I got this handsome brute from a nearby garden centre for less than a fiver. I just liked the rich colour of the body and those wonderful spines. Any suggestions for ID?
Plant in 11cm pot. Plant 12cm across, 14cm with spines. Plant 7cm high, 10cm with spines. Spines up to 4cm long, maybe potential to get much longer.
Oh yes - might well be. Thank you. I hadn't thought of that, not being a Melocactus enthusiast. I'll have to keep it warm then. I don't know why "bulk" growers of unnamed cacti bother with Melocactus, which many people will lose in the winter. Probably because they grow fast as seedlings in A+ conditions. I had four silly price Melos with cephalia from Aldi a few years back, and eventually lost all of them despite bringing them indoors for the winter. Had plenty of seed from them but haven't planted it.
When I grew them I had them in a propagator at a minimum of 15C. 10C might have done it but my experience is that they grow better a bit warmer.
Cheers
David Lambie
Bristol
I've had a Melocactus for a couple of years. Realising it does not conform to normal cactus rules I have kept it on the lounge windowsill above a radiator permanently. Never gets colder than 15 degrees C and I give it a squirt of water every few days to stop the roots drying out. Occasionally rewarded with tiny pink flowers emerging from the lovely ginger spines.
Into all sorts of exotic plants but with only having a conservatory I prefer to buy small young plants and miniature cacti.
I bring Melo's into the house over winter, but often loose them after putting them back in the greenhouse next year. I probably should keep watering and them growing all year, which seems to be the secret.
James can grow them like weeds since he moved from cold old UK to the warmer parts of the US many years ago. I tell him if he will pay for heating my UK greenhouse to those winter temperatures I will have a go at growing them!
All of mine are on the kitchen windowsill all year long ( south facing, never goes below 16C). I find I can water them regularly all year round, and they keep growing, albeit more slowly in winter
