I missed the bloom. Lasted only 1-1/2 days. Will it bloom again?

Short; barrel-shaped. I don't have a pic, but the nearest I could find on-line is:

Echinocereus_ petinatus (Wikipedia)

Anybody?

HB

On Sunday, December 28, 2014 3:42:22 PM UTC-8, Hypatia Nachshon wrote:
I missed the bloom. Lasted only 1-1/2 days. Will it bloom again?

Short; barrel-shaped. I don't have a pic, but the nearest I could find on-line is:

Echinocereus_ petinatus (Wikipedia)

Anybody?

HB

Sorry; pectinatus

On 28/12/14 23:43, Hypatia Nachshon wrote:
On Sunday, December 28, 2014 3:42:22 PM UTC-8, Hypatia Nachshon wrote:
I missed the bloom. Lasted only 1-1/2 days. Will it bloom again?

Short; barrel-shaped. I don't have a pic, but the nearest I could find on-line is:

Echinocereus_ petinatus (Wikipedia)

Anybody?

HB

Sorry; pectinatus

If it is indeed that, it will bloom again, but is very unlikely to this
year, unless you can see buds forming on it now. It also seems an odd
time to flower - most cacti flower in spring.

In general, most cacti need a good winter rest to flower. They need to
be cool and dry., and in a position of good light. Most are quite happy
just kept above freezing (note that this does /not/ include those from
tropical climates, which tend to not like cold at all, and must be kept
warm all year round), and not watered.

Beware two possible problems. Firstly, and most likely to result in
their demise, is keeping them on a windowsill and closing the curtains.
This can trap very cold air between the glass and curtain, and if the
outside temperature is particularly low, any plant in that position
could experience well-below freezing temperatures. Secondly, don't keep
them on a windowsill above a radiator which is very hot all day. If that
is the only place you have to keep them, then, in an exception to the
usual rule, they must have a little water now and again to stop them
drying out.

Good luck! Cacti have some of the most spectacular - but unfortunately
short-lived - flowers. Enjoy them when they appear.

--

Jeff

On Monday, December 29, 2014 12:26:20 AM UTC-8, Jeff Layman wrote:
On 28/12/14 23:43, Hypatia Nachshon wrote:
On Sunday, December 28, 2014 3:42:22 PM UTC-8, Hypatia Nachshon wrote:
I missed the bloom. Lasted only 1-1/2 days. Will it bloom again?

Short; barrel-shaped. I don't have a pic, but the nearest I could find on-line is:

Echinocereus_ petinatus (Wikipedia)

Anybody?

HB

Sorry; pectinatus

If it is indeed that, it will bloom again, but is very unlikely to this
year, unless you can see buds forming on it now. It also seems an odd
time to flower - most cacti flower in spring.

Thanks for kind reply. Bloom about 2 months ago In our climate still warm.

In general, most cacti need a good winter rest to flower. They need to
be cool and dry., and in a position of good light. Most are quite happy
just kept above freezing (note that this does /not/ include those from
tropical climates, which tend to not like cold at all, and must be kept
warm all year round), and not watered.

Beware two possible problems. Firstly, and most likely to result in
their demise, is keeping them on a windowsill and closing the curtains.
This can trap very cold air between the glass and curtain, and if the
outside temperature is particularly low, any plant in that position
could experience well-below freezing temperatures. Secondly, don't keep
them on a windowsill above a radiator which is very hot all day. If that
is the only place you have to keep them, then, in an exception to the
usual rule, they must have a little water now and again to stop them
drying out.

This is a big puppy, in a pot outdoors, mild climate. BTW, need to repot if big? Fertilize? My first time with specimen like this.

Good luck! Cacti have some of the most spectacular - but unfortunately
short-lived - flowers. Enjoy them when they appear.

Trust me, this time I'm out there immediately with camera.

Another q: Are they expecting a pollinator to come along when they flower?
If so, safe to assume this works in desert setting with multiple plants? Seems kinda pathetic/pointless in home garden.

HB

Appreciate.

Jeff

On 29/12/14 11:27, Hypatia Nachshon wrote:
On Monday, December 29, 2014 12:26:20 AM UTC-8, Jeff Layman wrote:
On 28/12/14 23:43, Hypatia Nachshon wrote:
On Sunday, December 28, 2014 3:42:22 PM UTC-8, Hypatia Nachshon wrote:
I missed the bloom. Lasted only 1-1/2 days. Will it bloom again?

Short; barrel-shaped. I don't have a pic, but the nearest I could find on-line is:

Echinocereus_ petinatus (Wikipedia)

Anybody?

HB

Sorry; pectinatus

If it is indeed that, it will bloom again, but is very unlikely to this
year, unless you can see buds forming on it now. It also seems an odd
time to flower - most cacti flower in spring.

Thanks for kind reply. Bloom about 2 months ago In our climate still warm.

Still a strange time of year to flower! I assume you are somewhere in
southern USA.

In general, most cacti need a good winter rest to flower. They need to
be cool and dry., and in a position of good light. Most are quite happy
just kept above freezing (note that this does /not/ include those from
tropical climates, which tend to not like cold at all, and must be kept
warm all year round), and not watered.

Beware two possible problems. Firstly, and most likely to result in
their demise, is keeping them on a windowsill and closing the curtains.
This can trap very cold air between the glass and curtain, and if the
outside temperature is particularly low, any plant in that position
could experience well-below freezing temperatures. Secondly, don't keep
them on a windowsill above a radiator which is very hot all day. If that
is the only place you have to keep them, then, in an exception to the
usual rule, they must have a little water now and again to stop them
drying out.

This is a big puppy, in a pot outdoors, mild climate. BTW, need to repot if big? Fertilize? My first time with specimen like this.

The odd thing about keeping cacti in pots is that they are usually quite
happy. Why is it odd? Because in habitat cacti usually have
wide-spreading surface roots to get what water they can when it rains.
That's not what happens in a pot, of course. Yes, they need repotting,
but usually not often - unless they are in danger of falling over! I
would not bother to fertilise, other than with a high-potassium
fertiliser to encourage flowering, but even that isn't really necessary.
Repotting can be a bit of a challenge with a large specimen with long
spines These plants can be top-heavy and tip over when you are least
expecting it. And you, of course, go to grab it to stabilise it, and
stop it breaking off. I can tell you that some cactus spines go through
rose-proof gloves like they weren't there. It's best to wrap the cactus
in some soft spongy material (not bubble-wrap...), and then surround
that with newspaper. The plant can then be lifted out of its old pot
with minimal damage to it and you. It may be reluctant to come out if
the roots are filling the pot and pressing against the sides. In that
case, if the pot has no value, I would sacrifice it by breaking it.

Good luck! Cacti have some of the most spectacular - but unfortunately
short-lived - flowers. Enjoy them when they appear.

Trust me, this time I'm out there immediately with camera.

Another q: Are they expecting a pollinator to come along when they flower?
If so, safe to assume this works in desert setting with multiple plants? Seems kinda pathetic/pointless in home garden.

Many of the larger (columnar) cacti have some pretty specific
pollinators such as bats and moths, but I doubt they would turn down an
opportunistic pollinator. Even here in the UK it is not unusual to find
fruiting bodies forming on cacti after flowering. In any case, you can
always try pollinating them yourself with a small brush.

--

Jeff

On Monday, December 29, 2014 9:26:41 AM UTC-8, Jeff Layman wrote:
On 29/12/14 11:27, Hypatia Nachshon wrote:
On Monday, December 29, 2014 12:26:20 AM UTC-8, Jeff Layman wrote:
On 28/12/14 23:43, Hypatia Nachshon wrote:
On Sunday, December 28, 2014 3:42:22 PM UTC-8, Hypatia Nachshon wrote:
I missed the bloom. Lasted only 1-1/2 days. Will it bloom again?

Short; barrel-shaped. I don't have a pic, but the nearest I could find on-line is:

Echinocereus_ petinatus (Wikipedia)

Anybody?

HB

Sorry; pectinatus

If it is indeed that, it will bloom again, but is very unlikely to this
year, unless you can see buds forming on it now. It also seems an odd
time to flower - most cacti flower in spring.

Thanks for kind reply. Bloom about 2 months ago In our climate still warm.

Still a strange time of year to flower! I assume you are somewhere in
southern USA.

So. Calif coastal. Home of the Big Drought.

In general, most cacti need a good winter rest to flower. They need to
be cool and dry., and in a position of good light. Most are quite happy
just kept above freezing (note that this does /not/ include those from
tropical climates, which tend to not like cold at all, and must be kept
warm all year round), and not watered.

Beware two possible problems. Firstly, and most likely to result in
their demise, is keeping them on a windowsill and closing the curtains.
This can trap very cold air between the glass and curtain, and if the
outside temperature is particularly low, any plant in that position
could experience well-below freezing temperatures. Secondly, don't keep
them on a windowsill above a radiator which is very hot all day. If that
is the only place you have to keep them, then, in an exception to the
usual rule, they must have a little water now and again to stop them
drying out.

This is a big puppy, in a pot outdoors, mild climate. BTW, need to repot if big? Fertilize? My first time with specimen like this.

The odd thing about keeping cacti in pots is that they are usually quite
happy. Why is it odd? Because in habitat cacti usually have
wide-spreading surface roots to get what water they can when it rains.
That's not what happens in a pot, of course. Yes, they need repotting,
but usually not often - unless they are in danger of falling over! I
would not bother to fertilise, other than with a high-potassium
fertiliser to encourage flowering, but even that isn't really necessary.
Repotting can be a bit of a challenge with a large specimen with long
spines These plants can be top-heavy and tip over when you are least
expecting it. And you, of course, go to grab it to stabilise it, and
stop it breaking off. I can tell you that some cactus spines go through
rose-proof gloves like they weren't there. It's best to wrap the cactus
in some soft spongy material (not bubble-wrap...), and then surround
that with newspaper. The plant can then be lifted out of its old pot
with minimal damage to it and you. It may be reluctant to come out if
the roots are filling the pot and pressing against the sides. In that
case, if the pot has no value, I would sacrifice it by breaking it.

VERY helpful As I said, my first time w/specimen like this.

It's 23" high, 16" "waist". I'll keep an eye out, but so far it looks quite content, and if ever need to move, will treasure your cautions. No fertilizer.

Good luck! Cacti have some of the most spectacular - but unfortunately
short-lived - flowers. Enjoy them when they appear.

Trust me, this time I'm out there immediately with camera.

Another q: Are they expecting a pollinator to come along when they flower?
If so, safe to assume this works in desert setting with multiple plants? Seems kinda pathetic/pointless in home garden.

Many of the larger (columnar) cacti have some pretty specific
pollinators such as bats and moths, but I doubt they would turn down an
opportunistic pollinator. Even here in the UK it is not unusual to find
fruiting bodies forming on cacti after flowering. In any case, you can
always try pollinating them yourself with a small brush.

--

Jeff

Many thanks, and Happy New Year!

Sara

On 12/29/2014 03:27 AM, Hypatia Nachshon wrote:
Bloom about 2 months ago In our climate still warm.

Have you posted any pictures?

On 29/12/14 19:48, Hypatia Nachshon wrote:

Many thanks, and Happy New Year!

Sara

You are welcome, and Happy New Year to you too!

--

Jeff

On Monday, December 29, 2014 8:56:54 PM UTC-8, Todd wrote:
On 12/29/2014 03:27 AM, Hypatia Nachshon wrote:
Bloom about 2 months ago In our climate still warm.

Have you posted any pictures?

Not that I took myself; I missed the blooms both times.

I did post a link early in this thread under the botanical name of plant:

Echinocereus pectinatus

Should bring up, inter alia, a beautiful old drawing of plant.

HB