Extreme leaning - Turbinicarpus

[bvdg]

Hello everyone,

A couple of months ago, I noticed that the Turbinicarpus sp. in the picture started to lean very heavily. It is still the case today, however it is growing and flowering a lot. I was wondering if there is something that I can do to prevent the leaning (for instance provide more shade or water), or if this is a natural phenomenon.

Thanks in advance
Bart

[Russell99]

Some turbinicarpus naturally lean like that, just a natural phenomenon. If they were mine I would let them be as they are

[Steve Johnson]

I agree with Russell99. The fancy word for leaning is "recumbency" -- looks like you have a Turb pseudomacrochele subs. minimus, which is a recumbent species. Trying to force recumbent cacti to grow in a certain direction usually doesn't work, so it's best to let them grow in whatever direction they want.

[DaveW]

In habitat some similar Turbinicarpus grow among grasses and other plants which provide support and hold them up. They have ev0lved to grow quickly and spindly at the base in order to get their heads and flowers up above the surrounding grasses etc into the light.

The most extreme form is Turbinicarpus subterraneus which to the uninitiated looks as though it was extremely etiolated in the past but that is perfectly normal since rocks and plants hold it up in habitat to the light or otherwise in more open patches as Steve says they just sprawl, often with the head turned upwards.

See:-

http://www.cactus-art.biz/schede/TURBIN ... raneus.htm

[bvdg]

Thank you for the prompt replies, and for assuring that nothing is wrong. I have given it a bit more shade to check its natural tendency to reach a more brighter spot.

Kind regards

[bartab]

Is that right? Shouldn’t it get more light?

[Russell99]

Thank you for the prompt replies, and for assuring that nothing is wrong. I have given it a bit more shade to check its natural tendency to reach a more brighter spot.

Kind regards

No, do what you have been doing, it's flowering. The plants in habitat don't always grow in optimal conditions

[bvdg]

Alright, I have left them as they are, although it seems that rose a bit when crowding the space around it a little more.

Thanks all for your feedback!