Discovered this this splendid 72f day on Spring Equinox in upstate NY I had just given this plant it's 1st good H20ing yesterday. It's been flowering since Thanksgiving. It was in the "cold" room (42 - 50f) with no water since before Christmas. Have given a couple of light H20ings since Mar 1 since room has been 60 - 75f.
Pic 1 - View of plant when walk in door
Noticed a depression spination on the most hidden spot - the slight underside on main orig. stem. Looked closer & I was looking in a cavern! But it was weird because no goo, no black, no smell....Got out scalpel blade & alcohol & gingerly sliced around edges. Here's first entry "port".
Next are views (need laprascope ) into cavity. It was a sl. calloused over, but went down into stem. It appears to have self-healed. I'm sure it'll be susceptible, but for all appearences, it's a happy camper! Thought about dusting with sulphur power, but figured I'd end up getting toxic S levels! We'll see...
[attachment=1]Mm-subducta-Sx_03202012_1050_4.JPG[/attachment
After I saw the severe sunburn heal/recovery (forget who, sorry, but from AZ) that happened a year ago. Again the cacti immune system astounds me!
Endless Life lessons from these creatures!
Peter]
Strange Non-Rot Cavity in Mamm. laui v. subducta
- hoteidoc
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Strange Non-Rot Cavity in Mamm. laui v. subducta
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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: Strange Non-Rot Cavity in Mamm. laui v. subducta
I have bought two other species of mammillarias that looked normal outside but were hollow on the inside.
One, a single headed M. rhodantha, eventually died and the other, Mammillaria marcosii, the hollow main head is gone but the offsets still live on.
very strange.
One, a single headed M. rhodantha, eventually died and the other, Mammillaria marcosii, the hollow main head is gone but the offsets still live on.
very strange.
Forget the dog...Beware of the plants!!!
Tony
Tony
- hoteidoc
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Re: Strange Non-Rot Cavity in Mamm. laui v. subducta
Thanks, Tony. I was sure it had been seen, but recently had lost a M. zeilmannia that had been going gang busters, lots of pups & then it started sagging...Was very happy to see what I saw, not what I was expecting. Now it's got Character!
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!!
- Melt In The Sun
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- Location: Tucson, AZ
Re: Strange Non-Rot Cavity in Mamm. laui v. subducta
It almost looks like something burrowed into it...there's probably a monster hibernating in there!
Re: Strange Non-Rot Cavity in Mamm. laui v. subducta
I lost several mamms to something similar. In my case I found small dark beetles in the cavities and while I am not 100% certain, I highly suspect they were the ones that excavated the holes. I have not found these on any other types of cacti or succulent I grow just the mamms.
- hoteidoc
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Re: Strange Non-Rot Cavity in Mamm. laui v. subducta
I don't know what could have burrowed in -- totally indoor plant & only bugs I see in the house are flies & occas. wasp!. But after the physical "exorcism", I did "smudge" it to drive any bad spirits out! Plant hasn't missed a beat, still blossoming. As a veterinarian, it's fun to observe the substantial self-healing these plants have! No Plant Dr. house calls in the desert or 1/2 way up the side of the Andes!
Peter
Peter
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!!
-
- Posts: 842
- Joined: Fri Jan 14, 2011 9:10 pm
- Location: Sunol, CA
Re: Strange Non-Rot Cavity in Mamm. laui v. subducta
Never know, 1000 baby scorpions might come pouring out of there!
J/K - that's a common urban legend
J/K - that's a common urban legend
- hoteidoc
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- Joined: Tue Jan 18, 2011 9:56 pm
- Location: Finger Lakes region, NY Zone 6b
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Re: Strange Non-Rot Cavity in Mamm. laui v. subducta
That's what I have my "fierce" guard cats for! It looks like it had the "bends", because continues to be some internal splitting! But it just keeps on growing & flowering Some issues going on that make me almost feel like crawling in & chilling for awhile After all, the plant is in my meditation room. If there were baby scorpions crawling out -- at least I'd probably have grusonii's in the front yard!
Peter
Peter
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!!