Windowsill and patio growing

[jp29]

Inasmuch as spring is only some three weeks away I am posting what may be the last batch of (three) winter flowerings for my Arrojadoa dinae. This species has always been a prolific winter bloomer for me.





Growing in 2¾" (7cm) square plastic pots -- 60% raw pumice/40% cocopeat soilless mix.

[Minime8484]

Wonderful as always! How far into Spring will this species bloom?

[jp29]

Wonderful as always! How far into Spring will this species bloom?

Thanks Tristan. You know, as many years I have been growing this species (maybe 25+ years?) I am afraid I cannot answer your question. Unfortunately my memory fails me quite often these days. I think it flowers on and off for me from late December until about late March -- we will see.

[jp29]

BTW, I like to stage these plants outdoors in full sun, weather permitting, at this time of year (bringing them indoors on the windowsill at night) as the flowers are mostly pollinated by hummingbirds that are very active here now. Here is a hummingbird pollinating one of my Micranthocereus densiflorus flowers at Bach's Cactus Nursery -- you have to look hard at the top right hand corner of the pic -- they are hard to capture on camera in flight.

[jp29]

Two more Euphorbia balsamifera ssp. adenensis from which I will be taking cuttings in May to root up as bonsai style plants in 2¾" (7cm) square plastic pots .

[jp29]

Harbinger of spring!

The Pereskia portulacifolia rooted cuttings are now well leafed out:


Growing in 2¾" (7cm) square plastic pots -- 60% raw pumice/40% cocopeat soilless mix

[K.W.]

Good morning James,

wonderful flowers - as always!

The birds are also very interesting. Hope I can make some photos of them in April.

Thanks for the pictures!


Best wishes

K.W.

[jp29]

.......... The birds are also very interesting. Hope I can make some photos of them in April.

Thanks for the pictures! ..........

Thank you, K.W. I am really looking forward to your visit!

[jp29]

As I have said previously, much of my approach to growing cacti (and succulents) is based on the principles espoused by Dr. Franz Buxbaum in his book CACTUS CULTURE BASED ON BIOLOGY (translated by Vera Higgins, Blandford Press, 1958). Besides being a pioneer in the use of coarse inorganic growing media to insure superior drainage and root aeration; acidifying water and soil by testing and modifying the pH; using complete balanced fertilizers incorporating micronutrients; and using non-porous pots in order to maintain healthy root systems -- he was also an advocate of providing a stable outdoor growing environment for cultivated plants through the use of wooden plant-boxes.

Over the years I have frequently grown many of my own windowsill/patio plants in this way -- rather than exclusively cultivating them in individual pots -- always with satisfactory results.

Spring is almost here (20 March this year) soon to be followed by 100°F+ (approx. 38°C+) days here in southern Arizona. I grow most of my small windowsill/patio plants outdoors during the spring and summer under 30% shade cloth and the plastic pots become extraordinarily hot in the blazing sun. This year I am modifying Dr. Buxbaum's "grow box" technique to suit my present circumstances. Light weight (and easy transportability) is of the utmost importance to me and so wooden boxes are out (very heavy when filled with substrate -- even my own soilless mix) yet plastic planter boxes (as with plastic pots) become too hot under the Arizona summer sun.

And so, as an experiment, I have opted to use two wire framed hanging baskets (one for a Euphorbia grouping, the other for a cactus grouping) that employ coco fiber liners on the theory that the soil will be well insulated while maintaining suitable moisture content. I will not use them as hanging baskets though -- their flat bases will allow me to stage them like my potted plants.


Coco fiber lined hanging basket bought at Lowes ($5)



I selected relatively "shrubby" and thin stemmed species in order to keep the planter light weight.

[cortez753]

Very cool. I've always been curious as to whether or not those coco fiber baskets would be good for cacti.

[jp29]

Very cool. I've always been curious as to whether or not those coco fiber baskets would be good for cacti.

Thank you cortez753. I don't know whether this will work well -- or not. Time will tell.

[jp29]

.......... I grow most of my small windowsill/patio plants outdoors during the spring and summer under 30% shade cloth and the plastic pots become extraordinarily hot in the blazing sun. This year I am modifying Dr. Buxbaum's "grow box" technique to suit my present circumstances. Light weight (and easy transportability) is of the utmost importance to me and so wooden boxes are out (very heavy when filled with substrate -- even my own soilless mix) yet plastic planter boxes (as with plastic pots) become too hot under the Arizona summer sun ...........

I did find some light weight wooden boxes at Michael's Arts & Crafts and I bought one nicely made of unfinished plywood for $9. I drilled drainage holes in the bottom and treated it with clear waterproof preservative. It accommodates 12 standard 2¾" (7cm) square plastic pots perfectly. I filled the box with selected miniature Brazilian cacti growing in pots:


Back row - Arrojadoa dinae; middle row - Discocactus buenekeri; front row - Tacinga inamoena ssp subcylindrica (sensu latto).

I purchased a second box that I intend to treat in the same manner, fill it with my soilless mix, and plant some cacti directly in the substrate.

[Cleistocrazy]

James,

You probably don't recall but I had the privilege of visiting you back in 2001, when I visited the Tuscon area. I was the dummy that left my camera at your house and you mailed it back to me. You were kind enough to give me a tour of the local nurseries and spend a good portion of the day with me. I always appreciated that and it is still one of my highlights associated with my hobby of growing cacti. You are a very generous person and we are all lucky to have you with us!

Thanks again for the great memories!

Bob Lunsford
Chula Vista, CA

[jp29]

James,

You probably don't recall but I had the privilege of visiting you back in 2001, when I visited the Tuscon area. I was the dummy that left my camera at your house and you mailed it back to me. You were kind enough to give me a tour of the local nurseries and spend a good portion of the day with me. I always appreciated that and it is still one of my highlights associated with my hobby of growing cacti. You are a very generous person and we are all lucky to have you with us!

Thanks again for the great memories!

Bob Lunsford
Chula Vista, CA

Thank you for your kind comments, Bob. I do indeed remember your visit and the enjoyable time we spent together. In addition, I was pleased to meet someone as forgetful as me! - I constantly get phone calls from various Tucson C&S Nurseries saying they have found one of my walking sticks or a pair of my reading glasses in one of their greenhouses!

[jp29]

I have updated my web page that outlines my personal approach. I hope some of the information will be of interest to fellow enthusiasts who use a similar methodology.