Branching Echinocereus triglochidiatus ??

[Charles]

Hello, I have been tending a cactus garden in Sparks NV for 25 years. Today I noticed one on my Echinocereus triglochidiatus (a fat flabby variety from Lincoln Co. NM) is branching !!
It's an older cactus in my garden and has grown to a maximum size. Now it is growing stems from the stems, as opposed from growing new stems from the root. I've never seen that before.
Do I get a medal or what?
Charles

[Kamos]

We'd have to see it first

[A. Dean Stock]

If you turn over a big clump of E. triglochidiatus you will likely find that the new branches do not originate from the actual roots but from the base of the old stem. They commonly branch from stem to stem but at the base. As a plant gets older and the stems elevated in a dome shaped clump, the stem origin may be in view where earlier it was covered by older growth. Yours are probably quite "normal". If I'm missing something here, a photo would help.

[Charles]

Here are three photos.
2nd is Echinocereus triglochidiatus from Lincoln Co. NM. This plant is 20 years old.
3rdis Echinocereus triglochidiatus White Sands variety. This plant is also 20 yrs. old.
1st was taken today of Escobaria vivipara just for fun.
cb

escobarianbloom.jpg (175.46 KiB) Viewed 1049 times