How to encourage spines growth

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yukomkom
Posts: 84
Joined: Thu Aug 02, 2018 4:09 pm
Location: Ukraine

How to encourage spines growth

Post by yukomkom »

Hello everyone,

I was wandering through different resources and mostly found that for good spines growth cactus need a lot of sun (at least 5-6 hours). I didn't find anything else what could help. In my case my cacti grow inside and has around 4 hours of afternoon sun. I noticed that spines are not so thick and well developed as it should be.

E.g. Last year I bought Ferocactus rectispinus, his spines were thick and close to 5cm long (2 inches), during growing at my place spines decreased almost 2 times - half thickness and length close to 2-3cm (1 inch).

Ferocactus townsendianus stem is pretty big, it grew at my place for a while. As you know spines should have started becoming much thicker however they are still pretty thin.

Echnicactus grusonii also produces wicker spines than expected (last year I put it closer to Ferocactuses but it started getting burns so I had to move it to light shade)

Similar issues I have with Lobivia korethroides, some Mammillarias, some Notocactuses.

However Gymnocalisiums, Echinopsises spines are developing well.

I regularly repot and fertilize, roots are in a good shape.

I've even bought a special growing lamp which producing around 20k lux for 8 hours of additional light in the morning.

I would really appreciate some hints :)
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anttisepp
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Joined: Sat Jul 10, 2010 12:00 pm
Location: Suomi - Finland

Re: How to encourage spines growth

Post by anttisepp »

Nothing can substitute the sun. Ferocacti aren't good choice for indoor growing. These guys need much space, light, air. I hold them all summer in polycarbonate greenhouse which is probably the best solution - they don't burn and spines grow larger than in southern nurseries. Here, in latitude of 61. Though I use some shadings with very light old curtains from may to july.
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greenknight
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Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2013 4:18 am
Location: SW Washington State zone 8b

Re: How to encourage spines growth

Post by greenknight »

I think heat may also have some influence, which could explain why they do so well in the greenhouse - it traps heat.
Spence :mrgreen:
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anttisepp
Posts: 1348
Joined: Sat Jul 10, 2010 12:00 pm
Location: Suomi - Finland

Re: How to encourage spines growth

Post by anttisepp »

PS But my plants are probably very poor from the viewpoint of those who grow own plants outdoors all year round somewhere in Mediterranean or SoCal. :)
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yukomkom
Posts: 84
Joined: Thu Aug 02, 2018 4:09 pm
Location: Ukraine

Re: How to encourage spines growth

Post by yukomkom »

Thanks a lot!
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