Turbinicarpus tips
Turbinicarpus tips
Hi
Any tips on growing turbinicarpus would be appreciated! I got a few seedlings last year and I am having trouble getting them rooted well. A few have died from rot.
I have watered once a month after keeping dry in winter since March. Not sure if they want full blown summer before being watered? Night temps are still cool (60-70F) and days are 80F.
If anyone has any links to forum posts or literature that would be awesome, my searches have not had luck.
Any tips on growing turbinicarpus would be appreciated! I got a few seedlings last year and I am having trouble getting them rooted well. A few have died from rot.
I have watered once a month after keeping dry in winter since March. Not sure if they want full blown summer before being watered? Night temps are still cool (60-70F) and days are 80F.
If anyone has any links to forum posts or literature that would be awesome, my searches have not had luck.
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Panhandle of Florida 9a
- Tom in Tucson
- Posts: 435
- Joined: Sun Jan 02, 2022 4:12 pm
- Location: NW Tucson AZ area
Re: Turbinicarpus tips
The book published in '05 Knowing, understanding, growing Turbinicarpus - Rapicactus by Donati & Zanovello does a fairly good job of giving some cultivation advice. It comes in 3 language versions.
Re: Turbinicarpus tips
They are kind of tricky plants. I had trouble with too much pumice in my mix I don't use more than 50% now.
Re: Turbinicarpus tips
These pots look too big for plants of this size. If the air is moist there soil will dry too slow and rotting is quite possible. I would use 5 - 6 cm in diameter and not so deep pots. So before to water next time check soil under rocks or weght pot by hand if the soil dried. I also wait for a plant to shrink a bit before next sip.
If your cacti mess in your job just forget about the job.
°C = (°F - 32)/1.8
°C = (°F - 32)/1.8
- greenknight
- Posts: 4819
- Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2013 4:18 am
- Location: SW Washington State zone 8b
Re: Turbinicarpus tips
60-70F at night is not cool weather, anything above 50F is warm enough - temperatures drop more at night in dry desert air. Humidity is what you should worry about. I agree with 7george on the pot size.
Spence ![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
Re: Turbinicarpus tips
That is a nice book, I must say!Tom in Tucson wrote: ↑Sat May 06, 2023 7:35 pm The book published in '05 Knowing, understanding, growing Turbinicarpus - Rapicactus by Donati & Zanovello does a fairly good job of giving some cultivation advice. It comes in 3 language versions.
Re: Turbinicarpus tips
Never had much trouble growing Turbinicarpus in the UK and mine go down to almost freezing in winter. I agree with George your plants look overpotted for their size and so the soil stays wet for longer. Mine are on the top shelf in the greenhouse and get watered when I remember them!
Agree about the Donati Turbinicarpus book. Davide signed my copy at the Cactus Explorers Weekend in the UK when he gave a talk.
Turbinicarpus polaskii
Turbinicarpus schmiedickianus rubriflorus
Agree about the Donati Turbinicarpus book. Davide signed my copy at the Cactus Explorers Weekend in the UK when he gave a talk.
Turbinicarpus polaskii
Turbinicarpus schmiedickianus rubriflorus
Re: Turbinicarpus tips
That looks like a good book but not the easiest to get ahold of! I am going to try since it's being well recommend here.Tom in Tucson wrote: ↑Sat May 06, 2023 7:35 pm The book published in '05 Knowing, understanding, growing Turbinicarpus - Rapicactus by Donati & Zanovello does a fairly good job of giving some cultivation advice. It comes in 3 language versions.
I've been thinking about that. Not sure the gritty mix was all it was cracked up to be for my growing. I started experimenting adding a cocofiber based soil to my mix and it's been good. Some plants that were never well have done much better. But been scared to try with cactus.
Thank you that is good to know. 60-70F is cool for florida nightsgreenknight wrote: ↑Sun May 07, 2023 4:43 am 60-70F at night is not cool weather, anything above 50F is warm enough - temperatures drop more at night in dry desert air. Humidity is what you should worry about. I agree with 7george on the pot size.
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
Thank you. That is no problem I can get them in smaller pots. I wasn't sure with the taproot how to size the pots.7george wrote: ↑Sun May 07, 2023 4:24 am These pots look too big for plants of this size. If the air is moist there soil will dry too slow and rotting is quite possible. I would use 5 - 6 cm in diameter and not so deep pots. So before to water next time check soil under rocks or weght pot by hand if the soil dried. I also wait for a plant to shrink a bit before next sip.
Panhandle of Florida 9a
Re: Turbinicarpus tips
Your turbs are grown beautifullyDaveW wrote: ↑Sun May 07, 2023 11:29 am Never had much trouble growing Turbinicarpus in the UK and mine go down to almost freezing in winter. I agree with George your plants look overpotted for their size and so the soil stays wet for longer. Mine are on the top shelf in the greenhouse and get watered when I remember them!
Agree about the Donati Turbinicarpus book. Davide signed my copy at the Cactus Explorers Weekend in the UK when he gave a talk.
Turbinicarpus polaskii
Turbinicarpus polaskii.jpg
Turbinicarpus schmiedickianus rubriflorus
Turbinicarpus schmiedickianus rubriflorus.jpg
Panhandle of Florida 9a
- greenknight
- Posts: 4819
- Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2013 4:18 am
- Location: SW Washington State zone 8b
Re: Turbinicarpus tips
You should be concerned about heat dormancy when the nights get very warm, anything above about 70F. I just meant you shouldn't worry about the nights being too cool unless they drop below 50F.
Some papery-spined Turbinicarpus species, such as T. schmiedickianus, can absorb water through their spines, so be very cautious about watering when you get that heavy dew.
If the taproot is too long for the smaller pot, one way to deal with that is to use a larger pot but take up some of the volume with stones, leaving a hole down the center for the taproot. Make sure the potting mix gets down between the stones, if they form a distinct layer it interferes with drainage.
Some papery-spined Turbinicarpus species, such as T. schmiedickianus, can absorb water through their spines, so be very cautious about watering when you get that heavy dew.
If the taproot is too long for the smaller pot, one way to deal with that is to use a larger pot but take up some of the volume with stones, leaving a hole down the center for the taproot. Make sure the potting mix gets down between the stones, if they form a distinct layer it interferes with drainage.
Spence ![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
Re: Turbinicarpus tips
I agree with what the others have said about the pot size. IMO they are 4 times too big. In other words, each pot should have 4 plants of that size in it.
Also, the mix looks too bony to me. Especially for tall terra cotta pots which would drain and dry out very quickly. To the mix in your hand, I would be inclined to add 50% sand and good quality organic material to it then plant 4 plants per pot. ( and a little limestone/gypsum if your water does not contain enough) They should do much better with that.
Also, the mix looks too bony to me. Especially for tall terra cotta pots which would drain and dry out very quickly. To the mix in your hand, I would be inclined to add 50% sand and good quality organic material to it then plant 4 plants per pot. ( and a little limestone/gypsum if your water does not contain enough) They should do much better with that.
Re: Turbinicarpus tips
in Florida this maybe is too much sandy soil but works well in S CA . I like the deep pots and multiple plants per pot is a good idea. And the spines do absorb water and will grow black mold so be aware of that. Fan may help there. I had that problem so now keep them under plastic to keep am fog off them in Winter and Spring.
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Re: Turbinicarpus tips
Like many in the USA Gabby you seem hung up on clay pots, whilst most in even damper climates in Europe changed to plastic pots a few generations ago. With the type of free draining mineral mix you use that would suit plastic pots and usually there are many different sizes of those available. Try one in a smaller plastic pot and see if any difference after a year.
In the past a case could be made for clay pots "breathing" and drying out quicker, however many of the newer clay pots are now non poupous having been fired at higher temperatures. If your pot after a time forms the white deposit on the outside it is porous, but if not has been fired at a much higher temperature and no more porous than plastic.
A friend of mine always claims you can grow cacti in anything provided you get the watering right.
If you include Gymnocactus/Rapicactus in Turbinicarpus, which most now do, this is the most extreme type of growth and probably one of the most weird cacti.
https://bcss.org.uk/turbinicarpus-subte ... zimmerman/
http://www.llifle.com/Encyclopedia/CACT ... bterraneus
In the past a case could be made for clay pots "breathing" and drying out quicker, however many of the newer clay pots are now non poupous having been fired at higher temperatures. If your pot after a time forms the white deposit on the outside it is porous, but if not has been fired at a much higher temperature and no more porous than plastic.
A friend of mine always claims you can grow cacti in anything provided you get the watering right.
If you include Gymnocactus/Rapicactus in Turbinicarpus, which most now do, this is the most extreme type of growth and probably one of the most weird cacti.
https://bcss.org.uk/turbinicarpus-subte ... zimmerman/
http://www.llifle.com/Encyclopedia/CACT ... bterraneus
Re: Turbinicarpus tips
DaveW wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 9:23 am Like many in the USA Gabby you seem hung up on clay pots, whilst most in even damper climates in Europe changed to plastic pots a few generations ago. With the type of free draining mineral mix you use that would suit plastic pots and usually there are many different sizes of those available. Try one in a smaller plastic pot and see if any difference after a year.
Most of my plants are in plastic pots it was more of what I had at the time but it is true I feel better in clay when I am stressed about rot. I did order more pots so I can fix the over-potting and they are plastic. When I started growing it was all clay pots but I switched over actually because from what I read here on the forum.
Panhandle of Florida 9a
Re: Turbinicarpus tips
I did get a flower yesterday
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Panhandle of Florida 9a