I will not bother this with water..

[Acid John]

Ariocarpus trigonus Another Windyridge from 1984 40 years for the massive sum of 33 pence, I will miss him (or her).

[Diane]

Shame. It happens to all of us!

[Herts Mike]

Always sad when old friends move on. The oldest I lost was 55.

[SimonT]

It looks like a neaty arranged plate of samosa to me!

[Acid John]

Simon, you are not convincing me to have a little nibble.

[DaveW]

We forget that plants are individuals and like humans have their own natural lifespan even in habitat. Some individuals, even given optimum conditions, will live longer than others. The older less vigorous we get the more liable we are to die from what we would have shrugged off as youngsters.

One advantage of not using the cheque book to buy ready made old plants since you had 40 years of pleasure from it instead of it dying not long after purchase.

[el48tel]

We forget that plants are individuals and like humans have their own natural lifespan even in habitat. Some individuals, even given optimum conditions, will live longer than others. The older less vigorous we get the more liable we are to die from what we would have shrugged off as youngsters.

One advantage of not using the cheque book to buy ready made old plants since you had 40 years of pleasure from it instead of it dying not long after purchase.

That's a great philosophy. Thanks for the thoughts.
It'll be younger plants from now on.

[DaveW]

Yes I had this Pelechyphora for nearly 50 years. No change in growing conditions or it's looks and flowering the previous year. However on repotting it a year or so ago after the winter rest it turned out to just be a hollow shell. Nothing lives forever!

[el48tel]

It's nature's way of making shelf space (a rare and valuable commodity) for another plant.

[Acid John]

Some good thoughts stated here about why we should just enjoy our plants whilst they (and us) survive.
And less than a penny a year is good value.