October 2019 Cactus Update: New Cactus Addition My Collection Part 2

New Family Members

My shipment just arrived few days ago, it took 2 weeks from the date of purchase to parcel delivered.

eBay is a nice place to look for cactus, big number of cactus in my collection bought from eBay. Depending on seller and cactus type, you can get em cheaper than locally sold. There are some sellers I frequently buy from them such as:

#1 https://www.ebay.com.my/usr/cactuschina?_trksid=p2047675.l2559

#2 https://www.ebay.com.my/usr/a_little_of_each?_trksid=p2047675.l2559

#3 https://www.ebay.com.my/usr/astrophyt33?_trksid=p2047675.l2559

This week, I received my long awaited Lophophora and Ariocarpus.  This time, I bought Grafted Lophophora with tons of pups! I am planning to graft em and expecting them to get into giant specimen size in coming years. 

Bear in mind that grafted Lophophora is growing very fast, they may lose value especially when Asian grower replicate them like rabbits. Having said so, I kind like them, so we hall see how it goes

Below is the video link on my new Cactus, I'm trying new method of writing blog which includes video attachment and linking my pictures to Pinterest!

I will mix pictures and video later on, hope this is enjoyable to watch.

Cheers

October 2019 Cactus Update: New Cactus Addition My Collection Part 1

New Family Members

My shipment just arrived few days ago, it took 2 weeks from the date of purchase to parcel delivered.

eBay is a nice place to look for cactus, big number of cactus in my collection bought from eBay. Depending on seller and cactus type, you can get em cheaper than locally sold.

This week, I received my long awaited Lophophora, Ariocarpus, Coryphantha and Astrophytum. Astrophytum are obviously gonna be grafted onto bigger root stock. 

Below is the video link on my new Cactus, I'm trying new method of writing blog which includes video attachment and linking my pictures to Pinterest!

I will mix pictures and video later on, hope this is enjoyable to watch.

Cheers

September 2019 Cactus Updates Part 1

Cactus Graft Updates

September 2019

1. Ariocarpus fissuratus 'Godzilla'

 A huge specimen bought from eBay, and been with me for quite a while. 

This guy is close to 15 cm wide and quite heavy, was grafted onto Ferocactus thus it is safe to say it is a very old specimen! 

One of the noticeable traits of A. fissuratus 'Godzilla' is their very pronounced papillae on the tubercles, it is resembling Godzilla spicky and rough skin texture in the movie. The naming system came from Japan, and A. fissuratus 'Godzilla' is the top breed of Ariocarpus worldwide.

The tubercles is around 7 to 10 cm wide, so this is a well selected 'Godzilla' from the wide tubercles characteristic. Fine papillae is also one of the main trait selected by breeders. 

I wish this guy will stay healthy, few days ago I found that the one of the tubercles was rot so I removed it and the cut is still wet. Hopefully it will recover and grow as fast as my other own grafted cactus.

2. Gymnocalycium pflanzii

Bought this from a hobbyist that clearing up some of his collection due to space. Gymnocalycium is not only the red and yellow moon cactus often seen in common plant stores, there are a lot of them and they varies greatly! G. pflanzii is a big species and a fast grower too, it was half this size last year; now it sitting at 32 cm tall and wide. Not very noticeable but in the first picture, this guy is aready adding another 4 to 6 ribs; meaning it plan to get fatter and bigger.

3. Gymnocalycium mihanovitchii

Gymnocalycium mihanovitchii is the most common Gymnocalycium grown worldwide, but you will often see them grafted on Hylocereus and in red, orange to yellow. Obviously, this is the green member of the family and it is quite rare for them to grow this big. Haven't frlower ever since I bought 2 years ago about 4 cm big. Now this guy is close to 17 cm wide and already too big for its pot.

Next to each other, a big Gymnocalycium and a giant. One day I will cross their flower if given the opportunity to do so, I wonder what they would hybridize into.

Catch you guys later!

Wait for Part 2 for another September updates.