Thank you for this award in the presence of such interesting photos! Today I will present the proposal for February. Ruggero

they are probably off topic but these early buds are a wish for the arrival of a new season - Ruggero

Superficial spots can be caused by cryptogams (Helminthosporium, Alternaria, Fusarium oxysporum, Cladosporium, Colletotrichum, Gloeosporium ...). Above all, Helminthosporium (Dreshlera cactivora) is fast and contagious. I don't know about the availability of anti-cryptogams in the UK but dodine, zin...

This off-season flowering is interesting and has also occurred in a Rebutia in my greenhouse which is located in northern Italy. This is my first time in 30 years.
Ruggero

[/quote] What's Tiram? I apologize but I used the Italian name. The correct name is Thiram and it is an organic dithiocarbamate fungicide. It is often used in preventing infections of fruit plants (for example apricot) but it has been repeatedly useful in controlling fungal infections that develop i...

Helminthosporium cactivorum, cladosporium?
I had a similar problem in the spring and the infection was limited with the use of Tiram.
Ruggero

Unfortunately this is what remains of an echinocereus; it is a cutting that has taken root in spring but has not withstood the beginning of autumn despite the suspension of the water. I wish I could name the fungi that created this damage to better organize the defense. Is it Pythium debaryanum? Can...

I also find them very beautiful - in particular yours are splendid specimens!
Could I know the name of the plants in the last picture?
Thank You, Ruggero

I must start by saying that latitude has a great weight in discussions related to sun exposure and therefore sunburn, blooms and temperature (I live in northern Italy). That said, I have an 8mm gap polycarbonate cover and have not noticed any difference in blooms and spine formation compared to when...

Thanks Aiko for your kind reply. In principle, my problem is to contain the sun exposure to avoid sunburn (even with important ventilation). Great advice to keep plants off the floor to avoid ant colonies.