Re: Every day new flowers in the greenhouse in Köln
Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2022 9:41 pm
On-line Guide to the positive identification of Members of the Cactus Family
https://www.cactiguide.com/forum/
K.W; I find the above ‘recipe’ for growing very interesting! Especially because you are a long-time grower, you have many cacti/succulents ( and a lot of these seems to be rather old plants) of different species and from my point of view, your plants look healthy, happy and certainly seems to flower a lot! Reading that you don’t have much problems with pests either, make me think that you are certainly on to something..K.W. wrote: ↑Fri Jul 22, 2022 9:39 pm
...
Good evening Keith,
I owe you a reply about the "pests".
I am spending the night, after a minor surgery, in the clinic - finally some time!!!
Cacti are adapted to the most adverse environments.
But even there there is everything they need to live.
I think many cactus keepers torture their plants.
Yesterday I read the report of a cacti friend about his Copiapoa.
Twice a year the unfortunate plants get water, fertilizer never!
He cares for them for many years, they hardly bloom.
But he is satisfied that they are still alive - are the plants also?
Who people want to cultivate their plants necessarily "hard", here you go!
Then they can also twice a year with clubs randomly hit their plants to simulate the goats and other wild animals.
Fortunately, my plants have very few problems with "pests".
My care mistakes certainly "murder" more plants than aphids and mites and fungi.
I write to you briefly my philosophy on the care of plants.
Healthy "happy" plants are more resistant to any kind of external influences.
So I try to do a lot to make them feel good.
As much light as possible or necessary (not all cacti & succulents like "bright sun"!).
As much fresh air and air movement as possible.
"Good" clean and fresh substrate if needed. Appropriate pots, not straitjackets.
Plenty of water and fertilizer regularly during the growing season.
Constant visual and olfactory control if "little animals" or fungi are active.
If there are problems, I take the plant aside - if possible.
First I clean them mechanically, brush and vacuum cleaner.
Against mites and aphids I first use water, spray several times a day for two weeks.
Against fungi light copper broth.
If there is no improvement I use poison, systemic.
Twice at two-week intervals the same poison on the affected plant and its immediate neighbors.
I remove the flowers beforehand.
If there is a recurrence, I use nicotine broth.
This always works, but is not good for me and the environment.
Well, that's all. . .
Courage!
Best wishes
K.W.
mikethecactusguy wrote: ↑Tue Jul 26, 2022 8:50 pm Hi K.W.
Have you ever taken a count? How many plants you have...
Mike M