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The Corroboree

spunwhirllin

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Posts posted by spunwhirllin


  1. Hope you don't mind the further post's in your thread Darklight.

    Here's a couple of pictures of what I'm trying to pollinate while precariously perched atop a six foot ladder with an ocean of spiny Trichocereus below me :blush:

    Anyway, The plan is to try to persuade some mature pollen into some freshly opened flowers that are hopefully still receptive to pollen. The way the flowers sporadically open on each rod will afford me at least an opportunity to give it a go.

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  2. Well,as predicted the flowers are blooming,however somewhere someone posted an article mentioning that the Acacia flowers are;

    pro·to·gy·nous[proh-tuh-jahy-nuhthinsp.pngthinsp.pngs, -gahy-, proh-toj-uh-nuhthinsp.pngthinsp.pngs] Show IPA
    adjective Botany .
    of or pertaining to a flower in which the shedding of pollen occurs after the stigma has stopped being receptive; having female sex organs maturing before the male.
    Also, proterogynous.
    So I suspect I'll be pollinating manually. The rods that emerged last spring are in bloom,while the rods that emerged this past fall are almost to the point of blooming.
    I've got my tiny paint brush and am ready to go. It's disturbing how little information there is regarding manual Acacia pollination,
    • Like 2

  3. The phleb had a flush of flowers this past June(mid spring),then another flush of flowers in October(early fall). Fifty or so flower rods. We're coming up on February,which is about the time the flowers from the previous year bloomed. This is also about the time the extra-floral nectaries start to do their thing,which draws in the ants,which I assume are the only available pollinators within the GH.

    The flowers are tiny,any tips on pollinating manually?

    I'm going to give a go regardless. It's frustrating to see all the flowers and potential seed just wither away.

    I'm still learning how to operate a greenhouse properly,I swear the phleb believes it's in the southern hemisphere.

    • Like 1

  4. The first flower started opening about a month ago.One partial rod has opened while a full flower rod is just begining. We're still in our grey dreary days,but a week of abundant sunshine really started the flowering process.

    I'll be expecting a more uniform flush of flowers this spring.

    Interesting note: The extra floral necteries are in full production. It appears that this draws in the ants which apparently pollinate the open flowers.Probably common knowledge,but it's pretty neat to see it in action.

    • Like 1

  5. I've had gallstones for 8 years now,confirmed by an ultrasound.

    I've done the magnesium sulfate/olive oil/grapefruit juice flush several times,all resulting in the expulsion of stones.This in itself dramatically reduced pain.I've not done this for five years now.

    Yes, the main concern is blocking the ducts.This has happened to me twice,and you can tell when it has happened by the absence of dark bile in your excrement. :o

    I still have stones,however the constant supplemental use of malic acid has dramatically cut down on the volume of stones,and frequency of pain.

    Diet is the most important aspect,but I have yet to aknowledge this for my own good.


  6. Finally! After waiting a decade,the phleb has decided to offer a few flowers,however just emerging.

    Now, how long must one wait for the flower maturation?

    I've been watering it alot this spring and the growth has been decent for only being in the ground for two seasons.It's about 2.5 M tall and building up energy for summer growth.

    I'll try to get a photo up soon.

    • Like 3

  7. PD

    Yep,the lower phyllodes drop every summer,and aren't replaced,so yea it's naked at the lower portion.

    I do water it quite a bit in summer,but still try to hold back some.Gotta realize I haven't the resources to replace it. :wink:

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    • Like 1

  8. Old age,I'm thinking about 10 to 12 years.

    I'm sure rhizobium isn't that big of an issue,planting side by side with any legume should help,if its even necessary.I've never innoculated any of my Acacia's,and they seem to grow okay.


  9. Its not that difficult to raise them outside of there natural habitat,I have a 9 year old plant,whats difficult is getting them to flower and produce seed before they die of old age.

    You can buy the smoke infused vermiculite on ebay.


  10. I have some Terscheckii x huarazensis (short spine,similar to juuls) seeds I'd like to trade.

    Primarily I'm looking for viable narrow leaf catha seed,but other interesting seed,such as Trich hybrids,acacia,mimosa,etc will suffice.

    Thanks.


  11. Wow,those are some wide phyllodes!

    She is a nice plant. What are your winters like ED?

    We have serious rains for 5 months out of the year with alot of nights of freezing temps. I'd love to not have to cover my phleb,but I fear rot due to the high percipitation .

    Here's my phleb,finally in the ground after 7.5 years.She has really taken off since she's been in the ground.

    I loosened up the native soil for a few feet deep and added pumice and granite.

    Patiently awaiting flowers.

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    • Like 1

  12. PD,

    The thread was started because I was apalled by SOME of the prices being asked by SOME sellers,I possibly over generalized.

    Please don't imply that I'm boasting about the cacti giveway.The statment was in response to a direct question for which I had a direct answer.

    No,I don't believe it's wrong to sell Trichs at all.I plan to start selling Trichs myself,though it won't be easy,as It's really hard to let go of plants to strangers.

    Like I said,I have learned why the plants go for what they go for.

    As for the price of a standard plant, $1 U.S. an inch is reasonable,so thats .40 a cm. If we're talking rare named clones such as the RSFAT4 ,or wild collected forms from Peru I'd be hard pressed to sell them for less than $3 an inch.This is if I would in fact sell them at all.

    I acknowledge where everyone is coming from,but someone had to ask. :huh:

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