new melocactus

Joined : 07 May 2008 Posts : 341 Location : Melbourne

here is my recently acquired Melocactus disciformis:

heaps of fruit and seed. Smile

Subject: Re: new melocactus Wed Jul 02, 2008 11:29 am

Nice one Lewis, so where did you find this one and ummmm how much Very Happy

Also what size pot is it in?

Full of questions eh!!!!
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Joined : 07 May 2008 Posts : 341 Location : Melbourne

um it cost a little bit Wink

10in pot, big plant, very heavy too. and yes that is a Parodia leninghausii hitchhiker hanging in the melo pot on the background, it must have fallen in there as a seedling and grew and grew. its a good south american combo, both enjoy winter water so no problems there, although the leninghausi is a good deal more cold- tolerant than the melo im guessing. plus i don't want to separate them as the Melo would likely object to this treatment/die.

Joined : 24 Jun 2008 Posts : 131 Location : Bendigo

Nice Lewis, guess this is the one you told me about, its awsome!
Even a hitchhiker, but i would think removeing it wouldnt do the Melo too well.

Joined : 07 May 2008 Posts : 341 Location : Melbourne

Yes Michael its the one i told you about. Smile

mature Melocacti with cephaliums have a bit of a reputation for dying sudden after repotting for no apparent reason, they just strongly dislike root disturbance. i was thinking of cutting the P.leninghausii off clean right at the base and then treating it like a cutting, but this would doubtless result in the remaining stump of the parodia producing heaps of offsets, which would probably drain much more water and nutrients than the big one is now. In fact the two seem quite happy together, a nice south american combo.

Joined : 24 Jun 2008 Posts : 131 Location : Bendigo

Hahaha its been growing together for so long now, i would just leave them both as they are Smile

Joined : 07 May 2008 Posts : 341 Location : Melbourne

yeah, probably in excess of 7 years. the parodia is over 35cms tall so it isn't a baby 'seedling' now.

Subject: Re: new melocactus Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:37 pm

Wow Lewis thats a beauty.
I'm a little jealous actually. I might have to hasle you for seed for that one since there seems to be so much fruit.

The pattern at the meristem is really aesthetically pleasing.
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Joined : 24 Jun 2008 Posts : 131 Location : Bendigo

Looking at the other cacti in the background, its alot bigger than i thought!

Subject: Re: new melocactus Thu Jul 03, 2008 11:30 pm

What great plant ! Good catch.

Joined : 07 May 2008 Posts : 341 Location : Melbourne

Thanks all. Smile

Kanje i'll give you some fruit next CSSA meet no worries Wink

I got alright germination with some i already sowed... well it is about as fresh as you can get, straight out of the fruit.