Monday, June 16, 2008
Golden Barrel Cactus
Good morning,
How to re-pot a Golden Barrel Cactus.
The Golden Barrel Cactus is spherical in shape; it can grow to about 60 centimeters in diameter. Its strong sharp spines grow to a few centimeters long and are golden in colour, so are its flowers. This cactus is amusingly also known as Mother-in-Law's Cushion. Some people can guess why.
I have one which was outgrowing its pot and I had to re-pot it. It was about 20 centimeters in diameter, weighing a couple of kilograms. This was a tricky job, and wearing leather gloves would not do as the spines would be damaged when it is held because of its weight.
So I did it my way, the only way I could think of. I strung its mid section with raffia strings, and then tied this string at three points around this circumference with more raffia, and with which I could lift up the cactus and suspend it from a tripod. Thereafter, I prepared the new pot, and carefully lowered the cactus into it. When the cactus was suspended, I was able to center it nicely into the new pot at the right height from its bottom. After this I fill in the new soil and that was the job done.
There are many types of cactus which can be grown in pots. Because of their difference in shape, spherical, cylindrical or square in section, number of segments, contour of each segment, colour, spines, they are very popular with cacti-hobbyists. They need minimal care and produce a variety of flowers, of unusual shapes, sizes and colours, often developing into fruits.
Cacti-enthusiasts usually started by buying a set of three different kinds for ten dollars, and before they realise it, they already own several dozen variety of them. I was one such cacti-hobbyist.
If anyone has some time to spare, this is a rewarding hobby.
These cacti can also sehkia, or, reproduce. But it is the witnessing of a small ugly looking ball of spiny vegetation growing into a beautiful globe crowned with unusual colour flowers that is rewarding.
Also, one can literally get hooked by cactus,
especially by the fishhook cactus.
Ron
How to re-pot a Golden Barrel Cactus.
The Golden Barrel Cactus is spherical in shape; it can grow to about 60 centimeters in diameter. Its strong sharp spines grow to a few centimeters long and are golden in colour, so are its flowers. This cactus is amusingly also known as Mother-in-Law's Cushion. Some people can guess why.
I have one which was outgrowing its pot and I had to re-pot it. It was about 20 centimeters in diameter, weighing a couple of kilograms. This was a tricky job, and wearing leather gloves would not do as the spines would be damaged when it is held because of its weight.
So I did it my way, the only way I could think of. I strung its mid section with raffia strings, and then tied this string at three points around this circumference with more raffia, and with which I could lift up the cactus and suspend it from a tripod. Thereafter, I prepared the new pot, and carefully lowered the cactus into it. When the cactus was suspended, I was able to center it nicely into the new pot at the right height from its bottom. After this I fill in the new soil and that was the job done.
There are many types of cactus which can be grown in pots. Because of their difference in shape, spherical, cylindrical or square in section, number of segments, contour of each segment, colour, spines, they are very popular with cacti-hobbyists. They need minimal care and produce a variety of flowers, of unusual shapes, sizes and colours, often developing into fruits.
Cacti-enthusiasts usually started by buying a set of three different kinds for ten dollars, and before they realise it, they already own several dozen variety of them. I was one such cacti-hobbyist.
If anyone has some time to spare, this is a rewarding hobby.
These cacti can also sehkia, or, reproduce. But it is the witnessing of a small ugly looking ball of spiny vegetation growing into a beautiful globe crowned with unusual colour flowers that is rewarding.
Also, one can literally get hooked by cactus,
especially by the fishhook cactus.
Ron
# posted by chunmu @ 6:41 PM 
