Identification and Advice

masscactus · Post by **masscactus** » Wed May 16, 2007 11:22 am

Hello, fantastic site and great forum.

I have kept a variety of cacti for many years somewhat successfully. Lost a few, rehabbed a few, have had good luck with cuttings etc. These past few years however I am running into problems more than ever.

I have combed through this site and others in an effort to ID and determine general health etc. I would be highly appreciative of any insight that can be given. Please correct any misidentification.

First this picture shows three, I believe they are from left to right: Hildewinteria Aurespina, Stenocereus Stellatus and Oreocereus Celsianus.

http://flickr.com/photos/grandviewst/50 ... 006882343/

The Hildewinteria Aurespina I have had a long time. I have had issues with it in the past and the current plant is a cutting from the parent way back. Overall healthy.

The Stenocereus Stellatus I have also had a long time, it has easily tripled in size. This cactus has been one of my most resilient and stable. But it is showing some issues lately.

http://flickr.com/photos/grandviewst/50 ... 006882343/

Notice the small dark spot on right and the whitish on the left.

http://flickr.com/photos/grandviewst/50 ... 006882343/

I have no idea whats going on here? At first I thought it was some sort of insect cocoon or similar but scraping the brown scab like covering it is solid green and very firm underneath, almost like something is going to grow from the spot?

http://flickr.com/photos/grandviewst/50 ... 006882343/
http://flickr.com/photos/grandviewst/50 ... 006882343/

And the 'Old Man' has seen better days apparently. Bought last spring and re-potted, it grew like nuts immediately after replanting. It lived in what I thought was adequate sun but it elongated (etiolation?) and has had a rough winter to boot. What to do...

http://flickr.com/photos/grandviewst/500219408/

What are these exactly?

Any feedback is highly appreciated. Looking to expand my knowledge and get more involved. I have lots more questions.

iann · Post by **iann** » Wed May 16, 2007 12:21 pm

Well the Oreocereus certainly needs more light. In practice, nobody is ever likely to provide too much light for this plant, but you would need to adapt a plant like yours slowly.

peterb · Post by **peterb** » Wed May 16, 2007 1:45 pm

Hi and welcome- The columnar cactus looks like it is creating the usual epidermal "corking" or browning and callusing that sometimes happens. Looks normal to me.

The last bunch are some Opuntias, but I'm not sure which, maybe ficus-indica.

Oreocereus come from regions with some of the highest light intensity in the world and as Ian said, it's probably imossible to give them too much light, but yours is somewhat tender so it will have to adjust. Once yours returns to more compact growth from more light you might try rooting the top as a cutting; the bottom might put out some new stems.

peterb

Post by **daiv** » Thu May 17, 2007 4:17 am

Hi and welcome aboard!

Your Hidewintera aureispina (aka Cleistocactus winteri) looks more like C. strausii to me. Compare here:

http://www.cactiguide.com/cactus/?genus ... es=winteri

http://www.cactiguide.com/cactus/?genus ... s=strausii

For the second, I would say it is more along the lines of Polaskia chichipe

Daiv

masscactus · Post by **masscactus** » Thu May 17, 2007 2:05 pm

Apparently I could use some help in the identification of my cacti, thanks much for clarifying.

I am rather disappointed in myself and my handling of the Oreocereus. I am eager to learn more and start applying some science to my caring. I have always done things by "feel" and common sense but that seems to be failing me lately. =)

'The last bunch' - the Opuntias, I received a cutting from a friend years ago. They grow well and easily but want to shoot up quickly and at awkward angles hanging every which way. They also seem to succumb to issues quicker than any others I have had - weird spots, etc. I will post a clearer picture for a positive ID. I keep ditching the unhealthy plants and
starting over.

I am looking to re-pot and inspect a number of plants this weekend. What are preferences/guidelines for the depth of the pot? I have used the Schultz cactus mix adding sand and gravel and have had ok luck thus far, could I be doing better? I also do a thick layer of rock in bottom of each pot. What about adding peat? Fertilizer?

Thanks so much!

Post by **daiv** » Thu May 17, 2007 8:28 pm

Hi, don't worry about the ID -I might not be 100% correct on my thoughts either -columnars are especially difficult.

For the re-potting, here is some info I wrote: http://www.cactiguide.com/growcacti/

There is lots more good info in past posts in this topic.

To answer your questions specifically, I would say skip the "cactus mix", don't use a lot of sand, and avoid peat like the plague!