7 July 2008
More small opuntioids
Posted by Stuart under: Cacti; Propagation .
I know it’s received wisdom that opuntias generally grow like weeds, but I always find it interesting that so many of the smaller members of the Opuntioideae can sit around for such a long time before they deign to throw down roots. Bottom warmth doesn’t always help, either.
All three of these cuttings were received towards the end of last year, and it’s only in the past month that they have done anything other than sitting there grinning.
As quite often happens (I have an Airampoa erectoclada cutting currently doing the same thing) the Airampoa nigrispina pictured below came into growth before rooting.
From left to right: Tephrocactus weberi, Cumulopuntia sphaerica, and Airampoa nigrispina.
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One Comment so far...
Mike P Says:
22 July 2008 at 9:45 pm.
Interesting. I bought several cuttings (some rooted some not) from Atomic plants towards the end of last year. The geometricus had two weak and shrivelled roots when it arrived but failed to make it through the winter. The nigrispina rooted well and put out three shoots – two of which then died back (almost looked like they had been scorched?) and the third is still elongating. Of the others (I think there were 8 in all) only one still languishes. The Airampoa tilcarensis ‘fuchs’ has gone wild and produced five new VERY spiney pads.