I have a feeling #1 is a Cleistocactus, but I can't decide on the species. I'm not at all sure of what #2 is. #1 is 9" tall and seems to be growing fast. #2 is about 4" tall and, while it's not getting much taller, it is plumping up quite nicely. #3 is obviously a Mammillaria but it resembles several of them I've seen in various sources, I can't decide which species it really is. I noted that the area near the soil line has turned brown and changed its original strictly globular shape. Some tubercles seem to have three sides and others appear to have four, but they're not clearly defined. Any ideas? Thanks.
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Catch a falling star--but don't try it with a cactus!
No ideas after 162 views? I know these look very similar to others in the genera. Should I just label them 'Cleistocactus sp.' and 'Mammillaria sp.' and forget trying to get more specific?
Catch a falling star--but don't try it with a cactus!
mikethecactusguy wrote: ↑Tue Jul 27, 2021 1:22 pm
Corking around the base of the mammillaria, yes? Its hard not soft.
It's hard, so definitely corking. I don't know what caused it, but we haven't had two summers recently that have been typical. They've been bad for optimal cactus growth and development. This year is not too hot, but it is humid, and I understand cacti should not be given water during humid weather. So I haven't watered much this year. Last year we had three official heat waves, and I know that cacti more or less 'shut down' at temperatures over 86 or 87. Last year and the year before had a cool, cloudy month of May and half of June (before last year's heat waves), so ideal growth began quite late. I don't know if all these variable conditions year to year would contribute to corking or not.
Catch a falling star--but don't try it with a cactus!
Thanks! I shall search all the pictures I can find of them and read their descriptions in Anderson's definitive book The Cactus Family. I know many of those columnars are almost impossible to tell one from another.
Catch a falling star--but don't try it with a cactus!
