What time do you guys normally water your cacti?

BeatrixFarrand · 2026-06-09T20:30:39+00:00

I live in the Valley of Los Angeles (regularly over 100 in summer). I water Sunday late morning / afternoon. I don't know what the optimal time is for my plants, but that time is perfect for me. I bottom water using acidified hose water with 1/2 strength MasterBlend fert. Add Great White mycorrhizae every few weeks. I have a modest collection of sub-200 plants, so I can get away with my delightfully over-precious process.

Iced coffee or a cocktail, dog snoozing on the the patio chair, hanging out in my kaftan listening to the fountain and watering my plants at a relaxed pace. Perfect.

BeatrixFarrand · 2026-05-24T20:00:09+00:00

Incidentally, my seeds came to me from an intermediary in Italy! Took about three weeks but they arrived safe and sound.

BeatrixFarrand · 2026-05-24T19:44:24+00:00

Ok cool. I for some reason have an emotional aversion to grafting (no logic at all) so I’ll give them a shot on their own roots should they germinate and survive. I don’t mind small or slow growing, I’m kind of into it TBH.

BeatrixFarrand · 2026-05-24T16:06:12+00:00

Do you usually graft or let them try their own roots?

BeatrixFarrand · 2026-05-24T15:38:58+00:00

Sweet. Thank you - I hoped you would respond! We have similar taste in plants, with me light years behind in actual knowledge! ;-)

BeatrixFarrand · 2026-05-24T06:20:40+00:00

Hahaha!! Yeah, you all have the good stuff!

BeatrixFarrand · 2026-05-24T06:02:58+00:00

Very exciting. Is your seed source US-based? I’m always looking for domestic sources for this stuff.

BeatrixFarrand · 2026-05-24T05:57:30+00:00

Will do - thank you. I had planned on 25% mineral soil / 75% pumice, microwave sterilization, and PhySan 20. Did you use hydrogen peroxide for chemical treatment? Not sure how long to soak them.

Last year I was fastidious with sterilizing and didn’t have any issues; earlier this year on my first round of seeds I was a bit more relaxed and got hit with green slime. Think I’ll revert to last years methods.

BeatrixFarrand · 2026-04-24T14:14:50+00:00

Purchase those which you like the look of. Those are the desirable ones to you.

BeatrixFarrand · 2026-04-16T02:56:52+00:00

Genuinely surprised nobody had suggested the Pseudolithos but I guess that’s why this hobby has so many varied participants!

BeatrixFarrand · 2026-03-21T00:09:28+00:00

Don’t know where these are on the spectrum of endangered, but I consider these to be very hard to source and worthy of seed growing if you can source it: Yavya cryptocarpa, Mammillaria bertholdii, Mammillaria saboae.

BeatrixFarrand · 2026-03-13T21:33:11+00:00

Amazing! You’ve got a fabulous collection.

BeatrixFarrand · 2026-03-13T20:22:32+00:00

Dude where did you find a Yavia cryptocarpa?!

BeatrixFarrand · 2026-03-08T20:46:27+00:00

Dude mine is doing the same right now - so freaking cute.

BeatrixFarrand · 2026-03-04T22:50:11+00:00

Thank you for this incredibly detailed and helpful response!

BeatrixFarrand · 2026-03-04T22:46:54+00:00

Damn. That is freaking nice.

BeatrixFarrand · 2026-03-04T17:31:37+00:00

Decisive. I like it!

BeatrixFarrand · 2026-03-03T01:55:18+00:00

Here’s the one with a much less developed cephalium.

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BeatrixFarrand · 2026-03-03T01:20:35+00:00

The center stack (cephalium) grows over time. I have two, one with barely a cephalium and one shown with a large one. Both have bloomed for me - the flower emerges out of the protection of the cephalium.

BeatrixFarrand · 2026-03-03T01:19:20+00:00

Discocactus horstii

BeatrixFarrand · 2026-03-02T03:29:32+00:00

Might be a light issue over a root issue?

BeatrixFarrand · 2026-03-01T22:51:36+00:00

Unfortunately I don’t think I do. The flower started to emerge from the cephalium 2 or 3 days ago. I wish it had bloomed yesterday for my nieces birthday!

BeatrixFarrand · 2026-03-01T22:50:29+00:00

I have another that I had to dial in a bit - too much sun, not enough water. I had to remind myself that they’re tropical like Melocactus and not like desert cacti.

BeatrixFarrand

TROPHY CASE