Ariocarpus stopped growing

Trouble shoot problems you are having with your cactus.
User avatar
MikeInOz
Posts: 479
Joined: Fri Feb 16, 2018 2:21 am
Location: Sth east Australia

Re: Ariocarpus stopped growing

Post by MikeInOz »

Hi Frank. You say you started watering in September? I think it might be too early. I am in Melbourne and this year I started watering (very lightly, not the whole root ball - about 2 tablespoons of water) in mid November. Especially this year it has been very cool, wet and humid. I have only watered like this 2 times so far this season. They still have not been soaked yet. Not even the South American species. I believe that plants from Southern Texas and North Mexico especially like a very late start to watering in late spring, early summer and particularly for aged tap root species. They do not seem ready to accept water yet. It seems you can water quite late into autumn because it is very easy to dry them out at that time. I also think it takes more than one month for them to become accustomed to water from their rest.
Also, see if you can find 'Sakadama'' from South Africa. I have started to use it this year. It seems like it might be quite good. It is supplied through bonsai outlets. It is basically baked clay. https://sakadama.com/
User avatar
Hanazono
Posts: 3534
Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2007 9:21 pm
Location: Adelaide SA
Contact:

Re: Ariocarpus stopped growing

Post by Hanazono »

G'morning Mike,

Thanks for your comment.
I made a simple rule for the watering and started in 2004. The rule is used continuously except this year.

I looked at maximum and minimum temperatures in my greenhouses.
Maximum temperature: more than40 'C
Minimum temperature: more than 10 'C
E.G.
Max 40 'C and Min 9 'C - no watering
Max 30 'C and Min 15 'C - no watering
Max 40 'C and Min 11 'C - watering

Our winter is June to August.
If the condition of watering was come in the begining of June, just watering once in June.
If the condition of watering was come in the end of August, just watering once in August.
The maximum temperature in greenhouses reach 30 'C on a sunshine day in mid of July.
The frequency of watering is every 2 weeks for normal cacti and weekly for seedlings and grafted cacti.

Between mid of November to mid of March, the maximum temperature in greenhouses reach more than 50 'C which temperature stops the growing of cacti. I cover over greenhouses by 50% shade clothes to keep less than 50 'C.
I have not covered greenhouses in this year yet.

I will review my watering rule.

SAKADAMA is akadama tuchi produced in South Africa.
Akadama tuchi is weatherd scoria and used for cacti propagation commonly in Japan.
There are huge deposits around Mt. Fuji and Mt. Akagi.
I am not sure SAKADAMA is available or not with a reasnable cost in SA

Frank
User avatar
jerrytheplater
Posts: 1153
Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2021 7:38 pm
Location: Bloomingdale, NJ (USDA Zone 6b)
Contact:

Re: Ariocarpus stopped growing

Post by jerrytheplater »

Just doing some initial searching and maybe Leca or expanded clay aggregate is the same as Sakadama. Particle size matters I'd assume. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expanded_clay_aggregate
Jerry Smith
Bloomingdale, NJ
45 inches (114 cm) rain equivalent per year, approx. evenly spread per month
2012 USDA Hardiness Zone 6b: -5F to OF (-20C to -18C) min.
User avatar
Hanazono
Posts: 3534
Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2007 9:21 pm
Location: Adelaide SA
Contact:

Re: Ariocarpus stopped growing

Post by Hanazono »

G'morning Jerry,

Thanks for your commeent.
The expanded clay is available in here but the grain size is too large for me.
I can not remember exact name but the name start from "T" which is burnt clay grain by high temperature.
I tried to use that product but it was available in the USA, not in here.

Frank
User avatar
jerrytheplater
Posts: 1153
Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2021 7:38 pm
Location: Bloomingdale, NJ (USDA Zone 6b)
Contact:

Re: Ariocarpus stopped growing

Post by jerrytheplater »

Frank, LECA is also called Hydroton in the US. https://www.htgsupply.com/product-categ ... y-pellets/ I've never used it. I'd only be interested in trying the very small particle sizes: 1-4 mm. But have not looked for a source of the small sizes.
Jerry Smith
Bloomingdale, NJ
45 inches (114 cm) rain equivalent per year, approx. evenly spread per month
2012 USDA Hardiness Zone 6b: -5F to OF (-20C to -18C) min.
User avatar
jerrytheplater
Posts: 1153
Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2021 7:38 pm
Location: Bloomingdale, NJ (USDA Zone 6b)
Contact:

Re: Ariocarpus stopped growing

Post by jerrytheplater »

So I did some more searching.

I did find the clay balls in 3-4 mm size, but I am not sure they sink. They may float. Not really sure I'd want round balls in my potting mix. : https://www.amazon.com/Hydroponic-Purif ... C97&sr=8-5

Then I saw a cross reference to Turface MVP, as soil topdressing used in Baseball fields. I actually use it currently. I bought 40 lb bags at the local landscape supply store. The Amazon prices are way more than I paid and the bags are much smaller. Here is the producer's web page: https://www.turface.com/products/infiel ... ioners/mvp
Jerry Smith
Bloomingdale, NJ
45 inches (114 cm) rain equivalent per year, approx. evenly spread per month
2012 USDA Hardiness Zone 6b: -5F to OF (-20C to -18C) min.
User avatar
Hanazono
Posts: 3534
Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2007 9:21 pm
Location: Adelaide SA
Contact:

Re: Ariocarpus stopped growing

Post by Hanazono »

G'morning Jerry,

Thanks for your information.

Frank
User avatar
K.W.
Posts: 3820
Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2012 11:30 pm
Location: Köln, Germany - Zone 8a

Re: Ariocarpus stopped growing

Post by K.W. »

Good morning Frank,

to me the damage pattern looks like nematode infestation.
Your approach is correct in any case.
Which substrate you use then seems secondary.

Best wishes
K.W.
We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.
User avatar
MikeInOz
Posts: 479
Joined: Fri Feb 16, 2018 2:21 am
Location: Sth east Australia

Re: Ariocarpus stopped growing

Post by MikeInOz »

K.W. wrote: Wed Nov 23, 2022 7:59 am Good morning Frank,

to me the damage pattern looks like nematode infestation.
Your approach is correct in any case.
Which substrate you use then seems secondary.

Best wishes
K.W.
In 40 years of growing I have never seen nematode damage on cacti (in pots) in Australia. I would be extremely surprised if it was that - particularly as Frank does not use any soil.
User avatar
K.W.
Posts: 3820
Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2012 11:30 pm
Location: Köln, Germany - Zone 8a

Re: Ariocarpus stopped growing

Post by K.W. »

MikeInOz wrote: Thu Nov 24, 2022 6:20 am >>>
<<<
In 40 years of growing I have never seen nematode damage on cacti (in pots) in Australia. I would be extremely surprised if it was that - particularly as Frank does not use any soil.
Good morning dear cacti-friends,

always good to know that things can't be because you've never seen them before. . . =D>


Best wishes

K.W.
We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.
User avatar
Hanazono
Posts: 3534
Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2007 9:21 pm
Location: Adelaide SA
Contact:

Re: Ariocarpus stopped growing

Post by Hanazono »

I posted on this thread yesterday but it has disappeared by some reasons.
I post it again.

4 Ariocarpus which had roots problem were repotted. Egg shell grit is mixed in the potting-mix.
Attachments
Repotted ariocarpus
Repotted ariocarpus
IMG_2449 - Copy.JPG (151.73 KiB) Viewed 1030 times
Repotted ariocarpus
Repotted ariocarpus
IMG_2450 - Copy.JPG (89.5 KiB) Viewed 1030 times
User avatar
BryanT
Posts: 409
Joined: Tue May 25, 2021 9:53 am
Location: Vic, AUS

Re: Ariocarpus stopped growing

Post by BryanT »

I got an Ariocarpus retusus with the similar size and condition, but with most leaves still more green than your pictures. The root wasn't mushy, just looks a bit dry. Yesterday, I decided to cut it open. I found it dried from inside. Another One Bites the Dust!
Hope your plants recover!
Bryan
---------------------------------------------------
keith
Posts: 1860
Joined: Wed Jun 12, 2013 3:50 am
Location: S. CA USA

Re: Ariocarpus stopped growing

Post by keith »

I found it dried from inside" yes I get that too, just tossed a Astrophytum dried up from inside showing cracks at the top. Lithops will disintegrate
but cactus often just dry out, the roots die and the plant slowly turns a funny color and then a dry fossil. Why I don't really know ?
User avatar
MikeInOz
Posts: 479
Joined: Fri Feb 16, 2018 2:21 am
Location: Sth east Australia

Re: Ariocarpus stopped growing

Post by MikeInOz »

K.W. wrote: Thu Nov 24, 2022 6:31 am

always good to know that things can't be because you've never seen them before. . . =D>




Yes that is good to know but unfortunately no one said that. :wink:
User avatar
Hanazono
Posts: 3534
Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2007 9:21 pm
Location: Adelaide SA
Contact:

Re: Ariocarpus stopped growing

Post by Hanazono »

Updated photo of Ariocarpus with problem
I can see some improvement now. Please compare to the photo posted on 7th November last year.
Attachments
Updated photo of Ariocarpus with problem
Updated photo of Ariocarpus with problem
IMG_2772 - Copy.JPG (124.67 KiB) Viewed 665 times
Post Reply