This year's tubercle

[iann]

A new tubercle on Echinocactus polycephalus. Possibly the only tubercle it will grow this year, so I treasure it. Seems to be coming into growth a bit late this year. March never really had a good run of sunny days to heat up the greenhouse.

[ralphrmartin]

My parryi has done nothing so far. I hope that's not a bad sign...

[David Neville]

Congrats Iann
This E. polycephalus , and E. parryi from Ralph, are both notoriously difficult and unpredictability temperamental in cultivation, and healthy growth of either species is an impressive achievement for plants growing on their own roots. If grafted it is much less of an achievement, but Iann's pic would appear to show a plant on its own roots, and no doubt Ralph is referring to a plant growing under the same conditions....
For those readers who may not appreciate the difficulties of cultivating these members of the genus Echinocactus, they are infinitesimally more difficult and demanding than the very common, relatively fast growing, and incredibly easier Echinocactus grusonii.

[iann]

No E. parryi growth here yet. Ralph. It is normally later, with a slightly longer growing season, closer to a standard summer-growing cactus. I'll have a close look tomorrow and see if I can spot anything. I have some seedlings which might be eager to get moving.

[iann]

I have to pay more attention. A new tubercle on E. parryi also.

[ralphrmartin]

Giving Ian his due respect, parryi is much the easier of the two.

[ralphrmartin]

Here's the one Homalocephala I can grow well (the above 2 species are also considered to be Homalocephalas now) - H. texensis.

[iann]

I really like that species as well, Ralph. I plan on seeing a flower one day, bit meanwhile I just have to make do with the spines.