Thursday, January 31. 2008
Thursday Bottle Blogging
I got a new camera, and before trying it out in macro mode on plants, I took a picture of a bottle.
I hope you like it. The original photo is a humongous file, since it's a 10mp camera. Here, let me zoom in....
Oy, that's close up. You can really see the dust collecting on it. Where's my dust rag? Let me get that...
I hope you like it. The original photo is a humongous file, since it's a 10mp camera. Here, let me zoom in....
Oy, that's close up. You can really see the dust collecting on it. Where's my dust rag? Let me get that...
Berkeley Succulent
Grant Street
Echeveria
Wednesday, January 30. 2008
They Get Questions
The Las Vegas Review Journal takes a question about cactus.
Q: In my neighborhood is a house with three large saguaro cacti. They are at least 30 feet tall and very big around. One of the huge ones is splitting. What should be done?
A: Splitting of saguaro cactus is most likely due to frequent overwatering. These cacti have ridges and furrows running vertically along with their trunks and stems so that they can expand and contract like an accordion.
When water is available, saguaro cactus stems expand with stored water. When water is no longer available from the roots, stored water in the trunk and limbs is used for survival, ultimately causing the trunks and stems to contract.
Applying water frequently never gives the trunk and stems a chance to contract. As it grows, the already-expanded trunk splits.
Water these plants less often. They are shallow rooted, so water them deeply and apply it quite a distance away from the trunk. This will help keep the trunk sturdy and prevent it from possibly falling over. Watering this large cactus close to the trunk could be dangerous.
Another possibility is bacterial necrosis, but the split would be foul smelling with ooze coming from it and flies attracted to it.
There is nothing you can do about a split saguaro. It should heal on its own if you follow good irrigation practices.
A: Splitting of saguaro cactus is most likely due to frequent overwatering. These cacti have ridges and furrows running vertically along with their trunks and stems so that they can expand and contract like an accordion.
When water is available, saguaro cactus stems expand with stored water. When water is no longer available from the roots, stored water in the trunk and limbs is used for survival, ultimately causing the trunks and stems to contract.
Applying water frequently never gives the trunk and stems a chance to contract. As it grows, the already-expanded trunk splits.
Water these plants less often. They are shallow rooted, so water them deeply and apply it quite a distance away from the trunk. This will help keep the trunk sturdy and prevent it from possibly falling over. Watering this large cactus close to the trunk could be dangerous.
Another possibility is bacterial necrosis, but the split would be foul smelling with ooze coming from it and flies attracted to it.
There is nothing you can do about a split saguaro. It should heal on its own if you follow good irrigation practices.
More from Oklahoma
They have cactus classes in Oklahoma, it turns out, so they can't be all bad. The Oklahoman has a story.
Joyce Hochtritt of Midwest City, a member of the Central Oklahoma Cactus and Succulent Society, tends to cactus plants. She began collecting cactuses when she was 8. By Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman
Berkeley Aloe
Arlington Ave.
Aloe arborescens. It's a good time of year for the winter-blooming aloes.
Tuesday, January 29. 2008
Oklahoma Gardens
The Oklahoman recommends a few cactus in your tabletop garden in the Sooner State. (That is Oklahoma, isn't it? I think so, but who can know for sure. Maybe it's the Buckeye State or the Wheelbarrow State.)
Oh. So they're not telling you to add cactus to your tabletop garden after all, those crazy Oklahomans.
Close your eyes and visualize an early spring, a trickling stream and fragrant, fresh blooms....
Create a cheerful early spring garden in your kitchen window with flowering bulbs.... Balance a paper-white narcissus, hyacinth or crocus on the rim of a glass or narrow vase with just the roots in water.... A few blossoms on a single stem of freesia will add fragrance and color indoors and should last for weeks in a cool setting.
The thought of growing a delicate orchid could cause a new gardener to opt for a cactus garden.
Create a cheerful early spring garden in your kitchen window with flowering bulbs.... Balance a paper-white narcissus, hyacinth or crocus on the rim of a glass or narrow vase with just the roots in water.... A few blossoms on a single stem of freesia will add fragrance and color indoors and should last for weeks in a cool setting.
The thought of growing a delicate orchid could cause a new gardener to opt for a cactus garden.
Oh. So they're not telling you to add cactus to your tabletop garden after all, those crazy Oklahomans.
We Get Questions
Q: Can cactus be found growing in Oregon's nature or are the conditions not right? Hopefully you could align me with some hikes but I'm still a bit doubtful it even exists.
Thank You,
Andrew
A: Andrew,
There are several species of Opuntia as well as other genus of Cacti (Pediocactus and others) that grow throughout Eastern Oregon. I have seen Opuntia fragilis as well as a much larger mystery prickly pear (Opuntia polyacantha?) while hiking in the hills south and well east of Salem... but that was about twenty years ago... so other than to tell you it was somewhere way up "Thomas Creek" if my memory is not confusing that hike with where the best rope swing and swimming hole is...
You should check with the Oregon Cactus &Succulent Society:
Meets: Sacred Heart Villa, 3911 SE Milwaukee, Portland, Oregon. 7pm every 3rd Thursday (except December, June, July, and August when meetings, locations, and times will be announced.
They should be able to tell you where to hike to see some of the native cacti.
Good Luck,
Hap
Thank You,
Andrew
A: Andrew,
There are several species of Opuntia as well as other genus of Cacti (Pediocactus and others) that grow throughout Eastern Oregon. I have seen Opuntia fragilis as well as a much larger mystery prickly pear (Opuntia polyacantha?) while hiking in the hills south and well east of Salem... but that was about twenty years ago... so other than to tell you it was somewhere way up "Thomas Creek" if my memory is not confusing that hike with where the best rope swing and swimming hole is...
You should check with the Oregon Cactus &Succulent Society:
Meets: Sacred Heart Villa, 3911 SE Milwaukee, Portland, Oregon. 7pm every 3rd Thursday (except December, June, July, and August when meetings, locations, and times will be announced.
They should be able to tell you where to hike to see some of the native cacti.
Good Luck,
Hap
Berkeley Succulents
Marin Ave.
Aeonium garden and a great Agave lophantha.
Monday, January 28. 2008
Link of the Day
A writer and/or photographer, ItoFoto, goes to a writing retreat and finds cactus all over the place. Photos follow. Agave, Aloe and more.
We get Care Questions
Q: Hello. I bought a Macodes petula orchid from you about a year ago. I am having a hard time finding information about how to care for it online. It has not grown much and doesn't usually have more than two leaves. Is this normal? I am watering once a week, and I keep it out of direct sun but in a somewhat lighted place. Can it get too cold near a window?
Anyway, if you can give me any care instructions for it I would be extremely grateful! It is one of my favorite plants.
Thank you!
Tasha
A: Tasha,
These are a tricky plant. We find they often will have only 2 to 3 leaves, with old ones dying as new ones grow. Generally, they want bright indirect light only. Water once a week, letting it drain. And mist the leaves every 2-3 days. If it is near a window in winter, keep it at least 4" from the glass.
If it's been a year, now would be a good time to fertilize with something like liquid kelp (actually 2-3 times per year would be good). You may also want to use a bloom food in March. And repotting into fresh orchid soil yearly is always a good idea.
Peter
Anyway, if you can give me any care instructions for it I would be extremely grateful! It is one of my favorite plants.
Thank you!
Tasha
A: Tasha,
These are a tricky plant. We find they often will have only 2 to 3 leaves, with old ones dying as new ones grow. Generally, they want bright indirect light only. Water once a week, letting it drain. And mist the leaves every 2-3 days. If it is near a window in winter, keep it at least 4" from the glass.
If it's been a year, now would be a good time to fertilize with something like liquid kelp (actually 2-3 times per year would be good). You may also want to use a bloom food in March. And repotting into fresh orchid soil yearly is always a good idea.
Peter
Open Soon
Did I tell you that the nursery is reopening this Friday, Feb. 1? 10:00am, rain or shine. It's been a very busy January, indeed. We've loaded up the nursery with all kinds of new plants and tools and fertilizers and bird feeders and other stuff too. Are you getting our monthly email? No? Then go here and sign up, for gosh sakes, and you'll be just in time to get our February email later this week.
Sunday, January 27. 2008
Ants
They got them a lot of ants in Florida.
Those clever devils at the Orlando Sentinel. What will they think of next. Dunking.
Q: One of my cactuses has ants in the container, and I would like to get them out without using pesticides. What should I do?
A: Ants don't like water, so a good soaking should get them out of the pot. Perhaps this is best done outdoors in an area where you don't want an ant explosion. Dunk the cactus's pot with root ball under water for about five minutes. The unhappy ants should scurry to the surface. When you think all the ants are out, set the ant-free cactus out to drain before giving it a permanent location.
A: Ants don't like water, so a good soaking should get them out of the pot. Perhaps this is best done outdoors in an area where you don't want an ant explosion. Dunk the cactus's pot with root ball under water for about five minutes. The unhappy ants should scurry to the surface. When you think all the ants are out, set the ant-free cactus out to drain before giving it a permanent location.
Those clever devils at the Orlando Sentinel. What will they think of next. Dunking.
Saturday, January 26. 2008
Toasters
They have a strange set of interests in Colorado. They go to the desert and they find a toaster. Then they write an entire article about the toaster and print it in the newspaper. I'm not shocked, after all, since Coloradans are living pretty high. From the Boulder Daily Camera.
An old toaster decorated with cactus is part of the folk art adorning the Fantasy Island riding area in Tucson, Ariz.
Photo by Marty Caivano
That's a nice toaster.
An old toaster decorated with cactus is part of the folk art adorning the Fantasy Island riding area in Tucson, Ariz.
Photo by Marty Caivano
That's a nice toaster.
Friday, January 25. 2008
Link of the Day
A Work in Progress visits Tucson and takes a lot of family portait style pictures of Saguaros. It seems like a reasonable thing to be doing.
Friday Whippet Blogging
Benjamin and Amica at Pt. Isabel last week on the occasion of their 5th birthdays, before the storms moved in.
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