What plant do you want most, but have been unable to find?

DWDogwood · Post by **DWDogwood** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 4:22 pm

I grew this one from some Mesa Garden seed in '92. It takes a while.

Emilio · Post by **Emilio** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 5:57 pm

I am still looking after a male plant of Dorstenia lavrani to polinate my female ones. Can somebody help ?

madaxeman · Post by **madaxeman** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 8:14 pm

Boy I hope I don't get in trouble for using another forum members picture but a Ferocactus Cylindraceus this color.I always see plenty of them for sale on-line but never anything that comes remotely close to this red.My dream cactus right there.

peterb · Post by **peterb** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 9:07 pm

ha, that looks familiar. This is a fairly standard fiery color of the plants around Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms. This collection from Mesa Garden might have some that come out that way:

416.762-cylindraceus Scissors Crossing, CA, bright red sp

F. cylindraceus is easy from seed, but mighty slow!

peterb

madaxeman · Post by **madaxeman** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 11:26 pm

Thanks for being understanding Peter, your photo was the first thing I thought of when I read the topic title. I'm surprised to find out these are common as far as the color in California. I was told by the managers of two fairly well known nurseries from AZ that the reddest form of this species all came from Nev. I would have to seriously dispute that after viewing your photo. Thanks for the tip on Mesa, I've purchased from Steve in the past but as you mentioned the growth rate is painfully slow and I don't have that long

I'm wondering if there are any CA nurseries I could check out.I never gave it a thought due to the info I got from the guys from AZ.

peterb · Post by **peterb** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 2:10 am

Not sure about any sources for these incredible fiery red Feros. Darryl or Tony or others here might know. And it is true that there are some super red plants from Nevada, too.

good luck!

peterb

Tony · Post by **Tony** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 2:33 am

Those glowing red plants are awesome.

There are alot of large rescued F. cylindraceaus for sale localy, Buck still might have some, but I dont recall seeing any of the bright red ones like that.
I have seen a few like that in the Palm springs area and quite a few more in Joshua tree park, but not for sale.

peterb · Post by **peterb** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 2:51 am

By the way, fiercely fiery red Feros can reliably be grown from Fero cylindraceus tortulispinus seed. The plant I photographed near Twentynine Palms could almost pass for one of these Baja beauties (except for certain characters of the spines and some other morphological differences). But F. c. tortulispinus is a wild red-headed beauty for sure. There are some good photos on the guide.

peterb

madaxeman · Post by **madaxeman** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 1:17 pm

Thanks for the info guys. I'm sure all reddest ones that are rescued or for sale at nurseries get snapped up by local collectors. Since I am in Pa I'm at the mercy of what I find available on-line and the person on the other end that chooses the plant for me.Let me tell you there are alot of color blind people out there.

Why couldn't this species make it easy on us poor east coast collectors and all look like Peter's photo?

Well if any member on here reading this knows of any please contact me. Heck I'll even pay a finders fee

StrictlyOrganic · Post by **StrictlyOrganic** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 2:37 pm

opuntia pampeana

Post by **CoronaCactus** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 4:07 pm

I can only think of Buck or maybe Harvey (Mexican Hat) that would have mature plants. I've yet to find seed on the firey red forms, they are usually too small yet to flower. Which makes me wonder if it's just a juvenile trait. All the mature Feros out in the JT park/Palm Springs area have yellowish to cream spines mixed with red and pink tones but not firey red.

If you search the Cacti places section for "Palm Springs" I've posted many habitat photos from the area to give you an idea of how diverse they can be.

Buck Hemenway · Post by **Buck Hemenway** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 4:18 pm

When we were new at succs, we asked everywhere about ferocacti that would retain their red color. The answer invariably was, most will fade to grey because they get too much water in cultivation. I've personally come in contact with several hundred mature F. cylindraceus, some with the "tortured" spine look, all from the Mojave region, none with the bright red spines. Darryl might be right about the juvenile forms.

That said, several of them turned bright red during and after a rain.

My suggestion for a plant that will carry the color is F. gracilis.

peterb · Post by **peterb** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 4:32 pm

CoronaCactus wrote: All the mature Feros out in the JT park/Palm Springs area have yellowish to cream spines mixed with red and pink tones but not firey red.

The one in the photo was near Twentynine Palms and has flower remains. It was dry, too, not after the rain. Maybe next fall I'll look for some super red forms with seeds.

peterb

Post by **CoronaCactus** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 5:20 pm

I suppose I should have said "all the Feros I've seen"

JT Park is partly in 29 Palms and their official address is 29 Palms.
I'll have to look more closely this year!

I have some 4 month (?) old seedlings from Palm Springs Feros. I plan to grow more this year, so hopefully I can find some firey red seeds.

madaxeman · Post by **madaxeman** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 5:52 pm

Thanks guys for all the great responses. I have never heard that spine color could be influenced by too much water in cultivation. Sorry if this is a ridiculous question Buck, but is this due to possibly tap water washing the color out of the spines or just not being grown "hard" enough? I have long considered F. Gracilis but have found color to be hit or miss on those also, again the problem being not being able to actually visualize or choose the plant myself since all my purchasing is done through mail order.There is also something about F. Cylindraceus , you know just that mass gob of spines that makes me think... now that's a cactus! Darryl I purchased a great Ferocactus chrysacanthus f. rubrispinus from you last year so please keep me posted if those 4 month old seedling start turning firey.