Goings on down under

This is a place for members to post on-going topics about their plants and experiences.
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greenknight
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Re: Goings on down under

Post by greenknight »

This site will help you calculate how much N to add: https://www.planetnatural.com/compostin ... c-n-ratio/
Spence :mrgreen:
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mmcavall
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Location: São Carlos - SP, Southeast Brazil, Cerrado Region

Re: Goings on down under

Post by mmcavall »

greenknight wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 4:13 am This site will help you calculate how much N to add: https://www.planetnatural.com/compostin ... c-n-ratio/
Thank you Spence.
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MikeInOz
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Location: Sth east Australia

Re: Goings on down under

Post by MikeInOz »

Mammillaria sanchez-mejoradae is flowering with a couple of days before spring.
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ohugal
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Re: Goings on down under

Post by ohugal »

I really like those small, compact Mammilarias. What type of rootsystem does it have? Is it in a bigger pot to prevent overheating of the soil too quick?
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Antwerp, Belgium
temperate, maritime climate with mild winters and cool summers
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MikeInOz
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Re: Goings on down under

Post by MikeInOz »

ohugal wrote: Tue Aug 29, 2023 6:07 am I really like those small, compact Mammilarias. What type of rootsystem does it have? Is it in a bigger pot to prevent overheating of the soil too quick?
When they came out of the compot, a couple of the larger ones went straight into this size pot (80mm) as the root system was large enough to take up almost half of the pot's volume. By now the roots will be touching the sides of the container so there won't be any problems. The other smaller seedlings went back into community pots with a little more room. The mix is also very course and mainly mineral.
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Steve Johnson
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Location: Los Angeles, CA (Zone 10b)

Re: Goings on down under

Post by Steve Johnson »

MikeInOz wrote: Tue Aug 29, 2023 11:26 pmThe mix is also very course and mainly mineral.
I think you meant "coarse" of course! :lol:
If you just want photos without all the blather, please visit my Flickr gallery.
My location: Los Angeles, CA (Zone 10b)
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MikeInOz
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Location: Sth east Australia

Re: Goings on down under

Post by MikeInOz »

Steve Johnson wrote: Wed Aug 30, 2023 2:27 am
MikeInOz wrote: Tue Aug 29, 2023 11:26 pmThe mix is also very course and mainly mineral.
I think you meant "coarse" of course! :lol:
Indeed. :?
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MikeInOz
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Re: Goings on down under

Post by MikeInOz »

I found this poor little micro bat caught on a Ferocactus this afternoon. It must have been chasing a moth or something. I don't know how long it was there but it was still alive -just, so I got a pair of tweezers and slowly unhooked it. Seems only the wings were hooked. It was very weak but made a squeak. I wrapped it up in an old rag a put it in a quite place in the potting shed. It's smaller than a mouse. Soon after, it came out and put itself the right way up - upside down. If it's gone in the morning I will assume it has recovered......
We have lots of these guys flying around at dusk.
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jerrytheplater
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Re: Goings on down under

Post by jerrytheplater »

MikeInOz wrote: Wed Aug 30, 2023 5:12 am I found this poor little micro bat caught on a Ferocactus this afternoon. It must have been chasing a moth or something. I don't know how long it was there but it was still alive -just, so I got a pair of tweezers and slowly unhooked it. Seems only the wings were hooked. It was very weak but made a squeak. I wrapped it up in an old rag a put it in a quite place in the potting shed. It's smaller than a mouse. Soon after, it came out and put itself the right way up - upside down. If it's gone in the morning I will assume it has recovered......
We have lots of these guys flying around at dusk.

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Ouch. Glad you tried to save it.
Jerry Smith
Bloomingdale, NJ
45 inches (114 cm) rain equivalent per year, approx. evenly spread per month
2012 USDA Hardiness Zone 6b: -5F to OF (-20C to -18C) min.
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MikeInOz
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Location: Sth east Australia

Re: Goings on down under

Post by MikeInOz »

Spring is here - almost. Still a bit cool but a few flowers are appearing....
The Mamms from the top are roemeri, giselae, schwarzii, gasseriana, lasiacantha, senilis, hermosana.
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Wiandry Adi
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Re: Goings on down under

Post by Wiandry Adi »

G'day, Mike! I've been in this forum for a while now and I know you from Steve and Jerry. I'd like to thank you for all the knowledge you've shared with all of us. Also, nice collections you have there! :D

I have several questions, feel free to answer them anytime:
  • How do you determine the nutrients of the fertilizers you use, esp. regarding calcium and magnesium? Also, what kind/form of Cal-Mag fertilizer do you use?
  • In your collections and experience, what do you think are the most interesting cacti? And what aspects of said cacti you consider interesting? (I ask this to find inspirations for my collections in the future)
  • Any recommendations on coarse materials for cactus soil mix? I use scoria and pumice often, but I'm always open to some cool suggestions.
  • Do you have recommendation for any native Australian succulent/xeriscape/desert plants I can get? Most of my collection came from continental Africa - and Madagascar, the Americas, but I can't tell if there's any species hailing from Australia/Oceania.
Tropical region, summer all year long
12 hours of sunlight (shaded by 1 p.m.)
Rains often from September to February
24°C at night, 32°-34°C at evening
Mix: scoria, pumice, zeolite, bamboo humus, and kanuma
Fertilizing may vary
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MikeInOz
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Re: Goings on down under

Post by MikeInOz »

"Wiandry Adi" post_id=403521 time=1695959841 user_id=19043]



  • How do you determine the nutrients of the fertilizers you use, esp. regarding calcium and magnesium? Also, what kind/form of Cal-Mag fertilizer do you use?
For fertilizer, I use Osmocote for cacti and succulents with an K/N ratio of of about 1.3. I use gypsum of all cacti as a top dressing for Ca. For the limestone species I add washed limestone/dolomite ''sand'' trickled down into the dry mix after potting up to supply more Ca and Mg. There is also Mg and a little Ca in the osmocote and all trace elements as well. For more trace elements I use home made compost and/or 2 year old cow manure at about 10-20% depending on the species. (desert or forest/grassland habitat)

  • In your collections and experience, what do you think are the most interesting cacti? And what aspects of said cacti you consider interesting? (I ask this to find inspirations for my collections in the future)
It varies. At the moment I am interested in the smaller Mamms and other Mexican species like Pelecyphora, Astrophytum, Escobaria. The list is endless... Copiapoa and Echinocactus horizonthalonious varieties are worthwhile collecting. I would highly recommend the book ''Cacti for the connoisseur'' by John Pilbeam. Timber Press 1987. He goes through each genus and lists his favourites in all of them. Of course more great species have been discovered since then but I still read it regularly.
  • Any recommendations on coarse materials for cactus soil mix? I use scoria and pumice often, but I'm always open to some cool suggestions.
Scoria and pumice is a good base but for me, I like to add an organic fraction, and preferably some good quality soil. If you live near a bonsai outlet, you might find a bag of Akadama soil from Japan. It is a red granular clay that does not break down. There are 3 grades. Try to get the hardest type with the 3 lines on the bag. Almost every plant in the world does well in it. I add about 10-20% of that. Kanuma is another Japanese clay which works well. Zeolite is another mineral which hold nutrients and is great in mixes and diatomite is another one. Don't forget good old quartz or granite sand. They are always in my mixes too.
  • Do you have recommendation for any native Australian succulent/xeriscape/desert plants I can get? Most of my collection came from continental Africa - and Madagascar, the Americas, but I can't tell if there's any species hailing from Australia/Oceania.
There are a few succulents in Australia but I don't know them well and they are not very interesting to me at the moment.
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MikeInOz
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Re: Goings on down under

Post by MikeInOz »

A Mamm senilis with very large flowers was out the other day....
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Wiandry Adi
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Re: Goings on down under

Post by Wiandry Adi »

Thank you for your answers, Mike! Keep those cacti updates coming, and thanks for the recommendations! :D
Tropical region, summer all year long
12 hours of sunlight (shaded by 1 p.m.)
Rains often from September to February
24°C at night, 32°-34°C at evening
Mix: scoria, pumice, zeolite, bamboo humus, and kanuma
Fertilizing may vary
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MikeInOz
Posts: 479
Joined: Fri Feb 16, 2018 2:21 am
Location: Sth east Australia

Re: Goings on down under

Post by MikeInOz »

More flowering things.....
M herrerae
M herrerae
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M marksiana
M marksiana
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G. bruchii susp deminii
G. bruchii susp deminii
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M. soliciodes
M. soliciodes
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M. duwei
M. duwei
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R. albiflora
R. albiflora
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S. heliosoides
S. heliosoides
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R. perplexa
R. perplexa
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M. prolifera
M. prolifera
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R. leucacantha
R. leucacantha
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E. polyacantha
E. polyacantha
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E. baileyi
E. baileyi
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M. albiflora
M. albiflora
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M. lenta
M. lenta
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