Drimiopsis maculata ended up with almost green leaves on the early growth. The spotted leaves came after it was moved outdoors. It woke up too early on the porch. Usually it's all spotted leaves at this point in time, though the spots fade as the leaves age and it gets warmer.

Curious!

Today's repotting ... 8 inch pots.





This Pachypodium only goes up a size every few years and gets special treatment. Old World/New World theme ... 9-10 inch pot

I suspect I need to repot some succulents into bigger pots, but not today.

skopjecollection said: I agree with wislizeni. Horridus, in both its short and long spined forms, has a generally darker hue in its spines(Black, red), and the ribs are generally an oilier green than what you have. Central spine...also less curved.

So, Stefan, I still can't make either work based on the photos on the net or in the NGA database. Now that they have been repotted, took new (and better, I think) photos of the purchases. First is the one bought labeled as wislizeni, the second with the sturdy hooked spines is the one that was labeled horridus, a name which is not in the NGA database.



I'm hoping the one with hooked spines retains its current character as it grows. Looks a lot like the Echinocactus texensis that's native here except the spine layout is quite different. The one labeled wislizeni currently doesn't have a stout spine structure at this point. Hard to believe it will develop one as it ages, but it sure doesn't show anything resembling a hooked spine at this point. For now, I have my photos labeled as Ferocactus wislizeni and F. peninsulae. What do you think?

I love the Pachypodium! Brevicaule?
It looks wonderful and the pretty pot fits perfectly!

Oops, a little sunburn. Just because a plant was baking in the sun for most of the day when it was outside last year doesn't mean it can handle the same amount right away if it had to come inside for winter. Time to cut this off @ soil level, knock all but the tip rosette leaves off, lay the removed leaves aside to decide if they want to make baby plants or just shrivel up, & find a home for the rosette.

The one Lithops has a history of splitting on the side. Usually in a mini garden but in a pot for now while I'm am doing an overhaul on the mini. The smoothest rocks were chosen to help hold them upright. Over the years, they have gotten tall, and possibly a little etiolated in their half-day sun spot, protected from too much rain.

These cactus are too crowded and outgrown their pots now, difficult to check their soil and to water. Remind me Baja's abro spiky ball, how do you know to water that ball?

Those look great, TJOE. It's hard to know how dry the soil is when they fill the container. I just guess. I generally assume if they are crowded above ground, there are lots of roots to support the growth that will take up water faster than a container with a smaller amount of growth in it, so when a similar container with a smaller plant needs water, I assume it's probably also time to water one full of growth. Last summer here was so bad with heat and lack of rain, I didn't water one enough that was full of growth and lost it.

My cold hardy outside "collection" is twice as big this year as last year. Here's all of them, alive and well after a full zone 6a winter outside...
My two surviving pieces of Missouri Foxtail Cactus:


My two Sedums for which I have names:


Sempervivum "Oddity" with a container to match!

Kaktus said: Remind me Baja's abro spiky ball, how do you know to water that ball?

Experience? I don't really check soil moisture on any of my potted plants, except when I repot them (and then I try to be attentive). That bromeliad ball gets weekly water year round (except when it rains) and it is typically bone dry at that time, judging by how much water I give it before water comes out the bottom.

If the pot isn't too big, and the plant not too dangerous, I lift the pot slightly to gauge the weight.

That is the quickest and best way to judge soil moisture (when the pot is light and the plant is not too heavy).

Diana, I love the oddity within an oddity. It is perfect.

I got out the macro lens and did some digital trickery to arrive at these Stenocereus pictures....

A groove at the base of each tubercle when they emerge from the center



One areole, with surface texture and red wool and reddish spines (turning black)



The crown, from the side



Looking down the stem (click to see the full-size, non-square version)



This last shot involved 50 or 60 individual photos, composited to yield an obscene depth of field.

Baja, those are amazing shots!

needrain said: So, Stefan, I still can't make either work based on the photos on the net or in the NGA database. Now that they have been repotted, took new (and better, I think) photos of the purchases. First is the one bought labeled as wislizeni, the second with the sturdy hooked spines is the one that was labeled horridus, a name which is not in the NGA database.



I'm hoping the one with hooked spines retains its current character as it grows. Looks a lot like the Echinocactus texensis that's native here except the spine layout is quite different. The one labeled wislizeni currently doesn't have a stout spine structure at this point. Hard to believe it will develop one as it ages, but it sure doesn't show anything resembling a hooked spine at this point. For now, I have my photos labeled as Ferocactus wislizeni and F. peninsulae. What do you think?

Isnt that a thelocactus setispinus? Sure looks like it away. Spines seem generally too thin and flexible....except may for hamatocactus...but that one has a long central spine anyway..








Your dude got some plants. Think ill go and buy a yucca gloriosa variegata next friday if they get any. Otherwise...
A palm-think it was trachycarpus. It does grow here, but needs some protection in the core.
A magnolia...rocky? rico?ricky?
A semp-jovibarba type(obviously conjoined growth)
A mix of sedums...
A rosemary(something to put against the other juniper lookalike)
And last but not least, a hesperaloe parviflora(I think). Stressed out, poor care, might need some recuperation.
Store also had yucca elata but uh....18k denars ...or rougly 300$. My pockets ain't that deep for plants. On top of it....plants were huge. Not only it shan't fit in my car, Ill also have to lug it around. Quite heavy. Nope. The most I'd give is a third of that. And for a slightly smaller plant.



Second stage out. Over 80% of the original stage 1 tumbled extremely well. and 10% of those tumbled good. But some do need a third time. The ones I added do need cutting and grinding, but mainly it does tumble, even though its about 45% as effective. Still, I am going to pronounce it as a suitable substitute, provided you actually prep the stones..

I'm jealous. Your nails looks better than mine.

I haven't had too much excitement going on with my plants lately, especially being winter.

But I do have this:



My largest "holiday cactus" bloomed recently as well, but I forgot to take pictures.

skopjecollection said: Isnt that a thelocactus setispinus? Sure looks like it away. Spines seem generally too thin and flexible....except may for hamatocactus...but that one has a long central spine anyway..








Your dude got some plants. Think ill go and buy a yucca gloriosa variegata next friday if they get any. Otherwise...
A palm-think it was trachycarpus. It does grow here, but needs some protection in the core.
A magnolia...rocky? rico?ricky?
A semp-jovibarba type(obviously conjoined growth)
A mix of sedums...
A rosemary(something to put against the other juniper lookalike)
And last but not least, a hesperaloe parviflora(I think). Stressed out, poor care, might need some recuperation.
Store also had yucca elata but uh....18k denars ...or rougly 300$. My pockets ain't that deep for plants. On top of it....plants were huge. Not only it shan't fit in my car, Ill also have to lug it around. Quite heavy. Nope. The most I'd give is a third of that. And for a slightly smaller plant.



Second stage out. Over 80% of the original stage 1 tumbled extremely well. and 10% of those tumbled good. But some do need a third time. The ones I added do need cutting and grinding, but mainly it does tumble, even though its about 45% as effective. Still, I am going to pronounce it as a suitable substitute, provided you actually prep the stones..

I'm a dude. Most of the time its missing pieces....

I know, that's the thing. I'm a girl and you have better nails than me.