lophophora companion / nurse plants

[greatnorthernexotic]

I'd like to pot up an l. williamsii with a nurse plant or a companion plant to attempt to recreate the 'habitat' look in a pot. Does anyone have any suggestions for a suitable plant that (a) it grows with or under in habitat and (b) won't get too big?

[Darren S]

There is a handy list of plants in this area/habitat here:

https://bplant.org/search.php?search=&r ... art=0#page

Other than other cacti and succulents, the genus that stood out to me was Eriogonum. Some species, not necessarily those listed, are sometimes available from alpine nurseries/seedlists.

In a pot though, you have to balance the water needs of non-succulent plants in winter with the dryness requirement of your Lophs.

[Stuart]

I've only seen it growing in very large clusters under creosote bushes, Larrea Tridentata, though these are meant to produce something from the roots that deters other plants. Otherwise they're seen as smaller plants out in the open, they don't seem to have 'nurse' plants like quite a few other cacti. Loph Diffusa often grows with Opuntia Microdasys, which seem to make a strange couple. I brought back a few pieces of Mexican rocks, no plants, to make them feel at home!

Stuart

[DaveW]

You also may find some information here:-

https://sacredcacti.com/blog/tag/nurse-plants/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/ea ... urse-plant

However you may not have access to the same nurse plants as in habitat and many are found not just under shrubs but among grasses, therefore just let the grass grow in the pots.

You may get some indication from these videos:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7rNP1UBOYo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRntZ1Y5258

Also remember that a nurse plant may only be required at a seedling stage then die off leaving the more mature cacti exposed. However some smaller cacti may grow under more permanent nurse plants all their lives.