Spikes vs Flowers

[JoZoo]

So we all know the flowers on a cactus are awesome but looking at the collection today I think I enjoy seeing the fresh spikes more. What does everyone else think!!!

[Chris43]

Certainly for some species the new spines are lovely. Some of the Feros and Thelos are beautifully coloured when they first emerge, and then tend to a rather dull version over time. But for me, when a plant I have nurtured for some years comes into flower for the first time, it is a real event.

Which is better? Not sure, just a different way to get pleasure from our favourite plants.

[iann]

New spines can be neat, but older ones can be impressive too when they get wet. Here's Echinocactus polycephalus after a summer thunderstorm.

[CactusFanDan]

Fresh spines are lovely for sure. Eriosyce show some nice colours in their fresh spines.
Eriosyce aurata. It's also fascinating to watch the spines transition from juvenile to adult in this species, since they seem to transition very slowly compared to other cacti.

E. bulbocalyx v. marayesensis. Lovely reddish fresh spines.

[Jess]

As someone with very little chance of flowers form most of my plants as they're grown indoors all year round, I say spikes are just as beautiful.

A lot of what attracts me to plants in the first place is their shape in general, as I have bought almost everything in my collection when it's not been flowering anyway!

Though I am also getting a big kick out of having a E. milii that has been constantly flowering since I bought it, and if I DID have access to a greenhouse space or just a garden space I would probably attempt to flower some of my plants that need a proper cold rest, too.

[Eric Williams]

You are quite right Jess, many species need a cold dry rest to get better flowers. Cheers