CactiGuide.com

Yes, the spines on that engelmannii/fasciculatus (I think it is some of both) are amazing. These plants grow all along the Florence-Kelvin Highway east of Florecne AZ.

peterb

Picked up a few surprises at Boyce Thompson Arboretum today, also saw some interesting stuff I didn't buy. The unpurchased curiosities are first. The fall plant sale there is next weekend. I wonder who their supplier is? There was some very nice stuff for sale. I almost bought a variegated string of hearts, but those tend to just roast and rot here in Phoenix.

peterb

Nice haul!

Pic #2 is Cylindropuntia californica var. rosarica
Pic #3 I believe is Cumulopuntia sphaerica
Pic #4 & #5 are Tephrocactus weberi

Thanks Tristan! I was suspicious of that supposed Pterocactus. Just never see those for sale, really. I hope I like Tephrocactus weberi. If I don't you have first dibs.


peterb

Hehe - Peter - that's one of the plants I tried to talk you into taking with you on your last visit! I've got more if you want more! = )

Also, I've tried several species of Pterocactus over the years....the thrashers can smell the tubers from miles away and scatter them all over the neighborhood...some, never to be found again; I've only got one left (P. tuberosus). Definitely, one of my failed experiments....<sigh>...

nice new plants!

Nice additions!

Tephrocactus alexanderi for the spiney one as "Grusonia species".
The last O. basilaris comes from Bachs, could be the basilaris x santa-rita hybrid or straight basilaris. By the looks, i'd lean towards straight O. basilaris.

New pallet FTW!

Great plants, PB.

I vote for some sort of straight O. basilaris from the last O. basilaris too. It might be that hybrid but I dont think so the pads are more rounded, at least if the ones I have seen are any indication. (I got one from Walmart)

A few little things going on, as it finally gets cooler here. Days in the 90s and nights in the 60s (35/18). In other words, like summer everywhere else.

peterb

some seedling pics at 9 months. By now, these are the ones that are really going to make it, pretty much. Wintering is easy, cold and dry and dormant (I would water and keep growing if I had a greenhouse or an indoor setup. I am growing entirely outside). Next growing season, they'll all take off. I got mixed results with my zero organics mineral mix. I think it needs more tweaking. It was too dry and porous for this climate and for my conditions. Again, if I could have misted and fed them under lights for months, I think the hydroponic approach would work great. But in this climate, I think the tiny plants need a little bit of soil or something moisture retaining.

peterb

Nice seedlings!

Congrats on some really nice seedlings!
I completely agree with you about lower inorganics when growing outside in our climate - without some organic components that can retain moisture, plants here tend to dry up too fast.

Cool! Nice, healthy looking, seedlings!

not a very large crop this year, but some nice things that aren't for sale very often, so I hope they make it.

peterb