Hana's cacti

Hanazono · Post by **Hanazono** » Wed Dec 28, 2022 12:40 am

G'morning Jerry,

did the first one recover from surgery?

Please compare the shape of 1st one and others. The 1st one has a smoth surface and cylindorical body.
When you watered to a cactus, inner body pressure is increased. Since a cylindrical shape can not change the body shape, maximum stress is formed on 2 location of surface (skin) which is called as hoop stress. The cactus on photo has 2 vertical cracks. The other one is located opposite side.
Since the bottom of the crack is very sharp, the crack is developed gradually deeper and wider.

You can see the cracks on grafted asterias often but it may be occured on own-rooted asterias also.

Frank

Hanazono · Post by **Hanazono** » Wed Dec 28, 2022 12:50 am

Three hybrid cacti were in flower yesterday.
They are 1st filial hybrids, Turbinicarpus alonsoi x Strombocactus disciformis. Alonsoi is the pollen receiver.
1st filial hybrids are just similar to alonsoi.

memememe · Post by **memememe** » Wed Dec 28, 2022 1:38 am

Nice hybrids! Looks like all of them flower red like the turbinicarpus, interesting.

jerrytheplater · Post by **jerrytheplater** » Wed Dec 28, 2022 2:11 am

Frank, you mean that cactus will lose that "hole" in the side as it uses the water it has stored? I have seen swelling on plants leading to bursting due to too much water. A Parodia haselbergii did it to me frequently till it died.

Hanazono · Post by **Hanazono** » Wed Dec 28, 2022 3:39 am

G'day Jerry,

you mean that cactus will lose that "hole" in the side as it uses the water it has stored?

The result is yes but it is not exact.
A cactus stores water in soft tissues of body, does not in skin.
Soft tissue can swell but skin can not.

A cactus with ribs such as Echinopusis eyriesii allows soft tissues swelling without skin tearing because ribs work as "bellows".

Asterias on 1st photo has no ribs. 2 location of skin are torn when soft tissues swell after watering because the asterias has no bellows function.
I experienced to hear the sound of tearing asterias skin in my greenhoue.

Watering frequency is quite critical for asterias propagation.

Frank

Hanazono · Post by **Hanazono** » Wed Dec 28, 2022 3:48 am

G'day memememe,

Looks like all of them flower red like the turbinicarpus, interesting.

My target was a Strombocactus body with red flowers. I have not acheived my target yet.

I also tried a Strombocactus as pollen receiver. It could not formed any fruits.

Frank

Hanazono · Post by **Hanazono** » Thu Dec 29, 2022 3:20 am

Astrophytum hybrids, fukuryu banjyaku were in flower in this afternoon.
A friend gave me seeds and I sowed in 2012. Young seedlings were grafted and degrafted/rooted later.
They are slightly different appearences but I am not sure the history of seeds.

Hanazono · Post by **Hanazono** » Fri Dec 30, 2022 2:27 am

Two gymnocalycium species were in flower yesterday.

memememe · Post by **memememe** » Fri Dec 30, 2022 9:39 am

On the astrophytums, what are the brownish dots? I have them on some of my plants too and am currently looking for an explanation. Thanks!

Hanazono · Post by **Hanazono** » Sat Dec 31, 2022 12:07 am

G'morning memememe,

what are the brownish dots?

I think brown spots are scars of insect attack.
Cacti are kept in a greenhouse and winter is not so cold in here. I also stop watering in winter. Doors are closed and no airflows in the greenhouse. These condition are may be good for various insects.

Frank

Hanazono · Post by **Hanazono** » Sat Dec 31, 2022 12:19 am

Three myriostigma related species were in flower.

Hanazono · Post by **Hanazono** » Sun Jan 01, 2023 12:06 am

I took 3 photos of cacti yesterday.

Hanazono · Post by **Hanazono** » Sun Jan 01, 2023 11:56 pm

A gymnocalycium spegazzinii v ornatum was in flower yesterday.
Since the cactus stopped to grow, I repotted it last spring. It seems the cactus has been recovering.