Gemhunter from now forward~

[gemhunter178]

Some flowers from my Pygmaeocereus bieblii! I actually had time to stack one!


Link: https://flic.kr/p/2hecmpi


Link: https://flic.kr/p/2hecn4p

Also, here's an odd color change in my Astrophytum myriostigma flowers.... they are now slightly pink!


Link: https://flic.kr/p/2heeXGH

[gemhunter178]

Some more flowers. Nothing really new this week, but some repeats!
Also, there are some buds on some plants that haven't flowered for me yet, so, hopefully I'll catch them in bloom!

Copicapoa hypogaea sown on Feb. 8th, 12015! - this plant seems to have decided to free-bloom this season.

Link: https://flic.kr/p/2hioPLS

Pygmaeocereus bieblii for the second time this season! I think this particular flower is a little more perfect than the last!

Link: https://flic.kr/p/2hirAi7

[gemhunter178]

I'm back with a new addition and some fall flowers!

To start off, here's my new addition: a Mammillaria magnimamma v. variegata! They started selling these at a local flower nursery. It's grafted on Hylocereus and I need to degraft this coming spring.


Link: https://flic.kr/p/2hqHqDu


Here's a flower on my Ferocactus hamatacanthus with another in the background (I did pollinate them and they are currently fruiting!)


Link: https://flic.kr/p/2hqHqvD


And last but definitely not least, here' my first Ariocarpus flower for the season - Ariocarpus agavoides!


Link: https://flic.kr/p/2hqLekk


Link: https://flic.kr/p/2hqLe9J

[fanaticactus]

Wonderful shots! Do you use any soil at all or just pumice/gravel? I ask because you're probably dealing with roughly the same weather conditions I have up in VT, although your zone # is a full step and a half higher than mine. Do you winter over in a greenhouse or bring them indoors for the winter and force dormancy by withholding water?

[gemhunter178]

Hello fanaticactus,

I actually use a mix of around 1/2 perlite (pumice is lacking right now) and 1/2 "cactus soil," though it tends to lean toward 75% perlite, 25% soil.
I overwinter by not giving them water and putting them in a room that stays around 10°C (50°F).

Last year I had few losses even though some got no water from October to April. Lots of shriveling though, and it was nice to see them plump up in spring! (I would not recommend this for non-desert cacti and most succulents, which got 1 light watering every 1.5 months or so)
The more valuable stuff/seedlings are in a "light box" all year (winter for some half-outdoors plants) and get optimal growing conditions all year with artificial lighting. It does cost a pretty penny to run though (not as much as heating a greenhouse I may say).
I'm doing the "overwinter in light box method" for my Discocactus right now, though the rarer Haworthias may get this soon too.