|
Tips from
our Members
On this page
you will find general, specific, or just plain interesting tips,
tidbits, and comments on cacti and succulents!
Please submit
yours, as it benefits the whole club.
Tips are organized
by subject category. Click on a category and you will be taken to
the appropriate area of the page.
Categories
Cactus
- Identification, care, and anecdotes
Succulents
- Identification, care, and anecdotes
Diseases
and Pest Eradication
General
Comments
Cactus
- Identification, care, and anecdotes
Tips for new
cacti hobbyists
When adding to your collection of cacti, I would not purchase any
specimens smaller than ones in four inch pots.
1. Cacti (unlike other succulents) generally take a long time to
grow. If you purchase a plant that is smaller than a four inch plant,
it may take years to grow and flower.
2. If you overwinter your cacti, those that are smaller tend to
have a much higher mortality rate.
3. Plants in four inch pots cost no more than one or two dollars
more than smaller plants. The extra money spent is well worth the
decreased number of funerals you will have for your cacti.
- Eric Soll, cactus funeral avoidance practitioner (01/22/03)
Succulents
- Identification, care, and anecdotes
Stapelieae
- some trivia about my favorite tribe of stem succulents. Many of
you have noticed the foul odor of the flowers in quite a few of
these plants. That is because they rely on flies to assist with
pollination. What better than "eau du carrion" to attract
flies?
Something else quite interesting, common to flowers in this family
(Asclepiadaceae), each pair of pollen bodies is joined by a yoke...which
gives them the appearance of tiny saddle bags. The fly lands, becomes
"drunk" from the perfume, and his foot slips. Regaining his balance,
the hairs on the fly's leg pick up a "saddle bag" of pollen and
off he flies. Pretty cool, eh?
- Jean Clements-Macak (11/07/02)
Diseases
and Pest Eradication
To get rid
of those pesky mealybugs, it was listed last year in our club
newsletter to use Isopropyl Alcohol with water, mixed 50/50. Now
you have to figure out how to apply the mixture.
I use a spray bottle, that way you can adjust it to be a fine
mist or a stream to get into the difficult areas. This method
of application also allows it to evaporate quickly...remember
to always label your spray bottle as to their contents, and with
this one....Do Not Smoke while performing application! :)
- Nancy Nurse (Nancy Patterson)
More on Public
Enemy #1...the mealybug. I have seen members spray their cacti
with Formula 409, straight from the bottle. I suspect it is both
the alcohol and the soap that does these buggers in. Well, I've
tried it and it seems to be working. The only drawback is that
you need to repeat the treatment periodically.
- Jean Clements-Macak (11/06/02)
General
Comments
- Dear Fellow
Club Members: As a pretty new member to Cascade Cactus and Succulent
Society, I wanted to say a hearty thank you to all established
members.
As a member
of other horticulture based clubs over the past years I appreciate
especially the people who bring plants. To see and share their
beauty with the rest of us. I appreciate the trouble and time
that those who set up meetings take. Thank you to all of you
who make me feel welcome and that every meeting i have gone
to so far has been a learning experience.
My cacti
and succulents thank you too. For all the assistance and tips
on overwaterwatering and soil I have gotten. They were hoping
I would look for help.
Sincerely,
Timothy Peterson
- Thanks to
members tips Ihave Lobivia budding up. Had huge orchid cacti flowers
which pics I will send to the webmaster for posting. Have succulent
crassula's blooming that were goners before I met you all. - Nancy
Nurse (Nancy Patterson)
|
