Finally! Success

[fanaticactus]

It's been two years and three months to get to this stage, but here's the first flower from my L. principis. It had started teeny buds a couple of times in the past, but they withdrew back into the cactus. We seem to have a theme going here about repotting and the GH. First year in the GH and about a month after repotting with a very loose mineral soil with a nice dash of pulverized shells (as for an aquarium) to add lime. Even more to its credit, it came from Home Depot! There appears to be another bud forming too.

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[Alber khan]

Congratulations for the first flower,are you gonna pollinate it or is it Self-Fertile.

[peterb]

beautiful!

[daiv]

A tip I got from Tony (Cereusly) was to avoid splashing the buds when you water. I don't think it has been scientifically proven with a large sample, but I was not getting flowers. As soon as I started being more careful when watering, then I got flowers - so I think it is true!

[Saxicola]

Congratulations! Mine bloomed for the first time earlier this year. I got fooled by the bud though. I was certain the flower was going to be pink and got quite the surprise when a yellow flower opened!

[Tony]

One of my favorites!
@ Alber, Mine needed a mate to set seed. As far as I know, they are not self fertile

[majcka]

One of my favorites!
@ Alber, Mine needed a mate to set seed. As far as I know, they are not self fertile

Yes. But ferocactus is just as good to make seeds as far as I know.

[masscactus]

Nice work Fanatic, L. principis is a cool plant. I'll second Daiv's suggestion - Cereusly has a really nice one that he has shown off for years, I'd ask for some tips.

[Minime8484]

Congrats on your first bloom on a wonderful plant!

[vlani]

Water on buds does not really mater IMO. They are like other Freros start teasing you with buds couple years before they are actually capable to fully develop them. Once mature they are unstoppable bloomers.

This plant looks about the right size for the first blooms, +/- proper fertilizer given at the right time.

[Minime8484]

Water on buds does not really mater IMO. They are like other Freros start teasing you with buds couple years before they are actually capable to fully develop them. Once mature they are unstoppable bloomers.

This plant looks about the right size for the first blooms, +/- proper fertilizer given at the right time.

This is my experience too. For two years mine would develop buds half-way then abort.
Now, I get blooms pretty much every month from April through October.

[Arjen]

congratulations on your first flower! I think it's a very nice and healthy looking plant!