What's covering my PEYOTE (LOPHOPHORA WILLIAMSII)

[Allan Gam]

Hi there. This is my first post here...

I'd like to do everything in order to make my new Peyote thrive and have a good life... So I have a lot to learn.

I replaced the plastic pot with a terracotta pot. I realized a bit later that the new pot might be a little bit too big to be optimal. Would you guys recommend me to dowwnsize? I'm planning to water it every two weeks by putting the pot on a deep saucer filled with water for 5-10 minutes. If the pot is too big, I'm concerned that the moisture won't reach to the root parts.

The main reason for my first post is that I'd like to learn why my Peote has a "cover". Is it a good thing and should I do something to remove it?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts that you'd like to share with me

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[Aiko]

By cover, you mean the wool on top? That is supposed to be there. There are enthousiasts that regard this wool very highly by not watering the plant from above so the wool does not flush off (I don't know if this can even happen), some even comb and shampoo their plants.

And I think I see a flower bud appearing!

Regarding the pot, yes, I do think the pot is quite big. I can't judge the soil very well, but from what I see it looks okayish. Personally I would not stick to any schedule that says "water every two weeks" or something like that. Water when the weather permits. 'Read' the signs.
And if you water, I would just pour a few good splashes of water on the soil from above. If the soil is draining, all the roots will get wet. I can't judge if the same happens if you use your saucer.

[DaveW]

Don't worry about it, Lophophora's are as tough as old boots and mine drop below freezing most years in the UK in my unheated greenhouse. However they are the only cactus that when it goes into winter rest feels soft and squishy and is not rotten. It is a normal way they dehydrate and thicken their sap to make it more like antifreeze. Just treat it as a normal cactus, including watering. Afraid I have too many plants to bother with individual watering, they just get the watering can over the top of them in the growing season making sure they get enough until water flows freely out of the pots drainage hole and then left until the pot dries out again.

As Aiko says your question "what's covering my peyote" is not clear. He deals with the wool tufts at the areoles, which is incidentally how the genus gets it's name. lophos = crest + phoreos = to bear, meaning crest bearing, a reference to the persistent crest like tufts of wool in the mature areoles. Wool in or around the crown is often a way cacti protect the growing centre from sun in habitat.

If you meant the whitish bluish bloom on the body, that is known as farina and it a naturally produced wax that acts a bit like sunscreen to protect against the sun.

[7george]

Some mature lophophoras are woolly and some - bare on the top. Don't think this depends on their watering way.That bud will open soon and this means the plant knows how to provide water for its' needs. I usually pure water on the top until seeing some in the saucer below. This "excess" water gets sucked back afterwards and the plant gets harder at squeezing.
https://i.postimg.cc/15XgvqRZ/IMG-5174l.jpg

[Allan Gam]

Thanks guys for the answers. With your kind help, I'm sure I'll be able to provide the best environment possible for my Loph...

Some mature lophophoras are woolly and some - bare on the top.

Sounds just like humans then... Ha!

[Allan Gam]

And I think I see a flower bud appearing!

Good observation! A flower appeared and it opend up today (those lophs are fast!) I'll attach a new photo tomorrow!

Thanks!

[Allan Gam]

By cover, you mean the wool on top?

Yes!

[Allan Gam]

I can't judge the soil very well, but from what I see it looks okayish.

I bought the soil from a japaneese girl living in the south of Sweden. The contents: Pumice, Scoria, Green Compost, Coconut Fiber, Clay Granules.

[Allan Gam]

And I think I see a flower bud appearing!

It opened up the day after.

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[TimN]

Nice, in a few months you should get some fruit.

This is one of my plants. You can tell I don't comb it's hair.

L williiamsii b.jpg (119.44 KiB) Viewed 1764 times

[Allan Gam]

Nice, in a few months you should get some fruit.

This is one of my plants. You can tell I don't comb it's hair.

L williiamsii b.jpg

Lovely! It must be quite old?!

[TimN]

Lovely! It must be quite old?!

I've had it since 2007, it was about 3" across when I got it. As you can see, I don't shampoo and brush the hair . It's outside under shade cloth all the time. I get about 10 volunteers each year, they turn up in different pots here and there... Quite and enjoyable plant, IMO.