Cacti ID please?

[Hyphal]

Hey guys, I am a succulent newbie and was given a couple of specimens to baby sit over the summer - which have grown LOTS since I got them, thrown off a few pups which I have unsuccessfully tried to get rooted and have now been donated to me permanently.

I was wondering if any of you cacti minded people could help me ID these?

The first three I think are a variety of Pedro, which particular variety Im not sure though -

The sort of crappy bent looking one threw off lots of pups over summer which I broke off and left to callus for a week, then planted in a used egg carton. It was a bad idea as the egg carton held very little soil and I watered them too much, and the bottoms started to rot a little.

I removed them again and let the dry out again, this time for about 3 weeks at least and just today I have gently placed them on much better draining soil, and not watered them at all -

Its throwing off two more pups at the moment -

Finally there's this little fella who looks like he is starting to flower around the top a little -

I also would love to know what I should do with those pups in order to help them root. Should I keep them inside out of the cold near the fire, and should I apply any water at all?

Thanks in advance!

[Peyofox]

The last one looks like mammillaria spinosissima, heres one of mine budding up.

They put on a pretty nice show

I wouldn't put the pups near the fire where it gets too hot, perhaps a sunny window sill.

Damp (not wet) perlite is good to strike cacti cuttings in.

Edited May 11, 2007 by ReclusE

[XipeTotec]

nice pic recluse, looks cool

[tonic]

The nice healthy fat one [tallest one] is T. pachanoi San Pedro looks like the Backeberg clone.

The little one with the top cut off and the new column is most likely the same as above.

The bluish [glaucous] one looks to me like a Myrtillocactus sp. [probably geometrizans] great for grafting [non active].

The last one is a Mammilaria, not sure which species though.

It is generally not the best to try and root cuttings over the winter without specialist equipment, while it can be done, it is quite difficult, I guess putting in the vicinity of a fire would'nt be too bad just don't put it too close.

You can callous your cuts over winter time and pot them up in spring, which is preferable for future reference.

[Hyphal]

Thanks heaps for the ID's, sorry for chucking this post in the wrong thread.

I will keep the pups on the window sill near the fire (not to close) and see how they perform. I will abstain from watering for at least a few weeks, maybe even over the whole winter and when the weather warms again I will start watering to see if they will strike root.

Cacti require a lot of patience don't they.... This new hobby seems like it will be great for the soul.

Thanks for your help guys!

[shruman]

those pups should still root it might take a little while but it will happen & dont water them till they have roots just gently try to lift them a little (dont pull them out but just 1/2 cm or so & theyl go back fine) every week or 2 & ull know when they have roots.

[Hyphal]

Thanks shruman, they are currently on the window sill - they are on a north facing aspect so they will get sun all day, even though its winter - and being indoors they should remain nice and warm.

I'll let you know how they go in a month or so time.