Cactus Gardening

Sunday, March 26, 2006

Callistemon 'Little John'


Callistemon 'Little John'
Originally uploaded by azcritter.
Of the family Myrtaceae from Australia, it is well known as Dwarf Callistemon or Dwarf Bottlebrush. An evergreen shrub which is great for attracting hummingbirds.

Water/Size Guide

Plant Common Name

Watering

Size

Lantana

Infrequent and deep

3’ width x 7’ height

Ice Plant

Little

2’ width x 3’ height

Beargrass

Little to none once established

5’ height with flowering stalks to 8 feet

Deer Grass

Moderate to little

3’ height and 5’ when in bloom

Muhly Grass

Moderate to little

4’ height

Autumn Sage

Moderate to little

4’ width x 3’ height

Creosote Bush

Natural rainfall; some supplemental while establishing

3’ to 10’ in width and 6’ to 8’ in height based on amount of water

Organ Pipe

Little water when established

5’ to 12’ height, multi stemmed 9” in diameter

Golden Torch

Moderate water

7’ height, multi stemmed 2” in diameter

Desert Spoon

Natural rainfall; some supplemental while establishing. Extra water accelerates growth

6” equal spread with center stalk of 6” to 15”

Organ Pipe Cactus (Stenocereus thurberi)


Organ Pipe Cactus
Originally uploaded by azcritter.
So I am starting out with one stem and a height of 2 feet when planted. As the plant matures it will not branch out, but will extend from the tip, and each season's growth will be marked by a constriction of the stem. Flowering annually, with large white blooms that open at night and close the next day. The flowers are pollinated mainly by bats and so I will plant this in an area where there would not be much human traffic.

Saturday, March 25, 2006

Sulcorebutia langeri

I may not have this identified correctly - but for now it is the best I could find. The flowers on this little cactus are absolutely brilliant. If I tagged it correctly, it actually will need to be water from March until September.

It will take full sun exposure, but needs light shade in Phoenix, Arizona.

I will continue to search for one of these in the local nurserys to see if I can find/validate the name on this plant.

Golden Torch


This catus is native to Western Argentina, Bolivia. For now this cactus is small, about 2 feet in height, but over time it will grow multipal columns branching, 2 to 2.5 inches in diameter and around 7 feet tall.

Saturday, March 11, 2006

Substantial amount of rain after 148 days


In Peoria Arizona we have not seen rain in over 148 days and todays rain is substantial
It's great and I love the smell of the desert when it rains, but this is not good for my cactus. The landscaper does not start on the yard unti the 13th of March and the plants will not go into the ground for at least another weeks and until then the plants will stay in the pots. The amount of rain they have gotten is substantial. We have been wtering the plants about every two or three weeks depening on the type of plant, but in one day they are getting more water then they have gotten in the entire time I 've had them.