|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Jan 26, 2007 13:25:18 GMT
Starting next week. Watch this space as well!
|
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Jan 29, 2007 13:12:44 GMT
As with the cacti I shan't cover everything but I will lump some together:- ADENIUM - not necessarily a big family but extensively hybridized and very popular in Thailand. Stem and root succulents with fantastic flowers. Grow like tomatoes in summer, treat as your most delicate plant in winter. www.cactus-mall.com/andre/index.html Adenium somalense crispum  Adenium arabicum  Adenium arabicum |
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Jan 29, 2007 16:40:08 GMT
Comments as we go would be appreciated!
Mx
|
|
|
|
Post by sweetleaf on Jan 29, 2007 17:03:01 GMT
Ive been reading for some time , Mick. I think some of the Adeniums are quite spectacular and some are just plain wierd! Wouldnt mind owning a couple. The graft demonstration was good, and the final result was almost seamless. I havent finished this one, might say more when Ive time to read more....... and Im not looking at the other one till I have.  |
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Jan 29, 2007 17:18:24 GMT
AGAVE - North American group of leaf succulents which have escaped all over the place. Agave americana is a weed in Spain. Sometimes called the century plant because they take so long to flower and after they do, the flowering head dies. However you may get offsets and they can produce plantlets on the flower spike. Leaves can be heavily armed with spikes and teeth or be completely smooth. I have managed to seriously stab my self in the backside and forehead with these so be careful where you put them. Easy to grow, average well drained soil and full sun.Can make imposing specimen pot plants and some are almost hardy in the UK now. See myweb.tiscali.co.uk/agavepages/ Ag. sebastiana .  Agave parryi v. couesii  Ag. victoriae-regina x scabra (asperrima)  Ag. americana v. mediopicta |
|
|
|
Post by sweetleaf on Feb 1, 2007 12:47:58 GMT
Not too keen on these they look even more hazardous than you describe, anything a bit less lethal looking mick? |
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Feb 1, 2007 12:50:43 GMT
Aloes are next. Should be on this evening. Some of them are prickly but most are fine and they have lovely annual flowers.
Actually, a large well grown Agave in a decent pot is quite spectacular imho.
|
|
|
|
Post by sweetleaf on Feb 1, 2007 17:23:27 GMT
As long as you dont back into it?  Aloes Im interested in...... the plant you told me was a variegated Aloe, you know the 25yrold one? Its flowering its socks off again! ;D I took a picture.... and Ill post it, if you like? |
|
|
|
Post by Dutchy on Feb 1, 2007 18:11:49 GMT
Got one ;D  But which one no idea.... Mick can I remove the baby growing from the bottom and if so how? PS doh doh took me some time to realize you have two a-z threads  |
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Feb 2, 2007 8:29:51 GMT
It looks like parrasana but I don't pretend to be an Agave identification expert. You can take off the offset - just cut it. It will probably have roots but even if not, let it dry for a week then put into barely moist soil. It will soon root.
|
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Feb 2, 2007 8:51:03 GMT
ALOES - Aloes come from Africa and vary from tree Aloes maybe 30' high A. dichotoma) to Aloes just a few inches across ( A, descoignsii). Many of them are very showy plants with beautiful leaves and they can have spectacular flowers which have the added bonus that many flower in our winter. Generally easy to grow in well drained soil and can have a little water in winter. Most of the South African species are happy at 40f but the Madagascan species (some of which are really lovely) need a minimum of 50f to keep them happy. Easy from seed. I have had difficulty in finding a really decent website but have a look at:- www.aloestudies.org/species.html  Aloe africana  Aloe angelica  Aloe ambigens  Aloe microdonta |
|
|
|
Post by Dutchy on Feb 2, 2007 14:22:59 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Feb 2, 2007 14:36:50 GMT
Thanks Dutchy.
|
|
|
|
Post by fozzie on Feb 5, 2007 19:04:35 GMT
Aloes,
always good to have in the kitchen in case of burns or scalds
F
|
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Feb 6, 2007 13:07:29 GMT
AVONIA - These are strange little plants that I an very fond of. Hardly spectacular without fantastic flowers they resemble bird droppings. Or to be kind, an odd species of Saxifrage perhaps. Easy to grow, coming from S. Africa and do not need much heat in winter. Average well drained soil, full sun and easy on the watering. See:- images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=avonia&btng=Search+Images (wish these were shorter)  Avonia Buderiana  alstonii Avonia alstonii  Avonia ustalata  Avonia quinaria ssp. alstonii |
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Feb 6, 2007 13:13:46 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by Dutchy on Feb 6, 2007 18:49:11 GMT
Such huge flowers on such small plants. They must look very good in my south facing window.
Any advise on growing them on the window sil?
( potted the baby agave up, you were right it already had its own little root system )
|
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Feb 7, 2007 8:30:41 GMT
Dutchy, just as above. As much sun as you can and don't overwater. A good choice for a sunny window sill as they stay very small. Try to keep them cool in winter though.
Sweetleaf - so sorry - missed your post above re the Aloe. Yes, please post a picture (grovelling smiley)
|
|
|
|
Post by sweetleaf on Feb 7, 2007 12:48:54 GMT
I cant mick the camera was on my phone and I fried the phone trying to download the pics  I hope the pics are still there.  |
|
|
|
Post by Dutchy on Feb 12, 2007 18:46:34 GMT
Were they or is all fried?  |
|
|
|
Post by sweetleaf on Feb 12, 2007 18:57:22 GMT
I dont know Duchy I havent got a card reader yet for a memory chip that small, I hope to get the chance to borrow the one my son has, but hes so hard to get hold of ! |
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Feb 13, 2007 8:39:18 GMT
CAUDICIFORM - Sometimes called Fat Plants these are a group of succulents, mainly from Africa but not exclusively, that have very swollen stems and are either grotesque or beautiful depending on your tastes! I don't have a huge number of them (difficult from seed, expensive as plants) but one I do have is Calibanus hookeri. This was rediscovered in Mexico in the 60's I think but the discoverers thought it was a rock with some scrubby grass growing on it before they realised what it was - and apparently it was the size of a small car. This family also includes succulent Morning Glories (Ipomoea). See images.google.com/images?.hl=en&q=caudiciform&btng+Search=Images Calibanus hookeri.  Fockea edulis  Caudiciform Stephania erecta |
|
|
|
Post by sweetleaf on Feb 13, 2007 9:04:23 GMT
Quite wierd and one pic seemed to have four potatoes on it!..... They get quite huge, some of them, dont they? I dont think I would want them in my greenhouse. I couldnt see the one you have, did I miss it?
|
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Feb 13, 2007 9:24:20 GMT
It is there Sl. Or just google the name.
|
|
|
|
Post by sweetleaf on Feb 13, 2007 9:28:08 GMT
Is yours a male or a female?
|
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Feb 13, 2007 9:31:37 GMT
My what?
|
|
|
|
Post by sweetleaf on Feb 13, 2007 9:44:53 GMT
Calibanus Hookeri...... Googling I found a site which said there were male and female plants, and the females bear fruit, in bunches. |
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Feb 13, 2007 10:10:31 GMT
I have had it for some years but it hasn't flowered yet.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dutchy on Feb 15, 2007 18:04:36 GMT
;D
By the way I probably would have cooked the 4 that look like potatoes. Good thing some one gave them a name tag.
|
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Feb 16, 2007 12:22:35 GMT
Actually Dutchy that is what happens in habitat - they get cooked by the locals. Rather like Hoodia which is a succulent and now all the rage for dieting.
|
|
I hope the pics are still there. 
