First experience of growing Pterocactus

[MaciejW]

For whatever reason I have always stayed away from opuntias. I found some of them nice looking, but never ventured into them. This year, reading about pterocacti, I was amazed by their flowers and decided to get some to try growing them. As I am always drawn to all sort of geophytes and plants that regrow on an annual basis, going for pterocacti seemed like the right choice. I was hoping to add some plants to my collection after Cactus Mart at Swalecliffe – Mike P was supposed to be selling there – but as we all know that did not work out.

I have managed to buy on the auction site nearly a whole set of all recognised species of young pterocacti plants (mostly rooted cuttings; missing only gonjianii), did my research and the experiment started. An experiment you ask? – yes, an experiment. On the main forum I read all the posts with pterocactus in it (three months ago it was 527 posts). Lots of interesting information, especially by one of the growers in northern Germany, who tends (or used to) put them all outside and unprotected for the whole growing period from early spring to late autumn. I did the same, and they have been outside since mid-March, but until now still put them into an unheated cold frame for the night (and during the storms). Otherwise, they are at the top of one of my grow houses, getting the maximum light they can get in my garden.

Most of the plants, being still small do not show much growth above the soil, but couple of them have nicely surprised me. What is even better, whatever the conditions they were grown in before, they seem to have the old stems dying off now, being replaced by the new and much better looking ones.
In the picture is Pterocactus tuberosus, JN 1416 Salinas Las Diamante, 1372m, Mendoza.



You can see the difference – stems on the left have more and stronger spines plus nice markings on it. It seems that I have found a perfect plant – even if you make a mistake or are unable to provide the right conditions one season, as long as you do the next year, you can still enjoy a plant looking at its best.

Ps
If anybody has got any plants of p. gonjianii to sell, please let me know. Or any other pterocacti for that matter

[ralphrmartin]

One tip, I learnt the hard way - don't grow Pterocacti in black pots. The roots get too hot, and end up a bit like baked potatoes.

[MaciejW]

One tip, I learnt the hard way - don't grow Pterocacti in black pots. The roots get too hot, and end up a bit like baked potatoes.

Thanks Ralph, I have already picked up on it from one of your previous posts on the forum. That is why they are in a deep tray of green color and the ones up front cover the ones at the back. I hope this will suffice as I am struggling with finding suitable pots in different colours than black/dark.