I like Mike's response....covers it all well. They can sit static for a year, or more, then start new growth in the apex. Time to celebrate, then. There are a number of Feros in my collection. I like them a lot. You want real fun, try Scleros. Yeah, real fun. Not too much water. Better less than more.

SoilSifter wrote: ↑Wed May 12, 2021 10:58 pm Actually, looks like the flower was not pollinated and viable seeds were not produced. From this cactus I expect the seeds would be much more plentiful and black.

Agreed...

That species thrives on extreme heat and lack of water. Cold...not so much. I have several of them. They are native to some very arid, very hot, Southwest US deserts in California, Nevada and supposedly Utah ( not confirmed in Utah though, IMO ). A cactophile here in the Salt Lake Valley of Utah has...

SoilSifter wrote: ↑Wed May 12, 2021 4:24 am I don't think that is a Melocactus. I'd guess it is an Echinocactus polycephalus cotton top.

I would second that.

I would go with the bigger pot, too.

You're welcome, Mike. I'm hoping for blooms on mine. Might be next year though.

Last year our summer weather turned the heat up a few notches and during our October vacation trip to Capitol Reef National Park we noticed the difference from the normal late summer dry environment and that current baked earth. The whole state was baked to a crispy, crackly, crunchy tinderbox. Yeah...

[/quote] Very nice collection. Yeah, as we all know but perhaps sometimes forget, cacti can take care of themselves. In nature there is nobody to fuss over them and they thrive and do well on their own. :thumbright: [/quote] My wife reminds me of that very thing....frequently. And when I'm out in th...

Here's another small Ferocactus acanthodes ...the one farthest back of the four ...and a trio of Echinocactus polycephalus after being in the rain all day. I thought misting them turned the spines red. Rain however really turned them on! The Echinocactus texensis in the tall square pot with the opun...

Pics from moments ago.

The idea was gestating and the process began. A friend gave me two Agave parryii. This Echinocereus coccineus has been in the same pot for nearly ten years ...and always outdoors throughout those years. A hard life for sure.

anttisepp wrote: ↑Mon Apr 26, 2021 5:18 am Great view!
PS put a pair of red LED lights in a skull

Great idea! I happen to have some. During Halloween week this fall for sure. But I could test drive that idea this evening, methinks

what will you do to protect the cacti from cold snaps or torrential rain ? These are all Utah natives. I'm going to be their step caretaker after Mother Nature. Today was that 'torrential rain'...next ten days dry and moving up into the high 70's. We'll see how they fare . The Echino. Coccineus has...

Here's a recent cactus project. While moving my outdoor overwintered cacti from the backyard raised bed to the front, I thought the porch was looking crowded and needed a better solution. So I asked my wife if creating a cactus garden was okay. Got the nod and went at it. First I dug up and transpla...

They thrive on neglect, drought, full sun (once acclimated), South facing, hot! Water every couple of months. Dry soil before watering. No water in winter....like Oct...Nov...until April. Unless it really appears to be dying of thirst.