One of the joys in being a cactus collector is to see new arrivals bloom for the first time. Even better if you haven't grown the species before, and the best of all is when you can see it going from buds to flowers right from the start. The first of the first this year was my Coryphantha hesteri, which came in from M2G on 7/7. There were no buds when I got it, but they snuck up on me in a matter of days before I had the chance to play "spot the buds" -- already well underway when I saw them a week later:
That's okay, and I'll definitely take the pretty flush I saw 3 months ago:
Now here's another first, this time my Mammillaria hernandezii coming from Mesa Garden when the Coryphantha arrived. Although flowering has always been a secondary consideration whenever I select cacti, this one really sealed the deal when I found out that the species blooms in Fall and Winter. And I get to play "spot the buds" -- first detected on 10/2:
The oblong beige things near the base are spent flowers, so I need to point out the difference been those and the new buds that appeared. (There may be something else going on, but I'll tell you more about it later.) More buds kept appearing as I saw them form a ring around the plant. Here we are from last weekend -- north-facing side on the left, and the right facing south:
Flower watch went into high gear a few days ago, so let's look at a couple of buds that are getting ever so close. One in particular is about ready to pop -- here at 10 this morning:
The flowers need to be coaxed by a good amount of full sun, so I moved the hernandezii from its spot in Shady Glen up to the top shelf. I called it right, as the first flower started to open at noon:
An hour later, and there we go!
This flower reminds me of the bigger (and equally showy) blooms I saw on my Mamm deherdtiana in early Spring. I haven't a clue about how long hernandezii flowers last, but I wouldn't be surprised to see 2 out of it tomorrow. If this happens, I'll be there to see it and post up a few more photos for you tomorrow. In the meantime, I'll leave you with a fun little fact...
Mamm hernandezii is one of the few cactus species that hide their fruit and seeds in the plant (the fancy word for it is "cryptocarpic"). I think Cactuspedia covers the subject pretty well, so if you'd like to find out more just go to http://www.cactuspedia.info/note-book/D ... tocarp.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. Remember those spent flowers I just showed you? Yep, I think there could be some fruits in there too!
M. hernandezii -- first flower!
- Steve Johnson
- Posts: 4526
- Joined: Thu Nov 03, 2011 4:44 am
- Location: Los Angeles, CA (Zone 10b)
M. hernandezii -- first flower!
If you just want photos without all the blather, please visit my Flickr gallery.
My location: Los Angeles, CA (Zone 10b)
My location: Los Angeles, CA (Zone 10b)
- gemhunter178
- Posts: 2762
- Joined: Mon Oct 31, 2011 6:10 pm
- Location: Massachusetts,USA. Zone 6A
Re: M. hernandezii -- first flower!
Very nice flower!
A cactus and succulent collector who especially likes Ariocarpus. …Though I have a bit of everything! Want some pictures? See my flickr! I also do art and such.
- Steve Johnson
- Posts: 4526
- Joined: Thu Nov 03, 2011 4:44 am
- Location: Los Angeles, CA (Zone 10b)
Re: M. hernandezii -- first flower!
Thanks, GH!gemhunter178 wrote:Very nice flower!
Okay, here it is on Day 2, and the 2nd flower opened -- sort of. Flower #1 started opening again at about 11:30 this morning. but #2 didn't seem to be interested yet:
If that was going to be it, then at least we could get a good down-the-throat shot with all the buds in various stages of development. You're seeing 8 in that photo, but I was able to count a total of 13 -- looks like the hernandezii may be as prolific in Fall and Winter as my grahamii is in Spring and Summer. Then I popped out for a another look at the plant bench around 1, and the 2nd flower was taking a late wake-up call. These guys aren't hanging around long given the time of year, so I kept checking almost minute by minute to see how open the 2nd flower would get before both start packing up for the day. Here's the winning time -- 2 p.m.:
With plenty more flowers on the way, let's see if I can show you a flush next time!
Last edited by Steve Johnson on Mon Oct 21, 2013 4:39 am, edited 1 time in total.
If you just want photos without all the blather, please visit my Flickr gallery.
My location: Los Angeles, CA (Zone 10b)
My location: Los Angeles, CA (Zone 10b)
- hendryterok
- Posts: 960
- Joined: Tue Jul 10, 2012 11:38 am
- Location: Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
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Re: M. hernandezii -- first flower!
Hi Steve,
How big it should be to flower? Mine is 2.5 cm(Diameter)
Thanks
Hendry
How big it should be to flower? Mine is 2.5 cm(Diameter)
Thanks
Hendry
- Steve Johnson
- Posts: 4526
- Joined: Thu Nov 03, 2011 4:44 am
- Location: Los Angeles, CA (Zone 10b)
Re: M. hernandezii -- first flower!
My hernandezii is 3.5 cm in diameter, although I'd go more by age than size. Wish I could tell you more about that, but I don't know how long it takes for the species to mature enough for flowering. Sorry, my friend.hendryterok wrote:Hi Steve,
How big it should be to flower? Mine is 2.5 cm(Diameter)
Thanks
Hendry
If you just want photos without all the blather, please visit my Flickr gallery.
My location: Los Angeles, CA (Zone 10b)
My location: Los Angeles, CA (Zone 10b)
- hendryterok
- Posts: 960
- Joined: Tue Jul 10, 2012 11:38 am
- Location: Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
- Contact:
Re: M. hernandezii -- first flower!
No problems Steve, Im just curious....
Thansk
Thansk
- CactusFanDan
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- Location: Manchester, England
- Contact:
Re: M. hernandezii -- first flower!
Lovely Steve! Mine's showing buds, but I doubt I'll see flowers until next year.
- Steve Johnson
- Posts: 4526
- Joined: Thu Nov 03, 2011 4:44 am
- Location: Los Angeles, CA (Zone 10b)
Re: M. hernandezii -- first flower!
Your more northern climate may pose something of a problem getting the buds into full flower. I'll think good thoughts for you, though -- I'd love to see some hernandezii flowers of your own!CactusFanDan wrote:Lovely Steve! Mine's showing buds, but I doubt I'll see flowers until next year.
If you just want photos without all the blather, please visit my Flickr gallery.
My location: Los Angeles, CA (Zone 10b)
My location: Los Angeles, CA (Zone 10b)