Columnar cacti in cultivation

[jp29]

Micranthocereus purpureus (syn. Austrocephalocereus lehmannianus)

Main habitat: arid regions of N.E Brazil.


Newly developed cephalium


Dichotomous cephaliums


Developing cephalium with flower buds


Developing cephalium with emerging flower buds


Cephalium with emerging flower buds


Mature cephalium with flower buds


Well developed flower buds


Fully open flowers

[K.W.]

Good morning James, (again)

wonderful plants, thanks for the pictures!
I have read, the plants tolerate temperatures down to - 7 ° (19.4 F), is that correct?


Best Regards

K. W.


P. S. James, I thank you that you always specify values in Fahrenheit and inches in cm and Celsius! This makes it much easier for me.

[jp29]

Good afternoon K.W.

Good morning James, (again)

wonderful plants, thanks for the pictures!
I have read, the plants tolerate temperatures down to - 7 ° (19.4 F), is that correct?

They grow in an unheated greenhouse where they occasionally experience winter temperatures in the 25°F (approx. -4°C) range without signs of stress or damage.

............... James, I thank you that you always specify values in Fahrenheit and inches in cm and Celsius! This makes it much easier for me.

It is a common courtesy I try and always follow. To me it is as important as using correct punctuation when posting messages. Thank for your kind words K.W.

[jp29]

Duplicate

[KittieKAT]

Love Pilosocereus flowers they are magnificent!

[jp29]

Micranthocereus dolichospermaticus (syn. Austrocephalocereus dolichospermaticus, Siccobaccatus dolichospermaticus, et al)

Main habitat: arid regions of N.E Brazil.


Group of seedling plants


Plant with cephalium approx.3ft (1 meter) tall in 10" (25cm) pot


Approx. 4ft (2.25m) tall plants with developing cephaliums


Approx. 4ft (2.25m) tall plants with more mature cephaliums


Approx. 5ft (2.5m) tall plant with cephalium


Approx. 5ft (2.5m) tall plant with double cephalium


Typical flower

[jp29]

Love Pilosocereus flowers they are magnificent!

Me too, KittieKAT-- I agree.

[KittieKAT]

How you doing with getting your pilo collection back in order JP, i planted some seeds but since their germination rate is pretty low, only one so far has popped up, but it looks like it's doing okay, hopefully I'll get some more popping up so i can trade some seeds i have left over...if i have some left over lol!

[jp29]

Pachycereus schottii (syn: Lophocereus schottii et al)

Habitat: Lower Sonoran desert.

Notes:
Popular landscape plant in the Tucson area -- hardy to approx. 20°F (approx. -7°C). The monstrous form of this cactus is much prized

I will be including, from time to time and randomly, photos of animals and xerophytic plants that are associated with my cactus growing
here in Tucson.


Monstrous form with normal plants in background


Monstrous form


Stem tip about to produce mature bristly spination


Flower buds on mature plant


Close-up of flower buds


Flower bud with ant sipping nectar


Flower bud ready to open


In the hot summer months Tarantulas are often encountered


If handled gently they are not aggressive


In fact, they are quite harmless

[jp29]

How you doing with getting your pilo collection back in order JP ..........

Recovered quite well KittieKAT -- thank you for asking.

[jp29]

Pachycereus schottii (syn: Lophocereus schottii et al)

Habitat: Lower Sonoran desert.

Notes:
Popular landscape plant in the Tucson area -- hardy to approx. 20°F (approx. -7°C).

Here are two additional photos of mature plants I took at Dan Bach's this afternoon.


Large mature branched plant


Close-up of another mature plant

[Minime8484]

Fantastic plants, James! Of course, especially partial to the Micranthocereus!
I finally got a few M. purpureus to germinate (along with a few M. estevesii), but it may be a few years yet until I get flowers like yours!

How big were your M. dolichospermaticus before they formed a cephalium? Mine is only about 12" tall, so imagine I have awhile on that one too.

[jp29]

............... How big were your M. dolichospermaticus before they formed a cephalium? Mine is only about 12" tall, so imagine I have awhile on that one too.

About 3ft (approx. 1m) -- see the one I depict above -- that is the shortest one for me -- usually a little taller than that.

[jp29]

Greenhouse companion

It is nice and comforting to have a cheerful companion when potting up seedlings in the greenhouse.
A perky Roadrunner is just the ticket. Although a creature of the wild, the one pictured here has become
quite tame and comfortable around humans. I like to think he also likes columnar cacti, always showing up
whenever I am potting up some seedlings it seems.

I will be including, from time to time and randomly, photos of animals and xerophytic plants that are associated with my cactus growing here in Tucson.


Mr. Roadrunner checking out the situation


And checking out the seedlings


Ready to help


Standing guard


Mission accomplished -- ready to leave


My assistant seed preparer (Agrippina) is not quite as enthusiastic.
She tires quickly and would rather take a scrumptious nap.

[KittieKAT]

Lol that bird