Cacti of Eastern Brazil - cultivation notes & photos

[James Pickering]

Fantastic discocactus, James, you certainly live in the right climate.
Many of us here in the UK don't have the best conditions or climate for growing these plants to their best. I don't really mean climate for, as you know James, we don't have a climate in the UK, just WEATHER, like we have been experiencing yet again this weekend!
Please keep up the great posts.

Thank you Tony. The climate is indeed great here in southern Arizona (at least it is for growing cacti and succulents) but I don’t like to mention that too often here because I am afraid it will come across as braggadocio. I am very sensitive about that. I like your observation that the U.K. has weather rather than a climate! I remember those Lancashire springtime’s very well - I have not forgotten my roots! As Mr Browning wrote: “Oh, to be in England now that April’s there .......... “

[AnTTun]

This might sound kinda.. ummm.. heretic ( ).... but I have to ask: James, all your plants are on their own roots or some of them are grafted?

[James Pickering]

This might sound kinda.. ummm.. heretic ( ).... but I have to ask: James, all your plants are on their own roots or some of them are grafted?

The great majority are on their own roots - I just prefer them that way. In general all Brazilians grow well here on their own roots, i.e. no prevalent problems with root rot due to overwatering, etc. Some local growers and enthusiasts graft Discocactus (especially D. Horstii) and Uebelmannia both as a “cultivation safety precaution” and to achieve faster growth/maturity. I usually de-graft such plants I acquire from them but not always - you do get more prolific flowering and fruiting on (especially) grafted Discocactus horstii and that is hard to resist! I grow most of my Discocactus and Uebelmannia from seed these days (or swap for small seedlings produced by others) - I do not graft them.

[James Pickering]

Degrafting Discocactus horstii ..........

[James Pickering]

Tacinga inamoena ssp. subcylindrica (sensu lato) - growing in 3¼" (8cm) square plastic pots

[AnTTun]

James,

The reason I've asked about grafting is following: I've grafted two melocacti few years ago because I was hoping to find out if they will grow cephalium faster. They grew faster than their brothers which were left on their own roots (as expected) but still no signs of cephaliums. So I still have doubts if grafting speeds up that part or its age thing. Patience is a virtue

[James Pickering]

Discocactus placentiformis (sensu lato) growing in my front garden patch in various stages of budding and flowering.

[juster]

Superb plants James with such beautiful flowers. Thanks for posting.

[James Pickering]

Superb plants James with such beautiful flowers. Thanks for posting.

Thank you for those kind words juster. It was very nice of you to post them.