English Weather

[gerald]

I can't speak for 'up north' but here in Oxon we have had perfect weather so far this year. All my cactus are in top shape and several have flowered that have never done before. Many of them are flowering multiple times too. It's been the best growing weather for many years.

[JaneO]

You might be sorry you spoke out! Due for thunderstorms in Andover this evening/tomorrow. Not far from Oxford! We have recorded temperatures as high as 99 degrees and that's outside! We are in walled garden mind. Glad it's good growing for you. My grass(used to be a lawn) is bare and brown. ....Jane

[Chris43]

Yes, great growing weather for my plants too...but not for the lawn! At least the storms tonight will have refilled the water butts...

[Tina]

My plants are having a really good year too, I have flowers on ones that have never flowered for me before, I'm seeing very good growth and even have seed pods on one of my pachypodium- a first that I'm really pleased with.

I have also noticed lots of fluff developing on the ariocarpus who have all had a repot this year so maybe bumper flowers from them too.

[Terry S.]

I watered my conophytums a week or so ago when the temperature fell away from the highs that we were having and they have responded quickly with many breaking out of their old skins already. I think that night-time temperatures are quite important for this and it got down to the 12-15C range which is great for the conos. Flowering seems to be starting early too; late-summer bloomers such as some ecotypes of C. pellucidum and C. fraternum are in flower. My conos do have some shade for the summer but the greenhouses did get up to 43C earlier and I bet that these highs did some damage which will only be seen as the plants start to grow.

[cactuspip]

I was pleased to see your post, Terry.
I have been trying to make up my mind about watering my Conophytum collection for a few days. The post helped me to make my decision and I have just finished the job.
I have watered the trays of cuttings I took last Autumn several times and they are looking good now.
I have an aff. Francoiseae that is flowering from the 2 offsets, but not from the main head. The flowers are just like miniatures.

[BrianMc]

After the amazing April and May, things dulled down a bit here and I was quite surprised to hear that there was a heatwave further south
Today I have decided to take advantage of the cold wet rain and have put the rest of my conos out for their first drench. One tray of plants was put out at the end of June. They have plumped up nicely and are peeping out, but most seem a little shy to throw off last season's garments completely.

[Aiko]

Already watering your Conophytums? That's quite early. I will wait at least a month.

[Mike P]

Agreed we have had a very good year so far although it has meant watering the veg patch more than usual!
On the Cacti front the Tunillas have done particularly well with some budded up for a second wave of flowering which only seems to happen for me in years with above average sunshine.

[BrianMc]

Already watering your Conophytums? That's quite early. I will wait at least a month.

Nights are cool here and we are almost in August, so if they are ready they will wake up. From experience, I would expect. C.minusculum to sleep on for a while.