I live in Turkey and have a cactus garden but I am completely ignorant about them and need to find out a few things. I will start with the biggest problem at the moment. I have a columnar cactus which I have had for six years. Each year it has grown upwards, after the first year it seemed to grow 4 feet or so and is now about 18foot high. Last year it stopped growing and sent out a baby at its base and also had flowers. This year the baby is growing and the flowers are numerous. So far I would say we have had thirty they are very big about the size of a tea plate, white and pink and only last one day in bloom and seem to bloom at night. My question is what have I got and what should I do with it. Should I reduce its size or should I cut off the baby or should I leave it alone to do what it wants.
Don't know what you should do, but how beautiful! Thanks for posting a shot of your area- now someone will be able to advise you better. Your plants are very lovely. : )
This type of cactus is common in Mexico and often grows in huge clumps, I would let nature take its course providing you don't mind it taking up a little bit more room in your garden it will grow straight up and you will get more babies as you call them. Eventually when it is getting to thick you may have to cut away some of them and replant them elsewhere but that will take a good few years so I wouldnt worry for now. Nath
Thank you for your reply, I shall do as you suggest and leave it alone, would be interested to know what purpose are the flowers. Also do you have a name for this type of cactus.
I believe its a type of Cereus Cactus, there are many varieties of which giganteus is the biggest, i think you have one of the medium varieties there pssibly a peruvianus I think its spelt. They also grow in Mediteranean Spain and they do have some pretty flowers depending on the variety.
Cereus? I think someone sent me seedss for that kind. I didn't know they could get that tall! WOW! : o
HBL if you can get them to grow, I think you will be very impressed with the pretty flowers that it puts out some of them depending on variety are almost orchid like. It will tolerate lots of cold but it won't tolerate damp. I've only seen them living in very dry conditions, as you drive to Acapulco along the autopista del Sol you will see lots of them growing everywhere.
Very nice! Great setting/garden! The purpose of the flowers? My guess would be to make fruit to produce seed in order to multiply. :) Then, of course, to give you something pretty! Maybe you can find yours among those seen at the following site: http://www.columnar-cacti.org/cereus/index.html
RoseMarie, I think you are spot on, but the flowers give we gardeners so much pleasure too no? Makes it all worth while! Nath
Yes, indeed, Nath...flowers are first in my book (why I said "give us something pretty")...but I thought Jill was looking for an explanation other than the obvious!. :D
Well if she waits until the period when summer slides into autumn she may have some very pretty pictures to show us. I can't say I know much about the seasons in Turkey, but it can't be that different to Italy or Spain. I have a good friend from Turkey and she always tells me how good the weather is for growing. Buena Surte Jill!! Nath
