The Joy of Houseplants - Cactus, Nice and Not So Nice

Discussion in 'Houseplants' started by Jewell, Mar 24, 2020.

  1. Jewell

    Jewell Incorrigible Gardener Plants Contributor

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    Some of my succulents are cactus. Spending time in the Southwest US (and having family roots there) and then living in the rainforests of the Pacific Northwest has led me to having a bit of a split personality (when deciding on houseplants).

    Here are three of my window sill cactus. Little tikes that are sweet, honnery or just plain nasty.

    I love the little white fuzzy one. It has small blooms to match its diminutive size. A real sweetie and the only one of the three that has ever bloomed. It blooms most of the year.

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    The Jacob’s coat cactus holds space to keep the cat from eating plant leaves, but the real demon is his next door neighbor.

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    I swear this window sill set of needles has gotten nastier as it has aged. I’ve seen pictures of it being over 6 feet (2 meters) in its natural environment. The largest container size I allow is 2x3 inches for any of these cactus, window sill space only. This last cactus I now need to use tweezers after clipping the spines to create cuttings. Nastiest of my houseplants. Anyone interested in starts?

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    Naomi, Sjoerd, Cayuga Morning and 3 others like this.
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  3. Jewell

    Jewell Incorrigible Gardener Plants Contributor

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    And three more. The one I haven’t a clue as to what it is. Do you have any idea? The other two are mutant succulents I believe from the cereus family. Both are monstrose (mutations caused by ????) I’ve had them sitting on the window sill for years and they are throughly neglected.

    The fuzzy one has given birth to babies that have been passed on to new homes. I am trying for the second time with the smoothie. The cutting is sitting next to the small parent plant. It will sit there for a month or so until the window is warm and it’s foot is totally hardened off this time. Love experimenting.

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  4. Jerry Sullivan

    Jerry Sullivan Garden Experimenter Plants Contributor

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    Many years ago the phone rang and my wife, working in the laundry room, reached around the corner to pick up the phone located on the wall. Her blind reach failed to connect with the phone but instead found a tall Peruvian Apple Cactus (Cereus repandus). The ringing phone coupled with the blood curdling scream said it all.:eek: The laundry now has a phone.:)

    Jerry
     
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  5. Jewell

    Jewell Incorrigible Gardener Plants Contributor

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    Great story Jerry. I use the spiny one around my more delectable houseplants I bring in from the shed during the winter. I have an indoor cat that prunes any grass like leaf, but is incredibly smart and avoids that tiny cactus.
     



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  6. spector

    spector Seedling

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    The first one looks like an Echinopsis, but not sure of the variety.
    The last one looks like a monstrose version of a Cereus called "Ming Thing."
     
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  7. mart

    mart Strong Ash

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    we have enough cactus in Texas,, but thanks anyway !
     

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