E. senilis: Is this typical?
- Steve Johnson
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- Joined: Thu Nov 03, 2011 4:44 am
- Location: Los Angeles, CA (Zone 10b)
E. senilis: Is this typical?
My Eriosyce senilis started showing flower buds 3 weeks ago. Here's what it looked like last weekend:
Here's what it looks like today:
My guess is that the plant will go into full flower in a week or so. This is a new experience for me, and I was wondering if it's typical for E. senilis to take so long to flower. Would it indeed be typical, or could there be something that's retarding normal flower development? If so, is that something I need to address? (I am such a worrywort sometimes!!!)If you just want photos without all the blather, please visit my Flickr gallery.
My location: Los Angeles, CA (Zone 10b)
My location: Los Angeles, CA (Zone 10b)
- CoronaCactus
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- Location: Corona, California USA [Zone 10]
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Re: E. senilis: Is this typical?
Yup, right on time. The GH ones started about 2.5 weeks ago, the SH ones are at the same stage as yours.
- Steve Johnson
- Posts: 4714
- Joined: Thu Nov 03, 2011 4:44 am
- Location: Los Angeles, CA (Zone 10b)
Re: E. senilis: Is this typical?
Ooh, nice! I remember you saying that E. senilis flowers come in several flushes, so I look forward to a pretty display going on hopefully through the end of March.CoronaCactus wrote:Yup, right on time. The GH ones started about 2.5 weeks ago, the SH ones are at the same stage as yours.
By the way, my Melo matanzus decided to put out a couple of flowers recently. They hid so well inside the cephalium I didn't see any evidence until the fruits appeared. I wonder if there might be a few more nice little surprises in there.
If you just want photos without all the blather, please visit my Flickr gallery.
My location: Los Angeles, CA (Zone 10b)
My location: Los Angeles, CA (Zone 10b)
- Peterthecactusguy
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- Joined: Fri Feb 19, 2010 7:49 am
- Location: Black Canyon City, Arizona
Re: E. senilis: Is this typical?
I gotta check mine, I repotted it during class and it seems like the buds are still on it but its slow to bloom. Still a little cold sometimes at night so it' s inside.
Here's to you, all you insidious creatures of green..er I mean cacti.
Re: E. senilis: Is this typical?
Growth in winter is always a little slower. Mine can take a good month from me spotting tiny buds to getting the fairly large flowers open. The good news is that they last many days.
E. senilis is also quite frost hardy. 20F shouldn't a problem for short periods, maybe even a bit lower. It is from a Mediterranean climate and likes to grow when nights are cool. I suspect you could cause it serious trouble by watering in an Arizona heatwave, although here in England they seem to suck up water at any time hot or cold.
E. senilis is also quite frost hardy. 20F shouldn't a problem for short periods, maybe even a bit lower. It is from a Mediterranean climate and likes to grow when nights are cool. I suspect you could cause it serious trouble by watering in an Arizona heatwave, although here in England they seem to suck up water at any time hot or cold.
--ian
- Minime8484
- Posts: 1396
- Joined: Thu May 12, 2011 12:09 am
- Location: Chandler, AZ
Re: E. senilis: Is this typical?
Yep - same with mine - I first saw the start of flower buds on mine on Jan 20th...and the first one should open any day now.
Can't wait, because this is the first Eriocyse flower for me - the hummers should be happy!
Can't wait, because this is the first Eriocyse flower for me - the hummers should be happy!
- Peterthecactusguy
- Posts: 8862
- Joined: Fri Feb 19, 2010 7:49 am
- Location: Black Canyon City, Arizona
Re: E. senilis: Is this typical?
mine didnt have any buds on it. There were a few others that did. I like the look of it and so yeah. I will have to see what mine does
Here's to you, all you insidious creatures of green..er I mean cacti.
- hoteidoc
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- Location: Finger Lakes region, NY Zone 6b
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Re: E. senilis: Is this typical?
Does increasing light or temps, or both, set off budding in E. senilis? Or is it "special" West Coast air? I (accidently) acquired one end of this past summer, d/t wrong shipment. Of course, once I got it, I really liked it, & All are accepted in this household . I'm assuming it's a "young" (i.e. 2 - 3 yr) plant. It's been indoors with temp @ 60f. Never made it into the "cool/43F" room since it was a bareroot newcomer, so that probably is going to limit flowering.
Once bitten by the cactus collecting/growing bug, there is no known cure!
There's no 12 step programme for Cactaholics...so I shall just have to get some more!!
There's no 12 step programme for Cactaholics...so I shall just have to get some more!!
Re: E. senilis: Is this typical?
They *should* be triggered by shorter winter days, or possibly by them lengthening slightly. The normal time to flower is at the end of winter, and that applies in habitat too. Some people persuade them to flower at the end of summer and I'm not entirely sure what's going on there.
Some other types of Neoporteria start flowering as soon as days length, or temperatures cool, and then keep it up right through winter, but that isn't normal for E. senilis.
Some other types of Neoporteria start flowering as soon as days length, or temperatures cool, and then keep it up right through winter, but that isn't normal for E. senilis.
--ian
- hoteidoc
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Re: E. senilis: Is this typical?
Thanks, Ian. So, of course, during my mid-afternoon plant tour, I found myself in front of the Erios. senilis. And I sez to myself, gee why don't you just look, maybe ...
Ka-ching! Lookey what I found ! So thank you, all you southermost harbringers of Spring! Even tho we're a good 2 months away!
Ka-ching! Lookey what I found ! So thank you, all you southermost harbringers of Spring! Even tho we're a good 2 months away!
Once bitten by the cactus collecting/growing bug, there is no known cure!
There's no 12 step programme for Cactaholics...so I shall just have to get some more!!
There's no 12 step programme for Cactaholics...so I shall just have to get some more!!
Re: E. senilis: Is this typical?
Living in a mediterranean climate and having all my plants, besides Melocacti etc., outside, I have reached to the same conclusion with Ian.iann wrote:Growth in winter is always a little slower. Mine can take a good month from me spotting tiny buds to getting the fairly large flowers open. The good news is that they last many days.
E. senilis is also quite frost hardy. 20F shouldn't a problem for short periods, maybe even a bit lower. It is from a Mediterranean climate and likes to grow when nights are cool. I suspect you could cause it serious trouble by watering in an Arizona heatwave, although here in England they seem to suck up water at any time hot or cold.
Eriosyce do like autumn and spring better than the hot summer days and nights for their time of growth.
The same applies for Copiapoae(but more for autumn than spring).
Awesome plants!!!
Cacti:plants with shape, strength and character.
Re: E. senilis: Is this typical?
I think Copiapoas like warm nights, but not hot days.The same applies for Copiapoae(but more for autumn than spring).
--ian
- Steve Johnson
- Posts: 4714
- Joined: Thu Nov 03, 2011 4:44 am
- Location: Los Angeles, CA (Zone 10b)
Re: E. senilis: Is this typical?
And here we are! A pic from my E. senilis today:
Two more are about to open, and there's a new little bud just hiding behind it. Does take awhile, doesn't it? But worth waiting for, and a harbinger of spring (finally!).
Two more are about to open, and there's a new little bud just hiding behind it. Does take awhile, doesn't it? But worth waiting for, and a harbinger of spring (finally!).
If you just want photos without all the blather, please visit my Flickr gallery.
My location: Los Angeles, CA (Zone 10b)
My location: Los Angeles, CA (Zone 10b)
- Minime8484
- Posts: 1396
- Joined: Thu May 12, 2011 12:09 am
- Location: Chandler, AZ
Re: E. senilis: Is this typical?
Beautiful!! Congrats on flowers! Mine is still chugging along, and I hope my first bloom is not too far behind yours!