BCSS - Forum

Last year I took some cuttings from my mammillaria schwarzii, and most of them look like they're going to flower soon

However, two in particular (which don't have buds) are very top-heavy, and even though I regularly rotate them (they're grown on a windowsill), they're leaning quite a lot. So my plan is to straighten them up in their pots, but I'm wondering if they'll just start to lean again because of their shape.

- If I plant the thinner bit under the soil, will this risk them rotting when they're watered?

- Should I leave the thinner bit above the soil but surround with stones to support it?

- Or should I just leave them as they are?

Thanks!

Personally I would follow your middle option, try to support the plants with small pebbles, like a top dressing, but remember it's possible that your plant is just leaning towards the light.

juster wrote: ↑Fri Feb 26, 2021 12:28 pm Personally I would follow your middle option, try to support the plants with small pebbles, like a top dressing, but remember it's possible that your plant is just leaning towards the light.

QUESTION ... do they ever lean AWAY from the light? I have some plants which seem to favour this option.

As M, schwarzii is a heavily clumping speies, the heads tend to elongate as they produce offsets around them. Its not normally visible as the thin bit is surrounded by the other heads. I'd use gravel as suggested and once the offsets come, all will be hidden.

Personally, with plants like this, I'd just plant them in a deeper pot and bury the narrow bit. I imagine in nature wind blown soil can accumulate around the base of plants, producing the same sort of effect. I've not noticed any extra tendency to rotting in plants I've done it to.