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Written by MS Smith!
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Friday, 21 December 2001 |
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Page 6 of 6
Growing for Aesthetics
All my plants are grown for their beauty and so I feel that it is important to maintain the proper conditions that support this. By following the already mentioned hibernation technique one can generally keep a plant for years which maintains a standard diameter and shows only a small pinch in the stock which represents the yearly growth point. Since the columnar cactus' diameter is dependent on the amount of sun it receives it often happens that a plant grown in the south will have a larger diameter than it would in the north. Usually I will for example get a 4” columnar that once acclimatized here may only be 3” in diameter. Since such a sudden change is not very pleasing to look at I will usually let the new growth form for a season until there is at least 4” of new vertical growth on the 3” diameter stock. I will them remove this acclimatized section and re-root it. I may then also cut off the section of the base plant that shows tapering, possibly to re-root itself if it is significant enough. I then at least have a nice voucher specimen in the tip to grow completely to form and a short large base of equal diameter that can be either grown to form or from which clippings can be taken for further specimens or trading. It may be advantageous with the base stock to cut the tapering section off at a 45 degree angle so that water does not collect on the tip and lead to rotting.
By following many of the above techniques, and incorporating those which have worked for you in your environment, you should be on your way to maintaining a very nice cactus collection.
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