Windowsill and patio growing

[oldcat61]

Got a new arm(?) growing from the top of the arrojadoa cutting you sent me. I'm keeping it warm with the melos for winter. Anything else I should do? Thanks again, Sue

[jp29]

Got a new arm(?) growing from the top of the arrojadoa cutting you sent me. I'm keeping it warm with the melos for winter. Anything else I should do? Thanks again, Sue

Great stuff Sue! That does happen on plants of this genus at this time of year in our hemisphere. It seems to me you are doing everything right. Thanks Sue,

James

[7george]

I saw, a cold snap is coming to your area next week. Do you evacuate Brazilians from the patio in such cases or they will be fine outdoors?

[jp29]

I saw, a cold snap is coming to your area next week. Do you evacuate Brazilians from the patio in such cases or they will be fine outdoors?

In general still hold to the following:

"During cold days, and at night during the winter months, I maintain my plants in small square plastic pots indoors on south facing window sills that receive full sunshine. On sunny winter days, when the temperature rises to around 60°F (approx. 16°C) -- which happens quite frequently in southern Arizona -- they go outside on the patio, coming inside as the temperature drops at nightfal .................."

.......... I bring them in at nightfall whenever the minimum overnight temperature is predicted to be below 45°F (7.22°C).

James

[jp29]

I am now compltely restricted (due to physical infirmities) to growing my cacti on windowsills, balconies and patios. I grow all of my plants in 2" (5cm) or 2¾" (7cm) square plastic pots. One of the criteria I use in selecting plants for my present collection is that they freely produce offsets, or have reasonably thin stems that provide easily rooted cuttings, thus facilitating vegetative propagation. I believe I was discussing this with K.W. during his last visit when I made the somewhat rash statement that I was getting too old and infirm to grow cacti from seed and that meant I would no longer be cultivating one of my all-time favorite species -- Discocactus horstii -- which is one of the real gems of the Cactus family (exemplars from my past cultivation efforts):





Well, I couldn't stand that omission, so here is a tray of seedlings I have raised this year -- with assistance from my friend, Michiel Pillet:

[jp29]

I also declared that, as of the start of 2017, I would only grow cacti -- no succulents. But I am weak-willed these days -- how could I possibly resist Euphorbia aeruginosa with its Saguaro-like branching habit, beautiful blue-green (aeruginose) stems and distinctive reddish-brown "spines/sheaths"? Well I couldn't, so I cut up an old plant in May -- took some approx. six inch long single stem cuts and rooted them in 2 3/4" square plastic pots. They have grown exceptionally well this summer and here thy are today:

[Minime8484]

All looking great, James! So glad you are keeping the growing going - they are looking really nice!

[jp29]

All looking great, James! So glad you are keeping the growing going - they are looking really nice!

Thanks Tristan -- I need to visit you and check your great plants.

[jp29]

I have changed the list of cacti I will be growing on my windowsill/patio this winter and have updated the cultivation information on my web page at ..........

http://jp29.org/cultwp.htm

.......... please check it out.

[keith]

Hi James I just read your link , very well written with nice pictures.

[Ron43]

I also declared that, as of the start of 2017, I would only grow cacti -- no succulents. But I am weak-willed these days -- how could I possibly resist Euphorbia aeruginosa with its Saguaro-like branching habit, beautiful blue-green (aeruginose) stems and distinctive reddish-brown "spines/sheaths"? Well I couldn't, so I cut up an old plant in May -- took some approx. six inch long single stem cuts and rooted them in 2 3/4" square plastic pots. They have grown exceptionally well this summer and here thy are today:

These look great!

[jp29]

Hi James I just read your link , very well written with nice pictures.

Thank you, Keith.

[jp29]

I also declared that, as of the start of 2017, I would only grow cacti -- no succulents. But I am weak-willed these days -- how could I possibly resist Euphorbia aeruginosa with its Saguaro-like branching habit, beautiful blue-green (aeruginose) stems and distinctive reddish-brown "spines/sheaths"? Well I couldn't, so I cut up an old plant in May -- took some approx. six inch long single stem cuts and rooted them in 2 3/4" square plastic pots. They have grown exceptionally well this summer and here thy are today:

These look great!

Thanks Ron.

[jp29]

We are experiencing the very best growing conditions here in southern Arizona right now - sunny days in the 80s F and nights in the 50s F.

[mdpillet]

We are experiencing the very best growing conditions here in southern Arizona right now - sunny days in the 80s F and nights in the 50s F.

I caved and moved my Discocactus inside the greenhouse, however!