Does anyone know what this black spot on the Pyrenacantha malvifolia caudex could be? Is it just markings / spots with aging or from the environment?
It does not appear soft or mushy but I sprayed it with fungicide and left it out for a week to dry out.
Any care instructions? I was just planning to pot it up in akadama as I have never had one of these before.... On google it looks like people are potting this up in plain old compost but I think that would be too water retentive.
I grow mine in a 50/50 mix of JI no2 and sanicat cat litter. It's a very easy plant to grow and will increase in size quickly, after 10 years or so (probably less) mine is 100 cm+ round, sort of basketball size. I'm that sad that I measure all my caudex plants in October just to reassure myself that they are getting bigger. It puts on more growth than anything else. I keep it in our front room growing all year round and I've found that it's best to not trim the vines. Don't keep it too dry, I water when the top of the compost is dry but still moist underneath.
No idea what the black spot is.
BCSS no.33806
Turbinicarpus, Lophophora, Ariocarpus, Lobivia and Gymnocalycium
Thanks Nick I am less worried about the black spot it seems really firm like the rest of the plant.
I sprayed with fungicide just to be on the safe side.
Planted it in only akadama as it doesn't seem to have many roots and I didn't want to risk any decay without leaves.
How is the root system on your's is it thick and long, fibrous and thin - long / short ?