Tephrocactus molinensis

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Christian
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Tephrocactus molinensis

Post by Christian »

Has anyone here been able to grow this to a decent size? This particular plant seems to love life and grows, but then in winter drops off most new segments.

52164145574_07e0d0a8c1_c.jpg
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juster
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Re: Tephrocactus molinensis

Post by juster »

I've had no success with this at all, I threw the last attempt away, it never did anything and always looked miserable! Well done for getting a flower!
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Re: Tephrocactus molinensis

Post by ralphrmartin »

It seems very slow, and I have never had it flower.
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Re: Tephrocactus molinensis

Post by RAYWOODBRIDGE »

by Christian » Thu Jun 23, 2022 11:31 pm

Has anyone here been able to grow this to a decent size?

I find the green variant falls apart more than the orange/brown variant. I may have one or two a little bigger than the plant you show, but I have never flowered either variant ( kept in half shade because of lack of space :mad: ).
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Tony R
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Re: Tephrocactus molinensis

Post by Tony R »

For me, this species is a sporadic flowerer but, over many years, I have managed to flower most of the clones I have or have had, some examples from earlier years below:

Mol1.jpg

Mol2.jpg

Mol3.jpg

Mol4.jpg

Mol5.jpg


To answer Christian's original question, do they grow to any size, many of mine fall apart too in the autumn when I stop watering them, and they become dry at the joints.

Here is one growing in the glasshouse at Kew - it probably got watered from a hosepipe?

Mol6.jpg
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Re: Tephrocactus molinensis

Post by RAYWOODBRIDGE »

Great photos Tony;
That last plant at Kew , what can you say :mrgreen:
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Re: Tephrocactus molinensis

Post by Mike P »

The ones I saw in habitat south of Molinos were a mess of loose segments covering a large area which suggested to me that is the way the grow naturally - same as articulatus.
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Re: Tephrocactus molinensis

Post by Christian »

Very interesting what you all write, and good to know that some dropping of segments is perhaps to be expected. The brown form I also grow - no flowers on that one as yet. I agree that it seems to hold on to more of its growth. That Kew plant is amazing, Tony!
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