Echinopsis Calochlora - Etiolation

This was given by my mom. She took one of the offset from her friend and gave it to me. I believe that this is Echinopsis calochlora. Also a very tough cactus, it do grow under neglect and without sunlight.

However, this is result of not taking good care of it. It suffer from serious etiolation (not enough light). The top of this cactus was chipped away when a strong wind cause it to toppled over. Looking at how it continue to strive, it feel so proud of it.

It is also very prolific in producing offsets. More offsets are growing out soon in this cactus. The top few also suffer from etiolation, but once I move them to a brighter location, those at the bottom which grow out later were more globular.

In memory of Gymnocalycium

This Gymnocalycium was brought on May 2011. This is also not in my favourite cactus list, the reason I brought is because I initially thought it was a Melocactus or Ferocactus when I buy it in a rush. I still have a very hard time figuring the full name of this species.

However, as time goes by we have 'mutual feelings'. Just when I started to like this this cactus hoping that it will boom for me or growing offsets, it died. Last Wednesday, when I went home, I was curious to see there were weired looking liquid on the cactus, taking a closer look I was shock to see the whole cactus was wobbly when I shake it. Immediately, I knew that it was rotting away.

The picture is a result of it when I clear it out from its pot. Like the cactus, my heart was broken.I still could not figure out the actual reason, but I believed that I could have over-watered it. Its long tap root was 'dissolve' in the soil.

Failed graft- in memory of Astrophytum ornatum (Part 2)

This is the top part of the failed graft and a recently I just realize that it is starting to grow it's roots in about a month while being left under neglect. I have report it yesterday and it seems happey in its new home.

This cactus is really strong, it can tolerate a wide range of soil and neglect.

Failed graft- in memory of Astrophytum ornatum

After some reading and discoveries from the websites, I believe that this cactus is Cereus peruvianus, please correct me if I am wrong. It was given to me by my aunt. She had such a large specimen at home, it grow so big that the space no longer allow it to grow any bigger. Staying at hight rise apartments in Singapore is no good place to grow such plants where each level is only about 2.5m heigh. Nevertheless, my dad help me to cut out two of its offsets and gave it to me.

The picture shown is a failed graft (to save my Astrophytum ornatum suffering from basal rot). I not sure how well this plant work as a graft and due to my inexperience and knowledge, it failed. Sady, I forget to take a picture of my Astrophytum ornatum.

Just wondering how this cactus will become. It is a very tough cactus and it seems to be healing well

Parodia Magnifica - Etiolation

It has been long since my last post. Recently, I have open a new cactus blog, but after much consideration I still prefer this blog. It was such a waste to let go this blog.

The picture show how has my Parodia magnifica which was brought on November become. It was heartbreaking to see this. I guess the sunlight over here is just not enough.

Poor light, especially in heat cause this plant to became like this (elogated stem). The pot size for this plant is also small, and after repotting this plant last year, someone tropple over it while walking the stairs and after a very rush repotting, a large amount of soil was lost through the hole beneath. Does this also lead to this poor growth?

Parodia Leninghausii that was not taken care of

No worries, the picture on the right is not a result of what my Parodia leninghausii has become. I brought the Parodia leninghausii on the right about a year ago.

I cannot really remember how it looked like a year back then, but it was definitely not like this. This was a result of not taking good care of it. After buying this poor cactus, I take care of it for a few months. As time goes by, I become more lazy and lazy and I forgot about it. It only received water once a month in this hot and humid weather here. Now comparing this two picture, I feel so ashamed and sorry for this poor plant.

The challenge is how do I save this plant now? It lost it's long golden spines, and it is now so 'skinny' and shivelled.

Sedum morganianum needs water!

Treating my Sedum morganianum like how I treat my other cacti caused it to shivel. After a week I brought it, I refused to water it as I thought it does not require a lot of water.

I was wronged! I notice it shivelled alot when I wanted to repot it. Oh my heart almost broke into two, I quickly soak it in a pot of water. It recovered a few days later.

I went to read up and realized that I have missed something. This species need abundent of water especially in the summer. Even if I did not watered for about 3 days, I notice that there are slight shivelling.