Mammillaria guelzowiana

[estación seca]

Mammillaria guelzowiana blooming today in Phoenix, Arizona. This is the third set of flowers since last winter.

Current temperature is 111 F / 44C. This is a young plant, in a 3" / 7.5cm pot. When it is bigger, the plant will cluster, and the flowers will be twice this size. There will be so many, you won't be able to see the plant. This species has some of the largest flowers in the genus. There is no scent - only yellow-flowered Mamms have scent.

Guelzowiana has the reputation of being hard to grow in temperate climates. I think this may partially be due to mealy bug infestation at the roots, common in plants from commercial nurseries. Also, it needs very bright sun, to stay tight and not etiolate.

Here, it is one of the easiest Mamms. Many of this genus are higher-elevation plants that suffer severely with our hot summer nights. This one tolerates blazing Phoenix sun all day, even when quite moist. It also is undamaged by our overnight frosts, to the mid teens F / -8C. Succulentists argue over potting mixes even more than do orchidists. The vast majority use "cactus mix", sawdust- or peat-based potting soil mixed with a little perlite or pumice. I use mineral mixes, local soil mixed with pumice or perlite, and minimal to no organic matter. I am in a tiny minority in this belief - but I can grow M. guelzowiana like a weed, and the organicrats can't.

Doing an Internet search on images for this plant gives a good idea of how variable plants can be.

I was going to post photos of Echinocereus horizonthalonius flowers, but the #%@* ground squirrels got there first.

[wintergirl]

Beautiful pink!

[No-Pro-mwa]

Beautiful bloom.

[Paul]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Succulentists argue over potting mixes even more than do orchidists. The vast majority use "cactus mix", sawdust- or peat-based potting soil mixed with a little perlite or pumice. I use mineral mixes, local soil mixed with pumice or perlite, and minimal to no organic matter. I am in a tiny minority in this belief - but I can grow M. guelzowiana like a weed, and the organicrats can't.

I find that surprising. All of the cacti/succ folks with whom I am acquainted, advocate a highly inorganic mix with the only organic compound (if they are using one at all) typically being small grade bark or bark fines. Perhaps with you being in a such an arid area, folks find it useful to include something more moisture retentive?

[DeaC]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Mammillaria guelzowiana blooming today in Phoenix, Arizona. This is the third set of flowers since last winter.

Current temperature is 111 F / 44C. This is a young plant, in a 3" / 7.5cm pot. When it is bigger, the plant will cluster, and the flowers will be twice this size. There will be so many, you won't be able to see the plant. This species has some of the largest flowers in the genus. There is no scent - only yellow-flowered Mamms have scent.

Guelzowiana has the reputation of being hard to grow in temperate climates. I think this may partially be due to mealy bug infestation at the roots, common in plants from commercial nurseries. Also, it needs very bright sun, to stay tight and not etiolate.

Here, it is one of the easiest Mamms. Many of this genus are higher-elevation plants that suffer severely with our hot summer nights. This one tolerates blazing Phoenix sun all day, even when quite moist. It also is undamaged by our overnight frosts, to the mid teens F / -8C. Succulentists argue over potting mixes even more than do orchidists. The vast majority use "cactus mix", sawdust- or peat-based potting soil mixed with a little perlite or pumice. I use mineral mixes, local soil mixed with pumice or perlite, and minimal to no organic matter. I am in a tiny minority in this belief - but I can grow M. guelzowiana like a weed, and the organicrats can't.

Doing an Internet search on images for this plant gives a good idea of how variable plants can be.

I was going to post photos of Echinocereus horizonthalonius flowers, but the #%@* ground squirrels got there first.

111??? OMG! Guess the weather guys were correct on this one. I'd be cussin' at the temps instead! Very upsetting to hear of folks and animals suffering thru this,loosing homes and property.Years ago,heard of Aruba having(?) desalinization and always wondered why we cannot do the same.Guess there's a good reason why not.Well,stay safe.Enjoying your unique plants.

[estación seca]

Originally Posted by DeaC

111??? OMG! Guess the weather guys were correct on this one.

They predicted 120 F / 49C but we only made it to 117 / 47C. I don't feel hot until it's 114 F. At 117, even with no breeze, it felt like standing too close to an oven or fireplace. The night was windy, humidity under 5%, and it didn't get much below 90 F / 33C. I am sprouting some Dyckia seeds outdoors. I stand the pots in a bowl of water so they don't dry out. 2" / 5cm of water evaporated overnight.

My evaporative cooler worked great. My sunroom was 70% humidity and not over 90F during the day.

[DeaC]

I'm speechless!

[isurus79]

Beautiful flower!!

[Tindomul]

Wow, amazing flower. So you are the guy to ask about cactii. I have a bunch of seeds I got in January. I'll ask about them later.