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Bagels
Huntress



Registered: 07/11/14
Posts: 1,029
Loc: NZ
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Need help with rescued Melocactus glaucescens
#23918019 - 12/11/16 09:34 PM (7 years, 1 month ago) |
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I rescued this big old Melocactus glaucescens and wanted to know if it is beyond saving as it has no roots. The base is dry with no soft spots and I have not watered it. In the pot is 3/4 perlite 1/4 potting mix and I can change that if you have any better suggestions. It has a 20 cm diameter and it is 18 cm tall. Thanks for any help in advance.
On the front of the label is:
Melocactus glaucescens H4219 or HU219 GK
On the back is:
5-5/9186 and five ticks? and then DB YO - 7/3/05
And I not sure of what all that means 
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ferrel_human
stone eater



Registered: 06/26/09
Posts: 16,318
Loc: Texas
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Re: Need help with rescued Melocactus glaucescens [Re: Bagels]
#23918276 - 12/11/16 11:44 PM (7 years, 1 month ago) |
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Looks good and i wpuldnt worry. It will throw some roots.keep it dry and like i said. No worries. Its a real beauty.
-------------------- Nature is my church and walking through it is gospel. It tells no lies and reveals all to those who look, and listen, closely. -Karode
 Looking for Mimosa tenuiflora seeds. Buttons for trade
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Mostly_Harmless
wyrd bið ful aræd



Registered: 05/12/09
Posts: 5,043
Loc: Perfidious Albion
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Re: Need help with rescued Melocactus glaucescens [Re: ferrel_human]
#23918482 - 12/12/16 02:44 AM (7 years, 1 month ago) |
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http://ralph.cs.cf.ac.uk/Cacti/fieldno.php?FieldNo=HU219
Field number: HU 219 Collector: Leopoldo Horst,, later, Kurt-Ingo Horst Species: Melocactus glaucescens Locality: Morro de Chapeu, Bahia, Brazil Altitude: 900m Date: 1968/7
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I've not much experience with Melocactus but found this:
http://forum.bcss.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=153366
Quote:
In my experience, you need to be a little careful with Melocacti but they are far less temperamental than their reputations suggest, providing they are kept warm in winter (12-15C is safest). As you probably know, once they have developed cephalia, the standard stem stops growing and only the cephalium expands, often continuing for many years and sometimes becoming taller than the main plant.
After the stem ceases to grow, the roots are also reluctant to renew and my preference is to leave plants with fully developed cephalia in the same pots but feed more frequently with a weaker solution than the rest of the collection. When I have repotted mature Melocacti, I have always waited until late spring, when the plant is at its most active and the damaged roots have the best chance of repair.
On your plant, from what you have said, I would guess the cephalium is very new and, in any case, the time of year is perfect, so the risk involved should be at its most minimal and potentially no greater than repotting any other cactus. Melocactus roots are never strong and the gentle removal of all the organic compost, assuming you are planning on a mineral mix, is to be recommended in order to prevent the strangulation of the roots that can result from contraction of the remaining material, caused by its slower wetting rate.
By the way, if you plan on bringing the plant indoors over winter, a small amount of water is advisable to counter the dry atmosphere and reduce the risk of losing the roots.
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LSoares
Farmer



Registered: 10/09/13
Posts: 3,209
Loc: Portugal
Last seen: 4 years, 2 months
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Re: Need help with rescued Melocactus glaucescens [Re: Mostly_Harmless]
#23918494 - 12/12/16 02:57 AM (7 years, 1 month ago) |
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The back of the label is probably code from the grower and unless you ask him, it's pretty useless. My guess is 7/3/05 is the date it was last repotted. The "GK" reference in the front is probably "Gerard Köhres", a big and famous seed seller in Germany (he does indeed sell that particular population).
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Bagels
Huntress



Registered: 07/11/14
Posts: 1,029
Loc: NZ
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Re: Need help with rescued Melocactus glaucescens [Re: LSoares]
#23921546 - 12/13/16 01:26 AM (7 years, 1 month ago) |
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That's great info thanks MH and Zed.
I found this so I will use that soil mix and keep it warm and hope for the best.
"Melocactus tend to lose their roots if kept dry for too long, and old, mature plants can be quite difficult to re-root. Keeping these plants at a minimum of 10?C (50?F) and giving them a light watering now and then during the winter is a good practice to keep these plants. The use of a very open soil mix, with over 50% coarse sand or grit, is also advisable for growing them, as is the use of shallow pans instead of tall pots. If the weather is warm Melocactus enjoy being soaked regularly."
Edited by Bagels (12/13/16 02:10 AM)
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