Not a Pterocactus but a Tephrocactus (Nigrispinus) which I picked up on Ebay for a tenner inc P&P, which I thought was good value in view of its size. It was carefully packed but despite this I now also have a number of "cuttings" which hopefully will root. Happy to do a cutting exchan...

Last year I posted a picture of the plant below which I had just rescued after years of neglect but nobody volunteered a name for it. (Incidentally is there a way of searching for one's own previous posts, as I couldn't find my earlier thread?). Can anyone now identify it? About 12 inches of growth ...

Too nice to mutilate IMHO, apart perhaps from removing branches from the big fella.

Fortunately the weather whilst I was away was so poor that the flowers on my plant have lasted till my return. In fact one has not even opened. I cannot think of a more beautiful cactus flower: http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd397/jpwilkin/cacti%202016/IMG_4291_zps8ntuw1jk.jpg ..and a close up:...

I would agree with others. My plant is just about to come into flower for the first time (and has managed to ensure that it co-incides with my week away which starts later today!!).

I am "glad" that I am not the only one who finds Gymno's more difficult than any standard textbook would suggest. I am less than convinced they are good beginners' plants. Mine tend to mark a lot which I put down to keeping too cold in winter but they don't flower well either which is prob...

I usually get my seed from Mesa but the germination rates this year were poor which I could only put down to the seed. I therefore bought some from Echinocereus.de. The results were brilliant. The portions were generous (typically 35-40 seeds) and germination rates well over 50% with all but one pac...

I fear I know the answer to this question but I shall ask it nevertheless. In an attempt to get my shy flowering plant to flower I transferred it to my new unheated greenhouse for the winter where temperatures got down to -5c. Several weeks ago, before the risk of frost was past the plant was showin...

Thelocactus ??

I would leave them , but I wouldn't puncture the bag..................oops!