Aztekium ritterii in bloom!

[swords]

My Aztekium ritterii is in bloom, I don't think I've seen pics of it's flower before so here's one I took myself!

This is actually the smaller of my two grafted clones which is blooming. I think this one is about 1.5", the bloom is probably 1/4" across. There are some new offsets forming as well as a second flower bud. The buds are pink so I was expecting a much prettier flower! lol!

Anyone know if you can "short stock" these when you graft the offsets so the stock is hidden in the gravel layer? I just hate the look of grafts but everyone was right, I could not get the offsets to root on their own roots, all I grew was fungus.

Here's my larger offset covered clone almost 2" in diameter.

 

[Jefforever]

Isn't this plant super rare?

Looks great! Good job.

 

[swords]

It's pretty rare but more than that it's super slow which is why they always seem to graft them (to speed up the growth). The offsets don't want to put out their own roots no matter how you treat them, I tried about 10 offsets from my flowering plant in a number of different potting conditions and not a one struck roots. I may have gotten at least 50% success if I'd have grafted them but I was hoping I would somehow be more special than others who've tried to get their offsets to put out roots...

There are only two species in the family A. ritterii (above) and A. hintonii discovered in 1991 or so. I Haven't got the newest one - yet!

 

[dvg]

Anyone know if you can "short stock" these when you graft the offsets so the stock is hidden in the gravel layer? I just hate the look of grafts but everyone was right, I could not get the offsets to root on their own roots, all I grew was fungus.

Some of the better grafters prefer to use a hardy rootstalk like Opuntia compressa.

Once the graft takes, the O. compressa rootstalk can be buried into the gravel with just the desired scion sitting visibly above the gravel.

http://www.cactus-art.biz/technics/Grafting_on_opuntia_compressa_step_by_step.htm

http://www.cactus-art.biz/technics/Grafting_on_opuntia_compressa_index.htm

Some of the best examples of well displayed 'diificult' species have been grafted onto O. compressa.

It seems that the preferred variety of choice amongst grafters is the species from Monmouth Co, NJ. available in seed form from Mesa Garden. But check with Steven Brack, he might also have it in plant form as well.

1103.2-compressa /18/ Monmouth Co, NJ, cold and wet-no problem 1.25

http://www.mesagarden.com/rn2011.html

dvg

 

[Dexenthes]

Why can't I see the pictures?

 

[swords]

Cos the post is 2 years old!

 

[seedjar]

Now I want to see too. XD
~Joe