Windowsill and patio growing

[Cleistocrazy]

James,

I bet the room smells mighty nice with all those flowers open simultaneously.

Thanks for sharing!

Bob in San Diego

[jp29]

James,

I bet the room smells mighty nice with all those flowers open simultaneously.

Thanks for sharing!

Bob in San Diego

Thanks Bob. The fragrance is indeed heavenly -- reminiscent of numerous Gardenia flowers open at the same time!

[jp29]

Uebelmannia pectinifera (alternate nomenclature/synonyms/varietal forms -- Uebelmannia pseudopectinifera) is a real gem for collectors with it's symmetrical form, dark brown epidermis and comb-like black spine formation. It can be grown and maintained in 2¾" (7cm) and 3¼" (8cm) square plastic pots as an eclectic windowsill plant.

[lopinweapon]

[jp29]

.......... Typically the (monsoon thunderstorm) season commences with "stops and starts" days -- heavy cloud build-up in the early afternoon with thunder and lightning -- temps in the 100°F+ (approx. 38°C+) range -- followed by strong gusting winds and blowing dust -- but little rain .......... temperatures dropping into the 75°F (approx. 24°C) range ..........

That scenario occurred today. At noon the temp. registered 105°F (41°C) on my back patio thermometer with bright sunshine and hardly any wind. At about 3 pm dark thunder clouds started to build up and within a half an hour the wind was gusting strongly. The temp. dropped to 83°F (28°C) and a very light rain began to fall -- but hardly any drops hit the ground, most just evaporated in the air. It all lasted about 20 minutes -- now the cloud cover remains and all is calm.

So I will have to (spray) water again tonight! But I must be patient -- we desperately need a good rain storm!

[adetheproducer]

What sort of size do the uebelmannia pseudopectinifera get before flowering? Mine's about the size of a golf ball currently, I am surprised by its growth rate it just doesn't seem to stop getting bigger and had to move to a bigger pot this year too. Also do you know if they are self fertile/sterile, will I need another for viable seeds?

[fanaticactus]

Your Discos love you! Beautiful collection.

[jp29]

What sort of size do the uebelmannia pseudopectinifera get before flowering? .......... Mine's about the size of a golf ball currently ..........

The one on the left is the smallest one I have had flower -- about 2" dia. The one on the right is much larger and has not yet flowered -- both growing in 2¾" (7cm) square plastic pots. I think they typically first flower for me when they are about 3" (7.5cm) in diameter.

.......... do you know if they are self fertile/sterile, will I need another for viable seeds?

I do not know the answer to that question. I always play pollinator using a fine watercolorist's brush (flowers on multiple plants).

[jp29]

Your Discos love you! Beautiful collection.

Thank you fanaticactus. I hope all of my cactus love me -- in their own vegetative way

[Minime8484]

Those Uebelmannia are simply gorgeous! I hope to see blooms on mine some day soon since they are about 2-3" dia now too.
Some day I hope to find U. flavispina - that one looks pretty cool!

[adetheproducer]

Cheers James, I might be lucky to get some flowers the next year or 2 then it should be about 3 inches ish diameter then. Guess I find out if they are self potentiating then.

Thanks

[jp29]

Thank you Tristan and adetheproducer. Of course, you can only keep specimens of this species growing in small containers so long until they begin to outgrow their pots. As they attain greater age, and if they are grown under optimum conditions, they eventually undergo a dramatic change in their physical appearance -- their stems elongate and attain a frosted silver coloration/variable shading of the epidermis and the spination becomes more gray and appears denser -- the whole plant appears to be much "weathered". Some people like, and place great value on, the appearance of old mature plants while others like the appearance of juvenile plants better.

Here are two old "weathered" specimens growing in plastic containers:

[adetheproducer]

I like the wild old look hopefully I wont kill mine before it looks like those two.

[K.W.]

Here are two old "weathered" specimens growing in plastic containers:

Fantastic plants James!


Best wishes

K.W.

[jp29]

.......... Typically the (monsoon thunderstorm) season commences with "stops and starts" days -- heavy cloud build-up in the early afternoon with thunder and lightning -- temps in the 100°F+ (approx. 38°C+) range -- followed by strong gusting winds and blowing dust -- but little rain .......... temperatures dropping into the 75°F (approx. 24°C) range ..........

That scenario occurred today. At noon the temp. registered 105°F (41°C) on my back patio thermometer with bright sunshine and hardly any wind. At about 3 pm dark thunder clouds started to build up and within a half an hour the wind was gusting strongly. The temp. dropped to 83°F (28°C) and a very light rain began to fall -- but hardly any drops hit the ground, most just evaporated in the air. It all lasted about 20 minutes -- now the cloud cover remains and all is calm ..........

After three days like that, we finally had a fairly good rain last night.