8 replies to this topic

[reshroomED]

Over the last week or so three out of six of my bridgesii buds have turned to pups. I am told that this is not unknown, but does anyone have any info relating to this?
Losing the flowers was bad enough, but now I'm faced with the prospect of three pups growing at the top of the main column. Breaking this branch would destroy the look of the cactus, so they must be removed. The problem is that I don't want to make a site for multiple pups to form from down the track. Experimentation in this regard was due to start in a month or so (was planning on removing several pups via different methods and cauterising a half of the wounds ie control and cauterised per each removal method) and see what happened next year. But now I haven't got the option of waiting 'til next year. So here's the first entrant for "weird cactus question of the year" : How I can prune with no/less chance of pups forming there again?

ed

[Torsten]

I like pups, so I have no idea how to solve this 'problem'.

[Rev]

Id recommend just cutting them off

If they come back so be it
It may take a few years of cutting them off to discourage the cactus from pupping there

But then you have plenty of people wanting your proven strain anyhow

[reshroomED]

I was sort of hoping that there'd be a tale of a pet knocking a limb off, too close to the barbie, or something like that.
Ta for the replies .

ed

[M S Smith]

reshroomED, I couldn't tell you why the flowers turned to pups, but you could avoid limbs coming out of the same areole by removing the areole, Simply cut off the limb as close to the base as possible. It the pup is even 3cm in height you should be able to let it callous over and root. You can then simply "shave" off the areole with a sharp blade. Once the areole is gone there won't be any way a new pup can form from there.

~Michael~

[reshroomED]

Excellent, that's what I wanted to hear.
Thanks.

ed

[reshroomED]

Well I never got around to removing those pups, and the column eventually broke.
Which has allowed me to get close enough to take a few pics.
Note that it's two years on now and definitely showing stunted growth along with the 'pine-appleing'

 Big_Break_2_036.jpg   109.46K   43 downloads

 Big_Break_2_038.jpg   108.77K   39 downloads

 Big_Break_3024.jpg   79.45K   36 downloads

 Big_Break_3025.jpg   76.77K   36 downloads

 Big_Break_3026.jpg   84.41K   30 downloads


ed

[gusto]

I'd heard of this happening, but was actually a bit skeptical til seeing the pics. Looks like those pups may outgrow the original compressed look, too bad.
Anyone ever figure out what factors might dispose flowerbuds to turn to pups like this? Now if we can just figure out the trick to turning pups into flowers (other than waiting quite a few years), we'll be in business.

[Rev]

brrrrr dude shiver me timbers

just looking at those pinecones i get the feeling they would be uber strong

the wierd form, the rate of growth and the potency you get in other slow growing mutations

i got a feelin