
Posts: 6
Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2018 10:23 am

Re: Cactus identification, please and thank you!

Post by agnes »

I will admit the parent cactus was neglected for several years, being under-watered, then over-watered, and then stored in a basement for far too long. As you can see on the parent cactus there were some baby cacti growing with roots, so when I re-potted the parent cactus I took the baby cacti and planted them separately and recently noticed the yellowish/light green changes around the bottom. I doubt the cactus is more than few years old. I understand you can't know for certain but in your opinion you don't think its any form of pests?
In regards to the soil, thank you. How should the soil mix look like? Should I mix it with sand or ...?
Sorry for all of these questions, and thank you for answering them!
User avatar
ElieEstephane
Posts: 2909
Joined: Tue Dec 13, 2016 12:10 am
Location: Lebanon (zone 11a)

Re: Cactus identification, please and thank you!

Post by ElieEstephane »

It looks too uniform for pests. Corking is common for these species :D
As for the soil, you can mix your commercial soil with pumice, perlite, sharp sand, rock grit, rock chippings, small stones.. So many options to chose from. Just stay away from limestone and dolomite. 30-50% commercial cactus soil (provided it already has pumice or perlite) is a good mixture. If you want to take it a step further, see:
http://cactiguide.com/article/?article=article8.php
There are more cacti in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
One of the few cactus lovers in Lebanon (zone 11a) :mrgreen:
agnes
Posts: 6
Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2018 10:23 am

Re: Cactus identification, please and thank you!

Post by agnes »

Thank you so much for all of your help! You've really put my mind at ease with the corking! :D
I shall educate myself more on the types of soil mixes and apply it to cacti.
Also I just wanted to tell you that I had a look at your post and I'm very impressed by your cacti collection, they all look incredible and so beautiful! :love10: :love10: :love10:
User avatar
ElieEstephane
Posts: 2909
Joined: Tue Dec 13, 2016 12:10 am
Location: Lebanon (zone 11a)

Re: Cactus identification, please and thank you!

Post by ElieEstephane »

Thank you! I really appreciate it! Though i have a small collection compared to members of this forum and i'm more into the common species. To name a few, see:
viewtopic.php?f=31&t=29724
viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34999
viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34730
There are more cacti in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
One of the few cactus lovers in Lebanon (zone 11a) :mrgreen:
agnes
Posts: 6
Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2018 10:23 am

Re: Cactus identification, please and thank you!

Post by agnes »

Oh wow, you are right those are impressive collections and such beautiful flowers 😍 I’ll deffinitley keep an eye out for their posts, same as yours. Thank you!! 😀😀😀
Post Reply