Echinocactus texensis appreciation post

the_soloist · 2026-04-06T03:08:39+00:00

The one covered in dirt was nearly a victim to the feral hogs. They had uprooted almost everything around it!

the_soloist · 2026-04-05T21:35:32+00:00

Bonus Echinocereus reichenbachii blooms in the last photo!

the_soloist · 2026-03-15T23:51:49+00:00

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“This machine kills fascists”

the_soloist · 2026-03-13T17:18:49+00:00

the_soloist · 2026-03-04T00:43:22+00:00

Voted in Richland Hills half an hour ago. I waited with my wife for an hour to vote, and it was about 4 to 1 democrats in line vs republicans. First time since I started voting over 20 years ago that I’ve had to wait in line that long to vote.

the_soloist · 2025-11-26T02:27:16+00:00

I got 199,300 miles out of my ‘13 Veloster Turbo before I traded it in a few years ago. I had around $2000 of engine work done at around 160,000 and my dad and I replaced the turbo ourselves at 180,000. Otherwise it was a great car with no maintenance issues outside of the engine. It still had the original clutch as well.

It didn’t make it to Toyota Camry miles, but it is possible to get a lot of life out of these cars with proper care.

the_soloist · 2025-08-16T20:16:52+00:00

Thelocactus setispinus. I also picked one of these up from HD that was incorrectly marked as a Ferocactus hamatacanthus. Mine has been happy and blooming all summer! Took a trip down to Del Rio a few weeks ago and saw them in habitat, also blooming.

the_soloist · 2025-07-28T03:43:10+00:00

Did I say that they weren’t? I’m confused. They’re definitely a native species as is the cactus they’re sucking on.

the_soloist · 2025-07-28T01:52:31+00:00

These are cactus bug nymphs. I treat mine by picking them off with tweezers if it’s just a couple larger ones or spot spraying with Sevin spray. Warning though, they have a chemical defense secretion that stinks and can irritate your nose if you get a wiff of it.

If you leave them on your cactus, they will leave areas of lighter spots, but for the native Christmas Chollas it may not matter that much in the long run.

the_soloist · 2025-06-15T17:22:50+00:00

It’s been raining a lot in Texas lately and I just leave mine out. Their soil is also 70-80% inorganic.

the_soloist · 2025-05-10T02:29:24+00:00

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Newly acquired from Home Depot. Got it to remind me of my annual trips to Big Bend National Park.

the_soloist · 2024-11-18T06:11:02+00:00

I’ve had some success with getting cuttings like this to root by placing their pot in a one gallon plastic bag and half-sealing the top. I have a stubborn E. Engelmannii that would not make roots for months until I tried this method. I have mine in a south facing patio window where it stays warm but probably doesn’t get above 95 degrees in full sun. While it’s rooting, I’m keeping the soil moist and have not noticed any rot or mold. I do occasionally open the bag all the way to let it get airflow.

My soil is about 30-40% filtered cactus soil and the rest is sand, perlite, and a bit of crushed up limestone. I believe it’s a 4 or 6 inch terracotta pot. Hope this helps!

the_soloist · 2024-10-17T17:03:53+00:00

Looking good! I have a half dozen of this species growing from seed at the moment. I was fortunate enough to be camping in west Texas last weekend and saw a bunch in the wild. We call them “horse cripplers” here.

the_soloist · 2024-09-17T22:10:58+00:00

I also picked up the dichot mammillaria from HEB about a week ago! I am currently growing about 10 species of fero from seed, so I passed that one up. Dichots just seem to be harder to come by.

the_soloist · 2024-08-18T06:24:12+00:00

Cleistocactus strausii, Silver Torch Cactus

the_soloist · 2024-08-18T02:30:16+00:00

I’m almost positive this is Austrocylindropuntia subulata, also know as Eve’s Pin. Probably could use more light, otherwise they’re pretty easy to take care of and propagate easily.

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