Meet Herman and friends

[BananaStand]

Hello everyone,

I'm new to the boards and new to cactus ownership. I had the privilege of visiting Joshua Tree National Park last year during the superbloom, and got hooked on the idea of having some of those spiny guys in my home. I live in Wisconsin, so selection is limited... but I never have found out what it is that I have. So I currently call him Herman. I potted him up with some succulents that a friend gave me and they've collectively been very happy for the last year and a half. I cut off a few of Herman's pups and they are now also happily growing in their own (much smaller) pots. I'd be curious to know Herman's real name, and bonus points for the names of any of his friends. Thank you!

Jen

[ElieEstephane]

The big one is an echinopsis oxygona

[greenknight]

Agreed.

I think the creeping plant with round leaves is Senecio rowleyanus, commonly known as string-of-pearls or string-of-beads.

[BananaStand]

Cool, thanks so much!

[stephanelli]

I agree that the creeping plant is a string of pearls plant - I hope to own one of these eventually

[BananaStand]

Thanks, everyone! I have the pot on my front porch for the summer and hoping that gives Herman enough light to bloom next spring.

[greenknight]

Good luck - many people have them for years without getting flowers: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/home_bl ... ygona.html

She has the short-spined strain, but growing is the same. They don't come from extreme desert country, and they like a bit more moisture and fertility than the cacti that grow in such harsh climates. This is why they're regarded as easy to grow - over-watering is what most often kills cacti, and they are more tolerant of that than most. They still need to dry out between waterings, but don't let them stay dry for long except during the winter dormant season.